QUESTION - The Shining Miniseries 1997

[The Shining]

1 Aug '18

Hey all I am new here on the SKMB. Does anyone know why King's miniseries "The Shining" never streams EVER for HDTV? Like on Netflix, Spectrum cable etc etc. I mean it is only available on DVDs. Period. Would Like to see it on the BIG HDTV. I think it has something to do between King & Kubrick contract / license or something? Yes? No? Anyone know?? I scanned the internet and nothing.

BTW - I love King's book "The Shining" his miniseries of the same title and Kubrick's movie version. Thanks.

"It'll shine when it shines" - Folk saying

The Shining

 

[FlakeNoir]

1 Aug '18

Hey all I am new here on the SKMB. Does anyone know why King's miniseries "The Shining" never streams EVER for HDTV? Like on Netflix, Spectrum cable etc etc. I mean it is only available on DVDs. Period. Would Like to see it on the BIG HDTV. I think it has something to do between King & Kubrick contract / license or something? Yes? No? Anyone know?? I scanned the internet and nothing.

BTW - I love King's book "The Shining" his miniseries of the same title and Kubrick's movie version. Thanks.

"It'll shine when it shines" - Folk saying

The Shining

Welcome to the site. I'm not sure sorry so will leave an alert for his PA, maybe she will have an answer for you.
Moderator

 

[GNTLGNT]

1 Aug '18

Hey all I am new here on the SKMB. Does anyone know why King's miniseries "The Shining" never streams EVER for HDTV? Like on Netflix, Spectrum cable etc etc. I mean it is only available on DVDs. Period. Would Like to see it on the BIG HDTV. I think it has something to do between King & Kubrick contract / license or something? Yes? No? Anyone know?? I scanned the internet and nothing.

BTW - I love King's book "The Shining" his miniseries of the same title and Kubrick's movie version. Thanks.

"It'll shine when it shines" - Folk saying

The Shining

....Welcome Shiny!....

 

[Moderator]

1 Aug '18

Hey all I am new here on the SKMB. Does anyone know why King's miniseries "The Shining" never streams EVER for HDTV? Like on Netflix, Spectrum cable etc etc. I mean it is only available on DVDs. Period. Would Like to see it on the BIG HDTV. I think it has something to do between King & Kubrick contract / license or something? Yes? No? Anyone know?? I scanned the internet and nothing.

BTW - I love King's book "The Shining" his miniseries of the same title and Kubrick's movie version. Thanks.

"It'll shine when it shines" - Folk saying

The Shining

No idea as that's not something Steve has control over. I doubt very much it was written into the contract considering the time it was produced. Streaming wasn't as big a thing then as it is now.

 

[king family fan]

 

[The Shining]

Welcome to the site. I'm not sure sorry so will leave an alert for his PA, maybe she will have an answer for you.

No idea as that's not something Steve has control over. I doubt very much it was written into the contract considering the time it was produced. Streaming wasn't as big a thing then as it is now.

Thanks for the welcome and it seems like many others replied but no definitive answer yet Re: streaming "The Shining Miniseries" Perhaps other members may know? A few years ago I actually was able to see it one time on TWC - now Spectrum in HD. RARE! It was on Thriller or SciFy channel. So it is NOT non-existent. But there must be a line-up somewhere? The internet is basically VOID and not helpful. The DVD does NOT fill the whole HDTV and the resolution is not as good as HD. Thanks!

 

[ghost19]

I bought it on DVD at a very reasonable price on Amazon several years ago. It has a cool cover on it. If you're looking for a way to watch it that might be an alternative.

 

[The Shining]

I bought it on DVD at a very reasonable price on Amazon several years ago. It has a cool cover on it. If you're looking for a way to watch it that might be an alternative.

ghost19 - Heeey ghost19 thanks I do have King's "The Shining" DVD. But my point is that the DVD playing on a wide format HDTV does not fill the BIG screen horizontally all the way. The point of a BIG screen is just that. Makes a BIG difference to see it this way. And in high definition. I know because I saw it a few years ago on TWC (now Spectrum) Thriller channel by RARE chance and it makes you really feel like you are there. But what eludes me is trying to track down when/where it is streaming every year?

