Axe from The Shining to be auctioned with Stanley Kubrick archive at Bonhams
Bonhams will auction the axe Jack Nicholson used in The Shining, estimated at £30,000–£50,000, among items from Stanley Kubrick's personal archive. The sale is on 3 February in London, with exhibitions beforehand.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The axe Jack Nicholson used in the 1980 horror film The Shining, when he delivered the line "Here's Johnny!", is to be sold at auction. The GuardianLC “The axe wielded by Jack Nicholson as he delivered his chillingly manic line “Here’s Johnny!” in the 1980 horror movie The Shining is to go on sale.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “The axe used by Jack Nicholson as he delivered the famous line “Here’s Johnny!” in the 1980 horror film The Shining is to go on sale.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets give an estimate of £30,000 to £50,000 for the axe. The GuardianLC “One of cinema’s most famous axes could be yours for a list price of between £30,000 and £50,000.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “is estimated to sell for £30,000 to £50,000,” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2It is one of hundreds of items in the first auction of the personal archive of director Stanley Kubrick, who died in 1999. The GuardianLC “It is one of hundreds of items in the first auction of the personal archive of The Shining’s influential director, Stanley Kubrick, who died in 1999.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “Items from director Stanley Kubrick’s personal archive are to go to auction for the first time next year.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2In the film, Nicholson's character Jack Torrance uses the axe to break through a locked door protecting his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall). The Guardian adds that it is also the weapon used to kill Dick Hallorann. The GuardianLC “Nicholson’s character, Jack Torrance, uses the axe to hack out an opening in a locked door protecting his terrified wife Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “Jack slammed the axe through a bathroom door as he attempted to murder his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall)” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The most valuable lot is expected to be the Star Child prop, the glowing foetus from the final scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). The Guardian says it could fetch as much as £800,000, and the Evening Standard gives a range of £600,000 to £800,000. The GuardianLC “it is predicted to fetch as much as £800,000.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “which is expected to fetch between £600,000 and £800,000.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Other Shining items include the blue dresses worn by the Grady sisters, estimated at £40,000 to £60,000, and a clapperboard from the film, estimated at £10,000 to £15,000. The Guardian says the clapperboard is one of four from Kubrick films in the sale, the others being from 2001, Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut, and that Danny's tricycle is not included. Evening StandardN “Among the other memorabilia are the blue dresses worn by the Grady sisters from The Shining, which are expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.”“a clapperboard used on the set of The Shining, estimated to sell for £10,000 to £15,000” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “The boy’s trike is not part of the sale, but a clapperboard used in the film is one of four from Kubrick’s movies to go under the hammer.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Centre · 1Annotated scripts are also offered: Lolita (1962) at £40,000 to £60,000 and Spartacus (1960) at £20,000 to £40,000, plus Kubrick's annotated treatment for Journey Beyond The Stars, the original working title of 2001, at £30,000 to £50,000. Evening StandardN “The director’s annotated script for Lolita (1962) is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000, while the annotated script for Spartacus (1960) is expected to sell for £20,000 to £40,000.”“Kubrick’s annotated copy of the film story treatment of Journey Beyond The Stars, the original working title of 2001: A Space Odyssey, is estimated to sell for between £30,000 and £50,000.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Further lots include the "Born To Kill" helmet from Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Kubrick's viewfinder (each £10,000 to £15,000), his director's chair (£8,000 to £12,000), and an Eyes Wide Shut cloak (£3,000 to £5,000). The Guardian also mentions his chess set. Evening StandardN “Kubrick’s director’s chair could fetch between £8,000 and £12,000, and a cloak used in Eyes Wide Shut could fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “Tole-Moir said the lot that best illustrated Kubrick’s personality was his chess set.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2The auction is at Bonhams on 3 February. The Guardian reports public exhibitions starting next week in New York, then Los Angeles, Paris and London from 18 January. The Evening Standard reports a free exhibition at Bonhams New Bond Street from 18 January to 3 February, and an online sale ending on 4 February at 12pm. The GuardianLC “The auction will take place at Bonhams in London on 3 February, after public exhibitions that start next week at Bonhams in New York, before going on to Los Angeles, Paris and then London on 18 January.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “The auction will take place on February 3, with an online auction ending on February 4 at 12pm.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Claire Tole-Moir, Bonhams' head of popular culture, called the sale "a landmark moment to get closer to some of the most iconic films ever made". She said Kubrick's archive is distinctive for its depth, quality and intellect. The GuardianLC ““Other directors’ collections have appeared at auction over the years, but Stanley Kubrick’s archive is truly distinctive in its depth, quality and intellect.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN ““This is a landmark moment to get closer to some of the most iconic films ever made, explore Kubrick’s creative process and get to know more of the man behind the camera.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Kubrick's stepdaughter Katharina Kubrick said the family is proud to share items from the collection, which they hope will "find new homes". Evening StandardN ““We are proud to be able to share with you some of the items from this unique collection, which we hope will find new homes and be cherished until it is time to pass them on to the next generation of film lovers.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- An exclusive, scene-setting feature built around the axe and Bonhams' commentary on Kubrick's influence.
