Shelley Duvall

Posted on Nov 5, 2010

Exclusive: The Mondo Film & Video Guide Interview With Shelley Duvall

Conducted By: Mondo Justin
Mondo Film & Video Guide Editor

Shelley Duvall is amazing.   She’s done just about everything in the entertainment industry in her thirty plus year career.   She’s worked as an actress, (becoming a muse of sorts to Robert Altman) a producer, she pioneered children’s programming with her now classic FAIRIE TALE THEATRE.   Additionally, Duvall created innovative programming for the Nickeloden channel, along-side recording music for children.  She’s worked with Woody Allen, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, and Tim Burton.  Her work has been nominated for the prestigious Peabody Award, an Emmy Award, and the Prix d’interprétation féminine award at Cannes, winning the later for her work with Robert Altman on his 1977 film,  3 WOMEN.  Famously, Duvall is noted as being a major source of frustration for filmmaker Stanley Kubrick during his 1980 production of Stephen King’s novel, THE SHINING.  As it’s now well known, Duvall and co-star Jack Nicholson had to withstand Kubrick’s legendary perfectionism, which included filming 127 takes of one scene!  An astounding feet, that is now listed in the Guinness Record Book.

Shelley Alexis Duvall was born and raised in Houston, Texas.  As a teen she became interested in music, and drama, acting in several productions at the high school level.  In late 1969, it was as Duvall, then 21 years old,  was working as a cosmetic counter-girl at a Dallas Department store that casting agents searching the area, met Duvall and invited her to a party. It was here that she was discovered by the producer of filmmaker Robert Altman’s upcoming project, BREWSTER McCLOUD (1970).

Duvall would go on after BREWSTER McCLOUD (1970) to appear in sequential Robert Altman films,  McCABE and MRS. MILLER (1971), THIEVES LIKE US (1974), NASHVILLE (1975),  3 WOMEN (1977), and POPEYE (1979).   Between Altman films, Duvall was cast as Woody Allen’s girlfriend/one night stand in the 1977 Academy Award winning – Best Picture of the Year, ANNIE HALL.    Duvall would also go on to host SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE as well during this period.   Coming off the heels of Popeye, Duvall was cast by Stanley Kubrick to appear in his next film, THE SHINING (1980).   The Shining would go on to poor critical reviews, and Stephen King (author of the novel, the film was based upon) would go on record, as disliking the final result.    Today, THE SHINING is acclaimed as a epic vision of grandiose horror.   The 1980′s would find Duvall taking supporting roles in films, like TIME BANDITS (1981), FRANKENWEENIE (1984), and ROXANNE (1986),  as she moved into a producer role envisioning landmark children’s television programming such as, FAIRIE TALE THEATRE, TALL TALES & LEGENDS, MRS. PIGGLE WIGGLE, and Shelley Duvall’s BEDTIME STORIES.

The 90′s would find Duvall selling off her production company and continuing on in supporting roles in films such as, Steven Soderbergh’s THE UNDERNEATH (1995), Jane Campion’s PORTRAIT OF A LADY (1996), and Guy Maddin’s TWILIGHT OF THE ICE NYMPHS (1997).   Duvall would also display her flair for comedy by appearing in such Razzie material as 1991′s Hulk Hogan cares for kids, SUBURBAN COMMANDO, and the Harlan Williams dumb-ass in space atrocity, ROCKET MAN (1997).

In 1994, the earthquake that shook Los Angeles severely damaged Duvall’s home.  Needing a break, Duvall packed up and moved back to Texas.   In recent years, Duvall has been taking a mild break from film roles, with the exception of a few indie films she’s gladly taken, apon being asked.

Shelley Duvall is one of the most under-rated actresses in the history of film.  Unconventionally beautiful, Duvall has made a profound mark on the history of film.  Her performances are hearty, innocence with depth, severe and sincere.  Rarely giving interview’s Duvall granted Mondo Film & Video Guide editor, Mondo Justin some time to discuss her astounding career, working with film-making legends, and even some profound discussion on some of the infamous, long gone cut – never been seen scenes that Stanley Kubrick shot for THE SHINING.   Check it out….

Shelley, What were you like a kid?

Oh I was a little terror sometimes! I used to run around a lot, tipping things over (chairs, table, you name it) My Mother gave me the nickname “Manic Mouse”, I didn’t understand it at the time but years later we have a big laugh about it. I also used to draw and write a lot, I had a very vivid imagination.