On the other hand the other classic version from the late great director Stanley Kubrick is widely available streaming. And it is awesome on HDTV wide screen. Thanks.
Thanks.
.BTW - Gorgeous Rebecca DeMornay really excelled as Wendy!

On the other hand the other classic version from the late great director Stanley Kubrick is widely available streaming. And it is awesome on HDTV wide screen. Thanks.
Thanks.

 

[Tery]

I actually just watched it again after not seeing it for years. I am going to say it -- I think Steven Weber did a better job of bringing alive the Jack Torrance from the book. You believe he goes from zero to 60 gradually, not in 6.2 seconds like Nicholson did. Yes, I do like him and the Kubrick film just fine, say thankya. But it's not the book except for some major points like setting, names and so forth. Kubrick made a damn fine film; scary and beautiful. But the mini-series sticks to the book. I also liked DeMornay better as Wendy. But I like the Danny from the Kubrick film better. Yeah, he's a bit listless but I can't stand the other Danny's nasal voice. I keep wanting to make him blow his nose. My ideal Danny would be the miniseries kid with the movie kid's voice. Just my issue, YMMV.

 

[ghost19]

I actually just watched it again after not seeing it for years. I am going to say it -- I think Steven Weber did a better job of bringing alive the Jack Torrance from the book. You believe he goes from zero to 60 gradually, not in 6.2 seconds like Nicholson did. Yes, I do like him and the Kubrick film just fine, say thankya. But it's not the book except for some major points like setting, names and so forth. Kubrick made a damn fine film; scary and beautiful. But the mini-series sticks to the book. I also liked DeMornay better as Wendy. But I like the Danny from the Kubrick film better. Yeah, he's a bit listless but I can't stand the other Danny's nasal voice. I keep wanting to make him blow his nose. My ideal Danny would be the miniseries kid with the movie kid's voice. Just my issue, YMMV.

Completely agree Tery. Jack Nicholson, for all his genius in acting, did appear to be BS crazy from the first scene you see him in Steven Weber did a much better job of playing a troubled but still basically a good guy father type. LOL, and yeah, the kid from the mini series was kind of annoying. Someone told me he got his start in soap operas but I don't know if that's true. Kubrick's version is good for shock value, but I think the mini-series definitely paid better homage to Mr. King's original book.

 

[ghost19]

ghost19 - Heeey ghost19 thanks I do have King's "The Shining" DVD. But my point is that the DVD playing on a wide format HDTV does not fill the BIG screen horizontally all the way. The point of a BIG screen is just that. Makes a BIG difference to see it this way. And in high definition. I know because I saw it a few years ago on TWC (now Spectrum) Thriller channel by RARE chance and it makes you really feel like you are there. But what eludes me is trying to track down when/where it is streaming every year?

On the other hand the other classic version from the late great director Stanley Kubrick is widely available streaming. And it is awesome on HDTV wide screen. Thanks.
Thanks.
.BTW - Below gorgeous Rebecca DeMornay really excelled as Wendy!?

On the other hand the other classic version from the late great director Stanley Kubrick is widely available streaming. And it is awesome on HDTV wide screen. Thanks.
Thanks.

Ok I gotcha, sorry about that, I misunderstood your post. Nice pic of Ms. DeMornay btw, she is quite lovely.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Ok I gotcha, sorry about that, I misunderstood your post. Nice pic of Ms. DeMornay btw, she is quite lovely.

....wait'll I tell HER you typed that!.....

 

[ghost19]

....wait'll I tell HER you typed that!.....

Now there’s no need to go telling Kate about that there GNT. Kate Beckinsale wearing a shoulder rig....wow...

 

[Gerald]

1 Aug '18

Hey all I am new here on the SKMB. Does anyone know why King's miniseries "The Shining" never streams EVER for HDTV? Like on Netflix, Spectrum cable etc etc. I mean it is only available on DVDs. Period. Would Like to see it on the BIG HDTV. I think it has something to do between King & Kubrick contract / license or something? Yes? No? Anyone know?? I scanned the internet and nothing.

