A Few Good Men (1992) - The Verdict | Officer on Deck Scene | Tom Cruise | Demi Moore
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2021
- This channel is not monetized, and your contributions, no matter how small, are crucial to its continued success.
Support me @ ( buymeacoffee.com/movie_stamps... )
To Buy amazing Gadgets : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaI5...
FILM DESCRIPTION:
U.S. Marines Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private First Class Louden Downey are facing a general court-martial, accused of murdering fellow Marine William Santiago at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Santiago had poor relations with his fellow Marines, compared unfavorably to them, and broke the chain of command in an attempt to get transferred out of Guantanamo. Base Commander Colonel Nathan Jessup and his officers argue about the best course of action: while Jessup's executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Markinson, advocates that Santiago be transferred, Jessup dismisses the option and instead orders Santiago's commanding officer, Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick, to "train" Santiago to become a better Marine.
While it is believed that the motive in Santiago's murder was retribution for naming Dawson in a fenceline shooting, Naval investigator and lawyer Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway largely suspects Dawson and Downey carried out a "code red" order: a violent extrajudicial punishment. Galloway wants to defend the two, but the case is given to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Daniel Kaffee - an inexperienced and unenthusiastic lawyer with a penchant for plea bargains. Galloway and Kaffee instantly conflict, with Galloway unsettled by Kaffee's apparent laziness whilst Kaffee resents Galloway's interference. Kaffee and Galloway travel to Guantanamo base Cuba to question Colonel Jessup and others. Under questioning, Jessup claims Santiago was set to be transferred the next day.
When Kaffee negotiates a plea bargain with the prosecutor Captain Jack Ross, Dawson and Downey refuse to go along, insisting that Kendrick had indeed given them the "code red" order and that they never intended Santiago to die. Dawson shows outright contempt for Kaffee, refusing to salute or acknowledge him as an officer because Dawson sees him as having no honor by choosing a plea bargain over defending their actions. Lt. Col Markinson disappears. Kaffee plans to have himself removed as counsel as he sees going to trial as pointless. At the arraignment, Kaffee unexpectedly enters a plea of not guilty, explaining to Galloway that he realized the reason he was chosen to handle this case was because it was expected he would accept a plea, and the matter would be kept quiet.
After the case begins, Markinson later reveals himself to Kaffee and states, unequivocally, that Jessup never ordered a transfer for William Santiago. The defense manages to establish that Cpl Dawson had been denied promotion for smuggling food to a Marine who had been sentenced to go without food, painting Dawson in a good light and proving "code reds" had been ordered before. However, the defense then suffer two major setbacks: Downey, under cross-examination, reveals he was not actually present when Dawson received the supposed "code red" order, and Markinson, after he tells Kaffee that Jessup never ordered the transfer, but, ashamed that he failed to protect a Marine under his command, commits suicide before he can testify.
CREDITS:
TM & © Sony (1992)
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, J.A. Preston
Director: Rob Reiner
Producers: David Brown, William S. Gilmore, Steve Nicolaides, Rachel Pfeffer, Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman, Jeffrey Stott
Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Week 1 Day 1 // DRX vs ZETA | BLD vs TS](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AWaOqaxN6Y0/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TH] VCT Pacific Stage 2 - Week 1 Day 2 // GEN vs T1 | PRX vs TLN](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZkFjjJNwzH0/mqdefault.jpg)
“You don’t need to wear a badge in your arm to have honor”. Ten-Hut! There's an officer on deck! One of the best scenes ever
Good luck getting a job
It was actually, “You don’t need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor”.
I always remember it, it is true..
@@jacoblapeThere are convicted murderers working in jobs that may not be the most cushy or well paid but livelable wage.
There are organizations that provide counseling jobs to people like this who understand the intricacies on this matter.
@@jacoblape What do you mean Sir? 😂
I always liked that the lawyers are immediately buddies again once the verdict was reached
That’s how it is…even Kevin Bacon (Ross) says it earlier in the film when they’re off the record and out of court.
“I don’t think your clients belong in jail but I don’t get to make that decision. I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice, and my clients have a case.”
Just doing their jobs.
Because they're actors, not lawyers 😂
I used to testify as an expert witness in Forensic DNA (20 years) and defense attorneys who tried to be brutal to me in court would sometimes come up to me outside the courthouse while I was heading to my vehicle and congratulate me for my performance in court... no disdain, anger, we were doing our respective jobs... 😆
@@small_edin the movie they were friends...kaffee and ross
@small_ed It's like that in real life tho. At least on the civilian side. Defense attorneys. Prosecutors. It's a business and they're practically coworkers.
This part always tears me up. He salutes him. “There’s an officer on deck.”
