Somehow i missed seeing this movie until now. I know shame on me. Well I was totally blown away with this film and seeing the actors in their early years was such a treat!

If you were in a mental institution but had the opportunity to watch this film, the glass would be half full.

Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Version: U.S.A / VC-1 BD-25 / Region Free
Running time: 2:13:42
Movie size: 17,720,721,408 bytes
Disc size: 21,099,357,516 bytes
Average video bit rate: 14.25 Mbps

Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 640kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio German 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Italian 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 192 kbps 1.0 / 48kHz / 192kbps

Subtitles: English / Danish / Dutch / Finnish / French / German / Italian / Japanese / Korean / Norwegian / Portuguese / Spanish / Swedish
Number of chapters: 34

#Audio Commentary
#Documentary: "The Making of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'" (SD, 47 minutes)
#Deleted Scenes (SD, 19 minutes)
#Theatrical Trailer (SD)
#Collectible Booklet - Digi-book - 32-page, full color booklet.

While I commend the excellent acting of the main characters, I found the film to be boring. After an hour of Nicholson's antics and conflict with the hospital--enough already! The believability is poor. No wonder the novel's author sued. When the Chief is carrying the cabinet, he can barely walk and breathe. But the next shot shows it flying out the heavy-metal screened window like it was launched from a catapult. That action clearly made enough noise to awaken most of the hospital, yet we see many of the patients in that very ward slowly waking up due to other noise.

The story is not just great--the acting is what really makes it. The acting is supreb, and I'm not just talking about Nicholson! I LOVE the scene where Sydney Lassick (Charley Cheswick) throws a temper tantrum wanting his cigarettes. It is so convincingly real! It was not under or over acted. He hit the nail on the head with that scene. And it is also one of the funniest--especially when the orderlies think Taber is freaking out when he is actually getting burned with a cigarette). Just excellent!

At one point in this movie that is one of the great classics of American films, McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) says of Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) that "she likes a rigged game." And does she ever. She will keep order and conformity at all costs and has to be one of the most despised characters in filmdom. Watching the sparks fly between her and Nicholson as the inmate who fakes mental illness to get sent from prison to a psychiatric hospital is a joy to behold. Both Fletcher and Nicholson, who has never been better in a role, received Oscars for their performances as did the director Milos Forman ("Amadeus"). The film, adapted from the Ken Kesey novel, won best picture as well.

From the opening credits to the closing horrifying scene, this movie holds you in its spellbinding clutches. I cannot recall as good a group of supporting actors as the psychiatric inmates. The are totally convincing and you almost believe that they are actual patients and not acting.

The film makes a compelling statement about the way we treat mental illness in this country as well as so-called professionals who refuse to listen to their patients.

While there are many moments here that will make your laugh, the last few minutes of the film are as dark as anything you will see. It is even better than I remembered.

This is, without doubt, one of the greatest movies ever produced. Milos Forman won best director for his magnificent work on the adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel by the same name. But this movie is so much more than that. The acting was flawless - considering the roles, that is not an easy feat. In the beginning we meet Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) who was sentenced to prison for inappropriate relations with a fourteen year old, finds his way onto a work release program. He finds himself an out with poor workmanship and deranged behavior - he is transferred to a mental institution and believes his sentence will be easier served. After all, he just has to lay back and act like a nut. But this is easier said than done, as he quickly discovers playing a simple game of basketball. Aside from maintaining his sanity, he meets his head ward at the institute Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), who won best actress, plays her role flawlessly.

The mild mannered yet unrelenting head nurse becomes McMurphy main antagonist as he bets the other patients that he (McMurphy) can get under Ms. Ratched's bonnet (meaning drive her crazy) What does he have to lose? once his sentence is completed he is out of there. Of course, what McMurphy doesn't know is that his release can only come from the approval of the institute - Ms. Ratched has the power to keep him there indefinitely. It doesn't take McMurphy long to realize that he's never going to be released so he ends up forming friendships with the other patients.

