paged
daily nebraskan
thursday, february 26, 1976
' Cuckoo's Nest' starkly realistic
By Ryan Scott
Writing a critique of Milos Forman's One Flew Over
The Cuckoo's Nest presents 'a paradox. Though the film
should be highly regarded for its presentation of a dy
namic and powerful story, it is disappointing that the film
does not quite deliver the impact of either the novel or
stage version that preceded it.
Don't be mistaken, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
is undoubtedly one of the finest and most important films
of 1975. Both the excellence of the story and the perfor
mances of the cast make it an outstanding film.
I I I I llll
Based upon Ken Kesey's 1962 novel, Cuckoo's Nest is
the story of the free-spirited, rough-and-tumble R.P.
McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), and the general havoc and
disorder he wreaks upon a ward in the Oregon State Men
tal Hospital. McMurphy is temporarily confined there for
"testing and observation."
McMurphy bets the fellow ward patients he can psy
chologically undermine the ward's symbol of institution
alism, "Big Nurse" Ratched (Louise Fletcher). His "game"
quickly turns serious, eventually spelling his destruction.
While Nicholson is good in his role as McMurphy, the
talent of the supporting cast is amazing; Broadway star
arts 8c
William Redfield as Harding, the patient, is the only
"name" actor in the bunch. The remainder of the cast is
comprised of virtual no-names, many of whom are making
their acting debuts in the production. -
Heightened by realism
They are totally convincing in their craziness. Not a
single performance seems staged. The supporting cast's
skillful acting heightens the movie's effectiveness, giving
it a shocking degree of realism.
In fact, some of the film's extras actually are patients
and the administrator at the Oregon State Mental Hos
pital, where the production was filmed.
Although Nicholson's performance is good, a heavier
dose of pompous brashness might have made it better.
McMurphy is supposed to be a loud-mouthed, rude,
crude, aggressive, type. Nicholson's interpretation is al
most too polite. But I suspect the character was toned .
down by cither director Form an or the script writers.
There is no apparent reason for this toning down except
, to present McMurphy as a more human, and hence more
tragic, figure.
In any case, it is easy to like McMurphy, and one is
ready to side with him against Ratched.
Nicholson's performance is creditable and he deserves
his Oscar nomination. ,
Character underdeveloped
- Louise Fletcher's performance as Nurse Ratched is
disappointing because of the gross underdevelopment of
her character.
Tension between Ratched and McMurphy is fundamen
tal to the progression of the story. It is important that one
hates Ratched as much as one likes McMurphy because it
establishes the former's "evil" and the latter's "good"
roles. ,
Fletcher's excellence is her line delivery. She is able
to match the exact degree of personality, sterility and
noncommital coldness expected of Ratched.
The movie often breezes over what were important
moments in the novel and play. For example, the movie
offers no insight into the character of Chief Bromden,
who is second in importance only to McMurphy and
Ratched.
On numerous occasions in the novel and play, one is
allowed to "listen" to Bromden's thoughts revealing that
his disorder stems from being beaten by the white man's
prejudice.
Happy ending
McMurphy gives Bromden the strength to realize that
he is a man. The ending therefore is happy, as well as
tragic.
The movie also makes it difficult to see that
McMurphy's attack on Ratched is not solely the result of
the suicide of ward patient Billy Bibbit. The suicide is
only the breaking point for McMurphy, the culmination
of the hateful tension between him and the nurse.
The attack is the film's dramatic peak. The tension
leading to the attack should have been more carefully
brought out.
HORSEFEATHERS
Vz Priced Drinks
For Girls
Tonight Thursday Feb. 26
The Student Y
2nd Annual Body
Awareness Week
r.
A film vihi wmi'I wc im Ivli hion fur a
long, lung Hint'.
TllK
BEST OF
THIS
NlVVlYOHK
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JflROTir
FILM
FESTIVAL
In color fronA
f,7 Saliva Film
s 1
. Ruled X. Unik r 17 not admitted.
Friday, February 27
Saturday
February 28
7;C3 mJ 0:30 p.m.
Nsbr&jca Union
; , Csllroom - $1
I Of I
Sheldon Art
Gallery, 12th & R St.
The Films of
Jean Renoir
UNE PARTIE
DE CAM PAG NE
(A DAY IN THE
COUNTRY)
France 1936
37 Minutes ...
plus a second feature
LE BAS-FONDS
(THE LOVER DEPTHS)
France 1933
" 91 Minutes
Friday & Saturday
ebrusry 27 & 23 only!
Screening st
3, 7 & 9:16 p.m.
Admission $1 SO .
LTQ.
A Qut Above The Ihers
2mi N. 48th
Appts. Preferred: 464-8559
Quality Guts & Styles
Tom Comer
Kirk Lieswald
X
!
I Lyle
Miller
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IHRIK if
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Photo courtety of Fantaty Films and Unltad Artist Corp.
Jack Nicholson $tan as the rougii-and-tumble R.P.
McMurphy in Milos Forman's production of One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
. I dont want to sound too critical of the film. Kesey's
novel is a powerful piece of modern fiction. Director
Milos Form an and producers Michael Douglas and Saul
Zaentz should be thanked for its long overdue adaptation
to the screen.
My dissatisfactions with the movie are those typical
ly felt by one whose love for a novel makes it hard to
cope with Hollywood's inability to transcribe it onto film
exactly as it is written.
One Flew Over Vie Cuckoo's Nest is outstanding in
its realism, significant in its impact and monumental in its
importance. In short, it is an unqualified "don't miss it."
Old, new to be sung
UNL's unofficial "ambassadors of song," the Scar
let and Cream Singers, will perform 8 p.m. Friday in Kim
ball Recital Hall. Tickets cost $2 for adults and $1.50 for
students.
Friday's program features music from the 1940s to cur
rent hit tunes, said musical director Ray Miller, UNL
associate professor of voice.
Accompanied by a piano, bass and drums, the choreo
graphed show will include songs from the films That's
Entertainment! and Cabaret, and a medley of Beach Boy
songs. Many selections will be performed by soloists and
duets, Miller added.
The Scarlet and Cream Singers provide musical public
relations for UNL, Miller said. The group appeared in last
year's Fiesta Bowl, and has performed in Iowa, Colorado,
Texas and throughout Nebraska.
The University of Nebraska Alumni Association spon
sors the 3-year-old group. Money from the group's con
certs goes to Alumni Association scholarship programs
and other activities.
'I
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IN COLOR A PARAMOUNT PICTURl
1:30 3:30 7:30 8:30
' 7. 2 CSIIZDY CLASSICS
srZ 'K.'-rR...l. r.... STARTS
Patar Ssllers and f . V "Jesus Christ" I
Starr at their . riding a '
tricycle? 1,
with additional I'M
Ringo
craziest in
lit.
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material and I M I
.... .. . t r.
P5ricmances by V u ,AI
2 of Monty Python iV ,w
Zany Troup! tifrt V
73 Best Actor
Nomine
List
Say
.1
4 OSCAR Nominations j
including e?ST PICTURE
2:00 7:00 i
