Dana and Tom with 5x Club Member, Sara Shea (Host and Creator of Shea Cinema), discuss the Best Picture winner of 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: directed by Milos Forman, written by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, cinematography by Haskell Wexler, music by Jack Nitzschke, edited by Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman, and Sheldon Kahn, starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Danny Devito, and Christopher Lloyd.

Plot Summary: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a powerful drama directed by Miloš Forman, based on the novel by Ken Kesey. The film stars Jack Nicholson as Randle P. McMurphy, a rebellious man who fakes insanity to avoid prison and is sent to a mental institution. There, he clashes with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) whose strict control over the patients crushes their spirits. McMurphy’s defiance inspires the other men, including the quiet and gentle Chief Bromden (Will Sampson), to rediscover their sense of freedom and individuality. The movie explores themes of authority, conformity, and the human spirit, ultimately showing the cost of resisting oppressive systems.

Guest:

Sara Shea

• Host and Creator of Shea Cinema; @sheacinema on X, IG
• Previously on 12 Angry Men (1957) Revisit, Barry Lyndon (1975), Shampoo (1975), 2025 Post Oscars Reaction Show, Patton (1970)

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction, Cast, and Background for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

04:42 Welcome Back, Sara Shea!

08:23 Mental Health - Then and Now

23:57 Relationship(s) with Cuckoo's Nest

32:25 Plot Summary for Cuckoo's Nest

33:20 What is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest About?

39:44 Did You Know?

45:46 First Break

46:32 What's Happening with Sara Shea?

50:25 The Cinema Legacy Poll Rankings - #25-21

01:05:44 Best Performance(s)

01:31:09 Best Scene(s)

01:38:08 Second Break

01:38:48 In Memoriam

01:39:13 Best/Funniest Lines

01:41:04 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy

01:50:36 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance

01:55:14 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty

02:02:57 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness

02:11:51 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability

02:19:23 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total

02:21:02 Remaining Questions for Cuckoo's Nest

02:27:16 Thank You to Sara and Remaining Thoughts

02:35:35 Credits

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For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-1975-ft-sara-shea

For the entire rankings list so far, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/greatest-movie-of-all-time-list

Keywords

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, mental health, film analysis, Nurse Ratched, Jack Nicholson, Miloš Forman, movie podcast, classic films, character study, film history, movie legacy, character study, 1970s cinema, film performances, storytelling, audience impact, big 5, Oscars, Best Picture, Best Director, Haskell Wexler, Louise Fletcher, Danny Devito, William Redfield, Christopher Lloyd

Ronny Duncan Studios