THE SHINING - KUBRICK'S GOLD STORY pt2 film analysis by Rob Ager

[@ProjectV6]

I think the reason Jack is in the picture at the end is because he said that he would give his soul for a drink and then he got one. He said he knew he had money in his wallet, but there wasn't any the first time. When he went in the second time and got his drink, he had the money that time but they wouldn't accept it, because he has already paid in full with his soul. Just something I noticed...

[@spaceclown7650]

I noticed that too. Literally right after Jack says (to himself) that he'd give his soul for a glass of beer, "Lloyd" appears for the first time and they begin talking. Almost like a devil appearing out of thin air and offering him a deal. Also, I've noticed that the way Jack talks doesn't sound entirely like the character ... the whole thing about "white man's burden" for instance. Why would Jack Torrance have said that out of the blue? To me it sounds like something the earlier Jack Torrance might have said back at that 1921 ball while hobnobbing with the other wealthy socialites. It's like he temporarily merged with his earlier identity, and his earlier identity was guiding the dialogue.

[@wheelmanstan]

and they say mirrors are portals for demonic entities, or a doorway for spirits, if you ever see a mirror painted black, stay away from it, haha

[@jjsfourthphone]

@@wheelmanstan how would you know it was a mirror if it was painted black

[@wheelmanstan]

@@jjsfourthphone how would you not know?

[@jjsfourthphone]

@@wheelmanstan so i can assume every single painted wall is a mirror, how logical.

[@vdr3846]

Wow, I hope Rob is never asked to pick someone out of a police lineup.

[@MarcillaSmith]

What are the "gold themes"?

[@hyakugame]

he's so bad at identifying people lollll

[@martynstembridge7714]

Yup ... His facial recognition radar is seriously broken ...

[@matthewmosier8439]

I think the point in the video stands

[@Wallyworld30]

If they have similar mustaches they have got to be the same person. Ears change over time so ignore that.

[@RogueWave1003]

"Your money's no good here" and "orders from the house" is just a clever play on words. Typically, "orders from the house" means "orders from the management" in the service industry (as Lloyd here is a part of). Here he means the orders are from the house literally. The Overlook "shines" it has a cognizance and it's trying to lure Jack in with free alcohol.

[@billslocum9819]

My take as well, though Rob's theory is a good alternative explanation for just why that particular phase of Lloyd's would be employed. Money from the future would be no good in the past, not only for its lack of proper gold backing but the fact it was printed later.

[@donaldcooper2794]

"orders from the house" could also be a cryptic reference to Colonel Mendel House, advisor to President Woodrow Wilson.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@billslocum9819 hmm.

[@fannimadarasz2125]

What about Jacks "Baphamet" pose?

[@pby1000]

That is what I am wondering... Have you listened to Bill Cooper's discussion of 2001: A Space Odyssey?

[@typeNtardis]

Aka left hand path / right hand path. I believe Jack is doing RHP and someone is tugging his right arm down, like "cool it boyo" ... it has me curious

[@syarbery6756]

No that is an astute observation that DOES fit the themes of the film!

[@johnstrong3029]

It's a valid question, for sure.

[@Jaxoneditscowboys88]

The first shot in the movie is the reflection in the lake. As above so below. That's also the last shot with Jack's pose in the picture.

[@witchboy]

Another interesting thing is that the song playing over the photograph is voiced by Al Bowlly - who was born in Johannesburg. The majority of the world's gold reserve at that time was mined in and around Johannesburg. In fact, shortly after the gold price drop in dec 1921, there were massive strikes (the Rand Rebellion etc) in and around Johannesburg because of the effects of the Federal Reserve.

[@ernman1]

There's no new or old gold room. Ullman tours the family through the exact same room that Jack later has his visions in. The scenes shown of Wendy entering the "new gold" room were that of the hotel lobby.

[@zerokomma]

Bit off topic but ever notice that Shelley Duvall wears the same outfit/colors as a little Goofy (the disney dog) figurine in the scene where the doctor examines Danny in is bedroom?

[@lostinspacerobinson1527]

And if you look close there is a goofy doll to her left our right on the shelf ..... sorry so late ...

[@watermelonlalala]

She's Goofy and Danny is Dopey.

[@edgarroberts8740]

I'm afraid I can't give you a better source, but I've heard through the online grapevine that Kubrick actually taunted and insulted Duvall by comparing her appearance to that of a Goofy doll he had on set. So, what you're seeing may well be deliberate, albeit with some sinister undertones...

[@noufsaid]

the new gold room has no gold bars = the new federal reserve has no gold bars

[@appenginenode]

That object in Jack's hand is a party blower. You can see a male using one to the left of Jack (about three people to the left)

[@a.b.gibson6521]

Yes! That's what I thought, too.

[@montydaniels1054]

@@a.b.gibson6521 Too small. Whatever it is, it doesn't go past the width of Jack's thumb, whereas the party blower is about 2-3 times wider and would be seen with the curled end showing. Whatever it is, it's flat, or very thin. Could have been cocaine. It was still a party drug among the elite, or higher class if you will, back in 1921. I believe with a little toot, you could keep on drinking till you needed another toot.....

