A Few Good Men (1992)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers (WGA):

Aaron Sorkin (play)
Aaron Sorkin (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

In the heart of the nation's capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government, one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth.

Plot:

Neo military lawyer Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder; they contend they were acting under orders.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Murder | Courtroom | Military | Hazing

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Jack Nicholson	...	Col. Nathan R. Jessup
Demi Moore	...	Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway
Kevin Bacon	...	Capt. Jack Ross
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Lt. Jonathan Kendrick
Kevin Pollak	...	Lt. Sam Weinberg
James Marshall	...	Pfc. Louden Downey
J.T. Walsh	...	Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson
Christopher Guest	...	Dr. Stone
J.A. Preston	...	Judge Julius Alexander Randolph
Matt Craven	...	Lt. Dave Spradling
Wolfgang Bodison	...	Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson
Xander Berkeley	...	Capt. Whitaker
John M. Jackson	...	Capt. West
Noah Wyle	...	Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Cpl. Carl Hammaker
Lawrence Lowe	...	Bailiff
Joshua Malina	...	Tom (as Josh Malina)
Oscar Jordan	...	Steward
John M. Mathews	...	Guard #1
Aaron Sorkin	...	Man in Bar
Alex Wexo	...	Guard #2 (as Al Wexo)
Frank Cavestani	...	Agent #1
Jan Munroe	...	Jury Foreman
Ron Ostrow	...	M.P.
Matthew Saks	...	David
Harry Caesar	...	Luther
Michael DeLorenzo	...	Pfc. William T. Santiago
Geoffrey Nauffts	...	Lt. Sherby
Arthur Senzy	...	Robert C. McGuire
Cameron Thor	...	Cdr. Lawrence
David Bowe	...	Cdr. Gibbs
Gene Whittington	...	Mr. Dawson
Maud Winchester	...	Aunt Ginny Miller
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bernard Madrid	...	Interrogator (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Reiner

Writing credits (WGA)
Aaron Sorkin		(play)
Aaron Sorkin		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Brown	....	producer
William S. Gilmore	....	executive producer (as William Gilmore)
Steve Nicolaides	....	co-producer
Rachel Pfeffer	....	executive producer
Rob Reiner	....	producer
Andrew Scheinman	....	producer
Jeffrey Stott	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Robert Richardson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Leighton
Steven Nevius		(as Steve Nevius)

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Art Direction by
David F. Klassen		(as David Klassen)

Set Decoration by
Michael Taylor

Costume Design by
Gloria Gresham

Makeup Department
Stephen Abrums	....	makeup department head (as Steve Abrums)
Enzo Angileri	....	hair stylist
Richard Dean	....	makeup artist
Edouard F. Henriques	....	makeup artist (as Edouard F. Henriques III)
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist
Larry Waggoner	....	head hair stylist
Sherri Bramlett	....	key hair stylist: Washington, D.C. (uncredited)

Production Management
Christy Dimmig	....	post-production supervisor
Steve Nicolaides	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Capra III	....	first assistant director
Algric Leo Chaplin	....	second second assistant director (as Algric L. Chaplin)
Matthew H. Rowland	....	second assistant director (as Matthew Rowland)
Alisa Statman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Donald R. Abblett	....	stand-by painter (as Don Abblett)
James Bittl	....	greensman
Richard Boris	....	greensman
Suzanne De Grandis	....	construction clerk (as Suzanne DeGrandis)
Renee Faia	....	art department coordinator
Ildefonso Goris	....	greensman (as Idlefonso Goris)
Thomas W. Lay Jr.	....	illustrator (as Tom Lay)
Jerry Moss	....	property master
Thomas J. O'Brien	....	painter supervisor (as Tom O'Brien)
Lee Orlikoff	....	leadman
Ken Peterson	....	assistant property master
Craig Raiche	....	assistant property master
Virginia L. Randolph	....	set designer (as Virginia Randolph)
Darin Raney	....	art department assistant
Doug Rosenberger	....	construction foreman
Terry Scott	....	construction coordinator
Robert Woodruff	....	set designer (as Rob Woodruff)
Randy L. Childs	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
Michael Denering	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Paul Ford	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Angela O'Neill	....	prop production assistant (uncredited)
Parker Swanson	....	additional set dresser (uncredited)
Ron Yates	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
George Baetz	....	boom operator
Carmen Baker	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
Desmond Cannon	....	assistant adr editor (as Desmond R. Cannon)
Tim Chau	....	sound editor
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Robert Eber	....	sound mixer (as Bob Eber)
Louis L. Edemann	....	supervising sound editor
Leigh French	....	adr voiceover coordinator
Sandy Garcia	....	foley recordist (as Sandra Garcia)
Leonard T. Geschke	....	sound editor (as Lenny Geschke)
Jeremy J. Gordon	....	sound editor (as Jeremy Gordon)
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
Ann Hadsell	....	adr recordist
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Bob Hile	....	machine operator
Andrea Horta	....	supervising adr editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Elliott Koretz	....	sound editor (as Elliot Koretz)
Joe Morrisey	....	sound editor
Colin C. Mouat	....	sound editor (as Colin Mouat)
Chuck Neely	....	sound editor
Mel Neiman	....	processed sound effects
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Jim Quinn	....	machine operator
Rob Scott	....	boom operator
Gary L.G. Simpson	....	stage engineer (as Gary Simpson)
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
Roger V. Stevenson	....	cable person (as Roger Stevenson)
Mark A. Tracy	....	assistant sound editor (as Mark Tracy)
Tim Song Jones	....	sound transferer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eugene Crum	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Mark Sawicki	....	matte shots (as Mark A. Sawicki)
Robert Stromberg	....	matte shots
John E. Sullivan	....	matte shots (as John Sullivan)

