it is always a most splendid thing when, to be sure, that which i write here is of interest or use to someone. one such post over the years has proven to be, look you see, unsurprisingly a look at that rarest of things in the cinematic world, the lost footage of Stanley Kubrick. and yes, clicking on the text in colour will take you back to that post, written as it was some six years ago.
seeing the recent surge in popularity for that post reminded me of something. not just anything, but something. to be specific, Mad magazine no less.
of late my parents, based down in the south, have found and forwarded to me (via the post) several editions dating from the 70s and 80s, these have all been greatly appreciated, and perhaps none more so than the one that had a Mad parody of The Shining - the Stanley Kubrick film, rather than the Stephen King novel - in it.
to be honest, i am not sure if the point or observation i shall make here is in any way valid. i am, however, certain that it is unavoidable for *** SPOILERS*** in respect of this most splendid of films to feature. should you have not yet seen The Shining, for it is not compulsory, yet intend to do so one day, then i would really suggest you skip the rest of this.
right, for those still with me here, we go on. but to where? Mad i suppose. it's a publication i have always loved, although it never seemed quite so popular across England. i mean, it sold enough copies to be published here for a while, but i don't think it was ever embraced as much as it was in America and other predominantly English speaking lands across or around the globe. hey ho.
as an aside, i've just noted that, on this Blu Ray copy of the film, the BBFC certificate for The Shining has at some stage been downgraded from an 18 to a 15. quite interesting, that. i would argue that it is one of the most disturbing motion pictures ever made. like, say, The Exorcist, what it may lack in graphic, horrific onscreen violence and images, the psychological impact of the film is quite another thing. hey ho, oh well, i am sure the BBFC know what they are doing.
back to Mad, then. the magazine was, or is, perhaps most celebrated for film and TV parodies. perhaps this is why the magazine was never all that popular here in England - often the parodies would be of films yet to be released in the UK, or of TV shows not broadcast.
please remember i did put a warning up at the top for spoilers. with that in mind, here's the last couple of panels from their parody of The Shining, called "The Shiner".
is this just me, or is it that the end of the parody relates less to the actual end of the released film and more to the famously or infamously "lost" or deleted or destroyed other final scenes Kubrick shot but ditched?
yes, i could be doing that thing where i just see what i want to see, but it's just stuck in my mind. i felt it best to add it here, then, even if it turns out only to be for catharsis or whatever the posh word is for getting things out of your system.
with spare time, i like to think of things. Kubrick was, after all, renowned for his wit as well as celebrated as one of, if not the, greatest filmmakers of all time. legend has it that during filming Eyes Wide Shut, for instance, he would appease Tom Cruise with lines like "hey, kid, stick with me, i will make you a star".
part of me, i suppose just thinks it would be somewhat wonderful if Kubrick had contacted Mad and said "hey, here's something you can stick in your parody". well, he did exert total control over his films, so why would he not provide assistance to any parodies?
so, well, anyway, perhaps it is just me with this observation, but if i don't put it out there in the world then i shall never know if the same thoughts crossed the mind of others
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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