The group includes Billy Bibbit (Brad Dourif), a suicidal, stuttering and helpless young man whom Ratched has humiliated and dominated, and "Chief" Bromden (Will Sampson), believed by the patients to be deaf and unable to speak, Chief is mostly ignored but also respected for his enormous size. In Billy, McMurphy sees a younger brother figure whom he wants to teach to have fun, while the Chief ultimately becomes his only real confidant, as they both see their struggles against authority in similar terms. Aside from some misadventures, ( hijacking a bus, a boat, and a rendezvous on the city streets) everything goes accordingly until one fateful night. McMurphy sneaks into the nurse's office and calls his girlfriend. After a successful bribe of the guard she sneaks into the asylum and all heck breaks loose. I will leave it there, but there is a reason this movie won all major awards and swept the Oscars. With actors such as: Jack Nicholson, Scatman Crothers, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Vincent Schiavelli and Sydney Lassick this is one movie that will earn a place unto your favs. list.

I am a big fan of this film. I have seen it probably 60 times, in several different formats. Without a doubt, the Blu-Ray release of this movie is the best looking, best sounding version ever produced. And the Additional Footage extras that are included are amazing. There are several great scenes that I cannot believe that they cut out of the final release of this movie. The scene where the head of the 'hospital' asks McMurphy if he has ever abused a woman previously, I can understand why they cut out, because it would lead to an expectation of the resolution of the film. However, all of the other Additional Footage scenes would have been GREAT additions to the movie. My personal favorite of the Additional Footage scenes is the one entitled "Mr. McMurphy, where are your clothes?"

The first time I saw this movie was on the big screen in '75. At the time I wasn't very familiar with Jack Nicholson but after watching this I realized he was a cut above the rest of the actors in his field. Everyone I knew had gone to see this film and not one person had disliked it. Not sure if any film is perfect but if this one isn't, it's as close as it gets.

An underdeveloped story in almost every aspect, it establishes early on Jack Nicholson's character is going to shake up the humdrum lives of the mental inmates and staff, does a competent job of fleshing out this idea in a way that probably seemed more original back in 1975 (this may be sacrilege but I'd recommend watching 1990's Crazy People for a more engaging version of the same thing), and seems to not know where to go from there. The supporting characters barely have identities at all. The attempts to evoke sympathy for the inmates and contempt for the staff only appear in the second half of the film and seem to contradict the amicable relationship depicted previously. Then Jack gets into a fight (i can't even remember why), gets electroshocked (we aren't even shown the nurse giving the order, which would have gone a long way towards validating her supposed villain status), and nothing that happens from then on has anything to do with anything that happened previously. The film closes with the contextless unforeshadowed dramatic inserts of a tragic suicide and a noble euthanizing which made me think SOMEbody's been reading Of Mice And Men, and then a symbolic escape which is the most meaningless thing in the entire film.

reead the bok about 20 years ago, never saw the movie. my coworker ar fighting me for the dvd. i'm using it for my class-project about people with psycological illnesses. and it is good. thx.

I've seen OFOTCN a number of times over the years and it never fails to entertain, enlighten and work on a thinking mans conscious like few other films can. Many scenes are sad,tragic and disturbing and the battles waged by Nicholson's McMurphy role are often Quixotic and frustrating. In the end, I came out of this film with feelings of strength and power, as well as an understanding of authority and free will that I challenge and examine to this day.

McMurphy(Nicholson) is hardly a character anyone would like personally, forgiving maybe a quick conversation at a bar or a jobsite. McMurphy is jovial and quick with good natured BS, but is a petty crook, drinker, gambler and habitual loser. Sent from a prison work camp to a sanitarium for a brief evaluation, McMurphy locks heads witht the best player of the film, Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched. Methodical, calibrated and passive-aggressive, Nurse Ratched has made her the patients in her small therapy group obedient and broken their wills with a authoritarianism that is subtle and difficult to recognize. As the patients take their daily medication and ponder the hopelessness of their situations, Nurse Ratched coldly humilates her patients with her carefully regulated verbal tone and personality-free interactions.

The therapy group are some of the saddest men you'll see on film- their existense pointless and their therapy for the most part unproductive. McMurphy's arrival in the psych ward to these men is like a breath of Spring air. McMurphy challenges first the protocol of the unofficial leaders of the patients, the "just-a-job-man" orderlies that are quick to use unecessary force, and eventually the whole thought process and the psychological lack of liberty and thought pushed by Ratcheds policies.

Many saw this film in the 70's as a typical "us against the Man" screed, there's much more here. There are undertones that can appeal to many real life scenarios- the rituals of life we never question, our willingness to be lead instead of lead ourselves in times of question. Put your thinking cap on and see this one!

