On May 21, 2025, at the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival, Paul Zaentz, Beta Pi ’69, hosted a special 50th Anniversary screening of the Academy Award winning film for Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
As noted in the December 2024 issue of Slices of Beta Pi, Paul became owner of this film when his company, Teatro della Pace Films, purchased the film at auction from his uncle’s company, Saul Zaentz Company.
Prior to the screening of the film, in front of a viewing audience of thousands, Paul delivered timely opening remarks that received three ovations. Paul kept his speech topical by making offhand remarks, perhaps comparing the Nurse Ratchet character in the film to the current political leader of the Western Hemisphere and how Jack Nicholson’s character in the film was persistent in opposing authority. In response to the tremendous reception given Paul’s observations and the popularity of the movie itself, a special encore performance was scheduled for May 23, 2025, on the beach at Cannes.
At the second screening, Paul was provided with a French translator, and a film crew to memorialize his introductory commentary for those not there, in front of the many thousands in attendance on the beach at the French Riviera. To mark the upgraded attention being given to his film, Paul was sure to upgrade his introduction with “a few more goodies”.
If you were unable to travel to the French Riviera for this extraordinary event, you can view Paul’s comments using the following links:
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKKkVGRC7oj/?igsh=MXB3NGZpYmxpYmEzdg==
Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKKmveEC05x/?igsh=bHhuYWNsc3FnZmtv
Part 3: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKKo-Asi7JI/?igsh=MTRhdWhvOHh1d2oyMA==
