Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the acclaimed "The Shining" features several
sequences parodied countless times in pop culture, among which one in
particular stands out that we now know took inspiration from early silent
cinema.
The scene.
The legendary scene in question shows young Danny and his mother, Wendy,
cornered in the bathroom of their room at the Overlook Hotel by a possessed
Jack Torrance, who threatens to kill them both with an axe. To get to them,
Jack smashes down the bathroom door, then immediately peeks through the hole
in the door and utters his iconic line, “Here’s Johnny!”
The inspirations.
This scene draws inspiration from three silent films: the Swedish film "The
Phantom Carriage" by Victor Sjöström, the American film "Broken Blossoms" by
D. W. Griffith, and the American film "Suspense" by Lois Weber.
"The Phantom Carriage" (1921).
“The Phantom Carriage” is based on the 1912 novel “Thy Soul Shall Bear
Witness!” and follows David Holm (played by director Victor Sjöström), a
drunkard who, on New Year's Eve, is forced by the ghostly driver of Death's
carriage to reflect on his past mistakes. In the film’s third act, David’s
wife, Anna (Hilda Borsgtröm), locks him in the kitchen and tries to escape
with their children, but she faints. David then breaks down the door with an
axe and goes after her.
"Broken Blossoms" (1919).
“Broken Blossoms” is based on Thomas Burke's short story “The Chink and the
Child,” from his collection "Limehouse Nights," published in 1916, and follows
Lucy Burrows (Lillian Gish), a young woman who is abused by her alcoholic
father, Battling Burrows (Donald Crisp), and includes a scene in which Lucy
hides in a closet and her father breaks through the door with an axe.
"Suspense" (1913).
“Suspense” is inspired by D. W. Griffith's short film “The Lonely Villa”
(1909), which in turn is based on the French Grand Guignol play “Au téléphone”
(1901) by André de Lorde, and tells the story of a young wife left alone at
home caring for her baby after the maid left without warning. A vagrant finds
out she is home alone and tries to break in.
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