Me too❤
Not guilty, not guilty, and then guilty as charged, that was the correct verdict. Justice was served for the two of them.
@@paulcolburn3855 Maybe so but unfortunately they would have been dishonorably discharged for conduct unbecoming anyway for disobeying an order had they not carried out the order. At least this way Kendrick and Jessup gets theirs.
@@conorwellman8592 yes
@@conorwellman8592no such thing as a charge of Conduct Unbecoming. That was for the movie
Meanwhile Corporal Barnes is still re-reading the marine handbook trying to find directions to the mess hall.
Not true, he starved to death while using a compass and map to find the galley.
People are forgetting that they still commited manslaughter essentially. Dishonorable Discharge is about the best those two could have hoped for. Honestly the jury was being merciful here. They could easily have spent time in military prison.
Well, they leave the corps immediately with no access to military pension or benefits.
They're no longer allowed to own weapons, serve in federal government positions and lose access to government benefits, student loans etc.
They're effectively out of work but they've been sacked and they're guilty of a crime. It's not going to make it easy for them to find work and they can never claim welfare benefits.
It's usually just the marines saying, "That's it. You're another homeless vet now" but since most vets are treated like shit when they return from active duty it's pretty much the same.
@@paulinelambert7780 is exactly like that yes. The US Marine Corps have a reputation for overlooking some pretty dishonourable acts, so being discharged like this is usually serious.
Their best bet would be to discuss that with the recruiter but they may not get that far.
It's essentially saying, "please invite me for an interview. I did something really bad"
@@paulinelambert7780 A dishonorable discharge is equivalent to a felony conviction and carries pretty much all the same legal and social consequences as one. However, in this case the jury actually *could not* impose a dishonorable discharge because they found the defendants not guilty of the only charge (murder) serious enough to impose a DD. A DD cannot be imposed for conduct unbecoming, which is considered a much more minor offense; moreover, conduct unbecoming only applies to *officers* and not enlisted men.
@@paulinelambert7780 did u actually just list being a girl as one of the reasons for not understanding his comment?
@@paulinelambert7780 oh no, youre not sure lol. believing you're sure and being sure are two different things
The way the camera pans past each lawyer as the different verdicts are read is really a great touch. Kaffe's goal was to get them off for murder. Joann felt they just followed orders and it wasn't a conspiracy to commit murder and Sam...well he felt all along they were guilty of conduct unbecoming a Marine. They each won their own little battle.
True, but I think that Sam gained some respect for Harold in the end when he acknowledged they were wrong in their actions that night.
@@MrGruffteddybear Ah Harold gets it. Good. I'm glad we kept them out of prison. You can stand on my wall anytime Harold
Sam.... has no responsibilities whatsoever. lol
Yeah i noticed the panning aswell, great stuff
Good insight. Weinberg's character only existed for subtle details like this one.
My Marines say "ten hut, there's an officer on deck" every time I walk in and it makes me feel so good. I know they're saying it as a joke from this movie but it'll bring tears to my eyes when I'm 70 and miss them.
Troops do not remember their leadership. Crack a beer with your troops. Invite their spouses. Invite their children. We are a family. The US is a family.
Stop crying. Please )
😅😅
@@bobguy6542 I thought the World is like a family, no?
Did you murder many innocents for cash? Satan loves ya.
Kaffee's best friend in this movie isn't Sam, it's Ross. Seriously, watch this movie again because I think a lot of people missed it simply because he was opposing council. Ross is constantly forced to walk a tightrope between his duty as a prosecutor and his loyalty to his friend...and he does it WELL.
But let's look at the facts:
Their first conversation we see Ross negotiate with Kaffee to drop the sentence, but warns him about Kendrick telling the men not to touch William. This is VERY interesting because Kaffee doesn't even know who he's talking about. Seriously, why tell him this? Because he's trying to slide a tip to Kaffee. It works because Kaffee realizes something doesn't seem right later when he's talking to Sam. I think this was planned to give Kaffee leverage for the next step.
Their second conversation is about Kaffee finding about the order. Ross didn't know about the order. He's shocked by it. However, he's already been looking for a way to help Kaffee and has a deal ready to go to have his clients out in 6 months after KILLING a fellow marine. And he warns Kaffee that fighting is going to lead to failure (which is VERY nearly does).
The bar/resturant scene is where their friendship is revealed the most. And what's the first thing Ross does? Congratulates Kaffee on his turnaround. It hurt his case, but you see him actually crack a smile in the courtroom. A best friend enjoys your successes despite it not being in that friend's best personal interest. But Kaffee finding Markins changes things. Ross rightfully deduces Markinson won't hold up in court (he doesn't even make it to court). Kaffee is placing his faith in the testimony of Markinson against Jessep, which in the context of the movie, is career suicide. He does his best to make him acknowledge this hoping he'll back off. And then he comments on why Kaffee is doing all this; because of his dead father. He knows him. And what does Kaffee do? What's the best argument he can use against him in his anger? He's says he's bad at softball. LOL. That's literally the only negative thing he can think of.
