Today in History - May 23: Child actor had no idea he was starring in a horror movie
The classic horror film The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson and directed by Stanley Kubrick, was released to American cinemas on May 23, 1980.
Based on the Stephen King book, the psychological thriller is considered one of the scariest films of all time.
This was all unknown to child star Danny Lloyd, who throughout production thought he was making a drama movie.
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Danny Lloyd never knew he was in a horror movie. Warner Bros
The horror elements of the film were kept secret from Lloyd, with director Stanley Kubrick fiercely protective of the young actor.
Lloyd would not watch the movie until five years after it was released.
He did not pursue a career in acting and is now a biology professor.
While Kubrick was kind to Lloyd, he was famously cruel to actress Shelley Duvall.
Duvall would be forced to endure intensely long days in which she would be required to stay in a state of terror and hysteria.
One shot required 127 takes of Duvall, a Guinness World Record.
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Shelley Duvall in The Shining. Warner Bros
Co-star Jack Nicholson said Kubrick would be "a different director" around Duvall.
Despite its current reputation, The Shining was a critical flop, receiving Razzie nominations for Worst Director and Worst Actress.
It opened the same week as another highly anticipated movie about a tense and eventually violent relationship between a father and son, The Empire Strikes Back.
While the Star Wars sequel was a colossal hit, The Shining actually sold more tickets in its opening weekend on a per-theatre average.
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Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining Warner Bros.
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