Best Picture of 1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

For the first time since 1934 a movie took home all 5 of the biggest awards given through the ceremony. The movie that did it was the a film considered to be one of the best ever made, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was nominated for nine awards that night and took five. The five that it took home were the highest honors to be given out that night; Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture. This would not happen again until 1991. This is the tale of Randle McMurphy, a man whose has been imprisoned on charges of statutory rape. He convinces the guards at the prison that he has gone crazy and needs to be sent to the mental hospital for the rest of his sentence. He does this so he can try and avoid hard labor in the last few weeks of his sentence. He learns very quickly that he is not going to get away with his plan that easy.






Taking home the top prizes of the year does not come without it's concerns. The films rights where bought by Kirk Douglas and he tried for 10 years to get the film into production, but no one would do it with him. He gave the rights to his son, Michael Douglas, and he was finally able to get it off the ground. It paid off United Artist took home the Oscar beating out: Warner Brothers' Baby Lyndon and Dog Day Afternoon; Universal's Jaws; and Paramount's Nashville. This film also earned the right to be preserved by the National Film Registry in 1993.




I have seen this film once before this list. I liked it the first time. Now I have to say that I feel about the same about it the second time around. I didn't find it more interesting or less, I just expected about the same as the first time and that is what I got. I will say that I understood it more the second time watching it. I still feel the movie is a bit out there, which is totally part of its charm, but one that I think everyone should see once. I do say that this is one of Jack Nicholson's best roles I have seen him in. I does the part very well and you can tell it's been well researched.