11 Lecture 11: Lecture 11: Shifting Mediums Professor Daniel Cutrara One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) Ken Kesey (novel) Laurence Hauben and Bo Goldman (screenplay)

Previous Lesson TV and Film Convergence Narrative Complexity Deadwood 2

3 This Lesson Adaptation One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest From novel to play to film. Assignments

44 Adaptation Lesson 11: Part I

5 Why Adapt? Story already developed –Books, short stories, plays Intriguing World already developed –Pirates of the Caribbean, videogames Pre-established Audience –Automatic Market

Challenges to Adaptation Fiction –Internal vs External –Novels Simplifying characters and plot –Short Stories Making sure you have enough story 6

7 Challenges (2) Plays –Opening it up from the stage Musicals –Selling it to a 21 st C. audience

8 Challenges (3) Graphic Novels/Comics –Filling in the frame Videogames –Expanding the narrative

99 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Lesson 11: Part II

10 Backstory Novel –1962, Ken Kesey worked as a night watchman at a mental institution –The Period: rebellion, experimentation – Reception: well received, critically. 10

11 The Novel What Makes it Compelling? –The Tone and Point of View –Use of Imagery and Motifs –Compelling Characters –Multi-layered Conflict –Structure and Plot –Theme

12 Tone and Point of View Pause the Lecture and take a look at the first few pages of the novel. How is Chief Bromden introduced? What is his world like? What is real and what is the truth?

13 Tone and Point of View (2) How is Chief Bromden introduced? –First person point of view. Harmless observer. What is his world like? –Conspiracy of institutional control. What is real and what is the truth? –His perceptions may be more true than the physical reality.

14 Imagery and Motifs Machine vs human –Surveillance, mechanical control Western motif –Lone Ranger and Tonto Christ motif –Fishing trip, disciples, crucifixion

15 Compelling Characters Randall P. McMurphy –Reluctant hero Nurse Ratched –Controlling through manipulation Chief Bromden –Awakening to strength The Ward –Billy, Harding, Cheswick, etc.

16 Multi-layered Conflict McMurphy vs Nurse Ratched Men vs Women Individual vs the Institution The rebel Hero in relationship to community.

17 4 Part Structure Tracks McMurphy’s transformation –McMurphy takes on Nurse Ratched. –Riding high then feeling duped, toes the line until he sees how needy the men are. –Fathers the men, basketball, fishing trip, they begin to feel their power. –Nurse undermines their confidence. Betrayal and the ultimate sacrifice

18 Planting and Payoff The water control panel –A method of therapy abandoned –A symbol of resistance –A test of full growth –A betrayal of the patients –A means of escape

19 Surprise Major Reversals –Discovery that McMurphy’s stay is indefinite –Cheswick’s suicide –Billy’s suicide –The Chief killing McMurphy

Theme What is the message of the novel? –Who is sane? –What is it to be human in the face of a soulless institution? 20

21 Representation African Americans –Angry brutes The orderlies chosen for their hatred of whites. –The Clown Turkle, friendly, ineffectual, loves the booze and women.

22 Representation (Cont’d) Women –Whores with hearts of gold Candy and Sandy –Ball cutters Nurse Ratched, Billy’s mother, Chief’s mother

23 Backstory () Backstory (Too Dark) Kirk Douglas options rights, can’t find backers for a film- too depressing, mental illness. One studio had some suggestions. “Maybe if McMurphy doesn't choke the nurse, and maybe if Billy Bibbitt doesn't commit suicide, and maybe if Chief doesn't perform the mercy killing of McMurphy, maybe they would be interested.” 23

24 The Play Kirk Douglas decides to stage it to gain interest. Kesey is comfortable with the adaptation. –The 3 Act version adapted by Dale Wasserman with Kirk Douglas as the lead receives mixed reviews and closes after a six month run on Broadway in –Wasserman’s revised 2 Act version has a successful off Broadway run in 1971.

25 Adapting for the Stage Pause the lecture and take a look at the excerpt from the Stage Play. What is the point of view and tone? The location?

