"A Few Good Men" - You Can't Handle the Quiz!

Answer: Guantanamo Bay

Guantanamo Bay, nicknamed 'Gitmo', is located in Cuba and the land within its boundaries is considered American soil, despite the fact that Cuba and the United States are not friendly with one another. The base was established on the southern part of the island in 1898 and as of 2007 there were nearly 10,000 U.S. troops encamped at this installation.

This movie was written by Aaron Sorkin, and in the DVD commentary Sorkin says that the inspiration for the film came from a hazing incident in the U.S. military that had caught Sorkin's eye.

Some U.S. soldiers had been exonerated on the hazing charges only when their commanding officer confessed in court that he had ordered the assault.

Answer: Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore)

This clever scene takes place after Galloway - who doesn't initially like the slick Kaffee - tries to get Kaffee replaced as lead counsel for the defense of the two Marines who are to stand trial for the murder of a fellow Marine. She finally gives up this effort when she realizes how well-connected Kaffee is around the JAG Corps in Washington, D.C. and attempts to make peace with him.

By the end of the film, she comes to respect Kaffee's considerable litigation talents.

Answer: "Unit, Corps, God, Country"

Kaffee is asking the two Marines standing trial whether they assaulted Private Santiago with the intention of killing him, and the response that they only intended to train him. When Kaffee asks, "Train him to do what?" Dawson replies, "To think of his unit before himself. To respect the code." The code is, of course, "Unit, Corps, God, Country." Kaffee is stunned by this and responds, "The government of The United States wants to charge you two with murder. You want me to go to the prosecutor with: 'Unit, Corps, God, Country'?" Dawson says, "That's our code, sir." Wolfgang Bodison is the actor who plays Lnc. Cpl. Dawson, and director Rob Reiner cast him even though he had never acted before. Bodison had been serving as Reiner's personal assistant, and when Reiner started pre-production on this movie, Bodison was helping him scout locations for the film.

But Reiner liked his look so much (and felt he fit the image of a hard core Marine) that he gave him a pivotal part in the movie.

Answer: Code Reds

Ross offers a 20-year sentence for each of the accused, provided that they plead guilty to manslaughter. Kaffee counters with a demand for a 12-year term. They banter back and forth, but Ross is not willing to accept a term of less than twenty years, until Kaffee asks, "What do you know about Code Reds?" and Ross immediately agrees to give him the 12 years.

This becomes the crux of the case against Dawson and Downey, the accused Marines. Were they ordered to commit this act against their fellow soldier? Or were they taking action completely of their own volition? The movie builds to its tense climax balanced on these two questions.

Answer: "Every time we've gotta go someplace to fight, you fellas always give us a ride."

Lt. Kendrick, played with steely-eyed fervor by Kiefer Sutherland, is the embodiment of a Marine lifer with a stiff upper lip. This scene is the only time in the movie where Kendrick - who appears to have no sense of humor whatsoever - lets a bit of levity slip. Galloway follows this comment up by asking Kendrick, "Lt. Kendrick, do you think Santiago was murdered?" Kendrick immediately lapses back into his mask of somber seriousness by replying, "Commander, I believe in God, and in his son Jesus Christ, and because I do, I can say this: Private Santiago is dead and that's a tragedy.

But he's dead because he had no code. He's dead because he had no honor. And God was watching."

Answer: Yoo-Hoo and Cocoa Puffs

The three of them end up spending quite a bit of time in Kaffee's apartment, preparing for the trial. JoAnne Galloway takes Kaffee's warning seriously, and arrives at his house with "Chinese food and medical reports... I say we eat first."

Answer: Christopher Guest

It's odd to see Christopher Guest in this type of role, since his characters are usually uproariously funny, whereas here he is morose and somber. However, he does a nice job in his lone scene, where his testimony is discredited by a brilliant cross-examination from Lt. Kaffee. Rob Reiner directed "A Few Good Men", as well as "This is Spinal Tap" eight years prior. So clearly the two men knew each other, which resulted in this collaboration.

Answer: Lt. Kaffee's hands shaking noticeably while drinking a glass of water

Jack Nicholson didn't win an Academy Award for his role as Col. Nathan Jessep, but he was nominated. His performance was wonderful, and though his character was the witness in this scene, he absolutely took command of the courtroom from the moment of his arrival.

The verbal jousting between Jessep and Kaffee here is masterful, as each attempts to achieve the upper hand in their interaction. Cruise and Nicholson were both at the absolute top of their respective games here, and it leads to one of the more memorable scenes in movie history.

Answer: "You WANT me on that wall; you NEED me on that wall."

This is the only one of the four choices that was actually in this film. The other three quotes I give as options were all taken from "Caddyshack". Interestingly, this exact quote was not in Sorkin's original screenplay. Instead it says: "... you want me on that wall. You need me there." Either Nicholson or Reiner changed it to what you see onscreen, which I think is much more powerful.
Here is the full transcript of Col. Jessep's speech: "You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? YOU? You, Lieutenant Weinberg?! I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and 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 that 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 then as the backbone of a life trying to defend 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 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 that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a darn what you think you are entitled to!"

Answer: False

They are acquitted of the most serious charges of First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, but they are found guilty of Conduct Unbecoming a United States Marine. They are sentenced to 'time already served' and are dishonorably discharged from the military.

When Pvt. Downey expresses shock and disbelief at this - as both Marines clearly expected to be able to rejoin their unit in Cuba after the trial - Lance Cpl. Dawson explains it by saying, "We were supposed to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie." Neither Marine thanks Daniel Kaffee (at least on screen) for saving them from a lifetime of prison confinement, but Dawson does salute him as an officer - showing Lt. Kaffee some respect for the first time in the movie.