I've noticed some key differences between the film and the movie. First of all, some of the characters who are not present throughout the novel are present throughout the movie. Taber, for example, is released by the time McMurphy enters the hospital, but is seen throughout the movie. Cheswick drowns in the hospital pool halfway through novel, but is seen throughout the movie as well. One key difference is that Chief reminisces in great detail about his life prior to the hospital, speaking of how he was in an indian tribe that was forced to give up their home, as well as being a soldier. In the movie, Chief is seen only a few times, and we never learn of his past life.

The scene in the movie during which McMurphy pretends to narrate the World Series match is much different than in the novel. In the novel, McMurphy doesn't narrate an imaginary match. He sits in front of the TV set with the other patients, refusing to move, as Ratched screams at them forcing them to get back to work. The fishing trip is EXTREMELY different in the movie. While it happens spontaneously and McMurphy seizes the patients' bus in the movie, the trip is actually approved by the hospital authorities, mostly by Dr. Spivey.

The endings are similar in some respects, but mostly very different. Chief reveals to the other patients that he can speak and hear after returning from the Disturbed ward in the novel. However, in the movie, Chief only speaks to McMurphy. Also, when the lobotomized McMurphy is sent back to the regular ward, the patients all see him, thinking that he is faking it to fool Ratched. In the movie, only Chief sees him in his lobotomized state, not the other patients. After Chief escapes, most of the patients leave the hospital as well while Ratched is unable to speak, so she can't stop them. None of the patients are seen leaving at the end of the movie. it fades to black as Chief is seen running through the dawn.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly, as it truly gives a powerful representation of what mental hospitals were like in that time, as well as give a sense of hope and community through dark and troubled times.