Jack Nicholson (Randle McMurphy) is the lead in this movie, though hardly the only great performer. Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched) and Will Sampson (Chief Bromden) also provide outstanding performances.

McMurphy is sent to the mental institution for supposedly deranged behavior, initially is repelled by his fellow inmates, but then rallies to their defense as an anti-establishment reaction to Nurse Ratched's intimidation of them. Even electroshock therapy doesn't stop McMurphy's antics.

However, after another patient kills himself worrying about Nurse Ratched telling his mother about his behavior, McMurphy tries to kill Ratched, and undergoes a lobotomy in retaliation.

The movie ends as Chief suffocates McMurphy so he can "escape" with him and throw off Nurse Ratched's control.

I will first say that this is my favorite film of all time. Jack Nicholson was the perfect Randle McMurphy, and in general all of the acting in this film is just spectacular. It's no surprise that "Cuckoo's Nest" won five Oscars; I believe it should have swept. The music, the editing, the supporting acting: everything about this movie was perfect. I would recommend it to anyone. It might just change your life.

I recommend this video. It was as I remembered it when I saw it all those ago.

This film profoundly moved me when I finally saw it, long after its 1975 release (while working at a place I won't name that reminded me a little too much of the institution in the film!). It burns with the intensity of human struggle against oppression, showing how strong, how fragile, and how precious the spark of freedom and dignity is even in what might seem the most unlikely place for it, a mental institution.

Jack Nicholson, who won a well deserved Oscar for the role, plays a convict of mixed character who thinks he can game the system but gets in over his head. His erratic behavior has gotten him transfered from a prison work farm to a mental hospital, which he appears to see as an easier place to serve his time. Initially careless and arrogant in his dealing with both staff and patients, he comes to care about his fellow inmates, some there voluntarily. Partly on their behalf he becomes locked into a battle of wills with the domineering, cold Nurse Ratched, who effectively controls the hospital (Louise Fletcher, who also won an Oscar for her role). While much of the film plays as comedy, the overall frame is that of tragedy mixed with ambiguous victory. It's easy to see political/social/philosophical context and implications, worth reflecting on, but the basic humanity of the story is central.

Besides the Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Actress, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Direction (Milos Forman), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, from the novel by Ken Kesey).

The new Blu-ray DVD will carry the same special features as the SD Special Edition:

-- audio commentary with director Milos Forman and producers Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz
-- "The Making of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" documentary (47 minutes)
-- additional footage: McMurphy and Dr. Spivey, Chief Captured between Mops, Shaving Chief, Who's the Top Loony Here?, McMurphy Meets Nurse Ratched, First Group Therapy Session, A Bunch a Chickens at a Pecking Party, Mr. McMurphy, Where Are Your Clothes?
-- theatrical trailer

Specs: 1.85:1 Widescreen 1080p Hi-Def, English Dolby Digital 5.1, French 1.0, Spanish 1.0, German 1.0, Italian 1.0, subtitles in English, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish. Extras are in standard definition.

Hi def is always nice, but this isn't a film that requires high definition to be fully enjoyed, I think, and the SD Special Edition has good video and sound, so if you already have the Special Edition or can get it more cheaply than the Blu-ray, you might like it just about as well.

By the way, this film is often compared to Cool Hand Luke, which has some similar themes. That's also coming out on Blu-ray, though not till September. The Amazon page for it's here.

This movie probably wouldn't go over as big today as it did in the '70s, because the "art immitates life" stark realism of this flick has become outdated. But this truly is one of the cinema greats that deserved all the Oscars that it won in '75, including Best Picture. This movie put Jack Nicholson on the map with his first Oscar for best actor, for his portrayal of the ne'er-do-well infidel Randall P. McMurphy who gets sent to a nut house from the state work farm. He teaches the people in the mental hospital how to play Black Jack, how to stand up for themselves, and immediately buts heads with the infamous villain of the story, Nurse Ratchett, played by Louise Fletcher in her Oscar winning performance. Even though he tries to remain cool and aloof, McMurphy starts to bond with his fellow crazies, even the tall (deaf and dumb?) Indian called Chief. McMurphy finds his own ways to help the other patients in ways that almost drive the staff into the nut house...and when he crosses the line with Nurse Ratchett, the disturbing consequences can be fatal to someone! A deeply moving, stirring and sometimes disturbing story, this is one of the greatest movies in a raw and real portrayal of human struggle...serious, with an occasional dose of humor. This is a stark and dark, but excellent movie, that also introduced audiences to actors like Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Scatman Crothers. A great movie that I highly recommend, although the pictures it paints of humanity are not always pleasant.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is edgy, surprisely comical, and heartbreaking in parts. Jack Nicholson won his first Oscar for this movie, this is his best role to date. Nicholson brings depth and vulgarity to his role, he knows how to balance between with ease and talent. Louise Fletcher plays Nurse Ratchett, I'll just say she is not a sweetheart, she plays a character that most people won't like but she's fabulous in this drama. I highly recommend watching this beloved classic, enjoy!