Now comes the scene with Jessup. Ross tries again to get Kaffee off the hook by having the court apologize to Jessep and give Kaffee a reprimanded. This may seem harsh, but a reprimand is just a warning. It's slap on the wrist that Ross has to suggest because you can't just make a colonel fly all the way to court and just immediately let him leave without consequences. Again, Ross is trying to give Kaffee an out because he has nothing on Jessep and he's risking his career by doing this.
And when Kaffee starts yelling accusations at Jessup, Kaffee yells "Dammit Kaffee!". He's freaking out because his friend is destroying his career right in front of him, just like he was afraid of. The ONLY thing that saves Kaffee is Jessup falls for the trap and, despite being told by the judge he doesn't have to say anything, he can't help himself.
And it's here the movie saves these two for the final scene. Ross actually looks happy for Kaffee despite all his hard work and still losing. And the final line is him telling him he's going to arrest Kendrick to give Kaffee another victory lap.
Ross is the best friend a guy could ask for.
Real talk 💯
This may be the most insightful comment I've seen on TH-cam.
I agree, most insightful review of the relationship between Kaffee and Ross.
I don't think Ross was all that sorry he lost the case. As he told Kaffee earlier, he didn't believe that Dawson and Downey belonged behind bars for life, but that wasn't his call to make, he works for the State, not the defense. Ross acknowledges his sympathy for the defendants despite the fact that their actions, however unintentionally did result in the death of a man.
In sharp contrast to Sam Weinberg, who while he believes that Santiago's death was an accident, believes that the two men DID deserve prison for the rest of their lives. I always wondered during their chat about trying to find Markinson, Weinberg wasn't secretly trying to wiggle out of helping in the defense since he had strong resentment toward their clients.
@@BethHarmon-yh8msSam wanted to leave but stayed because Kaffey asked him to. Sam is also loyal to Kaffey and didn’t try to wiggle his way out of helping because Sam has integrity and isn’t gonna let his own bias interfere with his duty much like Ross, despite “having no responsibility whatsoever” his job is to help Kaffey defend their clients without passion or prejudice, good lawyers all around, Aaron Sorkin really wrote a masterpiece here and Rob Reiner directed the shit out of this movie 12/10
They definitely were very good friends as you noted. Ross is obviously doing his job, but he doesn’t want to see Daniel go down in flames either.
"What does that mean?"
God, marines like that couldn't sink if you asked them to...
One good thing about the very last scene is that it ended not with Kaffe and Joe, instead, it ended with Kaffe and Jack, the defence and prosecution...It is all a part of their duties... there is no bad blood just because they had arguments in the court room...
Jack was still a lousy f*cking softball player though.
Where's that '1 reply' TH-cam? #censorship
Anyways...
'Arguments' in the courtroom is a misunderstood term; while two attorneys may believe their respective cases (or sometimes not), the term is not meant in the personal sense, but in the rational sense; they are rhetoric, not necessarily personal sentiment. An attorney in the courtroom speaks and acts on behalf of the accused or the accuser, in order to conform to established law & procedure.
I love the downy and kaffee payoff better. He finally said ty at the end and kaffee earned his respect
@@harrellt1405 yes, that was really good that Kaffee did earn Downy's respect...
Absolutely, and I believe that scene was included specifically and primarily to illustrate that exact point.
When he said, "Yeah we did." That hit so hard. He knew their job as marines was to save Willie and even though what they did was not intent to kill, they failed. I'll say that again as he would, "We failed." It's that simple. While Jessup was the reason Willie died, they just as much as Markinson were guilty of not saving Willie through whatever means. If that isn't conduct unbecoming of a marine, Idk what is.
I like the exchange between jack and Danny even though they are on different sides it shows they respect each other and are friends
Lawyers most often respect each other nonetheless, its nothing personal anyway
Demi is giving Cruise the "don't even bother wearing socks tonight" look when she exits.
😂😍
I wish we could've got a scene where Kevin Bacon arrests Lieutenant Kendrick lmao
That would have been funny 😂
I am aware of my oath.
I did not see the need to trample on the man's grave
@@nizamsahan203 That is a distortion of the truth, Lieutenant.
Couldn't afford Kiether Sutherland any further
Cruise is underrated actor , he is for sure the biggest movie star but most people forget about he is great actor too.
Too bad he's a figurehead and recruiter for a cult.
He’s had a fe nominations so people don’t necessarily forget. He kinda stopped ACTING once he hit that franchise level and became a superstar-among other life choices he’s made.