[@glamdolly30]

Good catch! Absolutely right - it's a party blower. And there are no famous politicians or indeed any other kind of celebrity in the picture. The image is merely a generic photo of a 'twenties party in a large venue, which served Kubrick's purposes as the setting for his final reveal of Jack Torrance pictured in 1921 (as Kubrick himself spelled out in interviews, the picture reflected that Torrance was the reincarnation of killer caretaker Grady).

[@algomaone121]

"The Shining" could refer to the appearance of gold itself!!

[@AL-gx2wd]

yes but see it this way : maybe it's because of the original title (which may also refer to the shining of gold) that kubrick chose to incorporate the hidden theme in this particular movie

[@manthonychavez]

@@AL-gx2wd right, there is lights in other movies, like Christmas in Eyes Wide Shut, but the symbolism is different.

[@syarbery6756]

Except the shining comes from Stephen king not Kubrick.

[@juzujuzu4555]

Jack Nicholson says in one flew over... that there's shine on my pants. Meaning piss. Shining means in English slang something that is pissed over, fake, scam, etc. and the whole film is filled with different scams. But the film still has many different layers. Kubrick is the best artist on this planet period, and sits in the pantheon of most intelligent persons that ever lived. So if you are genius that want to feel humble, start analyzing The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut.

[@daveshif2514]

makes me think of the Louisiana purchase

[@Decimaster321]

You really lawyered your way out of the conspiracy theory accusations, Rob :p

[@1060michaelg]

Decimaster321 A brilliant preemptive attack on the mindless lunatics who are unwilling or unable to entertain that which is too troubling to believe. Brilliant job by Rob.

[@CJM-rg5rt]

@@1060michaelg It really is eye's wide shut with our system. It's hard not to be pissed off when people willingly choose to be zombies. All the smart people are right there with them too, if they want to be functional they have an advantage in building really good delusions.

[@daveshif2514]

@@CJM-rg5rt you can make more money in this lifetime by fooling those sheep than you can with any other type of work. in a capitalism, that is a good thing, right? im ok with it.

[@freewilliam93]

The gold theory from room and no modern money accepted at the bar, but these face comparisons are just a little.....eh......

[@SEAL341]

Great work. If the film wasn't so damn creepy I'd watch again and again but it genuinely disturbs me. An interminable feeling of dread exists right from the start. I've seen it maybe twenty times over the years and every time Danny rounds that corner and sees the two girls and the end of the corridor all the hairs on my neck stand upright. I'm halfway through the novel presently and it has the same effect on me.

[@apartofshiningthomas7121]

Scared the crap out of me. And I read the book twice. I think the remake in 97 sucked Nothing can redo the 1st film.

[@jimmymelendez1836]

@@apartofshiningthomas7121 I think the 97 version was pretty good but not the greatest. The 97 version is closer to the book.

[@Ubersnuber]

I'm curious. Which part of the book freaked you out the most? For me, it was after Danny gets out of room 237 and slams the door behind him, sitting with his back against the opposing wall staring at the door, and the doorknob starts moving. The fear I felt, is like a lighter version of when you wake up from one of your very worst nightmares and the terror is still fresh in your mind.

[@drewpowers7236]

...and the paper in his hand gives us the impression its important or has value. like its a secret. but the only thing that gives it value is our perception that it must have value. much like our fiat money that these people gave us. so u have the gold room once with gold and now u have a gold room with no gold and pictures of the people possibly behind the removal of the gold and a picture of the main character holding some paper that for all we know is just a piece of worthless paper...like our money...held up by the belief it must have value

[@Datanditto]

Heiner Schnicksler exactly- in the event someone had a super telescope and can see the tiny worthless piece of paper in the fleeting scene it is hidden in.

[@drewpowers7236]

@@Datanditto how was it a fleeting scene? It's not like it was on the wall as an extra walked past it for 3 seconds in the middle of the movie. It was the damn ending of the movie and Kubrick took over a minute to zoom us down the hallway to end on that shot of that picture. What it may or may not mean...sure...who really knows. But it was definitely significant and done with intent and you didn't need no telescope to see it

[@Bonedadyo]

Maybe this is a stretch, but Wendy pushing the room service caddy looks a lot like bulk gold/currency being transported around by cart.

[@alexeisavrasov888]

it's a 'gold' breakfast...look at the way she lovingly pushes it and admires her handiwork, as if it was gold

[@jameswbell7084]

it's also a stretch that she looks like she's running/walking on a gold bar carpet?! What ThE SHiNiNg needs is yet another remake only directed by another Jewish Director cryptically named "GoLdBeRk"

[@matteframe]

Start with a theory. Cram any and every reference to that theory into your 'evidence'. Admit that the evidence is probably due to a well known human phychological need to find order where there isn't any. Claim that Kubrick is actually tapping into every viewers' individual sub-conscious. Profit?

