A classic villain
To celebrate his milestone birthday One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is being re-released
only three films to have won all five major Oscars – actor, actress, director, best screenplay, best picture – it is utterly compelling.
Nicholson’s presence, whether he’s observing, talking, arguing or going wild is always riveting. He has a connection with the audience that very few actors have and sex is at the root of it. Talking in 1986 he said: “All right. The secret to Cuckoo’s Nest, my secret design for it, was that this guy’s a scamp who knows he’s irresistible to women and in reality he expects Nurse Ratched to be seduced by him. This is his tragic flaw. This is why he ultimately fails. I discussed this with Louise Fletcher (Nurse Ratched). I discussed this only with her. That’s what I felt was actually happening with that character – it was one long, unsuccessful seduction which the guy was so pathologically sure of.’’
Jack of course has been a notable seducer, an Olympic lady’s man. He, Brando and Warren Beatty were neighbours on Mulholland Drive, known as “Badboys’ Hill”. Brando is dead, Beatty tamed and settled with his wife Annette Bening and Jack has muttered something about not finding love again and dying alone. It was of course reprinted a million times but may or may not be true.
He still has that smile, which says loveable man and big NURSE Ratched has been named fifth worst film villain of all time by the American Film Institute. Only Hannibal Lecter, Norman Bates (Psycho), Darth Vader and The Wicked Witch of The West from The Wizard Of Oz are worse.
During the premiere of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest in Chicago, the audience cheered when she was being strangled. “That blew me away,” Louise Fleming (who played her) says. “It was very exciting. And when the film was over, people ran after us as we went up the aisle. That was the first time I had experienced that kind of attention.”
In her Oscar acceptance speech she said: “Well, it looks like you all hated me so much that you’ve given me this award for it, and I’m loving every minute of it. And all I can say is I’ve loved being hated by you.”
HIS BIGGEST FILMS…
(scariest hotel management hand since Norman Bates) (best paid Joker in history – earned him $100million) (an obsessive-compulsive writer finds the sunny side) (much better than As Good As It Gets) (Colonel Jessup makes a hell of a good speech) (an angry old man’s journey to a kind of redemption) (“I’m just your average horny little devil”)
AND HIS BEST LINES
“You know this used to be a helluva good country. I can’t understand what’s gone wrong with it.” Easy Rider “The next woman who gets hold of me is going to light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars.” after ECT in Cuckoo’s Nest “Heeeere’s Johnny.” The Shining – Jack improvised the line “You can’t handle the truth.” A Few Good Men “You make me want to be a better man.”
As Good As It Gets “Ever dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight?”
Batman