First Roles: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" with Brad Dourif & Chris Lloyd

Join Portland Movie Club members Kyle and Crystal for the First Roles group discussion! This group focuses on the initial on-screen appearances of celebrated Hollywood icons. For this meeting we will discuss Milos Forman's 1975 classic "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," which along with an iconic performance from Jack Nicholson also includes the onscreen debut of Brad Dourif--who received an Oscar nomination--and Christopher Lloyd.

Here's how it works:

1. Watch the movie on your own (or with friends!) Steeaming options include Amazon Prime and AppleTV.
2. We'll meet at Lucky Lab at 4pm (map) There will be a Portland Movie Club sign at our table.
3. Grab some food and drinks and we'll spend some time discussing this masterpiece with us.

Movie Spotlight: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
Directed by Miloš Forman, this acclaimed drama centers on Randle P. McMurphy, a spirited and rebellious man who fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental institution rather than prison. Once inside, he encounters a ward dominated by the cold and controlling Nurse Ratched, whose strict routines suppress the individuality of the patients.

McMurphy’s arrival disrupts the status quo, as his charisma and defiance begin to awaken a sense of agency and camaraderie among the other residents. Through humor, confrontation, and unexpected tenderness, the film explores themes of freedom, institutional power, and the resilience of the human spirit.

The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), and Best Adapted Screenplay. It remains a powerful and emotionally resonant portrait of rebellion and dignity.

Featured First Roles:
Brad Dourif -- Earned an Oscar nomination for this role in this film; later voiced Chucky and played Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings

Christopher Lloyd -- This was his first film role; he later became iconic as Doc Brown in Back to the Future

And although not his film debut, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest includes an early performance by Danny Devito as Martini. DeVito later starred in Taxi, Batman Returns, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

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