[@juzujuzu4555]

@@matteframe The fun thing about Kubrick is that pretty much everything that he actually did put there on purpose can be verified by quite good certainty. That just takes huge amount of effort, but there will be certain different kind of evidence as confirmation that what you found was there on purpose. Some theories are carefully allowed to exist, to lure people in to come up with as many theories as possible. And Kubrick certainly succeeded. And Kubrick also have these confirmations on Full Metal Jacket and on Eyes Wide Shut.

[@indecentinkartwork]

It's a stretch

[@beagarrad639]

I really don’t see any similarities between the old pictures in the ballroom and the people you say they are. I totally see it when you compare the old and new photos of actors, probably because it’s clear they are the same person. The faces in the ballroom are totally different and it makes it look like you just want to bend reality to make a point

[@TheObbyblobby]

Rob analyize: One Hour Photo (2002)

[@J5L5M6]

I knew the producer of that film pretty well. I was a clerk at a Ralph Lauren store when I was in university and would help him rather frequently. The man was very strange. Nice enough, but strange as all get out, even eerily similar to Williams' character in One Hour Photo. What's more, and kind of inline with this video's theme of people in power, Mr. Strum's (the producer of One Hour Photo) family is a powerhouse of wealth and influence here in the Rocky Mountain Region. A substantial amount of the University of Denver's Law School is named after them, along with other arts and education buildings throughout the city of Denver. Would definitely be interesting to see behind that curtain.

[@wltrbet]

Fascinating has always Rob...Off topic, did you ever notice the overlook lobby looks amazingly similar to the basic training bunk in FMJ ?

[@ToGetToTerrapin]

the gurney Shelley Duvall is pushing is similar to those used at Mints and one I've seen from a Ft Knox documentary.

[@timtims2258]

Just last week I was browsing through your three youtube accounts searching for this analysis. And here it is, just uploaded yesterday. Thank for this.

[@adamkhabazian3249]

it's nice to find a person who has brains and talks about movies. very rare these days

[@markhirstwood4190]

the 'shining' bars of gold, huh, never considered a double meaning.

[@joeyjojo9135]

Thank you, you have instilled a whole new respect for the Shinning, a movie I watched as a kid.

[@MarshalTennerWinter]

im sorry, i like your vids so far, but cmon, the people you say appear to be in the photo look NOTHING WHATSOEVER like the people you are saying they look like.

[@Ighnot]

Marshal Tenner Winter It’s called reaching.

[@billslocum9819]

Yeah, the Wilson theme is an obvious reach. I can't see any of those faces as the ones Rob posits. The FDR candidate looks more like Merv Griffin to me (though Merv does have his own cinematic connection with hotels...)

[@PerpetualArt]

@@billslocum9819 + I have been watching these videos for about a year, and at first I thought he really knew something that everyone else didn't. Now I am thinking it may all be his interpretation, no more correct than yours or mine.

[@majik5194]

Yea and when you've got like 100 different blurry faces it's pretty easy to pick and choose

[@dangasp23]

The only one that looked similar was the middle parted hair guy last video

[@Jared_Wignall]

Could you do another analysis on Dr. Strangelove for KZbin? I'd like to know if you've got any new information about some of the details of the film.

[@NoPainNoGain200]

Jared Wignall great request 🐼🐼🐼

[@MaestroMephisto]

+Rob Ager - I would love to have this kind of creative genius to make a film with a focused storyline yet throw in all types of subliminal messages throughout. So far we've got the messages about gold and the federal reserve, the genocide of the native Indians and I think I've also noticed a video on KZbin (not watched yet) referring to the Holocaust. How many damn movies was Kubrick putting together in just one film? LOL. Genius! What I thought for years was just a movie about a haunted hotel has gotten more interesting. I'm surprised though that Kubrick didn't focus some of his subliminal messages on the actual haunting of the Stanley Hotel which the Overlook is based on. And why didn't he do at least SOME of the filming on the actual location?

[@mitchg7809]

Phil Maestro and it's about how Kubrick faked the moon landing..Hail Satan!

[@spaceclown7650]

@@mitchg7809 Such cutting wit.

[@quentinoverlord8610]

just a thought did dropping the gold standard have any impact on Black Tuesday stock market collapse in 1929 and the USA loans being recalled from Germany, resulting in the complete collapse of the German economy and the circumstances which led to Mr Hitler gaining power.

[@brainwasher9876]

None of these people look anything like the people you compared them to.

[@braddockakalatis2]

Wait a sec. Stanley Kubrick died 9 years and 11 months before Bitcoin went online. And 9-11 indirectly caused the depression of 2008 which gave the incentive to create bitcoin. Stanley Kubrick is Satoshi Nakamoto.

[@raaaaaaaaaam496]

braddockakalatis2 how did 9-11 cause a mortgage market crash?

[@braddockakalatis2]

All the war that followed took up resources that would've otherwise been used for jobs and wealth in America which would have allowed many to keep up with their insane payments. Maybe it just sped up something that would've happened later.

