Original artwork, not a still
You ever served in an infantry unit son?
— A Few Good Men ‧ 1992
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
This is the colonel's pivot from witness to lecturer: he turns a cross-examination into a question about who has earned the right to judge. It sets up the film's famous showdown, and it is quoted whenever someone with experience wants to shut down an armchair critic, usually by someone who has never served.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for A Few Good MenShow the scene
In A Few Good Men (1992), Colonel Nathan Jessep, commander of the Marines at Guantanamo Bay, takes the stand in the court-martial of two Marines accused of killing a fellow Marine. Defence lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee presses him on whether Lt. Kendrick ignored his order and whether the platoon ignored Kendrick. Jessep fires back by asking whether Kaffee ever served in an infantry unit, then says orders are followed or people die. Kaffee's next question breaks his composure, leading to his "can't handle the truth" outburst and the admission that he ordered the Code Red.
Sources (1)
- Wikiquote: A Few Good MenCourtroom cross-examination dialogueReference checked
Context reviewed
