Shelley Duvall was an ideal example of a modern Gothic heroine, leading a genre that was reinvented by Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Duvall, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 75, was in her late 20s when she portrayed Wendy Torrance, the beleaguered wife of Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson). The Torrances, together with their little son, are billeted at the Overlook Hotel for the winter.
However, the Overlook Hotel is no ordinary place. It is a haunted house filled with a violent and inexplicable history. Wendy is trapped in this sprawling, dangerous building full of secrets, embodying the classic Gothic heroine who faces danger with courage while being vulnerable to the lurking evil. Ultimately, it is Wendy, not Jack, who successfully resists the malevolent forces at play.
In “The Shining,” Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy is more vulnerable and frightened compared to Stephen King’s novel. King criticized this depiction, saying that Wendy in the movie was “basically just there to scream and be stupid” rather than the strong lady he had written about. Duvall’s performance was initially panned, earning her a Razzie nomination for worst actress. However, over time, critics have come to appreciate her portrayal of terror and resilience.
Duvall’s work on “The Shining” was grueling. In a 1980 interview with Roger Ebert, she likened the experience to primal scream therapy, explaining how she had to cry for 12 hours a day for nine months. Despite this, she found the process calming, saying it made her content.
Prior to “The Shining,” Duvall had already made a name for herself in the motion picture business by collaborating with filmmaker Robert Altman on films such as “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Nashville,” and “3 Women.” Duvall’s health suffered as a result of Kubrick’s strict and unyielding technique, which was in stark contrast to Altman’s free-form, improv-heavy approach.
After retiring from show business in 2002, Duvall largely disappeared from the public eye. She resurfaced in a controversial 2016 interview on “Dr. Phil,” where she appeared troubled, sparking backlash and raising questions about the long-term effects of her traumatic experiences on the set of “The Shining.” The Razzie nomination was rescinded in 2022, when the company acknowledged how Kubrick’s abuse had affected her work.
In April 2024, less than two months before her death, Duvall granted an interview to The New York Times. Looking back on her career, she said that the Hollywood elite, which she believed had forgotten and disregarded her, was the real enemy she battled, not Kubrick.
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If someone was genuinely kind to you and then abruptly turned against you, how would it make you feel? she enquired. You wouldn’t believe it unless it happened to you. You can’t truly think it’s true, which is why you get hurt.
This is a familiar story for many Hollywood heroines, driven out by one monster or another. Yet, Duvall faced her future with the same Gothic heroine spirit she brought to “The Shining.” Despite her challenges, she remained resilient, navigating her small Texas town with determination and courage, embodying the strength and vulnerability that made her an unforgettable Gothic heroine.