Retro Film Review: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
The author of this review lives in a country where the members of national parliament get elected not as individual candidates but on party tickets. As such, once in parliament, they are supposed to vote party line instead of their conscience. The parliamentary procedure is adjusted to those political realities and years of numerous attempts to establish electronic voting were abandoned in favour of much slower and primitive method which, on the other hand, provides some spectacle - dozens of hands in the air, allowing the parliamentary whips to immediately spot any dissident or turncoat while giving party leaders another opportunity to display their power. Every time such spectacle is on television, I am reminded of the similar scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1975 drama directed by Miloš Forman.
The movie is based on 1962 counter-culture novel by Ken Kesey, which was adapted into popular stage play in 1960s and 1970s. The plot, based on the script by Bo Goldman and Laurence Haubern, is set in Oregon psychiatric hospital in 1963. It begins with an arrival of Randall Patrick McMurphy (played by Jack Nicholson), small-time criminal serving a jail sentence for statutory rape of 15-year old girl. McMurphy had faked insanity in order to evade hard labour on the prison farm and is brought to the hospital for observation. His plan to spend the remainder of this sentence in seemingly laxer regime of psychiatric institution soon confronts uncomfortable reality – the ward is tightly controlled by Mildred Ratched (played by Louise Fletcher), soft-spoken and intelligent supervisory nurse who uses pills, therapy sessions and psychological manipulation in order to keep patients - many of them not particularly disturbed or dangerous – docile and unable to think for themselves. Free-spirited and extrovert McMurphy is not the man who would accept this state of affairs, so he quickly begins schemes of his own, determined to have his way in the hospital and drive nurse Ratched crazy. Along the way, he befriends the other patients and helps them to slowly or at least partially get rid of their frustrations, fears and begin standing up to Ratched. Nurse responds with measures of her own, and all that would inevitably lead to the final showdown with tragic consequences.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was made immediately after Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, in a time when the American youth and the American public in general, reached the zenith of its discontent and disillusionment with authority. Anti-establishment and individualistic message of the film was underlined by hiring of Miloš Forman, Czech director who had lived in totalitarian regime of his native country and had more familiarity with often very subtle techniques with which the free will of individual can be broken. The psychiatric hospital setting was perfect for everything film makers wanted to say - the establishment in this film doesn't present itself in its old, usual and obviously evil form; instead, it is based in the institution that is supposed to help people instead of eliminating them from society. It is also a very modern and at least superficially humane institution, nominally led by kind-hearted idealists (the character of McMuprhy's doctor is played by real-life psychiatrist) - the patients are allowed to have supervised furloughs and can enjoy recreational activities; the favourite form of therapy is seemingly benign and pseudo-democratic psychoanalytical group session. Most of the patients are, to the utmost surprise of the protagonist, in hospital by their own will. All that, however, can't hide the ugly truth about totalitarian regime behind this utopian facade - patients are obviously unhappy with their stay in institution, but they are also unable to face the real world, being psychologically conditioned to accept security over freedom. Even the tiniest bit of power, exercised by nurses and medical staff, has potential of being abused, as Nurse Ratched shows.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest belongs to the category of Great Films, but its greatness is definitely not in anything resembling epic scope. Haskell Wexler's cinematography doesn't catch much of the world outside prosaic settings of the psychiatric institution; music by Jack Nitzsche is easily forgettable and the film even lacks strong plot. Where this film stands above many others is acting. To say that the acting talent was superb would be understatement. Two of five major "Oscars" won by this film (best film, best direction, best screenplay, best male and female lead roles) show how great cast was at Miloš Forman's disposal.
Jack Nicholson here plays one of his many great roles and many would argue that R.P. McMurphy is the best portrayed character in that actor's career - it not only displays great talent, but it also condenses hopes, dreams, virtues and flaws of the entire generation. McMurphy is the ultimate embodiment of 1960s anti-establishment youth and its ideals - he cherishes freedom, despises absurd rules and is willing to confront the authority, not only to satisfy his desires but also to help his fellow man. But the ending also shows the darker side of the baby boomers' story - at the brink of his triumph McMurphy succumbs to alcohol just like idealistic hippies succumbed to drugs and at the end he indulges into absurd, irrational violence just like 1968 idealists turned into bloodthirsty terrorists of 1970s.
Such formidable character required worthy adversary and it was provided by Louise Fletcher in the greatest role of that actress' career. Nurse Ratched is now often cited as one of the most iconic villains in the history of cinema, although her evil is not the classic, obvious wickedness we usually see in films. Louise Fletcher underplays it by being soft-spoken and radiating cold, calculating and often fascinating intelligence from her seemingly plain but menacing physical appearance. And she also leaves enough room for different interpretations of her character - Nurse Ratched may be evil from McMurphy's (and audience's) point of view, but from Ratched's point of view her actions are nothing more than very rational and very efficient ways of doing service to her patients and for the public in general; anyone who prefers authority to anarchy could have some understanding for Ratched at the end when she discovers her neat ward being destroyed by orgy of alcohol and fornication.
Acting abilities of Nicholson and Fletcher are well-matched by their less known colleagues in supporting roles. Some of them were played by professionals and some by amateurs (including William Sampson, Oregon park ranger whose character of Chief is one of the most memorable in the history cinema). It isn't surprising that many of the unknown actors playing patients would easily establish themselves as reliable and easily recognisable actors and later achieve great things - that list includes names like Danny De Vito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif.
For almost three decades One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest remains among the greatest films of all time. There are plenty of reasons why it achieved and kept its status, but the simple explanation could be found in its humanity - the film mixes real life with Hollywood with the same ease with which it mixes comedy and drama. This film also makes viewers feel sympathy towards protagonists yet it allows them to question them and their actions. This is the reason why this film can be interpreted in many different ways and on each subsequent viewing something new can be discovered. This is what great films are and what they are supposed to be.
RATING: 9/10 (++++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on December 30th 2003)
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