This Author Hated His 96%-Rated Adaptation That Won 5 Oscars So Much, He Vowed Never to Watch It
Sometimes, even the huge success of an adaptation can't soften the blow to the author of the original story.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is one of the most important movies of the 20th century. The film, directed by Miloš Forman and based on Ken Kesey's novel of the same name, launched the careers of many Hollywood actors.
Despite the film's numerous accolades and widespread acclaim, Ken Kesey, the author of the original story, criticized Forman's adaptation and even refused to watch it.
First, There Was a Play – A Failed One
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest caused an enthusiastic reaction from readers and critics immediately after its publication in 1962, and was declared a classic. One of Kesey's fans was Kirk Douglas, who was eager to return to the Broadway stage as McMurphy.
Douglas bought the rights to the play from Kesey for $47,000, but it received devastating reviews.
It Took Many Years Before 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Started Production
Then, Douglas decided to adapt Kesey's novel for the big screen. While in Czechoslovakia, Douglas met the young director Miloš Forman, who eagerly accepted the offer to make a film based on the bestseller.
Unfortunately, the copy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest that was mailed to Forman was confiscated by customs and never reached him.
The situation only became clear in 1971 when Michael Douglas persuaded his father to give him the rights to the novel and invited Miloš Forman to direct.
Ken Kesey Vowed Never to Watch the Film Adaptation of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'
Since Michael Douglas had no experience in film production, he turned to producer Saul Zaentz for help. Together, they decided to invite Ken Kesey to write the screenplay himself.
Disagreements arose immediately. The writer demanded that the story be told from the Chief's point of view and insisted on an optimistic ending in which most of the patients left the hospital.
However, Forman, who was closer to the gloomy mood of the New Hollywood era, refused to make concessions, and Kesey filed a lawsuit. Ultimately, the parties reached a peaceful agreement, though the writer vowed never to watch the movie.
'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Was a Huge Success, but That Didn't Change Ken Kesey's Opinion of It
Despite its modest $4 million budget, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest went on to gross over $100 million, placing it second only to Steven Spielberg's Jaws.
Forman's film became only the second in history to win Oscars in five major categories – the first was the romantic comedy It Happened One Night.
Kesey didn't attend the Oscars – he was watching the film's triumph on television. Although Forman mentioned Kesey in his speech, he didn't acknowledge him as a co-writer. In response, Kesey said that the movie creators "butchered" his story.
Even after receiving a payment of over $1 million, Kesey couldn't forgive Douglas, Zaentz, or Forman for adapting his novel so differently from his vision.
