10 Times Actors Went Too Far (And Improved Movie Scenes)

Sure, this one's cheating, because we're talking about half a film rather than a particular scene, but it would be a big oversight to miss this one.

Another Kubrick vehicle, this is ab-libbing at its most impressive and untouchable, and the late, great R. Lee Ermey's role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman is quite simply mesmerising. What makes him more mesmerising is the fact that most of his brilliant insults and spewing rants were completely ad-libbed.

Ermey was cast after he gave Kubrick a video of himself (as a real life drill sergeant) mouthing off at some marines for 15 minutes. The director hired him immediately, and it was great move.

For his role, Ermey wrote over 150 pages of insults for his scenes, and Kubrick himself later estimated that a little over 50% of what the former soldier said in the film was completely improvised. Given the speed, consistency and imagination of what he says, this is a massively impressive feat. The fact that he could get away with this much free reign in a Kubrick film is even more commendable, and a testament to his wild talent.

Without Ermey, Full Metal Jacket may not have been so successful, and every scene he graces he makes ten times better.

(CW: the following video contains strong language.)