Not to over-romanticize the 1970s too much, but One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest marked the high point not only of Jack Nicholson's career (look at how ridiculous and over-the-top he would be just 5 years later in "The Shining") but of the entire American film industry.
By saying - "failed in life" I meant that she was completely incapable of relating to anyone, and therefore had no interest in bringing them joy or laughter. She was only interested in control and submission. It was the only way of validating her miserable existence.
Being a relatively intelligent person, Nurse Ratched knows that FUNDAMENTALLY, people need joy and happiness more than they need direction. As she (flat-out) has no soul, she knows that as a person, she has failed in life. That is her greatest failure. When Mac comes in with enough joy and laughter to share with everyone, Nurse Ratched does anything and everything to stop him from removing all her control, and she was prepared to go all the way to a frontal lobotomy. She just needed a reason.
Nurse Ratched had sold her soul for her profession. Proof positive that a noble profession (nurse) can still be HORRIBLY abused. Her control over everyone was her only sense of accomplishment ... until Mac showed up, and began setting everyone free, like birds that weren't meant to be caged (Shawshank). So, she took Mac's soul and left him there for everyone to see, as a reminder to never cross her. Mac was her greatest trophy. That's why Chief set him free. SHEER POETRY.
Watching it again, and knowing the film inside out, a thought struck me. If a person only sees this last scene, then they never get to see the Chief against the other characters, standing up, which is one of the points of the whole film and book. The Chief is ENORMOUS! The actor Will Sampson was between 6'6 and 6'9 depending on the source, and must have weighed about 300lb. All through the film, you see him standing up, next to all the other actors, and he towers above them.
Not to over-romanticize the 1970s too much, but One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest marked the high point not only of Jack Nicholson's career (look at how ridiculous and over-the-top he would be just 5 years later in "The Shining") but of the entire American film industry.
odaibaman 23 hours ago
CHIEF SHOULD OF THROWN NURSE RATCHED THROUGH THE WINDOW
monkeynuts76 1 day ago
Let's fucking go!!!
drilliman 3 days ago
By saying - "failed in life" I meant that she was completely incapable of relating to anyone, and therefore had no interest in bringing them joy or laughter. She was only interested in control and submission. It was the only way of validating her miserable existence.
jordancc1980 3 days ago
Being a relatively intelligent person, Nurse Ratched knows that FUNDAMENTALLY, people need joy and happiness more than they need direction. As she (flat-out) has no soul, she knows that as a person, she has failed in life. That is her greatest failure. When Mac comes in with enough joy and laughter to share with everyone, Nurse Ratched does anything and everything to stop him from removing all her control, and she was prepared to go all the way to a frontal lobotomy. She just needed a reason.
jordancc1980 3 days ago
Nurse Ratched had sold her soul for her profession. Proof positive that a noble profession (nurse) can still be HORRIBLY abused. Her control over everyone was her only sense of accomplishment ... until Mac showed up, and began setting everyone free, like birds that weren't meant to be caged (Shawshank). So, she took Mac's soul and left him there for everyone to see, as a reminder to never cross her. Mac was her greatest trophy. That's why Chief set him free. SHEER POETRY.
jordancc1980 5 days ago
best scene of all time, great effect no audio
sean57 5 days ago
I love this scene...
Kojcha 1 week ago
his spirit lives on fuckin legend mc murphy
guitarreilly 1 week ago
Freeeeeeeedommmmm!!
dduras 1 week ago
Comment removed
1978Yodi 2 weeks ago
I shook Milos Formans hand at a movie showing he had at BAM a few years ago and thanked him for this scene. Best movie ending of all time IMHO.
TijuanaDonkey 3 weeks ago 2
still chokes me up to this day sheer brilliance
seaness267 1 month ago 5
SORRY in czech language SVOBODA JE NEDĚLITELNÁ! viva FREEDOM;; VIVA LIBERTY :-) tears :-)
liberal1905 1 month ago
Robot Chicken brought me back here.
Something6000 1 month ago 2
this is back when they used to make good movies.... not anymore!
zestydude87 1 month ago 4
There is no movie that ever touched me more than this one.
MsGeezuz 2 months ago
Moved beyond words even though I have seen this at least for the tenth time... this is what I call catharsis!
pavlina102 2 months ago
Watching it again, and knowing the film inside out, a thought struck me. If a person only sees this last scene, then they never get to see the Chief against the other characters, standing up, which is one of the points of the whole film and book. The Chief is ENORMOUS! The actor Will Sampson was between 6'6 and 6'9 depending on the source, and must have weighed about 300lb. All through the film, you see him standing up, next to all the other actors, and he towers above them.
chavrecycling 4 months ago
its such a sad scene, but at the same time its a good scene
elcamino01 4 months ago
@elcamino01 It's a beautiful scene, that makes sense of the whole story, and frees McMurphy and the Chief at the same time.
Sad, yes; and the music is stunning.
chavrecycling 4 months ago