I love the lunacy of this movie. It reminds me a lot of me. Unfortunately, it also shows me the twisted and upsetting side of life that I have encountered all-to-often in my 38 years. Still, I highly recommend this picture to those few realists out there.

Buy or rent the original uncut version. Watching this on TV made me realize that its probably the the most ravaged "cut for TV movie" in history. I mean cutting the bad language and situations out of this movie completely robs the viewer.

THIS IS AN AWESOME MOVIE! I GO ABSOLUTELY "CUCKOO" FOR "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST"!!! I RECOMMEND THIS FILM ALONG WITH THE BOOK! THIS FILM HAS SOME HUMOR AND SOME SERIOUSNESS!!

IF YOU LOVE JACK NICHOLSON, YOU WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE! THIS IS A DEFINITE ***** MOVIE AND WORTH ALL OSCARS. I TIP MY TOP HAT FOR JACK NICHOLSON, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, DANNY DEVITO AND MANY OTHER ACTORS IN THIS FILM! JACK IS A CONVINCING CRAZY MCMURPHY!!!

IF YOU BUY THE FILM, YOU MUST ALSO BUY THE BOOK TO GO ALONG WITH IT!! BUY THEM BOTH TODAY--I AM SURE YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!

One of my all time favorite movies...perfect blend of humor, drama, pathos, morality tale and underdog struggle.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (film) *****


The film adaptation of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' the great American Novel by Ken Kasey is almost as perfect as the book. Jock Nicholson plays the lead role of McMurphy, the work camp sentenced felon who claims insanity to escape is fate. Little Does he know he is biting off more then he can chew as he soon becomes aquainted with his own personal hell, Nurse Ratchet played by Louise Fletcher.

The movie does not follow the book completly but does so enough not to lose any impact of any scene or plot line. A few minor changes here and there set the directors' view apart.

While not as suspenceful as the book and not as detailed the movie still does a fine job of bringing one of the most important books in history to mainstream culture. Nicholson's performance is breathtaking and the movie as a whole is flawless. A personal favorite.

i PURCHASED THIS FOR MY HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS, BUT HE PASSED AWAY BEFORE HE COULD WATCH IT. bUT IT CAME WHEN PROMISED AND WAS IN EXCELLANT CONDITION

This movie will be used to show how mental patients were treated years ago. I bought this for my nusrse aide class. This is a wonderful movie.

Directed by Milos Forman and starring Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher, this is a 5-oscar-winning masterpiece and deservedly so. I first saw this picture in '76 and have watched it more times than is decent since, so much so I almost know the script by heart. Based on the novel by Ken Kesey and set in an Oregon mental institute, this tragicomedy is the single most profound drama I have ever seen and with a denouement so powerful and unforgettable I feel my life has been changed and enriched by the privilege of witnessing it. Whatever you think of Jack Nicholson, his performance here as R P McMurphy - a prison-dodging, sane-as-can-be sex offender confined for psychiatric assessment - is mesmerizing. As too are the performances of Louise Fletcher (Head Nurse Ratched) and a supporting ensemble of actors including Danny deVito, Christopher Lloyd, Will Sampson, William Redfield and Brad Dourif, all playing utterly convincing roles, indistinguishable - as I'm sure any psychiatric worker would vouch - from real-life mental patients.

