Jack Nicholson’s “The Shining” axe up for auction

The axe used by Jack Nicholson in the famous “Here’s Johnny!” scene from the 1980 horror film “The Shining” is set to go on sale in the UK alongside other items from director Stanley Kubrick’s personal collection at an auction early next year, DPA reported.

Kubrick, regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, is known for films including “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), “A Clockwork Orange” (1971) and “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999), CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

The axe wielded by Nicholson’s character Jack Torrance in “The Shining” is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000 ($40,000-$66,000). In one of the film’s most famous scenes, Jack uses the axe to break through a bathroom door while pursuing his wife Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall, after descending into madness during the family’s stay at the Overlook Hotel.

Another major item going under the hammer is the “Star Child” prop from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which is estimated to sell for between £600,000 and £800,000. The Star Child appears as a glowing fetus in the final sequence of Kubrick’s 1968 science-fiction epic.

Other memorabilia include the blue dresses worn by the Grady sisters in “The Shining,” which are expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.

Kubrick’s annotated copy of a draft screenplay for “Journey Beyond the Stars” — the original working title of “2001: A Space Odyssey” — is estimated at £30,000-£50,000.

His annotated screenplay for “Lolita” (1962) is expected to sell for £40,000-£60,000, while his annotated script for “Spartacus” (1960) could fetch between £20,000 and £40,000.

Also included in the auction is the “Born to Kill” helmet from the 1987 film “Full Metal Jacket,” which carries an estimate of £20,000-£40,000.

Kubrick’s Taylor-Hobson Cooke Speed Panchro optical viewfinder, bearing his initials “SK,” is expected to sell for £10,000-£15,000.

The director’s chair could fetch between £8,000 and £12,000, while a cloak used in “Eyes Wide Shut” is estimated at £3,000-£5,000.

“I think Stanley is one of the few film directors whose life and films continue to be widely studied and appreciated, influencing, encouraging and inspiring current and future generations of filmmakers,” his stepdaughter Katharina Kubrick said.

She added that Kubrick was not afraid to push conventional boundaries in pursuit of his artistic vision and said the family was proud to share items from the unique collection with film enthusiasts.

The auction will be preceded by a free public exhibition of all the items at Bonhams on New Bond Street in London from January 18 to February 3.

The live auction will take place on February 3, while online bidding will close on February 4, according to DPA.

Photo: Facebook/bonhams