Thanks! I had to do another Thanks because this is one of your best reviews. Ever. A very astute look at a book I've not read, that has this mytical status. Well done.
This is one of the adaptations that I think improves on the novel (despite Kesey’s own thoughts at the time). It’s still close enough to the book even with the trims they made to fit the 2 hour runtime. And my God the cast was perfect particularly its 2 Oscar winning winners and the Oscar nominated performance of the great Brad Dourif as the doomed Billy Bibbit; how he lost is beyond me. Plus you see a couple more future famous names as part of McMurphy’s group
My father was a big fan of the movie and when he work at a sawmill, he used to get splinters in his hands and need my mom help to get rid of them and call her Nurse Ratchet when she was pulling them out, which was lost on my mom, who didn’t know about the movie until many years later
A little tidbit...The actor Kirk Douglas bought the movie rights to "Cuckoo" in order to play Murphy, but he couldn't get any studio to make it ("Who wants to see a movie about some guys in a mental institute?") By the 1970s when a studio agreed to back it financially, he felt he was too old to play Murphy. He let his son the actor Michael Douglas produce it. Would've been a different movie with Kirk Douglas as Murphy. Kirk Douglas had played "Spartacus" and Vincent Van Gogh in "Lust for Life", both movies based on novels about real people. An author whose several novels had been made into movies (NOT Stephen King 😎!) was asked in an interview how he or she felt about their books being made into movies not very faithful to their books (NOT J.K.Rowling 😎!), and their reply was "I cash the check as fast as I can, because it's like sending your child into the world. You did the best you could nurturing them, and you hope they don't get run over by the bus that is Hollywood"....I always loved that. quote...Thank you so much for this channel.
Great quote about it being like sending your child into the world. I did read that about Kirk Douglas, but I felt that the video was going to be long already so I left it out
Ironically Michael actually did an Oscar for the film since they won Best Picture and being a producer he got a statue; course the acting trophy came later in ‘87. Even the OG stage cast was a melting pot of famous faces including the late great Gene Wilder as the doomed Billy
Another great job I forgot a lot of details in book the surprise of chief in movie was just so great it makes book not as good . I saw it on broadway with Gary Sinese as Murphy and will Sampson sin play chief . In original cast it was it was kirk Douglas as Murphy and Gene Wilfer as Billy. Wish I can find a scene on RUclips but can't. William Redfern last film play is narrated by chief also
Trust me I was looking forward to the show and it wasn't good. It tried to turned Ratched into a serial killer and didn't full commit to it. Plus given that its a origin story the stakes are very artificial given that we know she would survive by the end.
I loved the show Ratched. They made some assumptions about her I'm not sure I would have made, but overall a great performance by Sarah Paulson. Have you seen her movie "Run"? Really good! I like the Cukoo's Nest movie, but wasn't actually a fan of the book.
Nice. I never read the book, but it's a flick I see every few years. The movie is phenomenal. Every performer gives a memorable 100%. Forgot that the guy who plays Worm tongue is in this. But interesting to hear about the book. Was the author actually a racist and sexist? As I listened I just wondered if he just made the characters in such a way that, made the reader question their own ideals and prejudice. Because they are the ones we're introduced with as our leads and you just hope they are wronged in someway. Because I think deep down inside we hope they're good people. Then you read their rap sheet and you're like "Oh, he raped an underage kid, nah fuck this guy". I have NO IDEA (Haven't looked it up yet) .. but what if he wrote the characters this way to make the reader uncomfortable. Though as I ask this I remember it was written at a time were racism and misogyny were probably a little more ... err.. the norm?? When I think of the movie, they do not make it so clear that McMurphy is that evil. I don't think Nicolson would go there. But they did a great job threading that needle of "Well, he's not such a bad guy". I remember my HS teacher asking the students if we felt he should be there. Like, was he crazy or did the system fuck up? Did he put himself there and so is it his own fault? The bible (Jesus) comparisons are really interesting. I didn't feel that for the film but hearing your review, it does seem like a great idea. I'm not that religious but I've actually always joked that the bible is pretty misogynistic. Did Jesus not know many strong women? Why they have to be sex workers only? But great upload! Great overview of the flick and book.
Yeah that's talked about in the book, like it's McMurphy totally and and just manipulating the system and acting unstable in order to get out of the work farm. And yeah, the movie doesn't have the religious symbolism like it does in the book
I think because you had heard of the sexual and racist themes from other people before reading the book you went into to it looking for them a lot more. Similar to the Dartmouth scar experiment. But good comparison/ review.
Glad you liked the review! And I think the sexist themes are so clear I would have seen them regardless. That line alone about how the only way to show a woman who's boss is to r@pe her isn't one someone can overlook.
Yes that is sexist. But does not mean the book is sexist. Could be in there to challenge the reader to think about ethics is he really a hero. Can one bad thing you do mean everything else is pointless or is bad.
Thanks! I had to do another Thanks because this is one of your best reviews. Ever. A very astute look at a book I've not read, that has this mytical status. Well done.
Wow thank you so much! I really appreciate that! Comments like this are what help keep me motivated!
@@WhytheBookWins...It is you that seems racist .