[@bowmanarcher3147]

Hi love what you do rob. What about kubricks daughter making the sign with her long cigarette holder and her glass as jack bumps into the caretaker and spills his drink. That looks like the triangle and eye sign. What else could it be rob ?

[@tollbar5468]

Wow! That's amazing. So the figure in the photo that Jack replaced was originally Joel Grey :¬)

[@glamdolly30]

Nope! None of the US politicians this video misidentified as appearing in the period photo used in 'The Shining', are actually in it. The narrator's conclusions are frankly silly! The image used in 'The Shining's closing scene is merely a generic 'library photo' of a 1920s party, that Kubrick sourced as the backdrop for his final Jack Torrance reveal ("You're the caretaker... You've always been the caretaker...") The faces pictured are all non famous, and long dead.

[@spacemanski]

@@glamdolly30 Well the mystery man Nicholson was pasted over was famous - Santos Casani. Google him.

[@triciathornton5423]

At 6.50 in this clip, Jack walks down a hall of mirrors. As he passes the last mirror there is no reflection of Jack. I believe Kubrick has cleverly brought the audience into the novel that Jack Torrance was writing, everything that happened in the Shining only happened in jack's novel.

[@mattjames9410]

I’ve never heard anyone comment on the similarities between this ending and that of “Burnt Offerings.”

[@zanzer386]

I’ve been saying this exact thing! Burnt Offerings terrified me as a kid as did the Shining, they both had a similarity that I couldn’t put my finger on. The movie Ghost Story with Fred Astaire also gave me that feeling of elite men of privilege getting away with murder but being eternally haunted by it

[@KevinKolbGOAT]

"Farewell gesture"? That's "as above, so below."

[@briansinger5258]

Ager’s in on it!

[@briansinger5258]

Seriously though, that’s definitely _as above so below._

[@ianjedi1282]

The fingers aren't doing anything. So every time someone raises an arm they're doing the baphomet pose? This sounds like an unlikely interpretation.

[@ivanalexismarquezrangel6418]

As above so below? What's that

[@MsDormy]

@@ivanalexismarquezrangel6418 it’s a reference to the occult maxim, ‘as above, so below’ - that our world is a reflection of a higher, spiritual world; and that these two worlds are connected, and influences on one will impact the other. References to ‘Baphomet ‘ are talking about the symbol of a god or daemon, whose form is a mixture of man/woman/beast and who points one arm raised towards heaven, the other down towards earth.

[@robag555]

@ Brian Stevenson If you look on the HD version of the film it's just a plume design on her dress, not a handprint, though perhaps still relevant. It's mentioned somewhere in my Shining article.

[@AbIllinois]

If you google image Edmund Platt, there's a photo of him sitting at a desk, looking at the camera. He looks an awful lot like "Nosferatu"

[@madmaxbocka]

speaking of handprints, Mr. Rob Ager, do you think at 1:577 in the bluray of 2001, or, the scene right after Dave listens to the transmission from Floyd after killing the memory and logic center of Hal 9000, there seems to be a fingerprint on the lens on the left I think.... The character's right. It flashes with the TV light, but it almost looks green because of the red background. Am I crazy at making this observation? Or is it there?

[@annnedroyd6745]

It looks to me like a Fleur-de-lys representing the House of Bourbon or more generally European old money. She causes the butler to spill advocaat "the lawyer's drink" on Jack. The butler later talks like a lawyer in the bathroom ("...bring an outside party into this situation..."). The butler specifies the application of water to the spillage, this could refer to the Admiralty/Maritime or commercial law contracts which subsequently ensnared the American public and returned control of American finances to the old world.

[@cnsmooth]

Annne Droyd This is very interesting but I have only just seen the film, can someone PLEASE tell me if there is as video talking about the meanings behind the various visual cues in the film? There has to be a through analyse but all I can find is some fake moondlanding nonsense

[@rickklaastad8371]

LOL, your analysis is a hoot! (Do I detect a New Orleanian behind Ms 'Droyd'?)

[@sarahc4409]

Rob, i do not believe that Jack is making a farewell gesture. It appears to be the gesture of Baphomet.

[@gruvergoods6430]

I saw that too.

[@geraldinepickering2636]

Yes Junkb0x,he shows his allegience.

[@alexandersalmas21]

@Merrimour The Red Rob Ager has a debunking video on the "fake moon-landing" interpretation.

[@maleficentshadows3967]

junkb0x ! Jacks head ONLY was superimposed over the original man, and it's the original mans hands possibly making that stance, not Jack and not Stanley...

[@roxyfoxyyy7]

Maleficent Shadows well that’s even weirder. Lol old pictures tend to creep me out anyways for whatever reason

[@MNA7movie]

Jack's arm positions in the photo at the end are also like the arm position of Baphomet. As above so below. Did you ever explore that and who that guy really was the Jack is superimposed on? Maybe it is supposed to bring attention to him? Just a thought. Love to hear what you think about that. Great videos. Thank you.

[@jdavis417]

Is the man flashing a vial in his hand? Are we looking at a cocaine party & he is the host/supplier?

