Jack Nicholson - 100 Years of Movie Posters - 64
A Chronology of Jack Nicholson Movie Posters 1969-2007.
John Joseph Nicholson was born in Manhattan, New York City on the 22nd April, 1937. He was Oscar nominated 12 times and won 3 Oscars.
Easy Rider (1969) Directed by Dennis Hopper and starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson. 95mins.
An early cut of the film lasted 3 hours, Hopper, Fonda and Nicholson admitted to smoking pot on camera.
Nominated for 2 Oscars - Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson).
IMDB rating 7.3
Five Easy Pieces (1970) Directed by Bob Rafelson and starring Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Susan Anspach. 98mins.
The title refers to classical pieces of music played in the film, they are -
Bach: Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue
Chopin: Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49
Chopin: Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4
Mozart: Fantasy in D minor, K. 397.
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271
Nominated for 4 Oscars - Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Supporting Actress (Black).
IMDB rating 7.5
Carnal Knowledge (1971) Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Jack Nicholson, Ann-Margret, Art Garfunkel and Candice Bergen. 98mins.
The film was sexually frank and ran foul of the censors at the time, in one US city a theater showing the movie was raided by police and reels of film were seized.
First mainstream movie to show a condom on screen.
Oscar Nomination for Best Supporting Actress (Ann-Margret).
IMDB rating 6.9
The Last Detail (1973) Directed by Hal Ashby and starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young and Randy Quaid. 104mins.
John Travolta was considered for the Randy Quaid role.
Nominated for 3 Oscars - Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Supporting Actor (Quaid).
IMDB rating 7.5
Chinatown (1974) Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston. 130mins.
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown." One of the most highly rated films of the 70's,
Originally filmed with a Marlowesque voice-over by Nicholson which was removed just before release.
Director Roman Polanski played the nasty little hood who slits Jake's nose.
Nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Actress (Dunaway), winning 1 - Best Screenplay.
IMDB rating 8.4
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) Directed by Milos Forman and starring Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Brad Dourif and Will Sampson. 133mins.
Based on the novel by Ken Kesey first published in 1962.
Michael Douglas was one of the producers, his father Kirk Douglas owned the film rights back in the 60's.
The first film since It Happened One Night (1934) to win the 5 top Oscars.
Nominated for 9 Oscars winning 5 - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Actress (Fletcher).
IMDB rating 8.8
The Missouri Breaks (1976) Directed by Arthur Penn and starring Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson and Randy Quaid. 126mins.
Director Arthur Penn gave up trying to tell Brando how to play a scene and let the eccentric actor improvise his role as he went along.
Brando never bothered to memorise his lines and cue cards were placed behind the camera which angered Jack Nicholson because Brando was always looking behind him instead of at him.
IMDB rating 6.5
Goin' South (1978) Directed by and starring Jack Nicholson, also starring Mary Steenburgen, Christopher Lloyd and John Belushi. 105mins.
Comedy western.
Jessica Lange and Meryl Streep were both considered for the female lead.
Mary Steenburgen's film debut.
IMDB rating 6.2
The Shining (1980) Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd and Scatman Crothers.146mins (119mins)
Based on the novel by Stephen King first published in 1977.
"Here's Johnnny!" Robert De Niro and Robin Williams were considered for the role of Jack Torrance, Stephen King objected to Nicholson taking the role, his choice would have been Jon Voight.
King hated Kubrick’s film, he admired some aspects of it but felt it wasn't faithful to his novel. He adapted his novel for a 3-part mini-series in 1997, directed by Mick Garris.
IMDB rating 8.5
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) Directed by Bob Rafelson and starring Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange and John Colicos. 122mins.
Based on James M, Cain's 1934 novel, previously filmed in 1946 and starring Lana Turner and John Garfield.
Famous for it's kitchen table sex scene, which some people at the time thought wasn't simulated.
IMDB rating 6.5
Reds (1981) Directed by and starring Warren Beatty, also starring Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson as Eugene O'Neill. 195mins.
Based on the life of John Reed (played by Beatty) a journalist and writer who wrote the book '10 Days that Shook the World', which chronicled the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Nominated for 12 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor (Beatty), Best Actress (Keaton) and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson), winning 3 - Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton) and Best Cinematography.
IMDB rating 7.4
The Border (1982) Directed by Tony Richardson and starring Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Valerie Perrine and Warren Oates. 108mins.
Inspired by newspaper reports of illegal Mexican immigrants crossing the border into the US.
IMDB rating 6.3
Terms of Endearment (1983) Directed by James L. Brooks and starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger and Jack Nicholson. 132mins.
Popular weepie which provided Nicholson with his second Oscar win.
Based on the novel by Larry McMurtry.
Sissy Spacek was considered for the Debra Winger role.
Nominated for 11 Oscars winning 5 - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (MacLaine) and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson).
IMDB rating 7.3
Prizzi's Honor (1985) Directed by John Huston and starring Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia and Anjelica Huston.130mins.
Based on Richard Condon's 1982 novel.
Al Pacino was offered Nicholson's role but turned it down. Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight and John Travolta were also considered for the role.
Nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Nicholson), winning 1 - Best Supporting Actress (Anjelica Huston).
IMDB rating 6.8
Heartburn (1986) Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson and Jeff Daniels.108mins.
Written by Nora Ephron and based on her semi-biographical novel.
The baby featured in the film was Meryl Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer.
The film debut of Kevin Spacey.
IMDB rating 5.8
Ironweed (1987) Directed by Hector Babenco and starring Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Carroll Baker. 143mins.