I read once that initially you were discovered by some talent scouts at a party. I was just curious to see if you could go back, and tell me exactly what was going through your mind at that point?

Oh wow, that was a long time ago. I was very surprised, I did a lot of school plays and play acting at home when I was younger, so to suddenly have someone interested in you and being “discovered” as they say was quite a shock. I probably laughed at them to be honest, I wish I could remember my initial response for you!

Working with Altman on several films, I was wondering if you could describe how different your experience was working for him, when compared to working with others like Terry Gilliam or Tim Burton?

Robert Altman, yes, what a man!! It’s hard to describe what he was like, brilliant yes, I think all Altman films are underrated, his style is so abrasive, so initially offputting, that many people run from his work and rarely return. Terry Gilliam – well most people would agree with me saying that film-goers either love his films or just don’t get them at all. He was a very different kind of Director, he knows exactly what he wants in the movie, he is very creative and encourages ad-libbing, even though most of it never makes the final cut! Tim Burton is just a gem, he is very quiet and shy believe it or not, but very funny too! They all had a different style of direction, I feel very lucky to have worked with all three of them.

Of all your Altman films, which one do you like the most?  Which do you think has your most memorable and important performance?

I think 3 WOMEN. It has definitely become a fan favorite! It comes to mind because I had such a good time making it, and I also won a Cannes Film Festival Best Actress award, which was a amazing honor!!

Was it difficult to convince you to sing for POPEYE?

Oh my yes!! I had a shocking singing voice, the only time I ever used to sing was after a few red wines doing karaoke, and even that was bad!   We had a terrific singing coach.  But you know, it was a lot of fun! I was really hoping to do a commentary for the DVD release with Robin Williams, I was approached but nothing came of it. A shame, I still have a video tape full of outtakes that would of been great to include too.

In the behind the scenes documentary of THE SHINING, Vivian Kubrick mentions on her commentary track on the DVD release, that she thought you were the most genuine person she’d ever met. I was wondering how comments like that effect you?

Oh Vivian was a sweetheart, I haven’t actually heard the commentary yet so that comment has amazed me!!  But what a compliment? It’s actually made me feel a bit sad, but in a good way.    Shooting THE SHINING was very tough, as anyone who has watched Vivian’s making of could tell.  It might surprise you when I say the cast and crew had a love/hate relationship with me on the set, which I have never admitted before!  But Vivian was a very sweet girl, I’ll have to listen to that commentary!

In the documentary on THE SHINING DVD, there is a scene where Vivian filmed, you laying down under blankets in a panic, with people comforting you, what was that all about?

Oh gosh, I haven’t seen the making of in a long time so I’m not too sure which scene that was but I do recall a story, which may explain it?! There were quite a few times I “lost it”. I used to suffer from panic attacks, after filming the stair case scene I cracked the shits with Stanley, I wish I could remember now which scene you are talking about, I will have to put it down to my age and losing memory!!

I was wondering if you could shed some light on what exactly was filmed during the Shining, that wasn’t included in the final cut?  Were you involved in any scenes, that were not in the finished movie?   What were they?

There were a few more scenes towards the end that were filmed but not included to my knowledge.  Mainly towards the end, and I’m not talking about the extra scenes that were included in the Directors Cut a few years back. I remember shooting another one of Wendy’s hallucinations, where I look in a mirror and standing behind me is the ghost of Mrs. Halloran, all bloody, I screamed, the mirror smashed and that was it. That was a scary scene, but I don’t think audiences would have understood who she was. That was one that really stood out, I think the rest were mainly short inserts that added nothing to the story.

How difficult for you as an actress was it, to stay in a state of shock, and fear during filming for some of THE SHINING’s final sequences?

Oh very! I will admit when we first started I didn’t do a shocked look very well, and Stanley knew it. The first few weeks shooting were so much fun and we all got along great. So when it came to shooting a serious scene, whether it be looking shocked or terrified, I couldn’t do it, I would start giggling! After a while Stanley became inpatient with me, and just let loose. And that terrified me! But you have to understand, some scenes take hours to make, sometimes, a whole 12 hour shooting day would only translate to being three minutes on screen. So you go into a scene acting terrified or crying, and by the end of the day you just don’t have anything more to give, there is the genius of Stanley Kubrick, he GETS it out of you! But it was very tough and grueling.

During your infamous one hundred and twenty-seven takes of the baseball bat scene, what exactly was going through your mind, as you where trying to get through that.

