No.17
No.17 is brief but important. Kubrick continues the subtleties of privilege and class, and shows Halloran as a spiritual father and trusted connection to Danny.
American History/Culture
Kubrick shows Wendy, Halloran, and Danny entering through a hallway separate from the hallway he shows Jack, Ullman, and Watson entering. This speaks to access.
“Dick, can we borrow Mrs. Torrance for a few minutes? We're on our way through to the basement - I promise we won't keep her very long.”
This has everything to do with race and class. Ullman is in control- and does not REALLY need to be respectful to either Halloran or Wendy- so he’s not. He’s condescendingly respectful, showing that what Wendy and Halloran were doing was not really as important.
The Maze
“No problem Mr Ullman we were just getting to the ice cream”
A reference to the thought transfer shown in No.16, this is how the viewer receives the message that what Danny sees/experience psychically will come to fruition.
Kubrick as Unreliable Narrator:
The blocking in the scene, in relation to the camera position behind Danny and Halloran, and having both characters heads in front of their respective ‘authoritarian’ crotches, reflects authority and control. Danny is aligned with Jack’s crotch whereas Halloran is aligned with both Ullman and Watson’s.
The Kitchen table has condiments corralled in the center and a box of Frosted flakes at the end. Signifying the space as a normal family table.
The scene is the meeting of Ullman, Watson, and Jack with Wendy and Halloran and Danny. As Wendy and Halloran exit the storage room, we see Ullman, Watson, and Jack approach through a different hallway for a short conversation. This continues the message that White men in power get different access and information than black men and women.
The Overlook Kitchen
Ullman
Jack
Wendy
Watson
Halloran
Danny
There is no additional sound in this scene.