ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
The Preshow Entertainment was AFI's salute to Billy Wilder. Is there a filmmaker with a better body of work? Well, maybe Hitchcock, but maybe not. Billy did comedy, mystery, romance, and drama. He did it all, and without a great command for the English language. He was respected by the moviegoer and industry alike. He was 96 years old when he died earlier this year, yet he was still known as "Billy." That is respect.
The AFI tribute was in the mid 80s. Hosted by Jack Lemmon (dead), with appearances by Don Ameche (dead), Fred McMurray (dead), Jimmy Stewart (dead), Walter Matthau (dead), and a few people who are still alive now. Man, a lot can happen in 15 years.
Anyway, we didn't get to see much, as the pizza came pretty fast. But we saw some great clips. Jack Lemmon talked about how so many people on Billy Wilder's pictures had heart attacks, and after making 7 films with Billy, how happy he was to be there. And Fred McMurray talked about playing a bad guy against type in DOUBLE INDEMNITY.
I've seen almost all of his movies, but had forgotten about the ones he wrote(NINOTCHKA, MIDNIGHT). I'll have to go back and see those.
If you're a Billy Newbie, here are some must sees...
In no particular order-
DOUBLE INDEMNITY
SUNSET BOULEVARD
SOME LIKE IT HOT
STALAG 17
THE APARTMENT
THE FORTUNE COOKIE
THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON
ACE IN THE HOLE (THE BIG CARNIVAL)
SABRINA
LOST WEEKEND
FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO
Okay, so if you don't have time for all of those, start off with THE APARTMENT and DOUBLE INDEMNITY. Then move on to ACE IN THE HOLE and LOST WEEKEND (which contains one of my 2 favorite moments in movies). Or, if you want to see a hidden treasure, FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO.
Meanwhile:
November's RMC was-
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST.
Directed by another brilliant man who didn't speak English very well, Milos Foreman (AMADEUS, HAIR). Some may call this The Jack Nicholson Show, but they would only be partially correct. The acting all around is beyond great. But everything works in this movie. It didn't win all those Academy Awards for nothing.
A 2-hour movie that takes place in one location (except for a brief fishing trip), OFOTCN is a drama featuring institutionalized patients. A drama that makes us laugh. Not an easy tightrope to walk. You love these men, and of course, you hate Nurse Mildred Ratched. What a plum role for Louise Fletcher. I always thought that role was so easy, anyone can play it and win best actress. It's simply defined so well. But maybe I'm wrong. She was perfect. And I'm not sure Tara Reid would have been as good.
For the first time, I noticed how great the editing is, pacing-wise, but mostly their choice of reaction shots, and the lengths they are held.
Is there anyone here who has not seen this movie? If so, I guess between this and Billy, some of you have some homework to do.
Tags: random movie club, one flew over the cuckoo's nest, billy wilder, afi tribute