The only people who would ever call him “underrated” as an actor are the folks who only watch his action movies. Literally all of his peers speak the world of his talent, dedication, and ability to raise the level of everyone involved with producing the final product. He’s a legend.
His true fans never forget.
Tom cruise is not underrated😂 pj you're really daft... underrated. You people love using this word. Jack is underrated.
I love how while it didn’t end with them going to prison, they still didn’t really “win” in the end
I think it's fitting that Lt. Kaffe receives Harold's final salute.
The way Dawson says “sir?” when Caffe calls for him. It’s subtle but endearing.
without a doubt...one of the best courtroom film dramas ever
If there is a superior last scene in another movie … let me know . The ultimate respect shown to a superior who has earned it in battle. Ten hut …. there is an officer on deck !
Great scene, Great movie. They don't make em like that anymore, no way.
@@baldwinserrantshot365 Powerful, compelling, nuanced. There remarkable thing about Sorkin's writing, directing, and the acting is that you can see and fell the perspective of all of the characters with some empathy for all and their truth.
Can't think of a more cheesy ending
Rocky I. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@pault5947 Exactly and I like how everyone always glosses over the fact they were dishonorably discharged.
The whole reason Corporal Dawson wanted to fight this case was because to him being a marine was everything. That's why he turned down an offer of a two year sentence with only serving six months. So it was a shocker that even though he proved his case, he would be kicked out of the marines anyways. In a way I felt misled by the script - evey one involved should have known that even if he won his murder conviction they would still be kicked out for "conduct unbecoming a marine". It was a big set up. All along Corp. Dawson's and Private Downey's concern was to get back to their platoon - someone could have said at the beginning of the movie that was never going to be possible.
So, you felt like they should have gotten no consequences for murdering someone?
When did Hollywood ever follow the facts in real life, except when it added to the romance, drama, or action sequences in a movie? Only 7% of the entire adult population of the United States has ever, or currently is, serving in the military. That percentage in the celebrity community is far less, somewhere near 1%-2%. In Hollywood circles, because of their extreme WOKEness and nearly universal contempt for anyone who actually serves (served) in the military, that percentage is less than 1%. As a result, there is a genuine lack of knowledge when it comes to anything military in Hollywood, hence their almost universal need to hire ex-military personnel as advisers. That being said, few directors feel compelled to follow the advice of their military advisors in anything more than a cursory manner.
Anyone who has served in the military, as I have, knew that nothing short of a miracle was going to keep those two Marines from serving a 20-year sentence at Ft. Leavenworth. Returning to their platoon after an acquittal was never an option. I'm pretty sure that no form of a less-than-dishonorable discharge would ever have been contemplated.
@@brucemattes5015 lot big words for crayon eater. wa wa wi woo maRiNeS!!!!!
@@shuffler358have you ever tried the red crayon? You haven’t lived until you’ve done that!😂😂😂😂
The fact is it was obvious. The only reason they would have given such a greatvplea is so that Jessup would be protected and not smeared
The drill with rifles in the beginning is really awesome
That group consisted of the Fish (freshman) drill team from the Corp of Cadets at Texas A&M University.
Downey still chokes me up asking what they did wrong! *AMAZING MOVIE!*
Yeah I thought Marines are supposed to require IQ tests if he doesn't know it was wrong to murder another person from their platoon then he's probably as stupid as Forest Gump.
My favorite part about this is how the Captain said he was going to go arrest Kendrick. I always wondered what happened to him since the Colonel admitting he ordered the code red showed that Kendrick lied on the stand. And he was a prick about it too. I also wonder if anything happened to the medical doctor.
Well, unless Jessup or Kendrick is going to admit that they coerced the doctor, there's no way to prove he did anything wrong. It *is* possible he just made a mistake with his diagnosis and tried to cover his own ass on the stand. Ethically gray, but not illegal.
@@PaperbackWizard If it can be proved that the doctor lied then he would, procedurally, be charged with perjury like Kendricks.
But none of that is the point of the movie. The movie's center is not one person, but an ideal: The ideal of justice, that right and wrong are not defined by laws, but by our own awareness of an external moral standard, "that we did not invent, but nevertheless we find pressing on us."
(Quote is from 'On Human Behavior' by C.S. Lewis, a series of talks on BBC Radio that became an essay booklet.)
(Quotation is from _Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe_ , by C.S. Lewis.)
@@HuntingTarg I know. The point of my *comment* was there's no way to prove the doctor actually lied instead of just being mistaken unless Kendrick and/or Jessup admit to forcing him to lie.
