Jack Nicholson’s prop axe from horror movie The Shining goes on sale for a whopping £45,000 – and the rare item is made of FOAM
A prop axe used by Jack Nicholson in horror film The Shining has gone on sale for a whopping £45,000.
In the classic 1980 movie the actor’s character Jack Torrance slams the axe into a door and declares ‘here’s Johnny’ after chasing his terrified wife Wendy.
And now fans of the cult classic have the chance to own a piece of cinema history as Bristol based dealer Paul Fraser Collectibles is flogging the 35-inch polyfoam item.
Up for grabs: A prop axe used by Jack Nicholson in horror film The Shining has gone on sale for a whopping £45,000
As well as the foam axe, buyers will also receive an authenticated signed photo of Jack Nicholson from the film.
The dealer’s website explained: ‘This prop stunt axe was substituted for the original wooden axe as a safety measure and for ease of use during filming.
‘It would have been used in long shots and when two or more characters were on screen.’
And the item itself is described as having been painted to resemble wood grain for the handle and having silver tape as a stand-in for the metal surface.
Terrifying: In the classic 1980 movie the actor’s character Jack Torrance slams the axe into a door and declares ‘here’s Johnny’ after chasing his terrified wife Wendy
Although several axes were made by Warner Bros. for filming, this particular prop seems to have been used often.
The axe shows lots of marks and chips on it suggesting that Nicholson wielded this foam piece around dozens of times while perfecting his iconic scene.
Paul Fraser Collectibles also explained how there is only thought to be one of the wooden axes used on the films left, with it selling for £172,000 in 2019.
They also claimed that another foam prop, similar to the one now up for grabs, sold for a £41,600 ($57,600) that same year.
Specialist Daniel Wade said: ‘It’s a miracle this exists. In 1980, film memorabilia collecting was in its infancy. Props were props, to be thrown away after shooting.
Collectable: As well as the foam axe, buyers will also receive an authenticated signed photo of Jack Nicholson from the film
‘In any case, The Shining was panned when it came out, so there would have been few people interested in owning one.’
It comes after reclusive movie star Shelley Duvall gave a very rare interview where she talked about her iconic role in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, revealing that she would spend days on set of the film crying.
Duvall, now 71, who was last seen during an appearance on Dr. Phil in 2016, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in Texas Hill Country near to where she resides, and discussed her grueling filming days with Kubrick, who was notorious for being a hard taskmaster, as well as looking back on her Hollywood career.
As she played the wife of Nicholson’s character – who goes insane while inside a snowed-in resort hotel – in 1980’s The Shining, Duvall explained that she constantly had to get her mind in a state of panic to get into character for the filmmaker.
Insight: It comes after Shelley Duvall gave a rare interview where she talked about her role of Wendy (pictured) in The Shining, revealing that she would spend days on set of the film crying
Duvall explained: ‘[Kubrick] doesn’t print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard. And full performance from the first rehearsal. That’s difficult.’
She said that she would put on a Sony Walkman and listen to sad songs or just think of unhappy memories to get into the proper head space to play Wendy Torrance.
‘To wake up on a Monday morning, so early, and realize that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled — I would just start crying.
‘I’d be like, ‘Oh no, I can’t, I can’t.’ And yet I did it. I don’t know how I did it. Jack said that to me, too. He said, ‘I don’t know how you do it.”
Method: As she played the wife of Nicholson’s character – who goes insane while inside a snowed-in resort hotel – in 1980’s The Shining, Duvall explained that she constantly had to get her mind in a state of panic to get into character for the filmmaker (pictured in the film)
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