Reiner reportedly planned stand-ins for reaction shots, but Nicholson insisted on fully delivering the climactic speech repeatedly and explained that he loved acting.
Bacon and Sutherland reportedly regarded Nicholson’s work that day as a demonstration of movie stardom and professional commitment.
Sorkin’s Navy-lawyer sister’s hazing case reportedly inspired the play, which he began on cocktail napkins while bartending at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.
William Goldman’s rewrite contribution is clarified: instead of a documentary smoking gun, the flight-log issue provides no proof, forcing Kaffee to elicit a confession.
The film reportedly received picture, supporting-actor, editing and sound nominations but none for Sorkin or Reiner, and won no Oscars.
The film is described as Reiner’s only $100-million box-office release.
The reported budget is $40 million against $243 million earned, with an 84 percent Rotten Tomatoes score mentioned.
Cruise’s Nicholson impression reportedly was unscripted and elicited genuine laughter; that production anecdote is questioned but defended through Moore’s reaction.
A making-of featurette praises the other actors extensively but reportedly gives Moore only Reiner’s acknowledgment that she auditioned and won the part.
Moore reportedly reduced her asking price from $3 million to $2 million after The Butcher’s Wife, Mortal Thoughts and Nothing but Trouble disappointed.
Wolfgang Bodison reportedly moved from Reiner’s location scout to playing Dawson without prior acting experience; his ability to hold his own opposite Cruise is admired.
Cruise reportedly received $12.5 million and Nicholson $5 million for ten shooting days.
Nicholson reportedly disliked the release-date move that put the film against Hoffa; filming at Camp Pendleton was not permitted.
Nicholson and Walsh reportedly became close while making this film and Hoffa, and Nicholson later dedicated his third Oscar to Walsh’s memory.
Bacon is said to have played a Jack in six films: Frost/Nixon, My Dog Skip, Apollo 13, A Few Good Men, Quicksilver and Friday the 13th.
Pollak reportedly described a screening of both Godfather films at a home screening hosted by Cruise, separated by an Italian meal.
The first televised baseball game is identified as a Braves–Padres extra-inning game featuring a David Justice tying homer before San Diego won 11–10; Atlanta later lost the 1991 World Series.
The second game is identified as Minnesota–Baltimore, with Rick Aguilera surrendering the save and Randy Milligan’s winning double ending a Twins streak; Minnesota later won the World Series.
A New York Times account reportedly exposed lawyers advertising themselves as Kaffee’s inspiration, with one removing the claim when questioned.
An executive reportedly demanded a Kaffee–Galloway sex scene and questioned her being a woman without one; Sorkin objected that women have other purposes.