[@ianjedi1282]

The fingers aren't doing anythung like the pose, it just seems like a stretch to me.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@jdavis417 In 1921? That makes zero sense.

[@montydaniels1054]

@@jdavis417 Prohibition had started in 1920. The folks at that party would have been drinking alcohol but yes cocaine was still being used as a party drug by the well to do, higher class, or elite, whatever name you wanna use for them. A little toot & you could keep on drinking...

[@marclawson6144]

I can tell you will full confidence that none of those people in the photo are the people you suggested. It is very obvious to me and I am excellent at faces. Pareidolia.

[@temetnosce6192]

Thank you Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Bowie :-)

[@mrt77wv]

Anybody seen the 4k version? I'm wondering how easy it is to see each of the photos in it. None of my TVs or monitors go that high.

[@kdawwwg40]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but the new Gold Room does have gold bars. When Ullman is showing them around at the beginning of the movie, he takes them to the gold room (around the 24 minute mark), and the room has it's signature gold bar walls. In fact, it appears to be the exact same room in the "past" and "present", as opposed to the "two different Gold Rooms" referenced in this video. If you compare shots from around the 24 minute mark and the 1 hour and 24 minute mark, you can see the rooms in all their identical glory (aside from the decor and people present in the latter shot). Again, happy to be proven wrong on this.

[@nicolashrv]

You are wrong, therefore here is the correction: the NEW GOLD ROOM is the one in the LAST SHOT of the movie, when the zoom in to the Jack's photo happens. You can clearly see the board "GOLD ROOM" on the right.

[@usmh]

Why would the bartender have to refer to "orders from the house?" If someone gave him currency which is outdated, foreign, not recognizable because it hasn't been printed yet or otherwise non-legit currency he would simply refuse it. No orders needed. With that in mind it seems that the orders from the house simply are about Jack not having to pay for drinks.

[@cnsmooth]

usmh WOuldnt the house be fort knox? or the ho9use of representatkive not recopgnising paper money

[@widdomonki238]

fascinating stuff... but did you ever consider that the title of the film itself is also relevant to gold itself?

[@billslocum9819]

Maybe the title appealed to Kubrick on that basis, but the title was Stephen King's, who was not on the same wavelength with Stanley on any of this stuff.

[@playbackproductions1]

Bill Burr said it best when he was at a college football game and looked up a some mansions overlooking the stadium and imagined a banker telling his son, "look son, see all those people down there? They all owe daddy money."

[@spaceclown7650]

Burr hit the nail on the head.

[@slimithy12]

Man I loved the last couple minutes of this video. Great stuff Rob.

[@TeslaKuhn8]

love the old/new gold room.

[@brianmcpherson2134]

"the Joint Chiefs of Staff meet regularly in the Gold Room in the heart of the windowless JCS area of the Pentagon. the agenda for each meeting is selected with care, running from routine unclassified items to those of the very highest classification." Col L Fletcher Prouty.

[@jameshilger1818]

Have you noticed that Jack, as he’s placed in the crowd, looks like the point of an inverted pyramid? This, of course, recalls the pyramid on the American dollar bill.

[@HolographicSweater]

a better term than conspiracy theory might be something like “cryptic interpretation” or “speculative esoteric interpretation”

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

You can also see Elvis, Bigfoot and Waldo in that crowd photo.

[@matteframe]

The premise of this is interesting.. But it went down the 'lizard people' rabbit hole at some point. The specific individuals who are *possibly* in the photos or scrapbook are only interesting with much deeper arguments about the gold standard itself and what it could even have to do with the film. The same argument you make about the lack of depth to the moon landing theory applies here. There just isn't enough meat on this bone.

[@randomhumanoidblob4506]

I'm probably being very dumb, but if the large Gold Room existed in the past (which I think is what you're saying - when Jack enters the GR he enters a past incarnation of the hotel?) then how did Ullman show them it on the tour? Am I misunderstanding? I could totally buy only Jack accessing parts of the hotel that no longer existed but that particular room is part of the tour, they all see it. Unless you're saying we're actually seeing the 1920 photo at some point in the future? Someone with a brain help out Blob, please.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

The decor in the old photo is much more tropical. Which could be a clue. It reminds me of the Cocoanut Grove. There was one in LA, the original. But another in Boston which was extremely corrupt and caught fire when a bellboy tried to light a match to replace a small bulb. It has an undetermined cause, because NOTHING in there was legal even in 1942. It was said the wall felt hot (November) BEFORE the fire.

[@raulfernandez57]

Did you even watch his first video? He doesn't say the room is in the 1920's but the party. Either Jack is imagining/hallucinating himself into or the hotel set up a party of the past.

[@randomhumanoidblob4506]

@raul fernandez Yes, of course I watched it which is why the confusion. We SEE Jack at the party and it's very clearly in the same Gold Room that they are all shown in the tour. If it only existed in the past, how could they all be shown it? He doesn't say it's differently decorated (besides, we can see it isn't except on a very temporary level) he says it's no longer extant. So how can the rest of them experience it on the tour? It's not even explained by collective hallucination, as it's is very obviously experienced by everybody before the Torrances are left alone.

