When people talk about the greatest "Oregon movies" or the peak of 1970s rugged cinema, they usually start with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. But honestly, there is another Ken Kesey adaptation that feels way more grounded in the mud, sawdust, and stubbornness of the Pacific Northwest. I’m talking about the 1971 classic Sometimes a Great Notion.
If you’ve seen it, you know. If you haven’t, you’re missing out on what might be the most "blue-collar" performance of Paul Newman’s entire life.
The sometimes a great notion movie cast wasn't just a group of actors showing up for a paycheck; they were dropped into the middle of the Oregon wilderness to play a family of "scab" loggers who refused to stop working during a local strike. It’s a story about the Stamper family, whose motto "Never Give an Inch" is basically the thesis statement for the whole film.
The Heavy Hitters: Newman and Fonda
Paul Newman didn't just star as Hank Stamper; he actually ended up directing the thing. Originally, Richard A. Colla was supposed to direct, but he left over the usual "creative differences." Newman stepped up because he had to. He plays Hank as a man made of granite and gristle. It’s a weirdly fascinating role because, in any other movie, Hank would be the villain. He’s a strikebreaker. He’s arrogant. But Newman makes you respect his terrifying work ethic.
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Then you have the legendary Henry Fonda as the patriarch, Henry Stamper.
This was a massive departure for Fonda. We’re talking about the guy who played Tom Joad and the voice of reason in 12 Angry Men. Here, he’s a loud, crude, beer-drinking old goat who refuses to let the world change around him. The chemistry between Newman and Fonda feels real because they aren't playing "movie" father and son; they’re playing two alpha dogs sharing a very small porch.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
While the big names got the top billing, the soul of the movie often rests on the shoulders of the supporting cast.
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- Richard Jaeckel as Joe Ben Stamper: If there is one reason to watch this movie, it’s Jaeckel. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and frankly, he should have won. He plays the upbeat, religious cousin who provides the only real light in a very dark story. The "drowning scene"—which I won't spoil if you haven't seen it—is arguably one of the most harrowing sequences in cinema history. It’s just Jaeckel and Newman, a pinned log, and rising water. It’s brutal.
- Lee Remick as Viv Stamper: She plays Hank’s wife, and man, does she have a thankless job. She’s the observer. While the men are out proving how tough they are by breaking their backs, she’s stuck in a house that’s literally sliding into the river, watching her life pass by. Remick plays it with a quiet, simmering resentment that finally boils over by the end.
- Michael Sarrazin as Leland Stamper: The "black sheep" who comes back from college with long hair and a grudge. Sarrazin provides the necessary friction. He’s the outsider looking at his family’s "Never Give an Inch" philosophy and realizing how toxic it actually is.
Why the Casting Worked So Well
You can’t fake the physicality of this movie. The sometimes a great notion movie cast spent months in Lincoln County, Oregon. They weren't on a backlot in Burbank. They were in Toledo and Kernville, hanging out in local bars like the Bay Haven Inn (called "The Snag" in the film).
The locals still talk about it.
They remember Paul Newman wandering around the docks and Henry Fonda being, well, Henry Fonda. Because the production used so many locals as extras, the movie has this lived-in, authentic texture. When you see the Stampers sitting at the table eating a massive breakfast of hotcakes and eggs, they look like people who have actually been up since 4:00 AM.
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The Missing Pieces and Controversies
It’s worth noting that the movie is a bit of a "lite" version of Kesey’s massive novel. In the book, the relationship between Leland (Sarrazin) and Viv (Remick) is way more scandalous. There was actually a love scene filmed between them that was cut to keep the focus on the family dynamic and the strike.
Some critics at the time felt the movie was a bit too "pro-scab," which is funny considering Paul Newman was a famously outspoken liberal. But that’s what makes the casting so brilliant. Newman didn't play a political statement; he played a man who loved his family and his work, even when he was wrong.
What to Do If You’re a Fan
If this cast has you interested in revisiting the film, there are a few things you should actually do to get the full experience:
- Watch the 1971 version first: Don't go looking for a remake; there isn't one that matters. Grab the Shout! Factory Blu-ray if you can find it; the Oregon scenery looks incredible in high-def.
- Read the Ken Kesey book: Seriously. The movie is great, but the book is a masterpiece of American literature. It gives you the internal monologues that the actors could only hint at.
- Visit the "Stamper House": If you ever find yourself on the Oregon Coast, the house used in the film is still standing in Kernville. It’s a private residence now, so don't go knocking on the door, but you can see it from the Siletz River. It’s a pilgrimage site for fans of 70s grit.
The sometimes a great notion movie cast represents a time when movies weren't afraid to be about difficult, unlikeable people doing hard things in beautiful, dangerous places. It’s a reminder that sometimes, not giving an inch is the bravest—and stupidest—thing a person can do.