It is the ebullient McMurphy's disruption of the tranquility of the hospital ward that brings him into conflict with Ratched's stone-hearted, authoritarian matron. She runs a tight ship convinced it's for the benefit of the patients. Her idea of therapy is to have everyone sitting in a circle, ostensibly to benefit from discussion and to air their mundane issues, but with the main agenda of maintaining and reinforcing a despiriting regime of rigid conformity. These sessions often start morosely and silently but invariably end with raucous and hilarious shouting matches which are so perfectly and authentically played by the ensemble cast that you feel as though you're watching a documentary, but a riveting one at that. Here also we are introduced to some of the more vocal patients who though quirky and laden with issues, are generally more articulate and intelligent than those beyond the asylum. Outside of these lively discourses, the patients are kept subdued by daily dosages of drugs. Any hint of insurrection is quelled by fear of Ratched's excoriating disapproval and her arsenal of truncheon-wielding orderlies, disposed on her say-so to remove a patient by force to another ward where electroconvulsive therapy is meted out to the specially deserving.

R P McMurphy lands onto this lugubrious, ordered world like a fun-loving Martian. He is a boisterous, big-hearted, roguish extrovert and, once settled in, wins the confidence and in turn the admiration and hero worship of his fellow inmates. Excepting the "chronics", McMurphy can scarcely distinguish (and neither can we) between the patients and "the average a**hole walking about out there on the street". But the trouble begins when he bets with his fellow patients that he can, within a week, "stick a bug so far up Nurse Ratched's a** she won't know whether to s**t or wind her wrist-watch." This sets the scene for psychological warfare with, on the one side, McMurphy leading a bunch of fired up, newly assertive patients, and on the other, the system, or the "Combine", fronted by Nurse Ratched. The conflict comes to a head when McMurphy arranges a wild party for the patients to liven up their otherwise monotonous and colorless existences. However, it will be seen in the devastating and brutal consequences that the system deems itself having more to lose than those who would dare to confront it. Catering for individual aspirations and for patient happiness it seems were very far outside the remit of the mental healthcare system as it was. With undertones of Spartacus - possibly explaining Kirk Douglas' interest, whose son Michael brought the novel to the screen - this story brings into searing focus the cruelty and inhumanity of sectors of mental healthcare in sixties US.

Now to say further would be to give too much away. But believe me, this is a genuinely funny, bitterly tragic, remarkable, compelling, totally absorbing, emotionally draining and brilliant picture, so rightly deserving of its stature as one of the best films of all time - in this reviewer's opinion, the very best.

As usual, quick shipment and examplary service. Don't you guys ever get tired of doing it right? (I hope not).

This film will always have a an important place in film history but I think what has given it that place is 1. The topic of the film and 2. The sheer acting ability of Jack Nicholson.

Nicholson here is a convicted criminal who fakes insanity to grab a reduced sentence sets about creating his own rules in a mental hospital. Nicholson portrays something in us all, a free spirit confined and reduced to live by morals and codes he does not recognise if only to survive. The film explores the disastrous effects of rebellion to those rules and how the desire for freedom if defeated in one can be ignited in another.

The film explores how others can be so easily lead and also how easily they can be defeated (Such as when Nicholson arranges for a prostitute for one of the younger inmates and the party he sets up), how fear can instill obedience (Nicholson's punishments) The film is remarkable in its limited use of sets and instead relies on Nicholson's remarkable acting ability.

Nicholson is simply superb in this film. His facial expression, his body movement say almost a thousand words more than his actual lines convey. He is larger than life, eccentric and devious all the same. At times you can relate to the character at others be pulling your hair out at his rash behavior. That Nicholson can stir such emotion in a viewer is a testament to his acting ability.

Probably the most powerful scene in the entire film is where Nicholson says to the others while pointing to a huge ceramic wash basin that is sealed into the ground "I am going to rip that out, put it through the window and break out of here" The other 'inmates' mock him and laugh amongst themselves (Probably thinking to themselves 'He is madder than we are') Nicholson begins to attempt to pull the basin out, he strains and strains and slowly the others begin to think "Maybe he is going to do it" When finally he gives up. He walks past the others, some mocking others not knowing where to look. He walks halfway down the corridor then turns to them and says "At least I tried!"

This has been buzzing around my ears among my friends and without a doubt; it is one of the best films of all time. Mixing mental health with humor is a tough brand to sell; come to fine out it took several years for this movie to be made. Kirk Douglas had bought the rights hoping to star in it himself, but struggled to find a studio who would produce it; his son Michael eventually did it, but had the foresight to stay off the screen. When you watch it, it's not hard to work out why no-one would touch it - it's subject matter was just too quirky and controversial for Hollywood in the 60s. The film was ideal for representing a burgeoning discontent with society during the post-Vietnam malaise; its audience, like its characters, was feeling enormous dissatisfaction with rules, authority, government and the stupefying way it was treating its people. No wonder that it struck such a chord with cinema-goers.

