“He Called Me ‘Tommy’”—Tom Cruise Reveals Jack Nicholson’s Secret On-Set Ritual That No One Knew About

On May 11, 2025, the British Film Institute played host to a rare and candid conversation with Tom Cruise, one of cinema’s most enduring icons. Speaking with Edith Bowman on the eve of receiving the prestigious BFI Fellowship, Cruise, now 62, looked back on defining moments from his storied career—none more electric than his partnership with Jack Nicholson in the 1992 legal thriller A Few Good Men.

Directed by Rob Reiner and based on Aaron Sorkin’s celebrated play, A Few Good Men cast Cruise as Lt. Daniel Kaffee, a young Navy lawyer thrown into the high-stakes defense of two Marines accused of murder at Guantanamo Bay. At the heart of the film—and movie history itself—stood Jack Nicholson’s unforgettable Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, whose fiery courtroom confrontation with Cruise birthed the immortal line: “You can’t handle the truth.” The film would go on to earn four Academy Award nominations, cementing its legacy as a touchstone of 1990s cinema.

Reflecting on that experience, Cruise called working with Nicholson “extraordinary,” sharing a vivid memory from the set in Los Angeles. “I remember the Nicholson scene when we were in the courtroom, suddenly I’m looking around and the rafters were filled,” Cruise recounted, recalling a palpable, electric atmosphere that transcended what made it onto the final film. “It was magnificent,” he said, describing a behind-the-scenes energy that only those present could fully appreciate.

Beyond the intensity of their on-screen rivalry, Cruise emphasized the depth of Nicholson’s craft and the generosity he showed to his fellow actors. “Jack is a wordsmith, a great crooner, an actor’s actor,” Cruise said. “He’s very supportive—he’d finish a take and say, ‘That was a good take Tommy, nice work Tommy.’” That mentorship, Cruise explained, extended into technical nuances rarely discussed in public. Nicholson was quick to offer insights on eye lines, camera angles, and the subtle art of breathing for the lens—a knowledge base Cruise likened to lessons learned from another screen legend, Paul Newman, during the making of The Color of Money.

Cruise’s remarks highlight how the film’s greatest moments were shaped not only by star power, but by a quiet culture of generosity and professionalism among its cast. He drew a direct line between Nicholson’s influence and the broader tradition of Hollywood mentorship, crediting such collaborative dynamics for the enduring success of A Few Good Men and his own growth as an actor.

As the discussion at the BFI unfolded, it became clear that the legacy of A Few Good Men owes as much to what happened behind the camera as what appeared on screen. In Cruise’s own words, the chance to spar—and learn—from Nicholson was nothing short of “extraordinary.” For film enthusiasts, it’s a reminder that cinematic greatness is often forged in moments of mutual respect and shared passion, echoing long after the cameras stop rolling.