Catch-22 (1970)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Joseph Heller (novel)
Buck Henry (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 June 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Plot:

A man is trying desperately to be certified insane during World War II, so he can stop flying missions.

Plot Keywords:

Bombadier | Army Pilot | Colonel | Patient | Satire

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Capt. John Yossarian
Martin Balsam	...	Col. Cathcart
Richard Benjamin	...	Maj. Danby
Art Garfunkel	...	Capt. Nately (as Arthur Garfunkel)
Jack Gilford	...	Dr. 'Doc' Daneeka
Buck Henry	...	Lt. Col. Korn
Bob Newhart	...	Maj. Major Major Major
Anthony Perkins	...	Chaplain Capt. A.T. Tappman
Paula Prentiss	...	Nurse Duckett
Martin Sheen	...	1st Lt. Dobbs
Jon Voight	...	1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder
Orson Welles	...	Brig. Gen. Dreedle
Seth Allen	...	Hungry Joe
Bob Balaban	...	Capt. Orr
Susanne Benton	...	Dreedle's WAC

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Hungary:14 | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1971) | Portugal:(Banned) (1970-1974) | UK:15 (video rating) | USA:R | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

Company:

Filmways Productions

Trivia:

The film has one of the longest, most complex uninterrupted scenes ever made. In the scene, where two actors talking against a background, 16 of the 17 planes, four groups of four aircraft, took off at the same time. As the scene progresses, the actors entered a building and the same planes were seen through the window, climbing into formation. The problem was, for every take, the production manager has to call the planes back and made to take off again for every take of the particular scene. This was done four times.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Major Major begins talking to Sgt Towser in his office about when others can see him, a portrait of FDR can be seen hanging on the wall behind his desk. During the scene, Major Major walks away from, then back to his desk twice more, and each time the portrait is seen, it has changed - from FDR to Winston Churchill to Joseph Stalin. This was an inside joke, done intentionally by the filmmakers to further emphasize the dream like state of the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lt. Col. Korn, XO: [speaking to Yossarian] All you have to do is be our pal.
Colonel Cathcart: Say nice things about us.
Lt. Col. Korn, XO: Tell the folks at home what a good job we're doing. Take our offer Yossarian.
Colonel Cathcart: Either that or a court-martial for desertion.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Una furtiva lacrima

Don't buy or rent the VHS or Laser editions of this movie!

CATCH-22 was filmed using a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (an image almost two-and-a-half times wider than it is high). Every inch of the picture area was used by the cinematographer for important information. If you watch the horrible, cropped pan-and-scan version, which is all you can get on either VHS or Laser Disc, you are missing close to 40% of the intended picture area and a great deal of important stuff! I've seen this desecrated version and, be warned, you will not even understand the final flashback revelation because it is not even in the frame!! People who can't stand those "black bars" on the top and bottom of the screen are going to miss the entire point of this movie!! Rent or buy the DVD, which is widescreen and restores all this critical image area. Do not judge this film if you can't see it all. I have to wonder how many of the previous reviews here are based upon the unbelievably butchered VHS version.