This is one of the adaptations that I think improves on the novel (despite Kesey’s own thoughts at the time). It’s still close enough to the book even with the trims they made to fit the 2 hour runtime. And my God the cast was perfect particularly its 2 Oscar winning winners and the Oscar nominated performance of the great Brad Dourif as the doomed Billy Bibbit; how he lost is beyond me. Plus you see a couple more future famous names as part of McMurphy’s group
I totally agree!
My father was a big fan of the movie and when he work at a sawmill, he used to get splinters in his hands and need my mom help to get rid of them and call her Nurse Ratchet when she was pulling them out, which was lost on my mom, who didn’t know about the movie until many years later
That's hilarious 😆
A little tidbit...The actor Kirk Douglas bought the movie rights to "Cuckoo" in order to play Murphy, but he couldn't get any studio to make it ("Who wants to see a movie about some guys in a mental institute?") By the 1970s when a studio agreed to back it financially, he felt he was too old to play Murphy. He let his son the actor Michael Douglas produce it. Would've been a different movie with Kirk Douglas as Murphy. Kirk Douglas had played "Spartacus" and Vincent Van Gogh in "Lust for Life", both movies based on novels about real people. An author whose several novels had been made into movies (NOT Stephen King 😎!) was asked in an interview how he or she felt about their books being made into movies not very faithful to their books (NOT J.K.Rowling 😎!), and their reply was "I cash the check as fast as I can, because it's like sending your child into the world. You did the best you could nurturing them, and you hope they don't get run over by the bus that is Hollywood"....I always loved that. quote...Thank you so much for this channel.
Great quote about it being like sending your child into the world. I did read that about Kirk Douglas, but I felt that the video was going to be long already so I left it out
Ironically Michael actually did an Oscar for the film since they won Best Picture and being a producer he got a statue; course the acting trophy came later in ‘87.
Even the OG stage cast was a melting pot of famous faces including the late great Gene Wilder as the doomed Billy
@@WhytheBookWins..It's u who seems racist ..imho..
Another great job I forgot a lot of details in book the surprise of chief in movie was just so great it makes book not as good . I saw it on broadway with Gary Sinese as Murphy and will Sampson sin play chief . In original cast it was it was kirk Douglas as Murphy and Gene Wilfer as Billy. Wish I can find a scene on RUclips but can't. William Redfern last film play is narrated by chief also
Trust me I was looking forward to the show and it wasn't good. It tried to turned Ratched into a serial killer and didn't full commit to it. Plus given that its a origin story the stakes are very artificial given that we know she would survive by the end.
oh wow, yeah I was skeptical haha. Thanks for letting me know it isn't worth it!
I remember hearing the origin series was rather disappointing. I didn’t watch it myself however
prequels are always tough to make. I was really surprised how good the 1st season of Bates Motel was. Then, it slowly just started playing it safe.
I loved the show Ratched. They made some assumptions about her I'm not sure I would have made, but overall a great performance by Sarah Paulson. Have you seen her movie "Run"? Really good! I like the Cukoo's Nest movie, but wasn't actually a fan of the book.
She is a great actress! I'll have to look into Run
@@WhytheBookWins I loved it!
Nice. I never read the book, but it's a flick I see every few years. The movie is phenomenal. Every performer gives a memorable 100%. Forgot that the guy who plays Worm tongue is in this. But interesting to hear about the book. Was the author actually a racist and sexist? As I listened I just wondered if he just made the characters in such a way that, made the reader question their own ideals and prejudice. Because they are the ones we're introduced with as our leads and you just hope they are wronged in someway. Because I think deep down inside we hope they're good people. Then you read their rap sheet and you're like "Oh, he raped an underage kid, nah fuck this guy".
I have NO IDEA (Haven't looked it up yet) .. but what if he wrote the characters this way to make the reader uncomfortable. Though as I ask this I remember it was written at a time were racism and misogyny were probably a little more ... err.. the norm?? When I think of the movie, they do not make it so clear that McMurphy is that evil. I don't think Nicolson would go there. But they did a great job threading that needle of "Well, he's not such a bad guy".
I remember my HS teacher asking the students if we felt he should be there. Like, was he crazy or did the system fuck up? Did he put himself there and so is it his own fault? The bible (Jesus) comparisons are really interesting. I didn't feel that for the film but hearing your review, it does seem like a great idea. I'm not that religious but I've actually always joked that the bible is pretty misogynistic. Did Jesus not know many strong women? Why they have to be sex workers only?
But great upload! Great overview of the flick and book.
Yeah that's talked about in the book, like it's McMurphy totally and and just manipulating the system and acting unstable in order to get out of the work farm. And yeah, the movie doesn't have the religious symbolism like it does in the book
I think because you had heard of the sexual and racist themes from other people before reading the book you went into to it looking for them a lot more. Similar to the Dartmouth scar experiment. But good comparison/ review.
Glad you liked the review!
And I think the sexist themes are so clear I would have seen them regardless. That line alone about how the only way to show a woman who's boss is to r@pe her isn't one someone can overlook.
Yes that is sexist. But does not mean the book is sexist. Could be in there to challenge the reader to think about ethics is he really a hero. Can one bad thing you do mean everything else is pointless or is bad.