One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is an iconic film that was made almost 50 years ago, but it never loses its luster. This 1975 movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won five of them: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was based on the already excellent novel of the same name by Ken Kesey, published in 1962, and the actors involved all did an incredible job portraying his characters. What you might not know, though, is that this movie was filmed in Oregon, which was the setting for both the film and the book, and which was Kesey's home for most of his life. Filming took place in several spots in The Beaver State, but one iconic scene you'll surely remember was shot in Depoe Bay. Read on to learn more about this small-town Oregon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest filming location.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a classic and memorable film. If somehow you haven't seen it, you should make an effort to remedy that issue right away.
The two leads in this film were Jack Nicholson, who played Randle McMurphy, a patient at a mental institution, and Louise Fletcher, who worked as a nurse there. They both won Academy Awards for their roles. Here, they are pictured in a press photo released when the nominations for the 1975 Academy Awards were announced.
They weren't the only famous actors in this movie, though.
The cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was stacked. Featured performers included Danny Devito, Scatman Crothers, and Brad Dourif. Will Sampson was particularly outstanding as Chief Bromden.
Christopher Lloyd was also in this film. It was his first role in a major motion picture.
Lots of interesting, sad, and funny things happen in Cuckoo's Nest, but one especially memorable scene was filmed in the small coastal town of Depoe Bay.
Randle McMurphy encourages all of his fellow inmates to run away with him for the day to go on a fishing trip. They find a boat in the Depoe Bay Marina and board it.
Although someone working there tries to stop them, they go out on the water anyway. The boat they took looks a bit like this one.
As they pull away from the dock, you can see their boat pass under this bridge.
Of course, the men were all caught and punished - especially Randle McMurphy.
Only that small part of the film was shot in Depoe Bay. Most of the movie was filmed at the Oregon State Hospital.
This was the exact setting of the story in the book, so it was the setting that Milos Foreman used for the film as well. It's in Salem. This hospital was, in fact, the state mental institution for Oregon since it opened in 1883. At its peak, it was home to 3,600 patients. Many of the treatments offered there, like electroconvulsive therapy and lobotomies, are no longer used today.
In 2007, the State of Oregon decided to downsize and rebuild this hospital.
Much of it was torn down and a new 620-bed facility was built on the property. However, the main part of the old building was kept; today it is a mental health museum. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Whether you're a big fan or not, these One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest filming locations are worth visiting. Both places tell stories of the movie, and many more stories that have nothing to do with it. Plan visits to Depoe Bay and Salem soon and check out these very interesting spots. And if you haven't already, be sure to check out the film and read the book - both are wonderful.
Looking for more Oregon filming locations to explore? Check out Brownsville - not far from Salem! Fans Of The 1980s Movie Stand By Me Will Recognize These Locations In Brownsville, Oregon
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