Gina Gershon Reveals Tom Cruise “Was a Gentleman” While Filming Love Scene in ‘Cocktail’
When you think of your favorite Tom Cruise movies, it’s unlikely Cocktail (1988) makes the list. While today known as one of the most popular action stars in Hollywood, the actor dabbled with romantic films in the past. In a recent interview with Andy Cohen, Cruise’s Cocktail co-star Gina Gershon revealed some behind-the-scenes tidbits about filming their love scene.
Cocktail (1988)
Released in 1988, Cocktail was a romantic comedy directed by Roger Donaldson. Set in New York City, it focuses on Tom Cruise’s character, Brian Flanagan, a business school student who takes an evening job as a bartender to earn some extra money. While at the nightclub, he meets Gina Gershon’s Coral, a photographer with whom he enters into a relationship.
As the film goes on, work and personal life collide, leading to heartbreak, with Flanagan going on to marry a woman named Jordan Mooney, portrayed by Elisabeth Shue, by the time the story wraps up. He also opens up his very own bar, Flanagan’s Cocktails and Dreams.
Unlike many of Cruise’s movies, Cocktail wasn’t a hit, receiving plenty of negative reviews; it was panned so much that it went on to win the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture. Despite the poor ratings, the film went on to gross $170 million at the box office, becoming the eighth highest-earning release of 1988.
Tom Cruise was a gentleman toward Gina Gershon
On a recent appearance on Andy Cohen’s talk show, Watch What Happens Live (2009-present), Gina Gershon was asked if she’d hooked up with Tom Cruise while filming Cocktail. She shot down the question immediately, instead reminiscing on how good he was to her on set.
“He was a gentleman,” the actor told Cohen, referring to the pair’s love scene, which turned out to be the first time Gershon had ever filmed such an intimate part on film. When asked if Cruise “took care” of her, the actor responded, “Totally.”
Gina Gershon nearly broke her co-star’s nose while filming Cocktail
Gina Gershon also revealed something surprising about filming her love scene with Tom Cruise, telling Andy Cohen that she very nearly broke her co-star’s nose while the cameras were rolling.
“It starts off under the covers and I told him I was very ticklish,” she said. “I was like, ‘No, no, don’t ever do that.’ In one take, I think he wanted a reaction, and he grabbed my stomach and I kneed him right in the nose. I was like, ‘Oh my god! I just broke Tom Cruise’s nose’. He was like, ‘No, you told me to. It’s my fault.’ He was so protective over me.”
Mimi Rogers was present on the set of Cocktail
At the time Tom Cruise was filming Cocktail, he’d just gotten married to his first wife, fellow actor Mimi Rogers. According to Gina Gershon, the newlywed “was very present” on set and made sure to introduce herself.
“[She] said, ‘Hi, nice to meet you,'” Gershon told Andy Cohen, adding that Rogers’ presence didn’t interfere with she and Cruise performing their parts. She went on to say that they “kissed as much as we could,” sharing, “Every scene it was like, ‘Should we kiss in the scene? Oh yeah, I think we should kiss.'”
