“A Few Good Men” is a classic 1992 American military legal drama movie starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore. The movie revolves around the court-martial of two Marines who have been accused of murdering a fellow Marine.
One of the most frequently asked questions about this movie is: where was “A Few Good Men” filmed? The filming locations for the movie include Point Mugu, California, and Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Locations of A Few Good Men Filming
A Few Good Men is a critically acclaimed legal drama that was released in 1992. The entire movie was shot in two primary locations- Point Mugu, California and Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Point Mugu, California
Located on the west coast of California, Point Mugu is a stunning location that played a vital role in the movie’s plot. The scenic cliffs of Point Mugu helped in setting up the opening scene of the movie, which involved the characters of Tom Cruise and Demi Moore running early in the morning.
The beach at Point Mugu also appears in one of the scenes where the characters are sitting and discussing their legal strategies in the case.
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Washington played a crucial role in helping to build authenticity in the movie. Some of the significant landmarks that appear in the movie include the Arlington Cemetery, Washington Navy Yard, Georgetown, and Marine Corps Base in Quantico.
The courthouse scenes were filmed at the city’s Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Other notable locations that appear in the movie include the Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial, and the National Mall.
The Making of A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men is a classic military drama film directed by Rob Reiner, which was released in 1992. The movie was based on the play of the same name written by Aaron Sorkin.
The film stars Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson, among others, who delivered excellent performances throughout the film.
The filming of A Few Good Men began in April 1991 in Point Mugu, California, which served as a stand-in for Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. The production crew built a set that looked like a naval court on a baseball field in Point Mugu, where most of the movie’s court scenes were filmed.
After filming in Point Mugu, the production crew moved to Washington, D. C., where they filmed several exterior shots of the city, including the White House, the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial. The legal library used in the film was based on the library at the Library of Congress.
There were also some scenes filmed in Arlington, Virginia, including the one where Tom Cruise’s character, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, talks to Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway, played by Demi Moore, at the Pentagon.
The production of A Few Good Men faced some challenges, including bad weather in California, which forced the crew to film in the rain. Also, several rehearsals and scenes were filmed in a cramped space of the set in Point Mugu, which made it difficult for the actors to move around.
Despite all the challenges, the movie was a box office success, grossing over $240 million worldwide. A Few Good Men was also nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson.
The Cast and Characters
A Few Good Men is a popular courtroom drama movie that was released on December 9, 1992. The movie stars several Hollywood icons such as Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, J. T. Walsh, Kevin Pollak, Kiefer Sutherland, and
Cuba Gooding Jr. The lead roles in the movie’s plot are Army lawyers Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollak), and JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore).
Jack Nicholson plays the character Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, who is the commanding officer at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
The movie follows the trial of two US Marines, Private First Class Louden Downey (James Marshall) and Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson (Wolfgang Bodison), who are accused of murdering their fellow Marine, Private First Class William Santiago (Michael DeLorenzo), at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway is the defense counsel for the two accused Marines.
The movie is an intense portrayal of the military court drama and features some of the most memorable performances by its star cast.
The Reception of A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men is a 1992 legal drama film that features an ensemble cast including Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, and Kevin Pollak. The movie was filmed in Point Mugu, California, and Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Let’s take a look at the critical and commercial response to the film upon its release.
Box Office
Upon its release, A Few Good Men grossed over $243 million worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing films of 1992. It received a great reception in the US and abroad, and managed to stay in theaters for almost six months.
It eventually ranked 6th among the top-grossing films of 1992.
Critical Response
A Few Good Men received generally positive reviews from film critics and publications upon its release. Critics praised the film for its exceptional performances from the cast, particularly Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Colonel Nathan R. Jessup.
The film’s screenplay, written by Aaron Sorkin, was also lauded for its sharp and witty dialogue.
However, some critics felt that the film was emotionally manipulative, and criticized its pacing and structure. Despite these criticisms, A Few Good Men was a commercial and critical success, and has since become a beloved classic in the legal thriller genre.
Awards and Honors
A Few Good Men received four nominations for Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. Although it did not win any, the film won several other awards.
Other Honors
The film earned the American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic, the ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Films, and the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – ADR Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement.
It was also named one of the top 100 courtroom dramas by the American Film Institute and was voted number five on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments for the famous “You can’t handle the truth!” scene.
Additionally, Aaron Sorkin won the USC Scripter Award for Best Screenplay based on a literary work for his adaptation of the play of the same name by the film’s director, Rob Reiner.
A Few Good Men received four nominations for Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Jack Nicholson, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing. Although it did not win any, the film won several other awards.
The film earned the American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic, the ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Films, and the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – ADR Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement. It was also named one of the top 100 courtroom dramas by the American Film Institute and was voted number five on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments for the famous “You can’t handle the truth!”
scene. Additionally, Aaron Sorkin won the USC Scripter Award for Best Screenplay based on a literary work for his adaptation of the play of the same name by the film’s director, Rob Reiner.
Home Media
If you’re looking to watch or own A Few Good Men, you’re in luck! The film is readily available on several home media formats, including DVD and Blu-ray.
You can easily purchase the film on major online retailers such as Amazon or in brick and mortar stores like Best Buy or Walmart. Kick back and enjoy this classic movie, filmed in Point Mugu, California, and Washington, District of Columbia.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 1992 film A Few Good Men was filmed in two main locations – Point Mugu, California, and Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Other filming locations include 2415 20th St NW, 3017 Dent Pl NW, Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove State Park, Fort MacArthur, Georgetown, Laguna Beach, and Motel 6.
The movie also features a star-studded cast including Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Bacon, and Kiefer Sutherland. A Few Good Men is a classic legal drama that captivates viewers to this day and was Aaron Sorkin’s debut as a feature film screenwriter.
References
- Filming Locations of A Few Good Men
- A Few Good Men on Wikipedia
- Pittsburgh Public Theater: A Few Good Men
