One of the most memorable movies of the last century. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Miloš Forman. Many of us have seen it at least once, some quite a few times. Some of us read the book by Ken Kesey before seeing the movie, and noticed how the main character switched from the Chief to the white guy. But nevertheless the film was every bit as good, if not better. Stacked with superb actors and actresses, and the storyline did not suffer one bit from the change of perspective.
And perspective is what this film is all about! But don’t worry, this article does not contain any spoilers!
The title of Ken Kesey’s book is by the way a line from a nursery rhyme:
Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn,
Wire, briar, limber lock
Three geese in a flock
One flew East
One flew West
And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest
Finally, the cast. What is noteworthy is that Dean Brooks who played the role of Dr. John Spivey in the film, was a real physician. Actually the director of the Oregon State Hospital where the movie was filmed! He was so involved in the making of the film that he then ended up playing the character.
Dean Brooks also wanted to incorporate his own patients into the crew. The producers - Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz - agreed to this. It was not until later that they found out that many of those patients were actually criminally insane.
Anyway, here’s the chronological cast list, followed by the trailer (2m34s). Watch it on YouTube to get the comments!
THE CAST OF ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
1903-0116 Peter Brocco as Col. Matterson. From Reading, Pennsylvania
1910-0523 Scatman Crothers as Night Guard Turkle. From Terre Haute, Indiana
1916-0722 Dean Brooks as Dr. John Spivey. From Colony, Kansas
1921-0310 Josip Elic as Inmate Bancini. From Butte, Montana
1922-0723 Sydney Lassick as Charlie Cheswick. From Chicago, Illinois
1923-0830 William Duell as Jim Sefelt. From Corinth, New York
1927-0126 William Redfield as Dale Harding. From New York, New York
1930-0706 Phil Roth as Woolsey. From Kansas City, Missouri
1933-0115 Ted Markland as Hap Arlich. From USA
1933-0927 Will Sampson as “Chief” Bromden. From Okmulgee, Oklahoma
1934-0722 Louise Fletcher as Nurse Mildred Ratched. From Birmingham, Alabama
1936-0727 Nathan George as Attendant Washington. From USA
1936-0925 Louisa Moritz as Rose. From Havana, Cuba
1937-0422 Jack Nicholson as Randle Patrick “R.P.” McMurphy. From Manhattan, New York
1938-1022 Christopher Lloyd as Max Taber. From Stamford, Connecticut
1942-0320 Mews Small (Marya Small) as Candy. From Pasadena, California
1944-1117 Danny De Vito as Martini. From Neptune Township, New Jersey
1948-0904 Michael Berryman as Ellis. From Los Angeles, California
1948-1111 Vincent Schiavelli as Bruce Frederickson. From Brooklyn, New York
1950-0318 Brad Dourif as Billy Bibbit. From Huntington, West Virginia
1951-0718 Mimi Sarkisian as Nurse Pilbow. From San Francisco, California
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXrcDonY-B8
Updated 22.6.2021