One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Miloš Forman ’s 1975 version of Ken Kesey’sOne Flew Over the Cuckoo ’s Nestis recognized as one of the fine motion picture ever assembled . The celluloid realize decisive plaudit across the board and is presently ranked # 18 on IMDB ’s Top 250 with an 8.7/10 rating . The plastic film also view as a 93 % certify Fresh Rotten Tomatoes rating and an 83/100 Metascore .
The report follows Randle McMurphy ( Jack Nicholson ) , a small - time criminal who plead insanity to avoid jail time . When he ’s interned at a mental institution , the independent intent Foster rebellious variety among his fellow inmates . One Flew Over the Cuckoo ’s Nestwon all five major Oscar Awards , including Best Picture , Director , Actor , Actress , and Adapted Screenplay .
It Was Produced By Michael Douglas
One Flew Over The Cuckoo ’s Nestwas first adapted to the stage in 1963 and starred Kirk Douglas in the theatrical role of McMurphy . Douglas corrupt the film right to the novel when he understand the write up in galley form in 1961 , and had plans to reprise his asterisk part on the bad screen .
However , maturation took far too long and Douglas became too honest-to-god to take up the role . Douglas then gave the rights to his Word , Michael Douglas , to grow with Miloš Forman set to channelize after Hal Ashby was initially considered . This turned out to be a wise decisiveness , as Michael Douglas won a Best Picture Oscar for produce .
It Was Filmed In A Real Mental Hospital
One Flew Over The goof ’s Nestwas film at a real - life function genial hospital in Salem , Oregon . Several of the extras and background performers were real patients . Forman even expend a month living in the Oregon State Mental Hospital to observe the environment prior to filming and would roll cameras without anyone ’s knowledge .
Oregon State Mental Hospital was choose because superintendent Dr. Dean R. Brocks let limitless entree to the facility , including the presence of substantial doctors . At one point during output , a work party - member left a 2d - story window open to relay line , resulting in a patient wriggling through the BAR , fall to the solid ground , and offend himself .
Jack Nicholson Delayed Production When He Was Cast As McMurphy
Ken Kesey was highly critical when Jack Nicholson was cast as McMurphy since he felt that the player just did n’t fit the role . What some may not know is that Nicholson was advise not by Forman but the initial director , Hal Ashby . This would stigmatise a major first in Nicholson ’s vocation , since he never play this kind of character before .
Before Nicholson was hurl , the role was offered to James Caan , but he turned it down . Others consider for the run role included Burt Reynolds , Steve McQueen , Marlon Brando , andGene Hackman . When Nicholson gain the role , product was detain for six months to lodge his schedule , permit Douglas to arrange the thoroughgoing ensemble .
Nurse Ratched Was A Highly Sought-Out Role At The Time
Nurse Ratched was one of the most seek - after persona in Hollywood at the time the pic was in yield . Although Louise Fletcher ultimately won the role just a week before filming , she auditioned multiple meter over a six - calendar month span to get it . Other actress up for the function included Anne Bancroft , Angela Lansbury , Geraldine Paige , Ellen Burstyn , Faye Dunaway , Jane Fonda , Audrey Hepburn , Jeanne Moreau , and Shirley MacLaine .
Fletcher , who gave the character reference the first name Mildred in the film ( she was unnamed in the novel ) and is the furthermost affair from the sadistic nurse seen in the film , found the role so worrisome that she refused to watchOne Flew Over The Cuckoo ’s Nesteven age after it was released .
Jack Nicholson & Milos Forman Had A Heated Falling Out
While source Ken Kesey was upset with the entire production , detrition also began to climb on between Forman and star Jack Nicholson during film . The feud had much to do with the motives of McMurphy as a fictional character and how he should be portrayed . One major disagreement sparked when Nicholson arrived on plant with a thick shaggy face fungus that he found appropriate for the part , which Forman did n’t agree with .
The tenseness escalated so much that the wiz and director began communicate through the cinematographer , Bill Butler . The animus was so strong that Nicholson even resist to partake in the film ’s DVD fillip cloth , which was free tenner after the film ’s completion .
There Were A Total Of 3 Cinematographers
Two - timeOscar - winning cameraman Haskell Wexlerworked on the film for 30 day before being replaced by Bill Butler . Wexler claim he was burn down for at the same time makingUnderground , a infotainment about a radical terrorist group The Weather Underground Organization ( WUO ) .
Bill Butler also worked on the flick for 30 days before leaving to serve another project . Butler ’s absence gave William A. Fraker the opportunity to ill-use in and film the gravy boat vista .
The Fishing Scene Was A Nightmare To Film
Speaking of the boat and sportfishing trip , it was the scenery last to be filmed . The rest period of the movie had been shot in sequence . Initially , Forman did not desire the fishing tantrum , as he felt restrain the story enclose in the mental ward would be more dramatic . He did eventually get around to shoot it , but not without great cost .
Other than Nicholson , the total cast of characters got seasick while film the sportfishing sequence . Worse yet , the entire episode claim a full week to dispatch to Forman ’s liking . To this day , Danny DeVito continues to have nightmares about making this part of the movie .
Sydney Lassick’s Meltdown Was Real
Call it a instance of cabin fever or life simulate artwork , but actor Sydney Lassick ( who play Cheswick ) stomach a serious psychological nuclear meltdown while makingOne Flew Over The Cuckoo ’s Nest . His behavior on set became continually erratic to the compass point that the cast and crew were concerned for his well - being .
Lassick ’s stipulation climax in an excited equipment failure during the climactic scene between McMurphy and Chief . In the end , Lassick burst out into tears and had to be physically absent from the readiness .
William Redfield Found Out About His Leukemia On Set
As part of the all - encompassing collaboration , real doctor were on gear up during cinematography . On helping hand was the aforementioned hospital superintendent and head-shrinker , Dr. Dean R. Brooks .
During product , Dr. Brooks noticed something amiss with actor William Redfield , who plays Harding ( above , far left ) . Upon examination , Dr. Brooks rightly diagnosed Redfield with leukemia , which ultimately claimed Redfield ’s life 18 months later .
Ken Kesey , who establish his novel on his prison term make as a volunteer in a mental health facility base in California , was incredibly displeased with how the film supposedly destroyed his imaginativeness due to the identification number of drastic change it took . One of his biggest issue was how the movie focused on McMurphy , when the record book was evidence from Chief ’s perspective . As a result , Kesey sued the manufacturer .
Kesey need five percent of the movie ’s gross and $ 800,000 in punitive harm , in the end agreeing on a settlement . Kesey claim to have never hear the film in its entirety , only once insure it randomly on cable TV before switching the channel when he take in what movie it was .
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