Many liberties that we take for granted are explored within the narrative of the film: communication (in therapy sessions, where the nurse leads the discussion) freedom (during the 'escape') alcohol (during the party) sex (Billy's turn with the hooker McMurphy imports). The reactions of Nurse Ratched and the orderlies symbolize the reactions of authority when we digress from its designated path; the response of the inmates is to return to the routines and drudgery they entail. The analogy with the restrictive nature of society is glaring.

Enter Randle McMurphy, no respecter of rules or routines, a man who is riotous but also unselfish. Brilliantly played by Jack Nicholson (a masterly piece of casting) McMurphy challenges the established norms and routines of the hospital in pursuit of fun, which irks and then aggravates Nurse Ratched. The positive impact on the other patients is clear and noticeable; it suggests that there is value in breaking away from social expectations, in being spontaneous, in occasionally pursuing personal pleasure or individual goals beyond those authority grants to you. The conclusion suggests that those in authority will do anything to silence those who challenge the social order, but that freedom *is* ultimately accessible, whether by death (McMurphy) or escape (Chief Bromden).

Social analysis aside, the movie is great fun: there are a lot of laughs, a lot of thought-provoking moments, and a few tears. It's certainly one of the finest moments in cinematic history - it came at a time when it was drastically needed by the viewing public, but its content and themes are no less relevant and interesting to us today.

I've seen "One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest" (1975) as soon as it was released to theaters and was deeply affected by its dramatic force.
Just now I was able to see it again. It is greater than I recall it to be!

IMHO this is director Milos Forman's best movie, better than his other two excellent opuses: "Amadeus" (1984) and "Rag Time" (1981).

The outstanding strength of this drama is based on a strange confrontation. In one side stands the Rightful Nurse and in the other The Crook; she applies the Law to attain unlawful goals and exercise power; he evades the Law to attain justice and welfare for his impaired mates.
Both characters meet head-on with devastating results for them and the people surrounding them. The issue that shocks me most is to realize how an outsider may be able to asses which are the needs of internees where professionals fail.

There are three major high points in this film: playacting, script and direction.
Jack Nicholson as The Crook delivers one of his best performances in a career that has many high quality characterizations. He is able to convey to the viewers the complex and contradictory personality of McMurphy and win the Oscar to Best Actor in Leading Role.
Louise Fletcher performs at the same height as Nicholson with more sober acting resources and also deservedly won the Oscar. Actually she never again reached that level of excellence.
In secondary roles Danny de Vito, Vincent Schiavelli, Will Sampson and specially Brad Dourif (Oscar nominee) are paramount.

The script due to Bo Goldman & Lawrence Hauben makes the most of every scene and gives no respite.

Finally Milos Forman's direction is impeccable extracting the best from each actress & actor and delivers an unforgettable film that will be remembered as one of the best of the '70s.

This is a great movie for adult audience and deserves to be in any movie fan collection!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

I can't tell you how many times I have heard the same tired, old excuse for not thoroughly enjoying this classic, truly wonderful film. You know the one, it goes a little something like this..."well I read the book and there is no way this film compares to Kesey's classic work". Well, to you folks, all I have to write in response is - I AGREE WITH YOU 100%! And now that I got that out of my system, on with the review.

Randall Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicolson) is a randy, brawling, neer-do-well who finds himself heading back to prison for statutory rape. In order to avoid going to jail, McMurphy feigns being insane so that he instead ends up being sentenced to a mental institution. Of course he expects to ride out his jail sentence in relative comfort and ease there. However, McMurphy soon discovers all is not bliss. The institution's ward he's been assigned to is run by the emasculating, all-powerful, autocratic Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). The rebellious McMurphy immediately clashes with the head nurse as the two of them become ensnared in a struggle for power over the hearts and minds of the other patients.

