Discovering One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest
The 1975 Movie, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, is an all-time favorite of many. It has been described as an anti-establishment statement. It is a comedy and at the same time, a serious movie. The film captured the academy awards in all five major categories. It was filmed in an actual hospital, in Salem, Oregon.
Randle McMurphy is the central character. He is portrayed by Jack Nicholson. This man is a misfit that has spent a great deal of time in jails. When he is sent up for statutory rape, he comes up with a plan. He does not want to do time on a prison farm. This would mean a great deal of hard labor. He decides that a mental hospital would be much easier for him. He tries very hard to convince the doctors that he is crazy. They are unsure of his mental status. Eventually they consent to commit him.
McMurphy gets to the mental hospital. He likes what he sees. Here are people that he can lead and take control of. They inmates are meek and seem uninterested in anything but following orders. His plan is soon derailed when he runs into Nurse Ratched, played by Louise Fletcher. She is in absolute control of everyone and everything. She enjoys her job and the power that she yields. It means more to her than the mental health of the men.
McMurphy settles in to hospital life. He starts his power struggle with poker games. He enjoys taking their money and smokes. Nurse Ratched is not amused by his antics. One time, he is interested in the World Series. Only one television sits in the area. Nurse Ratchet informs him that the majority of the men have to agree with him. Otherwise, he cannot watch the World Series. They engage in a power struggle back and forth. McMurphy thinks he has a unanimous vote. Nurse Ratched tells him that all of the men are included. She is referring to the other men with serious mental problems. Some of them do not even know where they are at. McMurphy counters by getting enough votes for a majority. Nurse Ratched counters by telling him it is too late. The voting is over. McMurphy decides to pretend he is watching the World Series. All of the inmates enjoy his act.
McMurphy bets an inmate that he can lift a large hydrotherapy machine. He struggles but cannot lift it. He is proud that he tried. This teaches the men the importance of effort. They look up to him as a leader.
He also goes on a deep-sea fishing expedition. He takes the inmates with him, on a bus. They have a fun adventure. When they return, there is a big fight with some orderlies. McMurphy and two others get shock therapy as punishment.
At one point, McMurphy finds out most of the inmates are there by their own choosing. This does not apply to him. Nurse Ratched can make him stay there indefinitely. He decides to behave better. Nevertheless, he cannot resist antagonizing her. They struggle for power all through the movie. You may be surprised at the ending.
The movie has very good acting and writing. Much of the cast, like Danny Devito and Christopher Lloyd, appear in many other movies. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, can make an entertaining evening.
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