CREATORS: The Golden Age of Cinematic Courts-Martial

Matthew T. Mangino
CREATORS
March 4, 2025

Air Force Brig. Gen. Erik Quigley was recently removed as an executive officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Quigley is the latest in a line of executive officers at Wright-Patterson to run afoul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, reported NPR affiliate WYSO-FM.

In December, Col. Christopher Meeker was charged with having an extramarital, sexual affair with an enlisted staff sergeant; and willfully disobeying a command from his senior officer. He faces a general court-martial this June.

Prior to Meeker, former Major Gen. William Cooley was convicted during a general court-martial for abusive sexual contact against his sister-in-law. He was stripped of his two stars and retired as a colonel.

Most of what we know about courts-martial we've learned from the silver screen. The systemic abuse of power for sexual gratification at Wright-Patterson is hardly the stuff of Pulitzer Prizes or Academy Awards.

This is not to diminish the gravity of what has happened at Wright-Patterson, but four movies that do "justice" to military trials are "The Caine Mutiny," "Paths of Glory," "Breaker Morant" and "A Few Good Men."

"The Caine Mutiny" was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 1954. Captain Queeg, played by Humphrey Bogart, was relieved of his command at sea. The alleged mutineers were court-martialed. Jose Ferrer played the capable defense attorney who reluctantly dismantled Captain Queeg during one of Hollywood's most dramatic cross-examinations.

"Paths of Glory," released in 1957, was based on a novel by Humphrey Cobb. The novel was loosely based on the court-martial and execution of four French soldiers during World War I. Kirk Douglas played Colonel Dax, a unit commander, who was a lawyer in civilian life. He defended the soldiers charged with cowardice after they refused to continue a suicidal attack.

The trial was a predetermined exercise to set an example for the rest of the French army. Colonel Dax, well aware of his clients' fate, memorably told the court, "Gentlemen of the court, there are times that I'm ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion."

"Breaker Morant," an Australian film released in 1980, was also based on a true story. The movie intricately explores the court-martial of three Australian soldiers, carrying out unwritten orders to kill Dutch prisoners of war during the Boer War in 1902. The movie won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film.

The final film, "A Few Good Men," was released in 1992. Originally written as a play and adapted for the big screen, the movie is partially based on a real incident that occurred at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

Two Marines are on trial for carrying out a 'Code Red' order that resulted in the death of another Marine. The code was ordered by the base commander to bring a wayward Marine into line. The movie's well-known ending, featuring Tom Cruise as Lt. Kaffee and Jack Nicholson as Colonel Jessup, lights up the screen with one of the film industry's all-time great cross-examinations.

The lead-up to, "You can't handle the truth," is so well underplayed that it is often forgotten. As Lt. Kaffee's examination seems to unravel, Colonel Jessup goads him into the decisive confrontation, "Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes on a phone bill."

If you haven't seen them, all four films are worth watching. If you have seen them, they're worth another look.