Daily Dialogue — May 5, 2015

Foley: Congratulations, Ensign Mayo.
Mayo: I won’t ever forget you, Sergeant.
Foley: I know.
Mayo: Wouldn’t have made this if it weren’t for you.
Foley: Get the hell out of here.
Mayo: Thank you, Sergeant.

— An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), written by Douglas Day Stewart

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Graduation. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.

Trivia: The script languished around Hollywood for almost eight years with no studio willing to finance it. Finally at Paramount, former executive and then Disney CEO Michael Eisner was very much against the film, but relented after much persuasion by producer Don Simpson. The final budget was only a mere $6 million — part of it is due to Navy’s refusal to support the production and the skepticism of the studio on whether it will be a commercial success.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: “Navy tradition is that the new ensign presents a silver dollar for their first salute. Typically the Drill Instructor will place the coin in their left pocket. Foley places Mayo’s coin in his right pocket signifying that Mayo was a special candidate.”