One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

A criminal pleads insanity after getting into trouble again and once in the mental institution rebels against the oppressive nurse and rallies up the scared patients.

Director:

Milos Forman

Writers:

Lawrence Hauben (screenplay), Bo Goldman (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Will Sampson

Top Rated Movies #16 | Won 5 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	R.P. McMurphy
Louise Fletcher	...	Nurse Ratched
Will Sampson	...	Chief Bromden
Michael Berryman	...	Ellis
Alonzo Brown	...	Miller
Peter Brocco	...	Col. Matterson
Scatman Crothers	...	Turkle
Dean R. Brooks	...	Dr. Spivey
Mwako Cumbuka	...	Warren
Danny DeVito	...	Martini
William Duell	...	Sefelt
Josip Elic	...	Bancini
Lan Fendors	...	Nurse Itsu
Nathan George	...	Washington
Ken Kenny	...	Beans Garfield

Storyline

McMurphy has a criminal past and has once again gotten himself into trouble and is sentenced by the court. To escape labor duties in prison, McMurphy pleads insanity and is sent to a ward for the mentally unstable. Once here, McMurphy both endures and stands witness to the abuse and degradation of the oppressive Nurse Ratched, who gains superiority and power through the flaws of the other inmates. McMurphy and the other inmates band together to make a rebellious stance against the atrocious Nurse.

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Plot Keywords:

mental institution | mental illness | nurse | escape | psychopath | 

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Taglines:

If he's crazy, what does that make you?

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Filming Locations:

Depoe Bay, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,400,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$99,761, 23 November 1975, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$112,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fantasy Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bud Cort was considered for the role of Billy Bibbit.

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Goofs

When Nurse Ratched asks for her cap, she reaches for it with her left hand. Then there is a cut to close-up, and she grasps the cap with her right hand.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Attendant Warren: Good morning, Miss Ratched.
Nurse Ratched: Good morning.
Attendant Washington: Good morning, Miss Ratched.
Nurse Ratched: Mr. Washington.
Miller: Morning.
Nurse Ratched: Good morning.
Nurse Pilbow: Good morning, Miss Ratched.
Nurse Ratched: Good morning.
Attendant Washington: Morning, Bancini.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The cast is credited in alphabetical order in the end credits, except for Brad Dourif, who is listed last as follows: "and introducing / Brad Dourif as Billy Bibbit".

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Connections

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: America's Greatest Movies (1998)

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Soundtracks

Charmaine
(1926) (uncredited)
Music by Lew Pollack and Erno Rapee
Played on a record
Reprised in the score near the end

User Reviews

Touching and moving, a great cinematic experience

Jack Nicholson is a great actor. No, not a great actor, a spectacular actor. This is a film from fairly early in his career, as well as it is for several other actors in this film, who later have had long, great careers too, including Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif. The film has some unforgettable moments... who could forget Louise Fletcher's icy stare, Jack Nicholson's smart-aleck remarks or Will Sampson's impressive, almost entirely silent performance? The film portrays the horrible truth about how patients were treated in mental institutions back then, and tells the story of someone who desperately wanted to break out, to rebel, to change things, for himself and for the others. I was compelled by this film, from the very first frame. I never took my eyes off it, and I will definitely be thinking about this film for a while. I thought it was great the way one of the very first frames depicted the institution as something far more similar to a prison than a hospital. Milos Forman did a great job of making that contrast very powerful to the viewer. The film is very moving and a truly beautiful cinematic experience. Every single actor gives a stellar performance, every single character is perfectly written, every single line, every single frame is absolutely perfect. I wouldn't change a thing in this film. It has a great pace, you never lose interest, but it never seems to be rushing to get through it, either. It's simply perfect. I have not read the original book, but if I ever come across it, I might check it out. I have only seen this film once, but I will definitely watch it many times in years to come. I recommend this amazing piece of great cinema to anyone who has at least a slight interest in the drama genre, or any fan of any of the actors, as they are all in their absolute prime in this film. 10/10