*The Doctor is in the service, so at the very least, he could be charged with Conduct Unbecoming, and possibly Perjury. Once Jessup admitted under oath that he ordered the Code Red, that testimony could be admitted as evidence in a military trial against the Doctor, along with the altered medical report. I would think his defense would be that he was threatened by Jessup.*
*As for Kendrick, he would probably be charged with Perjury, Conspiracy, and Conduct Unbecoming.*
Certainly one of my favorite movies of all times!
Wolfgang Bodison (Lance Corporal Dawson) has a lot of subtlety as an actor. And as big of a star as Tom Cruise is, Mr. Cruise is underrated as an actor (as in the art and craft of acting).
My only issue with this scene is the jury. Under regulations, when the accused are enlisted personnel, then the defense can request that up to half the jury be made up of enlisted personnel. essentially the "peers" of the enlisted. Here, all the uniforms indicate commissioned officers.
They can request, but they don’t have to, so the scene can still be legally correct. I’ve never even been hit with a NJP, much less court martial, so I don’t know how common it would be for an enlisted to waive the right that you mentioned.
@@kenconnelly773 Case like this, the defense would be stupid not to insist on the enlisted option to ensure peers who came from the same part of the military culture were amongst the jury.
I noticed that too! Good point. That's why I prefer the UCMJ over civilian jurors. In the service, you are truly judged by your peers.
I was on a jury where a 3rd class PO was accused of murdering his 6 month old baby. I was a LCDR and was one of the lowest ranked members of the jury...other than the 3 other O4s, the rest were O5s and an O6.
@@Vicarium Did you feel you could deliberate freely or did you need to defer to the commissioned officers?
"We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves...we were supposed to fight for Willy..." 😢
One of the best court scenes ever !!!
this movie brings tears to my eyes every few weeks when I watch it again and again
The best part of this movie!!! Dawson understood 2 things, first that they sould protect Willy and second to respect his lawyer!!!
I'm not a huge Tom Cruise fan, but the guy can def act.
A dishonorable discharge is the worst offense in the military. You lose most if not all your rights and benefits. Adjusting to civilian life is practically impossible. If you're dishonorably discharged, you're basically screwed.
Better than prison
i don't believe you can get a dishonourable just for 'unbecoming" In real life that would be a large percentage of US military personal.
@@omensoffate Exactly. The point is they killed him. Prison or dishonorable discharge? I think anyone would choose the latter.
@@murraywilkinson6515hey foreigner you don't know jack
Here I'll give you a kick in the pants. Six months after being discharged they can appeal it and have changed to a general discharge. Which restores most of the benefits of a honorable discharge.
03:07 no Better feeling in the world when you make someone feel proud of you by doing the right thing.
That look she gives him at the end.... He just knows that he's going to get lucky that night!
3:59 "So... that's what a court battle looks like" I've always tought Kaffe must be saying this in his head
I thought that too but the camera angle at the end leads me to want to believe he’s thinking of his late dad, who was a great lawyer, looking proudly down at him from above and smiling
Best movie ever best cast ever dam good movie
Such an awesome ending to a perfect film
That look the Demi Moore character gives the Tom Cruise character after’s he’s saluted by the marine, it’s that look your woman gives you when she’d like to “reward” you for making her very happy & proud. Great movie, in that there was zero romance in it.
I'd like to think those 2 made HOT PASSIONATE SWEATY love after all this was said and done an enjoyed it. But hey that's just the freak in me
Jo was so proud of him and his smile shows that he was so happy that he didn’t disappoint her. My favorite part of the ending scene.
I still need to see this movie. Only seen a few youtube clips.
Scent of a woman Al Pacinos speech as a blind man , also ranks up there with this movie speech by Jack Nicholson
Best tom cruise movie seen about 30 times
i WILL NOT CRY....... 😢
Excellent film 📽
Both PFC Loudon Downey and L. Cpl. Harold Dawson could have been found guilty of knowingly violating Article 93 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice - torture and/or mistreatment of a fellow serviceman - and hence be given a 'bad conduct discharge.'
“We’re supposed be to fight for people who cannot fight for themselves” wish that was everyone’s motto
1:41
"What did we do wrong ?! We did nothing wrong"
That went right through the heart. Great acting by that guy as well
They followed illegal orders, that's what they did wrong. Even a solider you need to understand what is wrong or right. Even if you get a order that is illegal it is your duty not to follow it.
Hey man he died of unknown medical conditions a code red doesnt kills marines....unless somethings goes out of order.
@@LDZMarder I've never served so please enlighten me, if that were the case what would I do? Apart from disobeying an order from a higher rnaking officer lol
@@notahamster333 Inform said officer that this order is illegal and give him a chance rethink it . If he still insist dont follow it. If he dose it him self arets him if you need to or call in the MP/ your CO´s CO. Report him to your superior, call in the MP. Dont follow it and get your self arrested and get settle it in fornt of the your Co´s CO and or court. Simply don't follow it and dont execute it. The cause is not justifying the means.
