Lessons On Movies.com
  Free Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

  GAMES:

  • Fill-in-the-blank
  • Matching
  • Hangman
  • Flash cards
  • Sentence jumble
  • Missing words
  • No letters
  • Crossword puzzle

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Miloš Forman. It is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The movie stars Jack Nicholson, who plays Randle, a prisoner who is transferred from prison to a mental institution for evaluation. Although he does not show any signs of mental illness, he hopes to avoid hard labour and serve the rest of his sentence in a more relaxed hospital environment. However, he comes up against the super-tough nurse Mildred Ratched. She humiliates patients and forces them into a mind-numbing, boring daily routine to keep the patients calm and quiet. The movie is about the battle of wits between McMurphy and the nurse.

The film was only the second to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Actor in Lead Role, Actress in Lead Role, Director, and Screenplay). It received generally positive reviews from critics. One claimed that "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a film so good in so many of its parts that there's a temptation to forgive it when it goes wrong." The film is considered to be one of the greatest American films. In 1993, the United States Library of Congress said it was "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The film was shown in Swedish cinemas for nearly 11 years – between 1976 and 1987 – which is a record. When Miloš Forman learned that, he said, "I'm absolutely thrilled by that... It's wonderful."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo%27s_Nest_%28film%29

  TRAILER AND POSTER

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST POSTER

1. SIX WORDS: Look at the poster and write down six words (more if you like) that you think of as you look at it. Share the words with your partner(s). Why did you choose them?

2. STORY: Talk about what you think the story of the movie is – the start, beginning, end, etc. Change partners and share stories.

3. CREDITS: Look at the credits on the poster (the actors, director, producer…) and talk about them with your partner(s).

4. MUST-SEE: Talk with your partner(s) about whether the poster and movie title are good and make you want to see the movie.

5. STARRING YOU: Imagine you are one of the stars of the movie. Talk about your role with your movie star partner(s).

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST TRAILER

1. RETELL: Watch the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

2. CHUNKS: Watch 10-to-15 second chunks of the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

3. QUIZ: Watch the trailer and write down some quiz questions for your partner(s). Watch a second time to find the answers to the questions.

4. VOCABULARY: Make a note of words in the trailer that you see or hear. Talk about them with your partner(s).

5. GOOD / BAD: Watch the trailer and write down why you think the film might be good or bad. Share your ideas with your partner(s).

  MATCHING

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	transferred	a.	overall
2	evaluation	b.	delighted
3.	forces	c.	intelligence
4.	calm	d.	important
5.	wits	e.	testing
6.	major	f.	artistically
7.	generally	g.	relaxed
8.	critic	h.	moved
9.	aesthetically	i.	bullies
10.	thrilled	j.	reviewer

PHRASE MATCH

1.	based on the 1962 novel	a.	the super-tough nurse
2	he hopes to avoid hard	b.	positive reviews
3.	he comes up against	c.	of wits
4.	a mind-numbing,	d.	by that
5.	battle	e.	significant
6.	It received generally	f.	labour
7.	there's a temptation	g.	of the same name
8.	considered to be	h.	to forgive it
9.	aesthetically	i.	boring daily routine
10.	I'm absolutely thrilled	j.	one of the greatest

  LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American drama film directed by Miloš Forman. (1) ____________________ 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The movie stars Jack Nicholson, who plays Randle, a prisoner (2) _________________ from prison to a mental (3) ____________________. Although he does not show any signs of mental illness, he hopes to avoid hard labour and (4) ____________________ sentence in a more relaxed hospital environment. However, he comes up against the super-tough nurse Mildred Ratched. (5) ____________________ and forces them into a mind-numbing, boring daily routine to keep the patients calm and quiet. The movie is about the           (6) ____________________ McMurphy and the nurse.