[@raulfernandez57]

@@randomhumanoidblob4506 But again, Bob doesn't say that only Jack can see the Gold Room. At most that it's spacially impossible, it has to do with space not time.

[@randomhumanoidblob4506]

@raul fernandez @6.45 "...because the old Gold Room doesn't exist any more." I get the spatial anomalies and I have no problem with the concept of Jack/caretaker accessing previous incarnations of the hotel. But if the old Gold Room doesn't exist - as is stated at 6.45 - how could the rest of them see it on the tour? I could buy the family unit experiencing the old version, but Ullman is with them, so how could he show them it if it's no longer extant? And yes, I have watched it, and P1, for probably the 4th time by now. Perhaps it makes more sense in different prints of the film - I've only ever seen the UK version and that is missing scenes that change the concept; in the US(?) release Wendy sees far more of the past whereas in the UK version there are only about two scenes which bleed into her present reality. Ah well. I guess that's why we keep picking away at it, trying to work out what's "real," to whom and when.

[@PoletBally]

1:25 - To me, this guy really, really looks like Nikola Tesla.

[@maketrax1]

I thought so too! I was really expecting him to say that.

[@austin7203]

I thought so as well.

[@ESyren]

frank zappa

[@foetaltreborus2017]

You know, I originally thought this film quite thin & not his best. ..having watched these videos, boy their SO intriguing & can,t be un seen once seen. ...amazing work Rob.

[@Akula114]

Astoundingly good piece. Frankly, I could (but don't) disagree with each and every point, and I still think it an excellent video. Well done!

[@wrestledeep]

Great video, Rob. Is it possible for you to discuss the deeper relevance of having Bill Watson at the interview of the film, The Shining? There must be something to the fact that he is in the scene and barely speaks.

[@trevorhewitt95]

Great analysis. I was originally quite sceptical, and I'm not entirely convinced by all the points you made, but on the whole I can definitely see the theme subtly running through the film now. I've always wondered what was meant by the monetary exchanges (or lack there of) between Jack and Lloyd that you quoted in part 1. If the dialogue about Jack paying for the drinks didn't have some hidden meaning, it would have been cut out as it was otherwise unnecessary. Unless someone can find an alternate reason for that dialogue, this gold standard theme is hard to deny.

[@32mybelle]

Fascinating interpretation! You may be right. I never rule anything out, except for leprechauns.

[@BuDDaHStefaN]

If there was a time machine, I would go back in time to meet Mr. Kubrick. The only person, besides Jesus, that I would love to talk to.

[@erichofmeister521]

Most overanalyzed movie over that can be twisted to support any idea. That’s the point though is that you think about it and get whatever you want out of it. You can’t see jacks reflection in the third mirror in the hallway leading to the gold room so he’s becoming a vampire!!!

[@jrneal1220]

It's interesting to think about the fact that Ken Adam not only worked as production designer for two of Kubrick's films (Dr Strangelove and Barry Lyndon), but also established the "look" of the James Bond movies, including their villainous lairs. For Goldfinger (which he worked on right after Strangelove), he conceived the interior of Fort Knox as a "cathedral of gold." Not sure what to make of that, but this video makes me wonder whether there's some kind of connection.

[@guitarspiderbomb]

With regards to the photo, I remember reading that the photo a was legit old photograph and Jacks head was superimposed. I think that seems likely as he looks just a little bit crisper and less blurry imho.

[@darthmeady1313]

Dunno why always thought that gold ball room was in the basement. Like where you'd keep gold in vault possibly . Anyways great video

[@adr127]

at 6:43. In your original upload back in 2011 or 2012, at this scene you mentioned that someone on a forum noticed Jacks fits seemed to correspond to the mirrors he was walking past. Do you happen to remember what forum or sub-forum you were talking about?

[@jeffreyhack7887]

Has anyone pointed out that the articles in the scrap book and the people in the other photographs are hardly in the movie even if they are focused on this Wilson-era banking motif and in the brief instances when they are on screen they are out of focus. If Kubrick wanted to put this motif in the movie he would've actually put it in the movie.

[@55itsme]

It's interesting to note that this recording of "Midnight, the Stars, and You" was made in 1934, shortly after Congress passed the Gold Reserve Act. "All the best people" are still partying as if it's the Roaring '20's while the majority of the people in the country are suffering through the Great Depression.

[@mikebrownlee9603]

did you see the behind the scene footage of the shining that has surfaced?

[@iptf]

I wonder if the silver ceiling being replaced by a gold one is a reference to the bimetallic controversy.

[@FunnyHappinessThing]

thank you for the share by the way Rob, appreciate it.

[@stephanekaufmann411]

This movie is an endless source of wonder. And these analysis are fascinating

[@Izahdnb]

Is there a way to digitally download your film analysis work? Or do I have to order the DVD's?