Stunts
Tim A. Davison	....	stunt coordinator (as Tim Davison)

Camera and Electrical Department
Audie Aragon	....	grip
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer (as Sidney Baldwin)
Chris Centrella	....	key grip
Matt Craven	....	rigging grip: Washington
Brian Devin	....	grip
Vincent Galindez	....	additional first assistant camera: Washington (as Vinnie Galindez)
Anthony Gaudioz	....	camera operator
Scott Gillis	....	rigging grip best boy
R.L. Gittens Jr.	....	lamp operator (as Roy L. Gittens Jr.)
Khan Griffith	....	lamp operator
Mark Hadland	....	assistant lighting technician
Gary B. Kibbe	....	director of photography: second unit (as Gary Kibbe)
Ian Kincaid	....	chief lighting technician
Dean M. King	....	grip (as Dean King)
Jeff Kluttz	....	rigging grip
Gábor Kövér	....	additional camera operator: Washington (as Gabor Kover)
Hugh McCallum	....	best boy grip
Craig Molsberry	....	lamp operator
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
Dayton Nietert	....	rigging gaffer
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenny Nishino)
Bill O'Leary	....	rigging gaffer: Washington
Darrin C. Porter	....	lamp operator (as Darrin Porter)
Paul Postelnicu	....	additional second assistant camera: Washington
Brad Rea	....	dolly grip
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer: Washington D.C. (as Andy Schwartz)
Dennis Seawright	....	second assistant camera
Nick Shuster	....	camera loader
Keith L. Smith	....	camera production assistant (as Keith Smith)
Victor Svimonoff	....	assistant rigging gaffer
Robert Ulland	....	Steadicam operator: Washington (as Bob Ulland)
Steve Venetis	....	lamp operator
Josh Bleibtreu	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Rusty Gardner	....	electrician: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Rex Anson Rhorer	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Rick Strodel	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Susanna Griffith	....	casting associate
Michael Hirshenson	....	casting associate
Victor Davis	....	extras casting (uncredited)
F. Pierre Gatling	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Darryl M. Athons	....	costumer (as Darryl Athons)
Margo Baxley	....	costumer: women
Lucinda Campbell	....	costumer
Nancy Cone	....	costumer
David Page	....	costumer
James W. Tyson	....	costumer: men (as James Tyson)
Leslie Weir	....	costumer
Linda M. Boyland	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Alan Edward Bell	....	first assistant editor
Phil Downey	....	color timer
Nina Lucia	....	assistant editor
Mary Morrisey	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Ralph Grierson	....	music programmer
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Jo Ann Kane	....	music preparation
Hummie Mann	....	additional orchestrator
Hummie Mann	....	music producer
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Joel Moss	....	music mixer
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Curtis Roush	....	music editor
Marc Shaiman	....	music producer
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dave Amberik	....	production driver
John Armstrong	....	production driver
Chet Badalato	....	production driver
James R. Brown	....	transportation coordinator (as James Brown)
Russ Buckens	....	production driver
Kenneth Cervi	....	production driver
Linda Cipperley	....	production driver
Jerry Cipperly	....	production driver (as Jerry Cipperley)
Kelly Joe Dugan	....	production driver
Stephen J. Eads	....	production driver (as Steve Eads)
David Garris	....	production driver
Randy Gaston	....	production driver (as Randall Lee Gaston)
Benson Jones	....	production driver
Gregory A. Landes	....	production driver (as Greg Landes)
John Kris Larsen	....	production driver (as John Larsen)
Stephen A. Latina	....	production driver (as Steve Latina)
Clair E. Leucart	....	production driver (as Clair Leucart)
Bob Limon	....	production driver
Leo Loa	....	production driver
Ken Lubin	....	production driver
Dennis McLaughlin	....	production driver
Patrick A. McLaughlin	....	production driver (as Patrick McLaughlin)
Bill Murphy	....	production driver
Edward A. Powell	....	production driver (as Ed Powell)
Manny Quinones	....	transportation captain: Washington
Becky Raiche	....	production driver
Ted Reed	....	production driver
Tim Roslan	....	transportation captain
Danny Rowe	....	production driver
Ken Strong Jr.	....	production driver (as Ken Strong II)

