One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Movie

Something, something, something, something…

And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest

That was one of my favourite “catchy” nursery rhymes when I was a little kid, am sorry I don’t remember the first and third lines now. I must have seen this movie for the first time about 15 years ago. My ability to understand English movies, especially those made in Britain (as compared to those made in the US) has undergone just a marginal change since then. I was told that it was a comedy movie and as expected, I didn’t understand a word of what was spoken. Whenever my father or brother laughed, I too broke out into peals of laughter.

Having watched it recently again, I was able to understand and (more importantly) appreciate it much better. Its emotive appeal and captivating subject have a timeless appeal vis-à-vis others of its genre that are more of laugh-and-forget jaunts.

This must-see masterpiece (1975) is based on a book of the same name by Ken Kesey and stars Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher in the title roles of Randle Patrick McMurphy and Nurse Ratched respectively. Murphy is an energetic and boisterous character feigning mental disorder to avoid a lengthy term in prison and is sent to a mental asylum for the doctors to ascertain whether or not he really is a lunatic or for “Evaluation”, as they call it.

He’s put in Ward No. 24 along with Martini (Danny De Vito in his debut role), Cheswick (Sydney Lassick), Taber (Christopher Lloyd’s debut), Harding (William Redfield), Fredrickson (Vincent Schiavelli), Billy Bibbit (Brad Dourif) and the giant Indian, Chief Bromden (Will Sampson). Each of them has a sad tale and are serving voluntary/committed terms to overcome their individual problems.

Right from the beginning, McMurphy challenges the existing rules and regulations of the institution as being “there, just for the sake of being there”. Over a period of time, he relates well with all his ward-mates and they reciprocate by taking an instant liking for him because he treats them like ordinary humans and not goofballs. His easygoing and affable demeanour is so infectious that the patients realize that their fears, phobias, paranoid feelings and foibles are strictly of their own creation and not dependent on other factors. His positive influence on each of them is so amazing that they begin changing for the better within an amazingly short period.

The only thorn in McMurphy’s flesh is Nurse Ratched (head of the ward) who is a strong believer in sticking by rules and is a strict disciplinarian. McMurphy throws a challenge that he will change her within 7 days (his actual language is more colourful and therefore censored).

On the very first day, he refuses to take the dose of medication and thus draws the battle lines with Ratched. The highpoint of the movie is when he requests her to change the TV channel so that they can watch the Rugby World Series. Ratched promptly refuses to do so saying that every component of the schedule has been drawn up for the betterment of the patients and any change could be detrimental to them.

McMurphy proposes a vote to ascertain how many of them want to watch the World Series. Sadly, only 3 hands are raised. The best part is on the ensuing eve when the same scene repeats itself. This time, Murphy gets 9 votes and with some difficulty even gets Chief Bromden (supposed to be deaf and dumb) to raise his hand and make it a majority. Ratched turns the proposal down saying that the vote is closed. The next scene where Murphy “fakes” a match as appearing on the TV by giving commentary and getting all the others to participate is a marvelous scene. The feeling on Ratched’s face at the end of the scene gives Murphy the satisfaction that he has managed to ruffle her tough exterior.

The other highlights of the movie are the scenes involving the fishing trip (too hilarious!), the basketball game (do watch out for Chief Bromden!) and the riotous Christmas party towards the end that changes the lives of all of them forever. The last few minutes are very hard-hitting, poignant and thoughtful as they bring out the true character of Murphy, as the real person that he really is, much different from what his external behaviour tells about him.

There is one particular scene (at the end of the Christmas party) when all of them collapse after having wild fun… Murphy stares and stares into the camera for almost half a minute (I thought my PC was “hung”) – absolutely no expression or movement. That is the moment when he makes up his mind to stay back and fight for the rights and freedom of the patients instead of escaping.

Thus Spake TiC

The ending of no other movie has moved me so much as this one did. When Chief Bromden finally breaks loose the faucet bin and cracks open the window screen to escape from the asylum, it is the ultimate success of what Murphy has always fought for on behalf of the patients – freedom to think for themselves and freedom to lead lives as normal humans.

It was the only other movie apart from “It happened one night” and (if I remember right) “Silence of the Bakras” to have swept the top five Oscars - for Best Picture (Produced by Michael Douglas & Saul Zaentz), Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Best Director (Milos Forman) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman). Fletcher plays the role of Nurse Ratched very effectively and I feel that her character ranks only next to that of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in terms of being coldly monstrous.

What I liked best (apart from the story and overall acting) was the characterization of Murphy and Ratched. Despite his colourful language and rebellious deportment, Murphy can’t be slotted as an archetypal hero. Worse, he’s been convicted in the past for assault and rape and may therefore be called an emblematic non-conformist who refuses to accept society the way it is.

The film is full of crackling dialogues and terrific performances (especially from a Ssssttuttering Brad Dourif). There’s never a dull moment while watching it but its one of those unforgettable movies that begs the audience not to forget the lessons learnt even if they forget the movie itself. Can the success of a movie be judged by a more prudent and apt yardstick?

Fav Dialogues?

Murphy: ’’Five fights, huh? Rocky Marciano’s got forty and he’s a millionaire!’’