Shelley Duvall, The Shining
The Shining is recognized by film buffs as one of the most incredible films of its genre, but Shelley Duvall's time on set was a total disaster. Kubrick, the director, spent the majority of his time with Shelley ruthlessly berating the actress. Kubrick tormented her, telling the cast and crew not to talk or sympathize with her and regularly critiquing her acting skills. The movie was shot in order—meaning that Duvall's breakdown took place both in the film and in real life.
Duvall's co-star Jack Nicholson said that the actress had been given "the toughest job that any actor I've seen had, because forty percent of that movie, she's hysterical," but he thought that maybe there was a reason behind the madness.
"He beat Shelley into that performance," said the leading man. "If that was me, I don't know what I would do. I do not. I still wonder. You're supposed to be able to do it... but for four months? But she did. She's brilliant in the movie."
Val Kilmer, The Doors
Val Kilmer completed some serious studies for the role of guitar legend Jim Morrison to appear in Oliver Stone's 1991 film The Doors. Kilmer taught himself how to sing 50 songs by the band Morrison fronted. He spent days in the studio studying Morrison's many stage moves, observing hours upon hours of interview footage—all in the name of capturing the icon in film.
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