Kiefer Sutherland was directed by Rob Reiner early in his career with the 1992 legal drama A Few Good Men.
Sutherland recalled the day Jack Nicholson, who played Colonel Nathan Jessup, uttered his famous line in the courtroom: “You can’t handle the truth!” According to Sutherland, Nicholson did the entire scene from one end to the other in one “breathtaking” take.
“No one said a word, and Rob walked up to Jack Nicholson and whispered in his ear, 'Do you want to do another one?' And Jack Nicholson said, 'Well, here we are,'” Sutherland told CBS News in the upcoming special. “CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life” will air on Sunday. “So they made another one and it was just as extraordinary.”
According to Sutherland, the plan was to continue filming all day, but Reiner was so impressed with Nicholson's final shot that he sent everyone home early.
“They planned to shoot all day, and Rob looked at everyone and said, 'I couldn't ask for anything more, so you guys have the rest of the day off,'” Sutherland said.
Rainer and his wife Michelle. were found mortally wounded at his Los Angeles home on Dec. 14, authorities said. Their son Nick was charged with first degree murder in their death.
You can hear more from Sutherland and others who knew Reiner in the one-hour special “CBS News: Rob Reiner – Scenes from a Life.” It will air Sunday at 8:30 PM ET/8:00 PM PT on CBS. streaming on Paramount+.
