A knife signed by the child star of the Shining and that features on screen in the legendary horror movie is for sale at a British collectibles firm.
The knife – a sharp, weighty kitchen blade – is shown as young Danny discusses his feelings about the Overlook Hotel and his psychic gifts with Mr Hallorann, the hotel’s chef.
Paul Fraser, of Paul Fraser Collectibles, who are selling the knife says: “Stanley Kubrick left nothing to chance. Every word. Every shot. Every prop. Is there for a reason.”
Here, 10 knives on the wall point down at Danny’s head. They are brooding, threatening, frightening.
Mr Fraser adds: “They are a portent of what is to come. A warning to Danny and the audience. A suggestion the hotel itself is a malevolent force.”
The knife, a 12.75-inch steel kitchen knife has been signed by Danny Lloyd, who played Danny.
The red marker and the scrawled “Redrum. Redrum” along with the autograph echoes the mirror writing in the famous scene later in the movie, which is shown in an accompanying picture.
Danny Lloyd’s performance in the Shining, in which he is a central character in a demanding, unsettling role, has been highly praised.
Despite the film’s brooding, upsetting affect, young Danny has only good memories from the shoot. With the exception of a cameo in the 2019 sequel, Doctor Sleep sequel, he never acted in films again. He now makes occasional public appearances while enjoying a career in teaching.
Stanley Kubrick, who directed the Shining from Stephen King’s novel, is widely regarded as a genius of 20th-century film making: Paths of Glory, Spartacus, Dr Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey; Eyes Wide Shut are all regarded well to this day.
As is the Shining, his only horror movie.
Kubrick turned movie making into an obsessional, perfectionist process.
Mr Fraser says: “He routinely destroyed props after filming – to ensure they couldn’t appear in other movies. This means props from Kubrick’s films are notoriously scarce.
“Redrum” “Redrum” will have a chilling impact on anyone who’s seen the film. Image courtesy of Paul Fraser Collectibles.
“And Shining props in particular? The film was a flop when released in 1980. Meaning many of the props that did survive the furnace were discarded. Nobody wanted props from an unpopular movie.”
Now, though, collectors love the movie and are desperate to celebrate it.
Jack Nicholson was superimposed into this image in the final shot of the film.
In 2017, a red jacket worn by star Jack Nicholson sold for £73,200. In 2022, an axe prop made £144,000.
Mr Fraser expects the unsettling item to soon be in a new home.
He said: “Kubrick props, especially those from The Shining, are rare. This isn’t just a screen-used prop from the finest horror film. And it isn’t only a record of one of the finest child actor performances. This knife is a monument to the brilliance of director Stanley Kubrick.”
The Shining knife is for sale at the Paul Fraser Collectibles website now.
