An Officer and a Gentleman was based on Douglas Day Stewart’s own experiences as a Naval Aviation Officer Candidate.
Stewart had enrolled with the intention of becoming a pilot, but was later disqualified due to medical issue, and was transferred to a unit overseeing the transportation of 7th Marine Regiment to Vietnam. After leaving the navy, he found success as a television and film screenwriter, and decided to write a script based on anecdotes from Candidate School.
The character Paula was based on a local factory worker whom he’d had a relationship with during Candidate School, though he did not go on to marry her.
Originally, folk music singer and occasional actor John Denver was signed to play Zack Mayo. But a long casting process involved Jeff Bridges, Harry Hamlin, Christopher Reeve, John Travolta, and Richard Gere. Gere eventually beat all the other actors for the part. Travolta had turned down the role, as he did with American Gigolo (which became another Richard Gere hit).
The role of Paula was originally offered to Sigourney Weaver, then to Anjelica Huston and later to Jennifer Jason Leigh, who dropped out to do the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High instead.
Eventually, Debra Winger replaced Leigh for the role of Paula.
Rebecca De Mornay, Meg Ryan, and Geena Davis also auditioned for the role of Paula.
In spite of the strong on-screen chemistry between Gere and Winger, the actors did not get along during filming. Publicly, she called him a “brick wall,” while he admitted there was “tension” between them.
Thirty years later, Gere was complimentary towards Winger when he said that she was much more open to the camera than he was, and he appreciated the fact that she presented him with an award at the Rome Film Festival.
R. Lee Ermey was originally considered for the role of Gunnery Sgt. Emil Foley due to his time of being an actual drill instructor for the United States Marine Corps at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in the 1960s.
However, Taylor Hackford instead cast Louis Gossett Jr. and had Ermey coach him for his role as the film’s technical advisor. It was there where the “steers and queers” comment from Gossett’s character in the 1982 movie came from.
It was later used for Ermey’s role in Kubrick’s 1987 Vietnam film, Full Metal Jacket.
How Hackford Worked with Gossett
Hackford decided to keep Gossett Jr. in separate living quarters from other actors during production so that he could intimidate them more, and treat them harsher, during his scenes as drill instructor.
In addition to R. Lee Ermey, Gossett was advised by Gunnery Sergeant Buck Welscher, an actual drill instructor at Aviation Officer Candidate School, NAS Pensacola. He can be seen leading the senior class after the run
