On the Big Screen: Frog Family, AKA Neil the Frog

The Frog Family line of kitchen coordinates offered by Sears from about 1975 to 1983 rivals the popularity and size of Merry Mushrooms. And no wonder, Neil is pretty darn cute, though it's not clear how he came to be named Neil.

This time the Frog Family appears on the big screen! I'm a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick's classic retelling of Stephen King's The Shining (1980) and, while watching it yet again, I finally noticed that the Neil timer is hanging on the wall over Wendy's right shoulder. This is the scene very early in the film where she and Danny are eating sandwiches in their Boulder apartment while Jack is off interviewing at the Overlook Hotel.

A few minutes later, during the scene when Wendy is talking to the pediatrician in the living room, one of the lacquer canisters is on the counter over Wendy's left shoulder, and the set of hanging utensils are on the wall over her left shoulder.

In a wide shot, the saucepans with lids, timer, and cooking utensils are clearer to Wendy's left, but the canister is out of the frame.

You may be aware of the legion of theories and conspiracies surrounding Stanley Kubrick's work. The folks over at EyeScream.com took a moment to focus on Neil the frog, his placement in the film, and analyze what it all means. No matter your thoughts on Kubrick's intended or unintentional messages, it's exciting to spot another kitchen coordinate on set, and in such noteworthy movie!