This Oregon State Hospital Was Actually The Setting For One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
By Serena Maria Daniels|Published August 07, 2015
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Serena Maria Daniels
Author
Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
In 1975 the critically acclaimed film One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest was released to massive success, but did you know that it was actually filmed on location in the now state-run Oregon State Hospital? Originally built in 1883 as the state’s premiere insane asylum the building holds many secrets. It also features a Museum of Mental Health that details the dated methods of witch doctor psychiatric practices from that past century.
1) Jack Nicholson famously stayed in character while filming the movie in the asylum so he refused to speak to the director, according to cinematographer Bill Butler.
2) The film would go onto win all five major Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. The film captures the essence of Salem, Oregon in the 1970's while remaining true to it's source material, Ken Kesey's novel of the same name.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest poster". Via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo%27s_Nest_poster.jpg#/media/File:One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo%27s_Nest_poster.jpg
4) The hospital stands today as Oregon's primary psychiatric facility but it once held insanity that inspired the novel and eventually film that would change the way we watch movies forever.
5) Haven’t seen the film in awhile? Catch the trailer, right here!
Bet you didn’t know all this about the Oregon State Hospital. Which Oregon locations do you remember that were the sets of famous Hollywood films? Tell us in the comments below!
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