It's the proverbial rock and a hard place.
If you follow the orders you're fucked. If you don't follow the orders you're probably fucked.
Demi looks Amazing in those Dress Blues.
3:08 I want Demi Moore to look at me that way
Had similar thoughts at that moment, thinking she must have been one of the prettiest women at that time.
A Few Good Men: Kaffee
More than 30 years of service.
Service Medals, Citations.
The only lawyer to get two Enlisted Marines off a Slam-Dunk Murder Charge and took down their Commanding Officer to do it.
Outstanding effort.
But you can't get promoted, you won't retire and no matter how hard you try, you will never be disbarred.
You should be a Supreme Court Judge by now or at least a Senator.
But here you are.
Why is that?
Kaffee: That's one of life's great mysteries....Sir.
Dawson realized he doesn't deserve his uniform. He realized Willie was sticking to his morals when he decided to turn against him, something Dawson realized HE couldn't do. He had no right to demand Willie's complete loyalty when he allowed Willie to be hurt again. He didn't save Willie before out the goodness of his heart: he did for selfish reasons.
He was a coward.
And it's only now that he realizes after someone fought for him when he didn't deserve it that he realizes while Jessep is a monster, he's no better. He will only get worse if he stays in the military. He NEEDS to go.
This movie is so good because it works philosophical dilemmas that are uncomfortable yet true. I think killing a Marine for being “substandard” is an obvious crime but saying the obeyers of command are also guilty of sin is controversial because: what moral are they expected to obey outside of command as long as the moral they’re given is COMMAND? The reality of their sin is recessive to the formal moral that they’re given which is to obey command unconditionally and at all cost. Therefore for them to be in the court of law and deemed dishonorably discharged (which for a Marine is supposedly as shameful as being guilty of first degree murder) is hard to wrap your head around. It’s like, it’s true that it was wrong, but were THEY wrong? Holocaust was wrong, but was every guard, every soldier, every maintenance guy and every floor sweeper that inadvertently supported it wrong? The idealistic and moralistic answer would be YES, but the mechanism of evil, of wrongness, doesn’t manifest that way, as a CONSCIOUS choice. It manifests as regular people following command. Therefore the question is not “what is evil” but is rather “are we free to know and refrain from evil.”
Just like we got a Top Gun sequel, we need A Few Good Men sequel 35 years later too.
A full-bird colonel mutters as the jury leaves "I did my job... I'd do it again..."
He learned nothing from this incident.
If he had just sent Santiago home as a substandard recruit & moved on to the incoming class...
Jessup probably makes General.
Markinson isn't dead.
Kendrick, Dawson & Downey still have careers in front of them.
Santiago's alive.
2 dead.
4 careers destroyed.
Because of one man's ego.
We were just following orders, we didn't do anything wrong! Thats what all soldiers in the Reich said
Which is why this verdict was correct. Following an illegal order does not make you immune to prosecution. And that is the added tragedy to the story. The two Marines were in an impossible, no-win situation. Dawson had already defied an order to perform a code red and been severely, harshly punished. Jessup was a law unto himself. You couldn't defy him, you couldn't escape him. Sadly, the death of one of his men is probably the only way his terrible behavior could be exposed.
Best part: Not forgetting about Airmen Rodriguez and O’Malley ✈️
2:19 earned weinberg’s respect right there
That was a nice touch to cut to him since that’s exactly what he was arguing with Galloway about earlier in the film.
The corporal learns something. You do not follow unlawful orders. That's why they outlaw code reds
I had a chance to join the Armed Forces Academy of my country, straight out of school. This would have been Officer Corp after training. I didn’t for only one reason: I don’t do well with orders, especially when they are in conflict with my values. I would definitely have had a problem with ‘salute the rank, not the person’ notion, too!
Downey got shafted. What was he to do, disobey even Dawson's order, so that Dawson tells Kendrick or other Marines give Downey a Code Red? As the lowest-ranking person who is just a 20-year-old kid, he really had no choice but to go along. Now he is dishonorably discharged. How could he have avoided the situation at all? He really had no way to figure out how to avoid getting in trouble.
I think if he filed a complaint or contacted some other official, this case might have been investigated and he wouldn't have been discharged. These guys followed orders but they also got someone killed and didn't do anything about it.
It's a very difficult situation
@@xanderguldie really hard to do that as a grunt in the Marines, to not follow illegal orders and decide you’re going to go through all the paperwork and legal mumbo jumbo. They are Marines in a rifle company in Cuba. Cops stick together in the US for lesser stuff, and they’re back at home in the US
@@DP-eo5xd Agree they wouldve been in danger once everyone got wind of them filing a report or investigation. Its also a good old boys system where if someone hire up decides to have your back it's an awfully tough system to navigate with any fairness behind closed doors.