The film was only the second (7) ____________________ major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Actor in Lead Role, Actress in Lead Role, Director, and Screenplay). It received generally positive (8) ____________________. One claimed that "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a film (9) ___________________ of its parts that there's a temptation to forgive it when it goes wrong." The film is (10) ____________________ of the greatest American films. In 1993, the United States Library of Congress said it was "culturally, historically, (11) ____________________ ". The film was shown in Swedish cinemas for nearly 11 years – between 1976 and 1987 – which is a record. When Miloš Forman learned that, he said, "I'm (12) ____________________ that... It's wonderful."

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	transferred from prison to a mental nusitntoiit
2.	he hopes to aodiv hard labour
3.	a more drleaex hospital environment
4.	the super-hugto nurse Mildred Ratched
5.	a mind-ungibmn, boring daily routine
6.	the tbtlae of wits
Paragraph 2
7.	the second to win all five oarmj Academy Awards
8.	It received generally positive srveiew
9.	there's a tpantemtio to forgive it when it goes wrong
10.	The film is cnsrddeieo to be one of the greatest
11.	culturally, historically, or aesthetically saiigntcinf
12.	I'm absolutely derlilht by that

  PUNCTUATE & PUT CAPITALS IN THE TEXT

one flew over the cuckoo's nest is a 1975 american drama film directed by miloš forman it is based on the 1962 novel of the same name by ken kesey the movie stars jack nicholson who plays randle a prisoner who is transferred from prison to a mental institution for evaluation although he does not show any signs of mental illness he hopes to avoid hard labour and serve the rest of his sentence in a more relaxed hospital environment however he comes up against the super-tough nurse mildred ratched she humiliates patients and forces them into a mind-numbing boring daily routine to keep the patients calm and quiet the movie is about the battle of wits between mcmurphy and the nurse

the film was only the second to win all five major academy awards (best picture actor in lead role actress in lead role director and screenplay) it received generally positive reviews from critics one claimed that "one flew over the cuckoo's nest is a film so good in so many of its parts that there's a temptation to forgive it when it goes wrong" the film is considered to be one of the greatest american films in 1993 the united states library of congress said it was "culturally historically or aesthetically significant" the film was shown in swedish cinemas for nearly 11 years – between 1976 and 1987 – which is a record when miloš forman learned that he said "i'm absolutely thrilled by that it's wonderful"

  INSERT THE VOWELS

_n_ Fl_w _v_r th_ C_ck__'s N_st _s _ 1975 _m_r_c_n dr_m_ f_lm d_r_ct_d by M_l_š F_rm_n. _t _s b_s_d _n th_ 1962 n_v_l _f th_ s_m_ n_m_ by K_n K_s_y. Th_ m_v__ st_rs J_ck N_ch_ls_n, wh_ pl_ys R_ndl_, _ pr_s_n_r wh_ _s tr_nsf_rr_d fr_m pr_s_n t_ _ m_nt_l _nst_t_t__n f_r _v_l__t__n. _lth__gh h_ d__s n_t sh_w _ny s_gns _f m_nt_l _lln_ss, h_ h_p_s t_ _v__d h_rd l_b__r _nd s_rv_ th_ r_st _f h_s s_nt_nc_ _n _ m_r_ r_l_x_d h_sp_t_l _nv_r_nm_nt. H_w_v_r, h_ c_m_s _p _g__nst th_ s_p_r-t__gh n_rs_ M_ldr_d R_tch_d. Sh_ h_m_l__t_s p_t__nts _nd f_rc_s th_m _nt_ _ m_nd-n_mb_ng, b_r_ng d__ly r__t_n_ t_ k__p th_ p_t__nts c_lm _nd q___t. Th_ m_v__ _s _b__t th_ b_ttl_ _f w_ts b_tw__n McM_rphy _nd th_ n_rs_.

