The 1992 legal drama ‘A Few Good Men’ is widely remembered for the high-intensity courtroom confrontation between Tom Cruise’s Lt. Daniel Kaffee and Jack Nicholson’s Col. Nathan Jessup. However, according to co-star Kevin Pollak, one of the most famous scenes in cinema history was punctuated by an unexpected moment of physical levity between the two leading men.
Speaking on the ‘Still Here Hollywood’ podcast with Steve Kmetko, Pollak recounted an incident that occurred during the filming of the movie’s climax. The scene required a specific technical setup to capture Nicholson’s point of view (POV) of Cruise. Because the camera was positioned right next to Nicholson’s face to simulate his perspective, the veteran actor had to lean as close to the lens as possible.
As Cruise delivered his performance—moving in for the character’s decisive legal strike—he was looking directly at Nicholson. According to Pollak, while the camera was rolling, Nicholson began making “the most ridiculous clown face you’ve ever seen.”
Despite the distraction, Pollak noted that Cruise remained focused. “Tom stayed in the pocket and finished the scene,” Pollak said. Once the take was over, Cruise responded by punching Nicholson in the shoulder. Rather than sparking tension, the move resulted in both actors laughing, an example of the rapport shared on set.
Directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, ‘A Few Good Men’ centers on the defense of two U.S. Marines accused of murdering a fellow service member at Guantánamo Bay. The case hinges on whether the defendants were following an unauthorized “code red” order. The film was a significant critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and a Best Supporting Actor nod for Nicholson, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday.
Pollak, who portrayed Lt. Sam Weinberg, reflected on the “great lesson” he took from working with Reiner on the production. He noted that despite the intensity of the courtroom drama, Reiner prioritized a positive working environment, often telling the cast, “If we’re not having fun, there’s no point in any of this.”
This lighthearted approach extended beyond the soundstage. Pollak recalled a period of filming exteriors in Washington, D.C., where a passerby asked Reiner what project he was working on. The director jokingly replied that he was filming ‘The Godfather.’ When Pollak asked why he would claim to be making a different movie, Reiner explained it was a practical way to keep moving.
“If I say A Few Good Men, it was a Broadway play, but if you didn’t see the Broadway play, you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about,” Reiner told him. “So if I say The Godfather, we’re done talking, and you and I can keep going with our lives.” Pollak admitted he has utilized that same tactic in the years since.
In addition to Cruise, Nicholson, and Pollak, the 1992 classic featured an ensemble cast including Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, and J.T. Walsh.