I've never been in the service, but I can't imagine a situation where I'd be ordered to attack a fellow Marine and I'd follow it; not unless that Marine was placing someone else in *imminent* danger.
Worst thing that could happen to a Marine is be dishonorably discharged.
Actually, the worst thing would have been dishonourable discharge AND prison. These guys got off easy.
@@ghostchick5275 I think Marines can handle prison. But not being able to say that they are a Marine is probably worst. Because you know, a Marine will always be a Marine. Unless you're dishonorably discharged. Then you are no longer a Marine.
@@kcdiazWTV it's not even "you're no longer a marine", it's "legally you were *never* a marine". No VA benefits, no GI Bill, nothing. It also goes on your criminal record meaning that if you fail to declare it as part of a criminal background check and your employer finds out, they can (and probably will) fire you on the spot.
The way that the dishonourable discharge is almost brushed off as a "good-ish" thing is absurd. Sure it's not a death sentence or 20 years in Leavenworth, but these boys are still screwed.
@@davidbuckley2435 that's no bueno.
Hollywood should do a follow-up movie like it did with Top Gun. Maybe make Kaffee follow his dad's footsteps to AG of the United States.
This movie was good
They got thrown under the bus
Santiagos family can file a wrongful death suit
And then ran over repeatedly.
When is Netflix uploading it???
As a veteran of the UK Armed forces, im curious to know that if this was a real scenario and the two Marines were dishonorably dishcharged, what would the response from their former brothers be towards them. Would they have been austracised for being dishonourable discharged, or would it be known that they had done what had been done before and support them outside of conventional discipline. On that point too, would they be able to join and be supported by Marine Veteran associations following a dishonourable discharge. I ask these questions in genuine interest, especially as I am more than ware of the esprit de corps the USM have and how they stand with each other as brothers for life after service. I know it's only a film, but im fairly certain this kind of thing has/does happen on occasion throughout service units globally, and I thought the acting of the marines when they found out that they were being DD was a good representation of how distraught they would have been, having those values of honour and loyalty removed from them.
As an American, if you are 'dishonorably discharged' from ANY U.S. military branch, be it US Army, US Navy, etc. then you lose ALL future military benefits that you would have been entitled to if it were an 'honorable' or 'general' discharge. You lose civilian rights (the right to vote, unemployment benefits, etc.), cannot own a firearm (legally, that is), lose veteran's benefits, cannot work in any Federal government job, and it will be VERY difficult to find a civilian job because of a 'dishonorable discharge' on your record! Now, it depends on what the DD is for, but you better have some paperwork and references to back you up when you re-enter the civilian sector for employment opportunities!
I couldn’t figure out why the two defendants got a dishonorable discharge.
Because they got someone killed following orders from a superior which was the whole point of the movie.
Theiir actions though ordered were still critical to the death of another US Marine at their hands. Yes, they didn't know about his medical condition. Yes, they were given orders. But that doesn't excuse following unethical and illegal orders. There is a reason that the use of physical beatings and hazing as a disciplinary measure has been banned by the military.
And as the Lance Corporal said "We were supposed to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie."
I liked the comment about that I don't think they should've got thrown under the bus or a dishonorable discharge they just followed an order.i think that Colonel Jessup and Kendrick should have got dishonorable discharges and those two Marines should have got an honorable discharge and time already served.they both got screwed for life.
@aDBo'Ch 1 You are assuming that the Code Red prohibition directive was read off to the lower troops. Probably should have been, but I think you can make a circumstantial case here for it probably not having been read outside of the command staff of the unit.
Hey man the decision came from the Jury not the Judge.
First time I saw this movie in 1993 made me cry. Remember Harold did not like Tom Cruise and called him a Coward wearing a Navy Uniform and at the end Tom saved his life and when he was going to be dishonorable discharged ,as a sign of RESPECT !!!! when Tom Tells him "Harold,you don't need to wear a patch in your arm to have HONOR!!!
and Harold says
Attend Hut ,There's an Officer on Deck,
I just couldn't hold my tears 😂😢 and I started crying, not sobbing with emotion
because I think Loyalty ,Honor is
a virtude that just a few men understand .
I have been living in this Wonderful Nation for 33 years, and I will, no would ,I will die for my adopted Nation.
God Bless this Wonderful Nation the United States of America 🇺🇸 🙏 🙌
So hard to believe this was Wolfgang Bodison's first ever movie and that he had zero acting experience going into it. Rob Reiner must've seen something pretty special in him to play Dawson. It obviously paid off because he's one of the best things about A Few Good Men. He's magnetic on screen.
