Library Theater Presents
Posted By: Liz Goodrich
Date Posted: 1/3/2005
Deschutes Public Library pleased to announce its first Library Theater movie screening on Tuesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. January's movie is the award winning One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest starring Jack Nicholson. This program is free and open to the public.
Countless examples exist of books that have been made into movies. From early efforts like To Kill A Mockingbird, to current releases like Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, Hollywood turns again and again to the written page for a good story. Some translations of books onto to film are more successful than others. Neil Browne, Assistant Professor of English at Oregon State University Cascades says “the problem of turning literature into a good movie is that novel can introduce a host of characters in many different settings and times, whereas the movie is often more limited.” Browne states literature most suited for the big screen is a story that has a closely focused plot and a limited number of characters.
Library Theater will be screening an exceptional example of the lit to film tradition. Written by Oregon native Ken Kesey and starring Jack Nicholson, the film captured top honors for Best Actor, Best Director, Best Actress and Writing at the 1975 Academy Awards. Browne says the movie and book are good because “it touches a nerve in all of us.” According to Brown the book and movie’s central theme of tension between individuals and society is one of our cultures largest and recurring questions. The collision of Nicholson’s character, McMurphy, into the rigid Nurse Ratched, illustrates the ongoing struggle of individuals against the will of society to tamp down all individualism.
For more information about this or other library programs, please call 312-1032.
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