Miloš Forman: 5 Oscarů a spor s Jackem Nicholsonem

In 1976, Hollywood celebrated a monumental achievement. Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) swept the Academy Awards, winning all five of the most prestigious Oscars – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. It became only the second film in history to accomplish this feat. On stage accepting the awards was Miloš Forman, a Czech director with a distinctive accent, an emigrant from Communist Czechoslovakia, and a man who, just years prior, found himself uncertain about his future in a Manhattan hotel room.

An Emigrant in a Foreign Land

When Forman left Czechoslovakia in 1968, he wasn’t a globally renowned director, but a respected filmmaker known for films like Lásky jedné plavovlásky (The Loves of a Blonde) and Hoří, má panenko (The Firemen’s Ball). He remained largely unknown in the American film industry. His first American film, Taking Off, released in 1971, didn’t achieve commercial success, though it garnered critical respect in Europe. Forman quickly realized he would need to adapt his approach, turning to adaptations of English-language literature and plays.

A Book Confiscated at the Border

The story begins in 1962 when Kirk Douglas acquired the rights to Ken Kesey’s novel, Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem. Douglas envisioned a major Hollywood film starring himself, but studios were hesitant to finance it. Analyses indicated that of numerous films addressing mental illness, only one had been successful. He then pursued a Broadway production, but it closed after four months, as audiences were unwilling to watch depictions of patients in a psychiatric hospital.

Around this time, Douglas accepted an invitation from President Kennedy to a promotional tour of Communist countries. In Prague, he was shown Forman’s Lásky jedné plavovlásky, which impressed him so much that he promised to send Forman the novel. Forman anticipated its arrival, stating, “I waited every day by the mailbox. The book never came.”

The book eventually arrived, but ten years later, from a different Douglas. Forman was in a New York hotel room, his first American film having failed, and unsure of his next step. He received an envelope from Michael Douglas, Kirk’s son, who was unaware his father had sent the book a decade earlier. The original shipment had been confiscated by censors at the border, with neither sender nor recipient informed.

A Tale of Two Douglases

Forman read the novel and immediately knew he wanted to film it. He saw the story as more than just a literary adaptation, stating, “For me, it wasn’t just literature, but real life, the life I lived in Czechoslovakia from my birth in 1932 to 1968. The Communist Party was my Sister Ratched.” He connected the film’s themes to his own experiences under a restrictive regime.

Studios were reluctant to finance the project, deeming the subject matter risky and Forman an unknown quantity in Hollywood. However, Michael Douglas and producer Saul Zaentz persevered. The initial budget of two million dollars was revisited after Jack Nicholson’s involvement increased it to four million. Zaentz reminded the board he owned 51 percent of the studio and secured the funding.

The Enigma of Jack Nicholson

Forman believed Nicholson was the only choice for the role of McMurphy, stating, “Nicholson was the only clear case. There was no substitute.” Nicholson had previously expressed interest in the novel, but hadn’t secured the rights. During pre-production, he began filming another movie, causing delays. Producers sent the script to Gene Hackman and Marlon Brando, but neither responded. Forman insisted on Nicholson, and the producers ultimately conceded.

Filming began in January 1975 at the Oregon State Hospital. While Nicholson appeared receptive and focused, tensions simmered beneath the surface. According to crew members, Nicholson lost faith in Forman after the hospital director publicly criticized the director. He began holding private rehearsals with colleagues, excluding Forman. Bill Butler, the cameraman, later confirmed, “Nicholson didn’t speak to Miloš at all. He only spoke to me.” After each take, Nicholson would seek Butler’s reaction instead of Forman’s.

Forman’s directing style differed from Hollywood norms. He believed in fostering trust with actors and then minimizing interference, stating, “The most important thing is that the actor believes you. And then not to talk to him too much, because the more you talk, the more you confuse him.” However, Nicholson remained distant, and Forman admitted, “To this day, I don’t know if he’s crazy or not.”

The film premiered in November 1975 and quickly became a phenomenon. Critics and audiences responded enthusiastically, surprising producers and Forman. The story of McMurphy and Sister Ratched resonated with viewers, who saw it as a clash between the individual and the system. At the March 1976 Academy Awards, the film won five Oscars: Nicholson for Best Actor, Louise Fletcher for Best Actress, Forman for Best Director, and the film for both Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Only one other film, It Happened One Night in 1934, had previously achieved this.

Forman, who had once been uncertain about his future, stood on stage as Best Director. Jack Nicholson remained an enigma, but was instrumental in the film’s triumph.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year did Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem win five Oscars?

Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem won five Oscars in 1976, recognising achievements from the year 1975.

Who initially purchased the rights to the novel Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem?

Kirk Douglas initially purchased the rights to the novel Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem in 1962.

What did Miloš Forman say about the Oscars?

Miloš Forman described the Oscars as “a game. It has its rules.”

Considering the unusual path to its creation, and the complex relationships involved, what lasting impact do you think Přelet nad kukaččím hnízdem has had on the way we discuss mental health and societal control?