The Poster Memorabilia blog

Here's Johnny and His Autograph

One friendly Jack, one very reluctant Stephen King, and the horror movie that deserved better.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

I know the Academy isn't a huge fan of horror movies, but if one could've conceivably won Best Picture, it's The Shining. As controversial as this opinion may be, I stand by it. No horror film has riveted me to my core like this one.

Can you believe it actually received mixed reviews when it first came out? Stephen King even infamously hated it, almost to the point of not acknowledging it exists. And if that's not outrageous enough, the film was also nominated for the Razzie Awards, including one for Stanley Kubrick for Worst Director.

Well, the joke's on them because the movie is now considered a classic. It's constantly referred to as one of the best horror films ever made, one of Kubrick's most iconic works, and that iconic line, "Here's Johnny!" is still parodied to this day. Only very few movies have had that much of an impact.

“No horror film has riveted me to my core like this one.”

If it wasn't obvious yet, I'm a huge fan of the movie. I watch it whenever it's on, and I still pay good money to see it in theaters whenever there's a special screening nearby. I just really, really love it, and I think everyone knocked it out of the park here.

It's definitely my favorite Jack Nicholson movie, and I even got the actor to sign my poster of it years ago.

The movie legend starred in the 2010 rom-com How Do You Know alongside Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, and Owen Wilson, which turned out to be his last film. He did a few lighter comedies later in his career, to the point that if you compare his filmography from the 2000s with his work in the 70s and 80s, it's almost like they belong to two different actors.

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Anyway, I mentioned How Do You Know because I met the guy in person at the movie's LA premiere. It was at the Village Theatre in Westwood, and I drove there directly from my place in Santa Monica. Did I drive miles and almost run out of gas just for a chance to get an autograph? Yes. Do I regret any of it? No!

Meeting Jack Nicholson that night is still my favorite celebrity interaction. It wasn't that long or anything unique. I just caught up to him as he walked the red carpet, got his attention, and when he came over, I asked him to sign my movie poster.

It was definitely more pleasant than meeting Stephen King. I met him at a screening of It in 2017, and when I tell you that the look he gave me after seeing the poster almost made me want to crawl under the nearest seat, I'm not kidding.

He truly doesn't like the movie, and though he still signed my poster, he wasn't thrilled about it. I only have myself to blame, though, because he's always been candid and blunt about hating it. I'm just lucky I lived to tell the tale.

If only Stanley Kubrick and the late Shelley Duvall were still here, I could've gotten their autographs on it, too. But I can't complain. Jack Nicholson, Stephen King, and Danny Lloyd are all icons. It was still an honor to meet them and get their autographs.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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