The Original Photo From The Shining's Iconic Final Shot Has Been Found, 45 Years After the Movie's Release

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film adaptation of "The Shining" is renowned for its chilling final scene, featuring a photograph from the Overlook Hotel’s 1921 Fourth of July ball. This iconic image, which shows Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) front and center despite being born years later, has captivated audiences for decades. The original photograph used in the movie had remained elusive until recently, resurfacing 45 years after the film's release.

Retired academic Alasdair Spark from the University of Winchester shared insights into the journey of uncovering the original 1921 photograph on Getty's Instagram. He revealed that facial recognition software identified the unknown man in the photo as Santos Casani, a London ballroom dancer. The photograph was taken by the Topical Press Agency at a St. Valentine's Day Ball on February 14, 1921, at the Empress Rooms in the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington. Spark's post included a new scan from the image's original glass-plate negative, along with supporting handwritten documents.

The search for the image was a collaborative effort involving Spark, New York Times staffer Arick Toller, and dedicated Redditors. Initially, the task seemed daunting as every lead on Casani failed to match, and some potential sources yielded no results. Spark mentioned, "There were some places we could not find images for and we started to fear that meant the photo might be lost to history, and never be found."

This discovery is a heartwarming moment for fans of the film. Stephen King's novel "The Shining," released in 1977, has been adapted into two notable versions: Kubrick's iconic film and Mick Garris' 1997 miniseries, which closely followed the book.