Kevin Pollak shared hilarious behind the scenes moments from A Few Good Men involving Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise.
In an interview with People Magazine, the actor recalled memories from the set more than three decades after the film.
Despite the film’s intense courtroom drama, Pollak revealed that the director Rob Reiner insisted the cast enjoy themselves while filming. “The big thing with Rob was just, if we’re not having fun, there’s no point in any of this.”
“And he said that while we’re doing a very intense courtroom drama, and it was a great lesson and a great way to work,” he told the outlet.
Sharing about working with the late director, Pollak said, “One of my most enjoyable moments was [when] we shot a couple weeks in Washington D.C. to establish exteriors, and one night we were walking back from somewhere, just the two of us, and someone passed us and said, ‘Oh my God, Rob Reiner, how are you? Are you here working?’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘What are you working on?’ And he said, ‘The Godfather.'”
“And the guy went, ‘Oh great.’ He kept walking, and I said, ‘Why did you say The Godfather?’ And he said, ‘Well, if I said 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.
“So if I say The Godfather, we’re done talking, and you and I can keep going with our lives.’ I’ve used it ever since,” Pollak shared.
Furthermore, Kevin Pollak also shared about one time when Nicholson was positioned just off camera while Cruise filmed his close-ups.
Pollak revealed that while Cruise delivered his now-famous line, “I want the truth!” Nicholson stood off-camera making faces in an attempt to distract him. “Jack [Nicholson] would absolutely mess with Tom [Cruise] while Tom was coming in for the kill in the courtroom,” he stated.
Tom Cruise, however, stayed completely focused and finished the scene without breaking character. Once the director called cut, Pollak said Cruise playfully punched Nicholson on the shoulder.
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