[@robag555]

Izahdnb DVDs only :)

[@muscleman9299]

Rob Ager how bout doggy?

[@TrackHeadStudios]

I'm glad I've discovered your channel Rob. It is so refreshing to get your analysis, where so many others are illuminati whack-job analyses.

[@brendanward2991]

What about the actor who played Ullman being a dead ringer for JFK?

[@jameswbell7084]

it is perfectly feasible that the set had a gold carpet layed throughout and they put walls up and took them down to film the different scenes ie The Gold Room was the set at it's more uncluttered full size? The rooms don't connect if anything because they've had entrances created over the grand gold ballroom carpet?

[@mondaymorning9822]

I’ve been watching many of your videos over the passed few days, Rob. I’m greatly enjoying them. What I’ve noticed is the comments on the videos are plagued (at least 80%) with moronic people who are incapable of thinking thematically about the films you analyse. I wonder why your videos attract so many of them? Anyway, great content.

[@matthewmosier8439]

Well, stop and think.. why would people want to discredit a video which points out damning information about certain political events? The answer is simple enough. They don't want the light shined on those things. A lot of these commenters are likely politically motivated.

[@spaceclown7650]

@@matthewmosier8439 The American Left seems to have a problem with conspiracy theories -- ANY conspiracy theories. It's as if they've trained themselves to not see things, because conspiracy theories might make them look like conservatives. The main way the Left discredit people who question them (both conservatives and non-conservatives) is by calling those people "conspiracy theorists." So they blithely toe the Party line and dismiss any evidence, even good evidence backing up credible theories. And if you want to piss them off, point this out to them.

[@kollinklipklop7035]

I like these insights into a film that flew with the mainstream at the time but now through the work of Rob Ager enjoys further readings. Do you think Kubrick really intended these enigmas to continue after his physical life ?

[@robag555]

Kollin Klipklop Yes

[@glamdolly30]

Kubrick respected the power of ambiguity. Like all great directors and writers, he came from the school of 'showing', not 'telling'. However there's no way on God's earth even ten per cent of the multiple - and it must be said, in some cases crazy - theories about 'The Shining' were ever in his head!

[@JasonVoorhees10100]

Another tie in possibly - Jacks "responsibility" turns from taking care of his family to taking care of the hotel. It was the only job he could get and relied on the money

[@ALLNAMESAREALLREADYT]

ending of this video was epic ...congrats Rob.. I'm still convinced that Stanley with his last film (Eyes wide shut) came too close to some people with the real power and they just eliminated him (they always find the way) ...he was a man who knew too much...

[@montydaniels1054]

In order to understand Eyes Wide Shut, you have to look at every ''Possible-Parallel'' Kubrick could fit into the story being told, turning them into ''stories'' being told.... In EWS, Kubrick is telling the audience about 4 different subjects in the film. There's probably more but I haven't found them or heard about them online.... Also remember that some information was removed through editing the films so the audience would have to really think that much more.... Kubrick was a genius....

[@matthewmosier8439]

Spot on. They confirmed it by their suspicious actions with the film.

[@circuitdesign]

@@montydaniels1054 Can you elaborate on the 4 different subjects in EWS? Thanks.

[@montydaniels1054]

@@matthewmosier8439 About 7 or 8 years ago I was watching this documentary type program about EWS & Kubrick, and somehow it ended up on KZbin. What flipped me out was almost at the end of the doc, they showed an alternate ending I suppose you'd call it. In the scene, there was the two older men that were sitting at a table at the Ziegler's Christmas Party, and also those two men were part of that group of Elites that were at the Rothschild Manson during the Elites Costume Party/Orgies. At any rate, at the end of the movie, those two men were in the Macy's department store the same time that Bill, Alice & their daughter Helena were there Christmas Shopping. Just before Bill & Alice end their conversation, I noticed that Helena was at the other end of the isle. Now here's how the movie ended in this scene. Those two men were standing with Helena between them, she turns, looks at Bill & Alice, then she turns back, looks at those two men, then reaches her hands up, and each of those men hold out one of their hands, Helena holds hands with them, then they turn and walk away with Helena, out of the store... Now I know that Warner Brothers edited out about 45 minutes of the film & for some reason they put that version of the ending of the movie in that documentary. I was shocked after I watched it. And since then, I've never seen those scenes shown again...

[@matthewmosier8439]

@@montydaniels1054 Yes, my guess is that Kubrick was partially making a film about Epstien, basically. I do think that Nicole Kidman's character was at the elite masked get together at the beginning of the movie and that was revealed in the cut footage. That would make her admision about the guy she fantasized about a sort of twisted lie that hurt her husband when the truth was even more shocking. End of the day, it is nearly certain that Kubrick paid for his exposing the elites with his life

[@botard75]

when they 1st get the hotel wendy and Danny are in the gold room with staff

[@joshburgess1495]

Probably unrelated.. but Richard Nixon completely took the United States off the Gold Standard in 1971.. his Oval Office was decorated in “California Gold” style colors (I believe his wife chose the colors) blue carpet and Gold curtains. The curtains in the second Gold Room, with the pictures, looks similar to Nixon’s Oval Office.. it’s probably not related but you never know with Kubrick. Love your videos!

