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Five Easy Pieces

(Bob Rafelson, 1970)

New Restoration

A white man and a white woman sit in a booth at a diner. A server takes their order.

One of the key films of the New Hollywood era stars Jack Nicholson who just wants an order of plain toast.

Perhaps best remembered today for Jack Nicholson’s often-quoted diner scene involving chicken salad, Five Easy Pieces follows Bobby Dupea (Nicholson), a classically trained pianist who rejects his privileged upbringing to work in a California oil field. When he learns his father has suffered a stroke, he travels home to Washington with girlfriend Rayette (Karen Black) in tow to try to reconcile with his family. Five Easy Pieces was added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2000. (98 mins., 4K DCP)

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IMAGE CAPTION
Five Easy Pieces, courtesy of Sony Pictures.

Program Support

Restored in 4K in 2025 by Sony Pictures Entertainment at Cineric and Motion Picture Imaging laboratories, from the original 35mm picture negative and from the 35mm YCM separation masters. Audio restored at Deluxe Audio laboratory, from the mono audio masters.

SUPPORT FOR FILM PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY

Rohauer Collection Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY

Greater Columbus Arts Council

The Wexner Family

Ohio Arts Council, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts

CampusParc

The Columbus Foundation

Every Page Foundation

Mellon Foundation

Axium Packaging

Nationwide Foundation

Michael and Anita Goldberg

Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease, LLP

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY

Joyce Shenk

Rebecca Perry and Ben Towle

Lachelle Thigpen

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Five Easy Pieces