The Three Act Structure

In Professor Ramirez-Berg's lecture, he explained Hollywood's three act structure and how the climax is built up to at the end of a film. One film which follows this structure and provides a good example is Milos Forman's 1975 film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
In the first act, we are introduced to the protagonist Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) who is admitted to a mental institution for evaluation after serving time for statutory rape. With the use of rising action, McMurphy's goal is revealed. He sees the power Nurse Ratched has over the patients and wants to try to loosen her control. His attempt to end the monotony leads to the first plot point. The patients sneaking out of the hospital for a fishing trip leads McMurphy to be informed that he can be kept there indefinitely since he is not a voluntary patient. The plot point implies that there will be a bigger conflict arising and leads us into the second act.

In the second act, McMurphy continues to test the staff and starts receiving some punishment. While undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, McMurphy and Chief become closer as he realizes the Chief is not deaf nor mute. The story continues with more of McMurphy's antics with the hospital party being the point point leading to the third and final act.

With a night filled of drunken debauchery, things turn sour when one patient kills himself. This point turns into the climax of the film. After he finds out the patient is dead, McMurphy, out of anger, chokes Nurse Ratched and is taken away.With time it is revealed that McMurphy has been lobotomized. Chief, not wanting McMurphy to suffer, smothers him with a pillow. The story resolves with Chief carrying out McMurphy's escape plan. Even though the story doesn't have a typical Hollywood happy ending, it still embodies the classic three act structure.


One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Dir. Milos Forman. Film. Fantasy Films, 1975.


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