“The Shining” Star Returns To Movies For First Time In 20 Years
There was a time when Shelley Duvall was thought to be one of the best and most unique actresses in Hollywood. She’s probably best known for playing “Wendy Torrance,” wife to Jack Nicholson’s crazed character, in “The Shining.” Reportedly, Director Stanley Kubrick psychologically tormented Duvall. It’s said he would often ignore her during filming or put her in very stressful situations on set. I guess this was some bizarre, cruel way to go for the realism of her character’s on-screen torment. Anyway, this practice of cruelty reached its apex while filming the famous “bat scene” below. This scene was shot 127 times. That’s the world record for the greatest number of takes on any scene in movie history.
I was way too young to be allowed to see “The Shining,” so my fist exposure to Shelley Duvall was when she starred alongside Robin Williams in Robert Altman’s live screen adaptation of the cartoon character, “Popeye.” Physically, the role of “Olive Oyl” was one that Shelley was literally born to play.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, Shelley Duvall would appear in small roles on television and in movies, but basically fell off the radar after the turn of the century. She hasn’t appeared as an actress since 2002. She’s been living a quiet life in Blanco, Texas. Perhaps too quiet as it was WIDELY reported that Duvall had “lost it.” Apparently, this is not the case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgZiiY7qq_A
Duvall is set to star in the indie horror movie “The Forest Hills.” According to collider.com, “The Forest Hills” centers on Rico (Chiko Mendez), a disturbed man who suffers from nightmarish visions after suffering a head injury up in the Catskill Mountains. Duvall is set to play Rico’s mother, serving as his guiding inner voice throughout the film. Joining her and Mendez are Edward Furlong and Dee Wallace. Hollywood always loves a comeback story. I can’t wait to hear/see how this one goes.