Th_ f_lm w_s _nly th_ s_c_nd t_ w_n _ll f_v_ m_j_r _c_d_my _w_rds (B_st P_ct_r_, _ct_r _n L__d R_l_, _ctr_ss _n L__d R_l_, D_r_ct_r, _nd Scr__npl_y). _t r_c__v_d g_n_r_lly p_s_t_v_ r_v__ws fr_m cr_t_cs. _n_ cl__m_d th_t "_n_ Fl_w _v_r th_ C_ck__'s N_st _s _ f_lm s_ g__d _n s_ m_ny _f _ts p_rts th_t th_r_'s _ t_mpt_t__n t_ f_rg_v_ _t wh_n _t g__s wr_ng." Th_ f_lm _s c_ns_d_r_d t_ b_ _n_ _f th_ gr__t_st _m_r_c_n f_lms. _n 1993, th_ _n_t_d St_t_s L_br_ry _f C_ngr_ss s__d _t w_s "c_lt_r_lly, h_st_r_c_lly, _r __sth_t_c_lly s_gn_f_c_nt". Th_ f_lm w_s sh_wn _n Sw_d_sh c_n_m_s f_r n__rly 11 y__rs – b_tw__n 1976 _nd 1987 – wh_ch _s _ r_c_rd. Wh_n M_l_š F_rm_n l__rn_d th_t, h_ s__d, "_'m _bs_l_t_ly thr_ll_d by th_t... _t's w_nd_rf_l."

  MARK THE SPACES

OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisa1975Americandramafilmdirectedb
yMilošForman.Itisbasedonthe1962novelofthesamenamebyKenKes
ey.ThemoviestarsJackNicholson,whoplaysRandle,aprisonerwhoistr
ansferredfromprisontoamentalinstitutionforevaluation.Althoughhe
doesnotshowanysignsofmentalillness,hehopestoavoidhardlaboura
ndservetherestofhissentenceinamorerelaxedhospitalenvironment.
However,hecomesupagainstthesupertoughnurseMildredRatched.S
hehumiliatespatientsandforcesthemintoamindnumbing,boringdaily
routinetokeepthepatientscalmandquiet.Themovieisaboutthebattleo
fwitsbetweenMcMurphyandthenurse.Thefilmwasonlythesecondtowi
nallfivemajorAcademyAwards(BestPicture,ActorinLeadRole,Actress
inLeadRole,Director,andScreenplay).Itreceivedgenerallypositivere
viewsfromcritics.Oneclaimedthat"OneFlewOvertheCuckoo'sNestisa
filmsogoodinsomanyofitspartsthatthere'satemptationtoforgiveitwh
enitgoeswrong."ThefilmisconsideredtobeoneofthegreatestAmerica
nfilms.In1993,theUnitedStatesLibraryofCongresssaiditwas"cultural
ly,historically,oraestheticallysignificant".ThefilmwasshowninSwedi
shcinemasfornearly11yearsbetween1976and1987whichisarecord.
WhenMilošFormanlearnedthat,hesaid,"I'mabsolutelythrilledbythat.
..It'swonderful."

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

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STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

  ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	Student 1 __________	Student 2 __________	Student 3 __________
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write your own movie review. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other's work.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". What are (did) critics and moviegoers saying (say) about it? How good were the actors' performances? What was good and bad about the movie? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST" POSTER: Make a poster about "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Make sure you put tag lines, audience and critics' reviews, why people should see it, etc.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY PREQUEL / SEQUEL: Make your own prequel or sequel for  "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

6. CHARACTER STORY: Choose one of the characters from the movie. Imagine you are that character. Write your story about what you did in the movie. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

7. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, Twitter stream, or any other social media tool to get opinions on "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Share your findings with the class.

  ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	transferred	a.	moved
2	evaluation	b.	testing
3.	forces	c.	bullies
4.	calm	d.	relaxed
5.	wits	e.	intelligence
6.	major	f.	important
7.	generally	g.	overall
8.	critic	h.	reviewer
9.	aesthetically	i.	artistically
10.	thrilled	j.	delighted

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Please check for yourself by looking at the movie review article at the top of the page.
(It's good for your English ;-)