An excellent supporting cast indeed, brilliantly portray 'the cuckoo birds' our two main protagonists are vying over - William Redfield (Harding), Danny DeVito (Martini), Vincent Schiavelli (Frederickson), Christopher Lloyd (Taber), Sydney Lassick (Cheswick), Brad Dourif (Best Supporting Actor nominee as Billy Bibbit) and finally the great Native American actor Will Sampson (Chief Bromden). For several of these actors, this was their most memorable performance. And it is no wonder why, when you are working with as fine of a director as Milos Forman ("Amadeus", "The People vs. Larry Flynt", "Ragtime" etc...) and the writing duo of Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman (Oscar Winners) who did such an admirable job dramatizing the more personal side of Kesey's masterpiece. The film is seen from the eyes of Randall Patrick rather than Chief Bromden as it was in the novel. This is perhaps the most glaring difference between the film and the book. But, I always try to view the film as it's own work of art, completely separate from the novel it was based (I know, I know, it's much easier said than done, but hey, at least I try).

This was Jack's first Oscar, and man oh man did he deserve it. Out of all the great many roles he's played, his performance as Randall Patrick McMurphy is definitely one of his finest ever. I know it's cliché to say that Louise Fletcher was born to play Nurse Ratched. I can't imagine any other actress in that role. It is too bad that her career might have been hurt a bit after she played such an evil character. She never was able to get the big parts after this incredible Oscar winning performance. And that is a shame, because there is no doubt this woman can act (although I doubt anything could top this performance). The scenes between Nicolson and Fletcher are simply fascinating! I highly recommend paying close attention to their facial expressions, their stare downs, the slight inflection of their voices, etc... the next time you are watching this one, particularly during the group therapy sessions where all of the madness indeed manifests itself. It's easy to see why they both took home the treasured Oscar for their efforts (on a side note, this film became the first film in 41 years to sweep the major categories of best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay. The last film being Frank Capra's classic "It Happened One Night").


Not too many great movies are made from classic novels. Here are some more of my favorite examples that quickly come to mind, feel free to add yours in the comment section - "Grapes of Wrath", "To Kill A Mockingbird", "The Picture of Dorian Gray", "The Good Earth" and "A Tale of Two Cities" (the 1935 version with Ronald Colman)...

Jack Nicholson is at his magnetic and unforgettable best as McMurphy the street smart, charismatic petty criminal who decides it might be easier to spend his latest jail sentence in the "bin" rather than on the prison work farm. Louise Fletcher is also perfectly cast as Nurse Ratched a "healer" who does far more harm than good and quickly becomes "Mac's" nemesis and ultimate doom. One can't help but wonder what happened in this fictional nurse's history and personal life to create such a creature. Yet it is the character actors, including young Christopher Lloyd and Danny De Vito, who play the mentally disturbed and retarded inmates, that really make this film involving and convince the viewer they are seeing a realistic depiction of a 1960's mental ward.

For all the strengths of the film Ken Kesey's novel which is told from the viewpoint of Chief (clearly schizophrenic in the book) is much superior. A Broadway revival, I saw, of the play (in about 2001?) with Gary Sinise was much closer to the message of the book as well as very memorable and moving. Still, this is an excellent film with humor, tragedy, and above all poignancy which should not be missed by any fan of Jack Nicholson or 1970's cinema. If you are a fan of this film find a copy of the book today.

The acting, dialogue and situations are to say the least REALISTIC and that is what is so scary at times. It shows how you can get swallowed into any situation and get lose reality. Directing and acting superb. A necessary addition to any collection of excellent/superb films. While watching it you may question your sanity in terms of the film.

OUR FAMILY CONSISTS OF THREE, DAD, MOM, AND SON, ALL OVER THE AGE OF 18. WE HAVE WATCHED THIS MOVIE SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED "BUST OUT" LAUGHTER WHILE WATCHING THIS MOVIE. OTHER PERIODS IN THE MOVIE ARE "DARK" DUE TO THE EXCELLENT ACTING OF "NURSE RATCHETT." THIS MOVIE ALSO IS THE FIRST MOVIE CHRISTOPHER LLOYD APPEARED IN. I'M NOT SURE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THE FIRST MOVIE THAT DANNY DEVITO STARRED IN AS WELL. "CHESWICK" AND "CHIEF" ARE "GREAT" IN THIS MOVIE. ALL THE PRINCIPAL ACTORS ARE WONDERFUL IN THIS FILM. MY SUGGESTION.....BUT IT!!!

Jack Nicholson and Milos Foreman are at the top of their games.
A truly great movie.