This film leaves so many lingering, unanswered questions. First and foremost, whatever happened to the softball team? Did they ever manage to be any good?
The sequel should have been Kevin Bacon travelling to Cuba to arrest a rogue Kiefer Sutherland. Would have been a great action movie.
"You want this gun? You can't handle this gun!"
Treat As much better than you are treated..
Too bad there wasn't a post credits scene of Kendrick being arrested. That would have been great..
I can see Kendrick doing what the Warden did near the end of The Shawshank Redemption....eating his gun before the authorities could arrest him.
Can someone explain to me what would've been the RIGHT thing to do for Dawson and Downey after being ordered the Code Red? Should've they refused to follow orders and face insubordination? Or worse punishment than Santiago?
Guilty of conduct unbecoming a marine couldn't warrant a dishonorable discharge. A DD is a felony conviction.
Having served the Military could do a better job of spelling out lawful and unlawful orders…. A one stripe private is too scared of a Colonel to even consider the subject…
I see the Jack Nicholson Scene touts as the best scene of this movie...though it's awesome, THIS scene in my opinion is the very best one...
Conduct unbecoming would not necessarily get a serviceman a dishonourable discharge.
Strong witnesses 😁
Sadly, in a lot of ways, this is the end of their lives. Because a dishonorable discharge is basically the same thing as having a criminal record. It’s going to follow you around wherever you go for the rest of your life. Not something anybody wants to have to deal with.
Being able to say that he did do something wrong, that they were supposed to fight for Willie...
I never imagined that this story happened in real life and it did, in my country, Indonesia .....
I can't understand why Santiago's parents weren't in court.
Its because it is a military court marshall.
@@aileendullas7239 But the defendants relatives were there, the victims relatives should've been there too.
“I gotta go arrest Kendrick”.
There is no such offense in the UCMJ as Conduct unbecoming a Marine. Instead of a Dishonorable Discharge, the proper discharge would have been General other than honorable under a regulation for the good of the service. A General discharge other than honorable is administrative but has little to no benefits through the VA.
While they were just following orders, they followed an unlawful one. US military members are obligated not to obey unlawful orders and challenge them. In the 90s things might have been different culturally in the military, but hazing was definitely something that was being cracked down on and it was at least outlawed by then if poorly enforced. The problem with dismantling that culture is just how common hazing still was at the time, and as a junior marine you just might think code reds are perfectly fine, but the reality is they should have known code reds are illegal and refused to follow through and report it to the military police.
Fun fact, you can actually thank full metal jacket for the crackdown on hazing and physical violence in recruit training. While im sure some people knew it was commonplace, most people didnt realize that it might have some unintended consequences.
And in the sequel, it's 15 years later, Danny has left the navy and has set up his own practice, specializing in military cases. He is dealing with a high profile case of a high ranking Marine office accused of killing a civilian. Danny is looking for a savvy ex-military person to act as his investigator.
There is a knock on Danny's office door, and in walks Dawson.
Flash back 15 years and we see how Danny made it possible for Dawson to fulfill his dream of a military career by arranging for him to leave the country and join the French Foreign Legion. Dawson is back after a stellar career in the Legion and is now working for Danny on this complex and deadly case.
There's a sequel?
The real criminal is the surgeon who gave a deficient report on which the coronel acted .
The physician - Cmdr. Walter Stone, M. D. - is an accessory to the crime that was committed by the principal (United States Marine Corps Col. Nathan R. Jessup).
Not a bad day in court
This happens when you follow unlawful orders.
Lt. Kendrick, you are under arrest.
Before I read you your rights, I want to make one thing clear:
Lt. Kaffee says hi. 😛
What did they do wrong. I ain't seen the film yet
I hate to think about what they did after this verdict. Everything they wanted to be is gone.
I was just thinking, is it possible that the navy could assign kaffey to defend jessup and kendrick?
Um homem não precisa de divisas para ter honra.
The best part about this movie is that the smug, arrogant, abusive Jessup gets his ass handed to him. And that the sanctimonious, sycophant Kendrick will eventually suffer a similar fate.
Great movie, but is anybody going to question the fact that they saluted without a cover on.
"We did nothing wrong" as Santiago's parents are behind his lawyers.
Those are actually Dawson’s parents.
I disagree with the Jury's verdict/decision. The two Marines were following orders. If they had refused to carry out the code Red, they would have got in trouble. Big trouble. Therefore they did nothing wrong. They had no choice when you think about it.
Unfortunately, there are no whistleblower protections for non-commissioned servicemen that would enable them to avoid any disciplinary reprisals from officers within the hierarchical 'chain of command' who happen to commit ethical violations.
They were ordered to give a code red not kill the guy. That’s still manslaughter at the very least.