Catch-22 (film)

Infobox Film | name = Catch-22


caption = Catch-22 poster
director = Mike Nichols
producer = John Calley
Martin Ransohoff
writer = Joseph Heller (novel)
Buck Henry
starring =Alan Arkin
Martin Balsam
Richard Benjamin
Orson Welles
Art Garfunkel
Jon Voight
Anthony Perkins
Bob Newhart
Martin Sheen
Buck Henry
music =
cinematography = David Watkin
editing = Sam O'Steen
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = June 21, 1970 (USA)
runtime = 121 min.
language = English
budget =
imdb_id = 0065528

"Catch-22" is a 1970 war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical novel, [ Dolan 1985, p. 97.] the film was mired in production problems and artistic issues that led to its commercial failure.Orriss 1984, p. 189.]

Although a talented production team – which included director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Buck Henry (who also acted in the film) – worked on the film for two years, the complex task of recreating a World War II bomber base and translating an anti-war satire proved daunting. Besides Henry, the cast included Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Norman Fell, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight and Orson Welles.McCarthy, Todd. "Catch-22 (Review)." " Variety", Volume 383, Issue 5, p. 18, June 18, 2001.]

Plot

The story follows the adventures and misadventures of Captain Yossarian, a fictional U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and the other members of his squadron stationed on the Mediterranean island of Pianosa during World War II. The pacing of "Catch-22" is frenetic, its tenor intellectual, and its tone largely absurdist, interspersed with brief moments of gritty, almost horrific, realism. The film does not follow a normal chronological progression. Rather, it is told as a series of flashbacks and dream sequences from the point of view of the central character.

Production

Adaptation

The adaptation to film substantially changed the book's plot. Several story arcs are left out, and many characters in the movie speak the dialogue and experience the events of other characters in the book.Canby, Vincent. "Catch-22 (1970) Movie Review." "New York Times", June 25, 1970.] Despite the changes in the screenplay, Heller approved of the film, according to a commentary by Nichols and Steven Soderbergh included on a DVD release. According to Nichols, Heller was particularly impressed with a few scenes and bits of dialogue Henry created for the film, and said he wished he could have included them in the novel. [Nichols and Soderbergh 2001]

Aircraft

Paramount assigned a $17 million budget to the production and planned to film the key flying scenes for six weeks, but the aerial sequences required six months to shoot resulting in the bombers flying a total of about 1,500 hours. They appear on screen for approximately 10 minutes.Farmer 1972, p. 59. Note: Nearly all the aerial footage was unused due to a directorial conflict between Nichols and Tallman, the head of the Air Operations and Aerial Unit.]

"Catch-22" has become renowned for its role in saving the B-25 Mitchell aircraft type from a possible extinction. [Farmer 1972, pp. 20–21.] The film's budget could only accommodate 17 flyable B-25 Mitchells, and an additional non-flyable hulk was acquired in Mexico, made barely ferry-able and flown with landing gear down to the Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico filming location.Tallman 2008, p. 15 (Editor's Note).] The aircraft was burned and destroyed as part of the landing crash scene. The wreck was then buried in the ground next to the runway, where it remains to this day. [Thompson 1980, p. 75.]

For the film, mock upper turrets were installed, and to represent different models, several aircraft had the turrets installed behind the wings representing early (B-25C/D type) aircraft. Initially, the camera ships also had the mock turrets installed, but problems with buffeting necessitated their removal. [Farmer 1972, p. 23.]

Many of the "Tallman Air Force" went on to have a career in films and television, before being sold off as surplus. [Farmer 1972, pp. 58–59.] Fifteen of the 18 bombers used in the film still remain intact, including one on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. [http://collections.nasm.si.edu/code/emuseum.asp?style=single&currentrecord=6&page=search&profile=objects&searchdesc=B-25&quicksearch=B-25&newvalues=1&newstyle=expanded&newcurrentrecord=6 "National Air and Space Museum Collections Database."] Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: April 16 2008.]

Cast

As appearing in screen credits (main roles identified): [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065528/fullcredits Catch-22 (1970) Full credits] ]

Reception

It was not regarded as a great success with either the public or critics, earning less money and acclaim than "MASH", another war-themed black comedy from the same year. "Paramount spent a great deal of money on "Catch-22", but it wound up getting trumped by another 1970 antiwar farce: Robert Altman's "MASH"." Bozzola, Lucia. [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/8628/Catch-22/overview "Catch-22 (overview)."] "The New York Times." Retrieved on April 15, 2008.] Film historians and reviewers Jack Harwick and Ed Schnepf characterized it as deeply flawed, noting that Henry's screenplay was disjointed and that the only redeeming features were the limited aerial sequences. [Harwick and Schnepf 1989, p. 62.]

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Dolan Edward F. Jr. "Hollywood Goes to War". London: Bison Books, 1985. ISBN 0-86124-229-7.
* Farmer, James H. "The Catch-22 Air Force." "Air Classics", Volume 8, No. 14, December 1972.
* Harwick, Jack and Schnepf, Ed. "A Viewer's Guide to Aviation Movies". "The Making of the Great Aviation Films", General Aviation Series, Volume 2, 1989.
* Nichols, Mike and Soderbergh, Steven. "Commentary." "Catch-22 DVD" (Special Features). Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, 2001.
* Orriss, Bruce. "When Hollywood Ruled the Skies: The Aviation Film Classics of World War II". Hawthorne, California: Aero Associates Inc., 1984. ISBN 0-9613088-0-X.
* Tallman, Frank. "The Making of Catch-22." "Warbirds International", Vol. 27, no. 4, May/June 2008.
* Thompson, Scott A. "Hollywood Mitchells." "Air Classics", Vol. 16, No. 9, September 1980.

External links

* [http://www.warbirdregistry.org/B25registry/B25registry.html Warbird Registry]
* [http://www.aerovintage.com/N1203.htm Catch-22 Camera Aircraft history]
* [http://www.aerovintage.com/b25loc.htm B-25 survivors]
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