Other crew
Pamela Allain	....	production secretary
Joseph Aspromonti	....	production assistant (as Joe Aspromonti)
Lisa Aubel	....	production assistant
David M. Brahms	....	technical consultant (as Brigadier General David M. Brahms USMC [Ret.])
Alison Cannon	....	assistant production accountant (as Alison Belanger)
Daneen Lagrone Conroy	....	assistant: Ms. Moore (as Daneen Conroy)
Leslie Cornyn	....	post-production accountant
Richard Davis Jr.	....	location manager
Michael Doven	....	assistant: Tom Cruise
Elizabeth Ervin	....	production coordinator
Linda Folsom	....	production coordinator (as Linda Allan-Folsom)
Mickey Garrigan	....	production assistant
Alison Harstedt	....	assistant production accountant
Jeri Held	....	publicist: Washington
Jody Hummer	....	assistant location manager
Jeff Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Reiner
Pam Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Reiner
K. Lenna Katich	....	production accountant (as K. Lenna Kunkel)
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer (as Robert Lampkin)
Steve Levine	....	talent coordinator
Keith Madden	....	projectionist: Washington
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Steve Newman	....	unit publicist
Annika Nord	....	production assistant
Bettina Tendler O'Mara	....	production promotions coordinator (as Bettina Tendler-O'Mara)
Catherine Rae Purves	....	assistant to producers (as Catherine Purves-Statham)
Darin Rivetti	....	production assistant
Alison C. Rosa	....	production secretary: Washington
Alison Sherman	....	production coordinator: Washington
Demetra Stamus	....	production assistant
Brady Thomas	....	production assistant
Angela C. Tortu	....	production assistant (as Angela Tortu)
Dion B. Vines	....	production assistant (as Dion Vines)
Russ Vollmers	....	production assistant
Michael Wallace	....	location consultant: Washington (as Mike Wallace)
Roberta Wells	....	first aid
Jeff Winn	....	craft service
Harry Winters	....	payroll assistant
Frank D. Woodward	....	caterer (as Frank Woodward)
Gilbert Young	....	teamster shop steward: Washington
John Crowder	....	assistant location manager: Washington D.C. (uncredited)
Billy A. Fox	....	location scout (uncredited)
Nancy Seltzer	....	publicist (uncredited)
Chris Winn	....	craft service (uncredited)

Thanks
Walter Hill	....	producers wish to thank (as Walter L. Hill II)
John Horton	....	special thanks
Michael McClosky	....	special thanks (as Major Michael McClosky)
Ray Smith	....	special thanks
Robert A. Washington	....	producers wish to thank (as Commissioner Robert A. Washington Ph.D.)
Haskell Wexler	....	producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1993) (Finland) (theatrical) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (Spain)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (laserdisc)
• Egmont Entertainment (1998) (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2000) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (1998) (1999) (2002) (2003) (2006) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (1998) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• TV5 (2011) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1996) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts (matte shots)

Other Companies

• California Department of Parks and Recreation  producers wish to thank (as Department of Parks and Recreation)
• California Film Commission  producers wish to thank
• Columbia Records  soundtrack album available on (as Columbia Records' Cassettes and Compact Discs)
• Commanding Officer and Crew of United States Support Center  producers wish to thank (as Commanding Officer and Crew of United States Support Center, San Pedro, California)
• Direct Travel of California  travel services
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Nancy Seltzer & Associates  publicity
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Library  photos courtesy of (as National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York)
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  photographic equipment (as Panavision®)
• Re-Sets  producers wish to thank
• Skywalker Sound  re-recording facilities
• Sony Pictures Studios  music scored at (as Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California)
• St. Elizabeths Hospital  producers wish to thank (as Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, D.C.)
• State of California  producers wish to thank (as The State of California)
• TAJ Soundworks  foley recording
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars
• Victor Davis Casting  extras casting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | France:Unrated | South Korea:15 | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Canada:PG (TV rating) | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

In this film, Tom Cruise's character Daniel Kaffee, is a Lieutenant Junior Grade. This is one rank below the previous Navy officer whom he portrayed in Top Gun (1986), Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. Also, in this film, Demi Moore's character, Joanne Galloway, is a Lieutenant Commander. This is one rank higher than the next Navy officer whom she would portray, Lieutenant Jordan O'Neill, in the film G.I. Jane (1997).