Based on William Kennedy's Pulitzer prize-winning novel.
Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman and Paul Newman were considered for the lead role.
Nominated for 2 Oscars - Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Actress (Streep).
IMDB rating 6.7
The Witches of Eastwick (1987) Directed by George Miller and starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. 118mins.
Based on the novel by John Updike, it was adapted as a musical in 2000.
Alexandra Medford: Who are you?
Daryl Van Horne: Just your average, horny little devil.
Bill Murray was considered for the role of Daryl Van Horne.
Oscar Nominations for Best Music (John Williams) and Best Sound.
IMDB rating 6.4
Batman (1989) Directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger and Jack Palance. 126mins.
The choice of comedian Michael Keaton as the caped crusader was greeted by howls of disbelief by comic book fans but they quietened down after seeing Tim Burton's dark, gothic fantasy. Batman was the biggest hit of 1989 in North America. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was a bigger hit worldwide.
The Joker: "Winged freak terrorizes" Wait till they get a load of me!
Batman cost $35m to make and went on to gross $414m worldwide.
Followed by three sequels. Batman was successfully rebooted by Christopher Nolan in 2005.
Oscar win for Best Art Direction.
IMDB rating 7.6
The Two Jakes (1990) Directed by and starring Jack Nicholson, also starring Harvey Keitel, Meg Tilly and Madeleine Stowe. 137mins.
Sequel to Chinatown (1974) with Nicholson reprising his role as private investigator J.J. 'Jake' Gittes. The other 'Jake' is played by Harvey Keitel.
There were plans for a third movie titled "Gittes vs Gittes" which was abandoned.
IMDB rating 6.0
Hoffa (1992) Directed by Danny DeVito and starring Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito and Armand Assante. 140mins.
Jack Nicholson plays the powerful labour union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who vanished in July 1975 and was never seen again, he was declared dead in absentia in 1982.
Oliver Stone was planning to direct the film at one time.
Oscar Nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Makeup.
IMDB rating 6.5
A Few Good Men (1992) Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Kiefer Sutherland. 138mins.
Adapted from a play by Aaron Sorkin which opened in Broadway in 1989.
The word 'sir' is uttered 164 times in the movie.
The line "You can't handle the truth!" is #29 on the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes list.
Nominated for 4 Oscars - Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
IMDB rating 7.6
Wolf (1994) Directed by Mike Nichols and starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Spader and Christopher Plummer. 125mins.
The film was delayed for 6 months after preview screenings gave the film's climax a thumbs down, the actors were brought back to film a new ending.
A horror film made by people who have no affinity for the genre, but the actors make it all very watchable.
IMDB rating 6.1
Mars Attacks! (1996) Directed by Tim Burton and starring Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan and Rod Steiger. 106mins.
"Ack ack ack ack!" Based on the infamous Topps trading cards first released in 1962.
Johnny Depp turned down a role in the film. Paul Newman and Warren Beatty turned down the role of the President..
Despite the all star cast the movie's jokey tone, quirky visuals and nasty mean streak helped make Mars Attacks! an expensive flop.
IMDB rating 6.3
As Good as it Gets (1997) Directed by James L. Brooks and starring Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear. 139mins.
Only Jack Nicholson can make an unlikeable character like Melvin Udall, likeable.
John Travolta was considered for the role of Melvin. Holly Hunter was considered for the female lead.
A box office hit, As Good As it Gets cost $50m and grossed $314m worldwide.
Nominated for 7 Oscars winning 2 - Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Actress (Hunt).
IMDB rating 7.8
About Schmidt (2002) Directed by Alexander Payne and starring Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis and Dermot Mulroney. 125mins.
Loosely based on the novel by Louis Begley first published in 1996.
Jack Nicholson won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama and later remarked "I'm a little surprised, I thought we were making a comedy."
Oscar Nominations for Best Actor (Nicholson) and Best Supporting Actress (Bates).
IMDB rating 7.2
Something's Gotta Give (2003) Directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Frances McDormand. 128mins.
Nancy Meyers also wrote the screenplay, the two lead roles were written specifically for Nicholson and Keaton.
The romantic comedy was successful, grossing $266m worldwide.
Oscar Nomination for Best Actress (Keaton).
IMDB rating 6.7
Anger Management (2003) Directed by Peter Segal and starring Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei and Woody Harrelson. 106mins.
Dr. Buddy Rydell: She said she was going out with a friend named Andrea.
Dave Buznik: She doesn't have a friend named Andrea. Did she say Andrew?
Dr. Buddy Rydell: Oh, ah, yes Andrew... the testicle with legs.
Ex-mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani has a cameo.
A TV sitcom based on the movie started it's run in 2012 and starred Charlie Sheen.
IMDB rating 6.1
The Departed (2006) Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen. 151mins.
Loosely based on the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs (2002).
After 6 Nominations Martin Scorsese finally won his Best Director Oscar, and about time too!
Brad Pitt was approached to play the Matt Damon role but he had committed to another film (Babel).
The most frequent use of the word "F-ck" in a Best Picture Oscar Winner, 237 times!!
The Departed cost $90m to make and has grossed $290m worldwide.
Nominated for 5 Oscars winning 4 - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Film Editing.
IMDB rating 8.5
The Bucket List (2007) Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman and Sean Hayes. 97mins.
A comedy drama or "dramedy" about terminally ill men.
Nicholson and Freeman were the first choices for the lead roles.
Morgan Freeman's son Alonso has a role in the film.
The film cost $45m and has grossed $175m worldwide.
IMDB rating 7.4
