Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas Couldn’t Get Studio Interest in the Oscar-Winning Movie

Actor Kirk Douglas and his son, Michael, teamed as much as make One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Nevertheless, it was an extended journey that was fairly tough to get financing for. Douglas performed the lead position of Randle McMurphy in the stage play, though the movie adaptation position finally went to Jack Nicholson. Douglas defined why no studio initially wished something to do with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Kirk Douglas had his share of disputes with film studios

L-R: Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas | Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

James Bawden and Ron Miller’s Conversations with Basic Movie Stars recalled an interview the place Douglas talked about a few of his disputes that he had with film studios. He managed to keep away from many arguments with huge persona administrators, however the identical can’t be stated for large studio executives. However, Douglas had his causes lengthy earlier than One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

“Let me give you an example of that: Lonely Are the Brave,” Douglas stated. “You need the proper selling of a picture like that. I thought Universal just threw it away. They didn’t give it a chance. They took it out of circulation. Then there were all those great reviews and people said, ‘Where’s the picture?’ Their ego prevented them from making a different campaign for the picture. The longer I’m in this business, the more amazed I am that a movie can be made, good or bad.”

Kirk Douglas and his son, Michael, couldn’t initially promote ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ to a studio

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Miller talked about that Douglas shedding out on the lead position of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest should be certainly one of his best frustrations. The actor acquired the rights to the e-book, however went by a tough time when it got here to really getting the image made. Douglas teamed up with Michael and efficiently received funding for it outdoors of Hollywood.

“It was way ahead of its time,” Douglas stated. “When I took it to Broadway, the critics didn’t know what to make of it. The audience loved it, but it didn’t do very well. I tried for nearly 12 years to make it as a movie. I took it to every studio. But they wouldn’t do it, even with a limited budget.”

Douglas continued: “Finally, I went into partnership with my son, Michael, and we were able to find somebody outside of the industry to put up the money and we made a little picture that I never predicted would be a hit. So it did over $200 million! Nobody knows what will really be successful.”

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ was a giant hit at the field workplace and the Oscars

Douglas wasn’t kidding when he talked about the success of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The funds clocked in at an estimated $3-$4.4 million, nevertheless it introduced in over $200 million at the worldwide field workplace. That alone is a big success, however the story doesn’t finish there.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was the second film to win all 5 main Academy Awards classes – Finest Image, Actor, Actress, Director, and Screenplay. The primary was 1934’s It Occurred One Evening. Nevertheless, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest additionally secured 4 extra nominations – Finest Supporting Actor, Cinematography, Movie Modifying, and Authentic Rating.

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