JUST USE THE FUCKING FIRST TAKE!!! (laughing), oh boy that was tough as well.. Again, I wasn’t giving my best, I thought “I’ll just walk backwards up the stairs, swinging the bat and that’ll be that”… but that’s not what Stanley wanted. I was meant to be petrified of my husband who wants to kill me and i just thought that was silly, again, I got the laughs!! So many takes, I can’t believe it, I eventually got it right. I remember being yelled at a lot, but in the end he got my best performance! I was crying on the inside, because I was so tired and over it, I nearly walked off the set refusing to do more takes.

Where you on set the day, during THE SHINING, the day the bizarre, Hotel Room scene was shot with the guy in the walrus/bear costume with his head in the lap of the tuxedo gentleman? Was there any type of explanation in any versions of the script you read for that sequence, or was it something you heard Kubrick explain was from King’s book?

I wasn’t on the set that day but I saw the dailies when they came back, and because the playback was in black & white I couldn’t really make out what was going on!!  From memory the script didn’t say it was a man in a bear costume, but I’ll have to check. I actually still have my shooting script.  But it certainly was bizarre!! I remember a crew member asking Stanley what it meant, and he replied “Does it matter?  It’s up to the audience to interpret it however they want!”  Absolutely!! I think it’s one of the scariest images of the movie though.

Of all the FAIRIE TALE THEATRE episodes do you have a very favorite or one that you had the most fun working on?

My favorite is either Rapunzel or Beauty and the Beast! They are so epic and I love the scenery and the actors in those. They are all my babies though.

How did it feel to be nominated for an Emmy for FAIRIE TALE THEATRE, and were you disappointed when you didn’t win?

It was a honor, any nomination a actor gets is great, great to be recognized, it is always secretly disappointing when you don’t win, but still great to even be considered.

Why did you decide to leave L.A. and move back to Texas?

LA is way too busy for me, such hustle & bustle. I retired,albeit not officially, years ago, I like the quiet life. But L.A is still a great place to live and be seen, just not for someone my age!! I’ve always loved Texas, it’s the place to be!!

What are you doing these days to keep yourself busy?

I have a quiet life now, I have a lot of animals on my property and look after them, not a crazy cat lady yet though!! I write a lot of poetry, would love to publish a book of my work one day!  Still get a lot of scripts sent to me, a return to acting is never out of the question!

Were you ever offered any roles that you turned down, that in retrospect you wish that you hadn’t?

There were a few that may surprise you!! I got the scripts for BIG BUSINESS (the Lily Tomlin role, but she was brilliant!), SOCIETY (the 1989 horror flick, I was to play a snooty Beverly Hills housewife), the mother role in UNCLE BUCK, so many more. I don’t really regret turning down any roles, because I got other roles instead. But working on BIG BUSINESS would of been fun, Bette Midler is great and I love doing comedy!!

I read on-line that someone close to you, said recently that they thought you had become somewhat of a “recluse”. How does that make you feel, and how do you respond to such comments?

I wouldn’t say I became a recluse, if you Google the meaning it sounds much worse! I just took “time out”, I’ve been acting for over thirty-five years, it does take a lot out of you. I just needed some me time, and I’ve loved it!  People seem to think I’ve turned into a recluse who never leaves the house and doesn’t communicate with the outside world, that’s just not true. I got put onto Facebook by a friend and it is amazing the amount of people who communicate with me, fans from all over the world. It’s great talking to everyone, to know that people still appreciate and love your work after so many years is mind blowing!

Do you feel as the more time passes it’s more difficult for you to get quality acting jobs? And what is your opinion on the state of movies?

Oh definitely! Many actresses over 40 will tell you that, although some have continued to act all through their 40/50/60′s and so on. I struggled to get a decent acting role for years, before finally giving it a rest for awhile. Would be great to start all over again, if the right role came along. The movies these days, well what can I say, they are very different to what I grew up with (and made) I’m not a fan of CGI, I think it’s a bit lazy. Look at what many filmmakers accomplished before it came along! One mention is the famous shot of “the maze” in THE SHINING. Jack looks at the model of the maze and then you see Danny & I walking through it! There have however been many amazing movies in the last decade or so. I always wondered what Stanley Kubrick would of done if he directed INCEPTION or maybe even a film like DONNIE DARKO?! I enjoyed them both.

What’s one thing, that no one knows about Shelley Duvall?

Well if I told it wouldn’t be a secret would it?! (laughing)… well a few things, I love thrillers, books and movies…I can play the guitar, I love poetry, I sing aloud when I’m home alone!!