When the lunatics of Hollywood took over the real asylum

Inmates as extras, a legal battle with author Ken Kesey and a family feud between Michael and Kirk Douglas over casting... as One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest turns 50 ahead of a small screen series, PETER SHERIDAN reflects on one of the greatest ever films

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FIFTY years after One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest debuted as one of the greatest films ever made, it's to be revived in a new television series.

The movie - based on the story by counterculture icon Ken Kesey-won all of the five top Oscars - best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay.

Hollywood has tried in vain for decades to come up with a sequel that met with the approval of Kesey's estate.

But producers finally have his family's blessing for a series that follows the troubled, comical and ultimately tragic lives of patients in a repressive mental institution, where a rebellious convict - played in the film by Jack Nicholson is sent for psychiatric evaluation, and encourages the intimidated patients to seize control of their own lives and defy the tyrannical Nurse Ratched.

The 1975 hit movie had a dramatic impact on the public perception of mental health institutions, raised awareness of abuses, increased government scrutiny, and helped empower patients to take greater control of their treatment.

Set in 1963, its harrowing depiction of electro-convulsive therapy and the horrors of lobotomy surgery ignited public outrage towards the psychiatric community.

The film also won Nicholson his first Oscar, launched actor Michael Douglas's career as a film producer, and introduced the talents of Danny DeVito and Christopher Lloyd. It also led Douglas to a bitter falling out with his father, Hollywood legend Kirk, who wanted to play the role of Randle McMurphy that eventually went to Nicholson.

"That's the picture where you destroyed me," Kirk reminded his son three decades later, still harbouring a grudge at the snub.

"Here we go again," groaned Michael, adding sarcastically: "So nice to know he forgives and forgets."

Kirk had the foresight to purchase the movie rights to Cuckoo's Nest after reading an unpublished galley of Kesey's novel in 1962.