A Few Good Men (1992)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

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:

Courtroom | Military | Murder | Guantanamo | Law

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Jack Nicholson	...	Col. Nathan R. Jessep
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

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)
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 Sideny 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

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
Brigadier General David M. Brahms	....	technical consultant
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	....	thanks (as Walter L. Hill II)
John Horton	....	special thanks
Michael McClosky	....	special thanks (as Major Michael McClosky)
Ray Smith	....	special thanks
Robert A. Washington	....	thanks
Haskell Wexler	....	thanks

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 (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (Argentina)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (Spain)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (USA) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts (matte shots)

Other Companies

• Columbia Records  soundtrack published by
• 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
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Skywalker Sound  re-recording facilities
• Sony Pictures Studios  music recording
• TAJ Soundworks  foley recording
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars
• Victor Davis Casting  extras casting

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | France:Unrated | South Korea:15 | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | 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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Writer Aaron Sorkin got the story idea from his sister, who in real life experienced a very similar incident at Guantanamo from the "Lt. Galloway" perspective as a female military attorney. In that incident, the victim was similarly assaulted by nine soldiers and was badly injured, but did not die. Sorkin initially turned the idea into a play, and then this screenplay, which was his very first.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Lt. Kaffee is chasing Jo down the street in his car in the rain, yet no one considered that he is drunk and driving the streets of Washington, DC after polishing off the better part of a pint of Jack Daniels. Behavior unbecoming an Officer in the United States Navy.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Drill Master: Forward, march!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 17 Again (2009)

Soundtrack:

NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME

Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson bring some seriously stellar performances to the table in this legal drama.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore This movie is for people who like lawyerly stuff and military type stuff. This movie is an episode of Jag on crack. This movie was made by Rob Reiner. Really, after that last statement, need I say more? If you didn't know that Rob Reiner did The Princess Bride, then hang your head in shame now.

It starts out in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, when a couple marines enter the room of another marine, stuff a rag down his throat, duct tape his mouth shut, duct tape his hands behind his back, duct tape his legs together, and so on. Then the credits roll and we cut to D.C., where we find out that the marine getting gagged and tied died that night. The two marines that were doing the gagging and tying are charged with murder and flown out to D.C.

The task of lead counsel is assigned to Daniel Kaffee (Cruise), a lieutenant junior grade with a track record for plea bargaining and smooth talking. Lt. Cmdr. Jo Galloway (Moore) is assigned to be co-counsel, despite the fact that she tried to get in as lead counsel. They start the investigation down in Cuba where they meet Col. Nathan Jessup (Nicholson), the man who ordered the two men to give Private Santiago the Code Red, which accidentally led to his death. Of course, Jessup doesn't tell this to Danny or Jo. Why would he? He'd look pretty bad for it, right? So when they get back to D.C. and do some legal maneuvering with their clients and the prosecution, Danny manages to get a deal for a mere two years of prison time, where they are actually home in six months. And the two that are charged turn it down on principle, because they still believe they have done nothing wrong. Danny decides that he wants to get a different lawyer assigned to the case because he doesn't want to go down with them, but then has a change of heart after talking to a few people and thinking about it.

So the trial starts, and that's when the movie really picks up speed. The skill that Danny has as he strides around the courtroom asking all the right questions and probing in just the right ways is phenomenal. It almost makes you want to be a lawyer.

There are some major setbacks along the way, some things go right, a lot more go wrong, but eventually everything turns out okay in the end. But like so many movies where we know how it's going to end, it was never really the ending we were banking on, but the fun of getting there.

Bottom Line: 4 out of 4 (own this movie)