- Emphasis
- Tole-Moir's quotes on Kubrick's legacy, his scripts and chess set, and the international exhibition tour.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives few estimates beyond the axe, the Star Child and the director's chair.
- Charged language
- “chillingly manic”“cinematic masterpiece”
- For example
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“Few people had as much of an overwhelming impact on visual culture as Kubrick.” — The Guardian
“it is a cinematic masterpiece” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A concise, press-release-style report listing lots and estimates.
- Emphasis
- A detailed list of price estimates, and the statement from Kubrick's stepdaughter Katharina Kubrick.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the New York, Los Angeles or Paris exhibitions, or the chess set.
- Charged language
- “A true visionary”
- For example
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“Kubrick’s director’s chair could fetch between £8,000 and £12,000, and a cloak used in Eyes Wide Shut could fetch between £3,000 and £5,000.” — Evening Standard
“A true visionary, Kubrick’s incredible influence cannot be overstated” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The axe from The Shining is to be sold at Bonhams with an estimate of £30,000 to £50,000.
- The sale is the first auction of items from Stanley Kubrick's personal archive.
- The auction is on 3 February, preceded by public exhibitions.
- The Star Child prop from 2001: A Space Odyssey is expected to fetch up to £800,000.
Where accounts differ
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Exhibition schedule and which door the axe breaks
- Left
- The Guardian says exhibitions begin next week in New York, then Los Angeles, Paris and London from 18 January, and that the axe breaks through a locked door protecting Wendy.
- Centre
- The Evening Standard mentions only a free London exhibition from 18 January to 3 February, and says Jack slammed the axe through a bathroom door.
Stanley Kubrick person
Kubrick is described by Bonhams and his stepdaughter as an influential, revered director whose work endures. The family say they hope the items will find new homes.
“His stepdaughter Katharina Kubrick said: “I believe Stanley is one of the few film directors whose life and movies continue to be extensively studied and revered” — Evening Standard
“it spawned the adjective Kubrickian” — The Guardian
The Shining (1980 film) other
The film supplies several lots, including the axe, the Grady sisters' dresses and a clapperboard.
“Among the other memorabilia are the blue dresses worn by the Grady sisters from The Shining” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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The Shining axe used by Jack Nicholson for sale as part Stanley Kubrick auction
Mixed Exclusive that leads with the axe and relies on Bonhams' praise of Kubrick, with a nod to the Guardian's own obituary describing him as enigmatic and dictatorial.
Centre1 article
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Axe used by Jack Nicholson in The Shining to go on sale
Neutral Straightforward listing of lots, estimates and statements from Bonhams and Kubrick's stepdaughter.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 6 Oct 10:00 First The GuardianLC The Shining axe used by Jack Nicholson for sale as part Stanley Kubrick auction
- 6 Oct 12:46 +2h 46m Evening StandardN Axe used by Jack Nicholson in The Shining to go on sale
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.