Kevin Pollak recalls behind-the-scenes moments from ‘A Few Good Men’, including director Rob Reiner’s fun-first approach and Jack Nicholson playfully trying to distract Tom Cruise during the iconic courtroom scene with funny faces.
More than three decades after A Few Good Men became a courtroom classic, actor Kevin Pollak has recalled memorable behind-the-scenes moments from the 1992 film, including director Rob Reiner’s approach to filmmaking and Jack Nicholson’s playful attempts to distract Tom Cruise during one of the movie’s most iconic scenes, according to People.
Speaking to People at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass’, the 68-year-old actor reflected on working on the acclaimed courtroom drama, which was later nominated for Best Picture at the 65th Academy Awards.
Rob Reiner’s ‘Have Fun’ Philosophy
Pollak said one of the most valuable lessons he learned from director Rob Reiner was to enjoy the filmmaking process, even while working on an intense drama. “The big thing with Rob was just, if we’re not having fun, there’s no point in any of this,” Pollak said. “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 added, according to People.
In A Few Good Men, Pollak portrayed Lt. Sam Weinberg, one of the military lawyers who worked alongside Tom Cruise’s Lt. Daniel Kaffee in defending two Marines accused of killing a fellow serviceman. Although the film dealt with serious subject matter, Pollak said the atmosphere on set was relaxed and filled with humour.
The ‘Godfather’ Anecdote
Recalling one of his favourite memories from the production, Pollak shared an incident that took place while the cast was filming exterior scenes in Washington, D.C. “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,'” Pollak recalled, according to People.
“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,” he added.
Jack Nicholson’s Playful Pranks
Pollak said the anecdote perfectly captured Reiner’s quick wit and the easygoing atmosphere on a set that also featured Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson. The actor also recalled Nicholson’s playful behaviour during filming, revealing that the Oscar-winning actor enjoyed trying to distract Cruise during emotionally charged courtroom sequences.
“Jack [Nicholson] would absolutely mess with Tom [Cruise] while Tom was coming in for the kill in the courtroom,” Pollak revealed, according to People. According to Pollak, while Cruise was filming the now-iconic courtroom exchange featuring the line, “I want the truth,” Nicholson stood just off camera making a series of funny faces in an attempt to break Cruise’s concentration. Cruise, however, remained in character and completed the take before playfully punching Nicholson on the shoulder afterward, a reaction that, Pollak said, “Jack loved,” according to People. (ANI)
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