26 From Novel to Play The location is simplified –The main room becomes the central focus Tone and point of view –Carries over Chief Bromden’s story and perspective. Characters, plot, and structure –Simplification required cutting scenes and characters.

27 Backstory (The Film) Kirk Douglas hands property over to son Michael. Still couldn’t get studio financing. –Saul Zaentz, Fantasy Films –The producers put up 4 million dollars, it ended up grossing 100 million. Nicholson’s contract gave him 10% of the gross. 27

28 Critical Success In the running for 1975 –Jaws, Dog Day Afternoon, Nashville, Barry Lyndon Winner of 8 Academy Awards including –Best Picture –Best Director –Best Actor –Best Actress –Best Adapted Screenplay 28

29 The Director Milos Forman –Kirk Douglas had sent him the script in the 60’s but he never received it. Czech censors confiscated it. –As a director he is able to capture the struggle against the institution. –Michael Douglas recruits him. Milos Forman

30 Casting The Novel was considered anti-feminist. –70s Women’s movement Anne Bancroft, Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda, and Ellen Burstyn passed on role of Big Nurse. Jack Nicholson –Kirk Douglas had wanted to play McMurphy Kirk Douglas

31 The Screenplay Ken Kesey did initial drafts of the script but they were too surreal The Screenwriters –Laurence Hauben Friend of Douglas –Bo Goldman Represented by Forman’s agent

32 The Film Changes from Script to Screen –From prose to celluloid. Story conveyed through author’s word choice and reader’s imagination now director’s visuals and sound. Narrative shifts from novel to film –Complex to simple Structure and plot –Internal to external Point of View and Tone

33 The Opening (Script) Pause the lecture and take a look at the opening of the screenplay. –How is this different from the play and novel?

34 The Prison Scene Major shift –Breaks from the novel in tone and pov –McMurphy becomes protagonist –Tone becomes realistic With further development came realization that scene no longer was needed.

35 The Opening (Film) Pause the lecture and take a look at the first clip from One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. –How is this different from the script and the novel? –How does it introduce characters? –What is the tone? –How does the soundtrack enrich the narrative?

36 McMurphy’s Arrival Introductions –Prison scene unnecessary –The patients subdued –McMurphy energized –Soundtrack carries themes for McMurphy and Chief Bromden

37 Simplification of Plot 4 parts becomes 3 acts –Cheswick’s suicide eliminated. –The planned fishing expedition becomes impromptu. –Instead of a substantial section of the novel, McMurphy’s toeing the line is only for one scene.

38 Re-Structuring Pause the lecture and watch the second clip of the group therapy session from One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. –How does McMurphy change from beginning to end? –How does this adapt the events from the novel? –What is gained? What is lost?

Re-Structuring (Cont’d) Collapsing the Novel –McMurphy’s arc elided, efforts to reform cut, internal struggle cut –Shower scene after fishing trip cut, saves time and character –What is gained? Brevity. What is lost? Depth. 39

40 Complicating the Group The addition of Taber –Foil to Harding –Redirects some of the Nurse Ratched conflict

41 The Showdown Pause the lecture and watch the third clip from One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. –What makes this climax inevitable? –How is it different from the novel?

42 Inevitable Climax McMurphy vs Ratched –What makes this inevitable? Film vs Novel –In the novel, it is a long journey for McMurphy, parallels Passion. –In the film it is more like a boxing match, with the final round expected.

43 Final Effect Resolution more limited in scope –Pay off Disciples transformation lost Bromden not central –Greater realism, lesser symbolism Conflict not as monumental two strong willed people rather than man vs woman

44 The Wrap Up Adapting the Original Story to different mediums Stories can be told well in different ways with varying effect. The medium does make a difference.

45 Assignments Lesson 11: Part III One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

46 E-Board Post #1 Approximately 200 words. Pick a film that has been adapted from a prior source and explain why you think it works well or not. Comment on two of your peers.

47 End of Lecture 11 End of Lecture 11 Next Lecture: Between the Frames… 300 (2006) Frank Miller and Lynn Varley (graphic novel) Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad and Michael Gordon (screenplay)