Shining's Lost Finale Photo Resurfaces After 45 Years

Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation of The Shining features one of cinema’s most unforgettable closing shots: a haunting photograph from the Overlook Hotel’s 1921 Fourth of July ball, showing Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) prominently positioned despite not yet being born at the time. Nicholson’s image was digitally inserted into an actual historical photo, altered specifically for the movie. The original photograph faded into obscurity after its use in the film—until now. Yes, Shining fans, the authentic 1921 Fourth of July ball image has been discovered a remarkable 45 years after the movie’s release.

Retired University of Winchester academic Alasdair Spark detailed the process of tracking down the photo on Getty's Instagram. “After facial recognition software identified the unknown man in The Shining’s final photograph as Santos Casani, a London ballroom dancer, I can confirm the photo was one of three taken by the Topical Press Agency at a Valentine’s Day Ball on February 14, 1921, at the Empress Rooms in Kensington’s Royal Palace Hotel,” he stated. The post included a fresh scan from the original glass-plate negative, along with supporting handwritten documents.

Spark shared how he, along with New York Times staffer Arick Toller and numerous dedicated Redditors, undertook a challenging search to locate the image. “It began to feel impossible—every cross-reference to Casani came up empty. Other plausible leads didn’t match,” he wrote via Getty. “Some locations we couldn’t find any images of, and we worried the photo might be lost forever.” ⁠

The historian further explained that on-set photographer Murray Close—who captured the Nicholson photo superimposed over Casani for the film—had previously told him the picture came from the BBC Hulton Library. Aware that Hulton acquired Topical Press in 1958 and Getty took over in 1991, Spark realized the original might be among the agency’s vast collection. Their search revealed the photo had been licensed to Hawk Films, Kubrick’s production company, on October 10, 1978, clearly for use in The Shining.

“Joan Smith believed the photo was from 1923, but Stanley Kubrick said 1921—and he was right,” Spark concluded. “The image doesn’t depict any of the celebrities I suspected—such as the Trix Sisters—nor the bankers, financiers, or presidents suggested by others like Rob Ager. There are no devil worshippers either. No one was digitally added except Jack Nicholson. It’s simply a group of everyday Londoners enjoying a Monday evening. ‘All the best people,’ as the Overlook Hotel’s manager remarked."

If this discovery doesn’t bring a little warmth to any movie lover’s heart, what will? Stephen King’s novel The Shining, released in 1977, has been adapted twice: Kubrick’s iconic film and horror master Mick Garris’s faithful 1997 miniseries.