A military lawyer is tasked with defending two US Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine and intends to prove they were only following their base commander's orders.A military lawyer is tasked with defending two US Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine and intends to prove they were only following their base commander's orders.A military lawyer is tasked with defending two US Marines charged with murdering a fellow Marine and intends to prove they were only following their base commander's orders.
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 10 wins & 30 nominations total
- Tom
- (as Josh Malina)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe original play was inspired by an actual Code Red at Guantanamo Bay. Lance Corporal David Cox and nine other enlisted men tied up a fellow Marine and severely beat him for snitching to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Cox was acquitted and later honorably discharged. In 1994, David Cox mysteriously vanished, and his bullet-riddled body was found three months later. His murder remains unsolved.
- GoofsA Judge Advocate has the same qualified immunity as any other attorney arguing a defense. The premise that he could be subject to Court Martial for Professional Misconduct if he accuses Jessop and Kendrick of a crime is preposterous. He could be prosecuted however for failing to do so if it was necessary in the defense of the accused and if he, in good faith, believes that they may be guilty of said crime.
- Quotes
Judge Randolph: [to Kaffee from the judge's bench] Consider yourself in contempt!
Kaffee: Colonel Jessup, did you order the Code Red?
Judge Randolph: You don't have to answer that question!
Col. Jessup: I'll answer the question!
[to Kaffee]
Col. Jessup: You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to.
Col. Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I WANT THE TRUTH!
Col. Jessup: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
[pauses]
Col. Jessup: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know; that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, *saves lives*. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a *damn* what you think you are entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the code red?
Col. Jessup: I did the job I...
Kaffee: [interrupts him] *Did you order the Code Red?*
Col. Jessup: *You're God damn right I did!*
- ConnectionsEdited into The Arrivals (2008)
- SoundtracksHound Dog
Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Performed by Big Mama Thornton
Courtesy of MCA Records
I could not imagine if anyone else could have replaced Jack Nicholson - his stellar performance (as always) and the intensity and ferocity with which he delivered his dialogues - man, even his facial expressions at times were worth a watch.
Story line and plot don't seem to be so strong and there will be many people who would not agree with its end and even with the message of the movie, which is although not so clear but definitely points towards some of the not so best practices being followed in any country's army (over discipline in the name of straightening the people and getting things in order or even avoiding any further chaos or things being run by certain people just to settle their personal scores and run in a way they think is the best, even disregarding other people's reasonable opinions). However, the other things apart, movie was a treat to watch. Director Rob Reiner and writer Aaron Sorkin didn't leave any stone unturned when it came to dialogues in the movie - in fact, the dialogues delivered by each and every character (not only Jack Nicholson) have been simply stunning.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Cuestión de honor
- Filming locations
- Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Point Mugu, California, USA(Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $41,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $141,340,178
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $15,517,468
- Dec 13, 1992
- Gross worldwide
- $243,240,178