Director - Quentin Tarantino

The script for Tarantino's violent, freshman project called for jewel thief  Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) to torture Officer Nash (Kirk Baltz) by cutting off his ear with a straight razor - however, Tarantino didn't give Madsen any specific direction what to do once the gruesome deed had been done.
All of Madsen's lines and actions with the ear were improvised by him.