One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Jack Nicholson

directed by Milos Forman
USA 1975

The film version of Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, is perhaps the ultimate antihero movie of the 1970's. As R.P. McMurphy, Jack Nicholson delivers a performance as convincing as his character is irresistible. McMurphy is a merry trickster who does not adhere to anyone's rules but his own. He gets himself out of a penal work farm and into the easier pace of a mental institution by pretending to be crazy. When McMurphy challenges the authority of his ward's uberboss, Nurse Ratched, it is only a matter of time before he learns that the system is far more powerful than he or the audience imagined.

Cuckoo's Nest was released the same year as Jaws. It was the beginning of an era of the blockbuster movies that also marked the end of an experimental decade of character driven films that often focused on a lone protagonist trying to make their way in a hostile world. Many in the cast of then unknown actors such as Danny Devito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif would go on to become recognizable faces in movies and television. It would also firmly establish Jack Nicholson as one of the top film actors of his generation. In more ways than one this is a true classic.

Highly recommended!

Excerpt from Dragan Antulov's review located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 19, 1975 (USA)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Warner Home Video (Two Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Warner Home Video Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	133
Video	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	English (Dolby 5.1) /French (mono)
Subtitles	English/French/Spanish
Features	Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Director Milos Forman, Producers Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz • Behind the Scenes Documentary The Making of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest • Eight Deleted Scenes • Cast & Crew Notes • Awards • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: September 24, 2002 Gatefold Chapters 33

Comments

This is a beautiful transfer with nary a blemish. Black level is phenomenal, colors are tight and as close to the original as I've seen of this movie on video. The grainy appearance is just as I remember it looked when it was released in 1975. No more, no less. If I have any complaint at all, it is the cropping of the 1.85:1 image to fit a 1.78:1 screen.

The audio was originally in mono and has been released in a stereo mix on video in the past. The new 5.1 upgrade does not do much but the sound is clear, the dialogue audible and there is good separation when music is present.

The supplements are decent. A commentary from Milos Forman brought over from the Pioneer Special Edition laserdisc and spliced in previously recorded interviews with producers Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz is well worth the time. The eight unused scenes are presented in letterboxed 4:3 and are a nice addition, particularly the extended sequence between McMurphy and Dr. Spivey. The 47 minute making of documentary is an edited version of the 86 minute Charles Kiselyak film, Completely Cuckoo, which was also on the aforementioned laserdisc and focused as much on Ken Kesey's role as the author of the book on which the film is based as on the movie. The present version focuses solely on the movie and eliminates all the Kesey footage. out of