Stephen King, the master of horror and perhaps America’s most famous living writer, is turning 75 today.
Throughout his nearly 60 years as a writer, King has written, broken, and re-written the rules of what a genre novel could be. He is responsible for talking horror and supernatural fiction out of pulp magazines and paperbacks and into the mainstream.
King has written over 200 short stories, 71 novels, 21 screenplays, and five non-fiction books. We could spend day writing about all of his work, but for now, let’s focus on some of his best.
‘The Shawshank Redemption’
The Shawshank Redemption is one of the most beloved movies of all time.
“In 1966, Andy Dufresne escaped from Shawshank prison. All they found of him was a muddy set of prison clothes, a bar of soap, and an old rock hammer, damn near worn down to the nub.”
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)#BobGunton #MorganFreeman
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) September 18, 2022
The classic book about an innocent man’s decades-long struggle to escape prison was adapted from King’s short story “Rita Hayworth, and the Shawshank Redemption” from his collection of novellas called “Different Seasons.”
In addition to Shawshank, 0ther stories from “Different Seasons” were turned into the movies Stand By Me (“The Body”) and Apt Pupil (“Summer of Corruption”).
‘The Stand’
While fans debate whether “The Stand” or “The Dark Tower” series is his best work, there is no doubt that “The Stand” is one of the best pieces of horror/science fiction ever. Like a lot of King’s work, it is long, but worth the work you put into it.
My @StephenKing Origin Story (credit to @Kingcast19)
My 12th English teacher Miss Lovelette, horrified I’d never read King demanded I hit BJ’s Used Books and buy THE STAND. “In that book you’ll learn all you need about King and why he’s beloved.”
This is the copy I bought. pic.twitter.com/5sFvtEqYay
— Richard Humphries (@RhenryHumphries) September 18, 2022
‘The Shining’ (even though he hates the movie)
The Shining is considered one of the best horror movies of all time and one of Stanley Kubrick’s best films.
The Shining (1980 dir. Stanley Kubrick) (Cinematographer: John Alcott) pic.twitter.com/9Xhrp2WT1K
— Ebru Yıldırım (@Ebruyldrm_88) July 26, 2022
However, King disliked the adaptation, though he recognized its’ brilliance as a piece of filmmaking:
“…even when a director such as Stanley Kubrick makes such a maddening, perverse, and disappointing film as The Shining, it somehow retains a brilliance that is inarguable; it is simply there.”
King disliked The Shining so much that he wrote and produced a 1997 miniseries that he felt was more faithful to the material.
??
It still amazes me that Stephen King hates on Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining.The acting, cinematography & storytelling is near perfect.
Easily in my top 5 movies.
Just goes to show, there will always be haters no matter what.
Have a great day, folks ✌
— Konsto ?? (@BKPhotoPro) April 21, 2021
Among King’s issues with the original was the lack of focus on specific themes he felt were essential to the novel’s story, such as alcoholism and the disintegration of the family.
‘Dr. Sleep’
A sequel to The Shining, both the book and the movie Dr. Sleep are good, dark, and classic King.
Dr. Sleep was the most authentic feeling sequel made 20+ years later. In a time when we’re all hungry for Stephen King and new instantly iconic villains Rose the hat steps into cinematic history and steals the show. pic.twitter.com/zm7zaZ8Rik
— Jesse (@Horrorholics) December 8, 2019
A mixed blessing of the lack of success from the movie, however, is that we won’t get another sequel movie.
Dr.Sleep was enough. Great sequel btw. https://t.co/b9h3aLoxhU
— Sheldon (@Sheldeezy_) September 20, 2022
Happy birthday, Stephen King!