A Few Good Men
Release: December 11, 1992

In this military courtroom drama based on the play by Aaron Sorkin, Navy lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) is assigned to defend two Marines, Pfc. Louden Downey (James Marshall) and Lance Cpl. Harold Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison), who are accused of the murder of fellow leatherneck Pfc. William Santiago (Michael de Lorenzo) at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Kaffee generally plea bargains for his clients rather than bring them to trial, which is probably why he was assigned this potentially embarassing case, but when Lt. Commander JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore) is assigned to assist Kaffee, she is convinced that there's more to the matter than they've been led to believe and convinces her colleague that the case should go to court. Under questioning, Downey and Dawson reveal that Santiago died in the midst of a hazing ritual known as "Code Red" after he threatened to inform higher authorities that Dawson opened fire on a Cuban watchtower. They also state that the "Code Red" was performed under the orders of Lt. Jonathan Kendrick (Kiefer Sutherland). Kendrick's superior, tough-as-nails Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson), denies any knowledge of the order to torture Santiago, but when Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson (J.T. Walsh) confides to Kaffee that Jessup demanded the "Code Red" for violating his order of silence, Kaffee and Galloway have to find a way to prove this in court. A Few Good Men also features Kevin Bacon as prosecuting attorney Capt. Jack Ross and Kevin Pollak as Kaffee and Galloway's research assistant, Lt.

Trailers
Posters
Quotes
Kaffee: "Lieutenant, in your opinion was Private Santiago a good Marine?"
Lt. Kendrick: "I would say he was about average."
Kaffee: "Lieutenant, you signed three Proficiency and Conduct reports on Santiago and in all three reports you indicate a rating of below average."
Lt. Kendrick: "Yes, Private Santiago was below average. I did not see the need to trample on a man's grave."
Kaffee: "Well, we appreciate that but you are under oath now and I think as unpleasant as it may be we'd all just as soon hear the truth."
Lt. Kendrick: "I am aware of my oath."
Kaffee: "Lieutenant, these are the last three Pro-Con reports you signed for Lance Corporal Dawson. Dawson received two marks of exceptional, however, on this most recent report dated June 9th of this year he received a rating of below average. It's this last report I'd like to discuss for a moment."
Lt. Kendrick: "That would be fine."
Kaffee: "Lance Corporal Dawson's ranking following the school of infantry was perfect. Records indicate that more than half that class has been promoted to full Corporal while Dawson has remained a Lance Corporal. Was Dawson's promotion held up because if this last report?"
Lt. Kendrick: "I'm sure it was."
Kaffee: "Do you recall why Dawson was given such a poor grade on this last report?"
Lt. Kendrick: "I'm sure I don't. I have many men in my charge, Lieutenant. I write many reports."
Kaffee: "Lieutenant, do you recall an incident involving a PFC Curtis Bell who had been found stealing liquor from the Officer's Club?"
Lt. Kendrick: "Yes, I do."
Kaffee: "Did you report Private Bell to the proper authorities?"
Lt. Kendrick: "I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant, the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer Colonel Nathan R. Jessup and the Lord our God."
Kaffee: "At your request, Lieutenant, I can have the record reflect your lack of acknowledgment of this court as a proper authority."
Capt. Ross: "Objection. Argumentative."
Judge Randolph: "Sustained. Watch yourself, Counselor."
Kaffee: "Did you report Private Bell to your superiors?"
Lt. Kendrick: "I remember thinking very highly of Private Bell, of not wanted to see his record tarnished by a formal charge."
Kaffee: "You preferred that it be handled withing the unit."
Lt. Kendrick: "Yes, I most certainly did."
Kaffee: "Lieutenant do you know what a Code Red is?"
Lt. Kendrick: "Yes, I do."
-Jack Nickolson: "You want the truth...well you cant handle the truth! --Jack Nickolson"
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