[@Adrow1x]

"Slightly thicker nose"

[@NoPainNoGain200]

Why is Kubricks work so important?

[@mobrurphy]

Genius. Rob Ager is one smart man.

[@gedillt6498]

I really enjoy your videos, keep it up!

[@jammetmalibu]

"The Overlook ", nothing to see here, worlds within worlds, great video, Thank you

[@axelstoner]

I'm sorry but I don't see any of the people even closely resembling the people u noticed

[@arnemyggen]

Many are clearly not the same. I think Rob has changed to conclusion to "looks like" from "are".

[@wewuzkangz4723]

according to criminal investigators the ears are the most unique facial feature on the head. Supposedly equivalent to fingerprints. I'm seeing alot of ears that aren't even close not to mention many other features

[@Kazekoge101]

Strange, I thought the opposite. But I think his other points are hard to argue with

[@AdamFerrari64]

Although, if the old gold ballroom doesn’t exist in the movie, how did Ullman tour them through there?

[@mousehead2000]

What about the rest of the film. How do the other elements far more prevalent fit in with these themes?

[@mdk9000]

Awesome video - again. I could see the resemblance between all photos except two. I think lighting in each individual photo definately plays a part between the comparison shots and there's probably not a great deal of other photos to compare then to.

[@CaptOrbit]

Have you thought about revisiting the facial recognition software since technology has improved so significantly since the first release of this video?

[@londonmaths1557]

so your saying all the gold room scenes and the scene with grady in the bathroom weren't actually jack but in fact one of his forefathers?? if thats the case then why does he talk about the incident with breaking his sons arm?? how could that be possible @RobAger

[@jimmymelendez1836]

*you're

[@NumeroPerdido]

Hey Rob, about that quote at the end, do you think that Kubrick is a powerful man? In his films he reached millions of people, and he was able to hide several themes and message in his movies, for me that is a huge amount of power.

[@robag555]

Número Perdido It is, but it's indirect power. I think he was talking about the kinds of people who have phenomenal wealth and political control.

[@crs2385]

The Old Gold room doesn't exist anymore? So why did Jack, and his family get a tour of it near the start of the movie? Not to mention Wendy finding Jack in the Gold room when telling him about Danny in room 237. Or are you referring to the reception? In which case that also still exists, so what do you mean it doesn't exist anymore? Both rooms are consistently shown within the film.

[@MatthewParrella]

another oddity i just noticed is that all of the photos on the wall in the closing shot are slightly tilted down, all except the photo with jack in the ball of 1921. you can tell by the shape of the shadows, seems weird. any ideas of what this might mean if it’s all significant?

[@jimjames8501]

Your comments on spatial relations here are entirely consistent with your two-door storeroom theory. In fact, you also pursue this them with the realization they go into the freezer through one door (i.e. a portal) and come out another. Oddly, both the interior shot from the freezer and the exterior shot of them leaving are consistent (you can see the time-clock and cards on the wall of both shots).

[@deanarmstrong1566]

That shot of David Franklyn Houston (hope I spelt that right) at 1:44 also looks like Edward Bernays - from Adam Curtis's Century of Self. It wouldn't surprise me if he was mixed up with that crowd- although the era might not fit...

[@cotopaxi1972]

absolutely love these Kubrick videos Rob. hope you dont mind me asking you a question here. do you think Kubrick's gold theme in the shinnning (which i think is a certainty based on the evidence you show here) ties in with his unfortunately never made Napoleon movie? apparently he was fascinated by the real motives Napoleon had for going to war in europe which was to bring down the banking system. hence why he sold Louisiana to the fledgling united states rather than go cap in hand to the banks to raise capital for the wars in the normal way, and also why Napoleon has been so consistently demonised ever since. id love to know your thoughts. thank you and best regards!

[@glamdolly30]

You won't find any replies to comments here from the content creator. Rob only likes to state his opinions in his videos - he's not interested in entering into discussions with others.

[@DungeonStudio]

What was Stanley's thoughts on the 'Paul Is Dead' hype that went on with The Beatles? For me at the end of the movie, the picture with Jack always struck me as the Sgt. Peppers cover for some reason. Stan was no doubt interested in that, and may have got caught up in the marketing brilliance of it all? And taking the opening line of the song 'It was 20 years ago today...' and apply that to the pic - 1921, 1941, 1961, 1981...BTW, in The Making of - Viv's film, it does show Jack talking to her later with his hair slicked back. No doubt after the photo shoot with him in the tux for the pic.

[@NoPainNoGain200]

DungeonStudio is paul dead? It can't be proved and Kubrick knew that!

[@spaceclown7650]

Ironically it looks like Paul might end up the last living Beatle.

[@aann7132]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing.

[@gypsyvanneraddict]

Thanks for such an insightful and brilliant interpretation of themes and symbolism in THE Shinning.