Goofs:

Continuity: The rear view mirror disappears and reappears in Kaffee's car when Markinson is in the back seat while in the same field of view.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Drill Master:Forward, march!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Go for the Old (#7.19)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

All I Want to Do

Thought Provoking Drama From Rob Reiner

In one of the most telling scenes in this movie, Navy Lieutenant Commander Jo Galloway (Demi Moore), a lawyer who is helping to defend two Marines on trial for murder, is asked why she likes these guys so much. And she replies, `Because they stand on a wall, and they say ‘nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch'.' Which veritably sums up the sense of duty and honor which underscores the conflict of `A Few Good Men,' directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. There is a code by which a good Marine must live and die, and it is: Unit, Corps, God, Country. But to be valid, that code must also include truth and justice; and if they are not present, can the code stand? Which is the question asked by director Reiner, who examines the parameters of that code with this film, which centers on the murder of a young Private First Class named William Santiago, who was killed while stationed at the Marine Corps base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The case draws the attention of Commander Galloway, Special Counsel for Internal Affairs in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in Washington, D.C. Galloway, taking into consideration the impeccable service records of the two Marines charged with the crime, convinces her superiors that a thorough investigation is warranted in this case, though there are those in high places who would rather see this one plea bargained and put to rest.

Galloway persists, however, believing that Santiago's death may have resulted from a `Code Red,' a method of disciplinary hazing employed in certain circles of the Corps, though illegal. And if this was a Code Red, the real question is, who gave the order? Ultimately, her tenacity prevails, but though Galloway is a seasoned lawyer, she has little actual courtroom experience, so Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Cruise) is assigned to the case, along with Lieutenant Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollak), with Galloway, as ranking officer, to assist. Kaffee, the son of a legendary lawyer, has skated through the first nine months of his Naval career, successfully plea bargaining forty-four cases. Outwardly upbeat and personable, Kaffee seems more concerned with his softball game than he does with the time he has to spend on the job. But underneath, he's coping with living his life in the shadow of his late father's reputation, which is an issue with which he must come to terms if he is to successfully effect the outcome of this case. And on this one he will have a formidable opponent: Colonel Nathan R. Jessup (Nicholson), who commands the base at Guantanamo.

As Jessup, Nicholson gives a commanding performance, and once he enters the film you can sense the tension he brings to it, which begins to swell immediately, and which Reiner does a great job of maintaining right up to the end. Jessup is a soldier of the old guard, a man of narrow vision and a particular sense of duty; to Jessup there's two ways of doing things: His way and the wrong way. He's a man who-- as he says-- eats breakfast three hundred yards away from the enemy, and he's not about to let a couple of lawyers in dress whites intimidate him. And that's exactly the attitude Nicholson brings to this role. When he speaks, you not only hear him loud and clear, you believe him. It's a powerful performance and, as you would expect from Nicholson, entirely convincing and believable.

Cruise, also, gives what is arguably one of the best performances of his career as Kaffee. He perfectly captures the aloofness with which Kaffee initially regards the case, as well as the determination with which he pursues it later. Cruise is convincing in the role, and some of the best scenes in the film are the ones he plays opposite Nicholson in the courtroom, the most memorable being one in which Kaffee exclaims to Jessup, `I want the truth!' to which Jessup replies, `You can't handle the truth!' And the atmosphere fairly crackles.

Moore is outstanding, as well, and she manages to hold her own and make her presence felt even in the scenes dominated by Nicholson and Cruise. It's a fine piece of acting by Moore, who deserves more than just a passing mention for it. Also turning in notable performances are Pollak, whose dry humor adds such an extra touch to the film, and Wolfgang Bodison, who makes an impressive screen debut as Lance Corporal Dawson, on of the Marines on trial for the murder of Santiago.

The supporting cast includes Kiefer Sutherland (Kendrick), Kevin Bacon (Ross), James Marshall (Downey), J.T. Walsh (Markinson), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Hammaker) and Christopher Guest (Dr. Stone). A powerful drama, superbly delivered by Reiner, `A Few Good Men' is a thought provoking, unforgettable motion picture that makes you take pause for a moment to consider some things that are for the most part out of sight and out of mind. Like who is on that wall tonight, and are we safe because of him. And it makes you reflect upon some things perhaps too often taken for granted. And that's what really makes this film so good; and it's all a part of the magic of the movies. I rate this one 10/10.