Description:

Stephen King
n.p., August 5, 1980
Stephen King Candid TLS to Fan re: Disappointment with Kubrick's "The Shining" & Plans for Unrealized Movie for "The Stand"
TLS

A short but content-filled letter from author Stephen King to one Cynthia K. Holmes, an avid fan of his work. 1p, measuring 4" x 6", no place, dated August 5, 1980. Twice signed, with the first instance at conclusion as "Stephen King" and the second with his initials, "SK", below the postscript. Within, King acknowledges her disappointment on the film adaptation of "The Shining", and teases a later unrealized project for "The Stand" directed by George A. Romero. Exhibits light edge toning throughout, with minor bumping to corners. Expected creasing along top margin. Otherwise, very good; mentioning three of his most famous works of the late 1970s/early 80s!

Together with a xerox copy of Holmes' letter to King, dated June 10, 1980. She passionately writes, in part:

"…I am sorry to say that the attempt made to put your splendidly [sic] horror book, The Shining, into a movie, failed… You are the author of that book, and to me that means it is a part of your life, and to let someone butcher it, is a crime.
…Please, please, don't sell the rights on "The Stand" because I couldn't stand to see the character and depth taken away from the story."

King replies to Holmes in full:

"Thank you for writing to me about your disappointment with The Shining. An author takes a chance when he sells his work to the movies and he just had to bite his tongue and hope for the best. I have written a screenplay for The Stand and hope to work closely with George Romero on it. I hope when you pay $4.50 or whatever to see it you won't be disappointed again. It will probably be a few years before it makes it to the screen at any rate. I hope you'll get a chance to read the new book, Firestarter.
P.S. Thanks for the kind words about my work. SK"

Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" was released in the U.S. on May 23, 1980, a little over two months before King's letter. The film received initially mixed reviews, with many contemporary critics noting its differences from the source material, casting choices, and overall pacing. King himself has been quoted as saying that although Kubrick made a film with memorable imagery, he considered it a poor adaptation, claiming it to be the only one he could "remember hating". He expressed particular disappointment with some themes, such as the disintegration of family and the dangers of alcoholism, being overlooked in the film. Additionally, the casting of Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall as Jack and Wendy Torrance proved less true to the novel's characterization.

As King alludes to in the letter, he indeed began collaborating with horror director George Romero in the late 1970s to discuss future film adaptations. The two worked on an over 200-page script for his 1978 novel "The Stand", which centers on a post-apocalyptic world plagued by a weaponized strain of influenza. The project was temporarily shelved as King and Romero worked on the anthology film "Creepshow", released in 1982. Romero, most known for his defining films of the genre including "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) and "Season of the Witch" (1972), later left the production company set to work with King before anything could come to fruition. The novel was ultimately adapted into a television miniseries that aired on ABC in 1994, and another which aired from 2020 to 2021.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 4" x 6"
  • Medium: TLS

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