BTW - I love King's book "The Shining" his miniseries of the same title and Kubrick's movie version. Thanks.

"It'll shine when it shines" - Folk saying

The Shining

It seems to me the miniseries are made exclusively to be aired by a certain network. Ms. Mod will know this better, but I assume that network holds the rights forever, since they ordered the series to be made.
Apart from that for HD it needs to be upscaled to that resolution, which I assume is costly. It's often a matter of not only upscaling, but also restoring it in general.

The great thing about the dvd release here was that it had the audiocommentary with Steve amongst others. I think he did a commentary for The Stand too (at least, appears on the commentary for that), but it was left off here. Regularly commentaries are left off releases here, so it's always great if they leave it on. I remember it was very interesting, with Steve talking at length about things like the phenomenon of miniseries in general.

 

[Moderator]

It seems to me the miniseries are made exclusively to be aired by a certain network. Ms. Mod will know this better, but I assume that network holds the rights forever, since they ordered the series to be made.
Apart from that for HD it needs to be upscaled to that resolution, which I assume is costly. It's often a matter of not only upscaling, but also restoring it in general.

The great thing about the dvd release here was that it had the audiocommentary with Steve amongst others. I think he did a commentary for The Stand too (at least, appears on the commentary for that), but it was left off here. Regularly commentaries are left off releases here, so it's always great if they leave it on. I remember it was very interesting, with Steve talking at length about things like the phenomenon of miniseries in general.

Unless Stephen buys back the rights, they typically stay with the production company or network and it's their right to sell them to someone else.

 

[Gerald]

I actually just watched it again after not seeing it for years. I am going to say it -- I think Steven Weber did a better job of bringing alive the Jack Torrance from the book. You believe he goes from zero to 60 gradually, not in 6.2 seconds like Nicholson did. Yes, I do like him and the Kubrick film just fine, say thankya. But it's not the book except for some major points like setting, names and so forth. Kubrick made a damn fine film; scary and beautiful. But the mini-series sticks to the book. I also liked DeMornay better as Wendy. But I like the Danny from the Kubrick film better. Yeah, he's a bit listless but I can't stand the other Danny's nasal voice. I keep wanting to make him blow his nose. My ideal Danny would be the miniseries kid with the movie kid's voice. Just my issue, YMMV.

Certainly the voice of Danny wasn't great, but I thought the casting of Courtland Mead as Danny was very bad in general. He has this high upper lip which makes him look utterly amazed all the time, to the point where it's very distracting. It's just not a good look for the role.

I liked DeMornay too, but I don't know about Steven Weber. Maybe I've never seen him in something good, but I associate him with mediocre Mick Garris films, because that's the only thing I know him from.

 

[Gerald]

I looked up Weber and I know him from a few things more: he was in the second season of Helix, Mel Brooks' Dracula: Dead and Loving It, and he apparently was in Single White Female too, the thriller with Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, but it's been ages since I've seen that. He has a lot of credits (150 at the moment), but most I don't know.

The problem with a lot of SK miniseries has always been that on the one hand, since they're longer they can include much more from the book, but they often were made for networks that clearly didn't want them to be too intense or frightening or gory, so you get this cleaned up, toned-down version of his work, that just never gets really tense even while staying relatively faithful to the source material. The Shining was no exception unfortunately.

 

[The Shining]

....wait'll I tell HER you typed that!.....

I assume the picture I posted of gorgeous Rebecca DeMornay recently was taken down either b/c I am new or copyright reasons. Anyone know? Thanks. I see your picture is still posted.

 

[Moderator]

I assume the picture I posted of gorgeous Rebecca DeMornay recently was taken down either b/c I am new or copyright reasons. Anyone know? Thanks. I see your picture is still posted.

Had you posted one with more outerwear, it wouldn't have been a problem.

 

[kingricefan]

Had you posted one with more outerwear, it wouldn't have been a problem.