Catch-22 (1970)

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

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Joseph Heller (novel), Buck Henry (screenplay)

Stars:

Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Arkin	...	Yossarian
Martin Balsam	...	Colonel Cathcart
Richard Benjamin	...	Major Danby
Art Garfunkel	...	Nately (as Arthur Garfunkel)
Jack Gilford	...	Doc Daneeka
Buck Henry	...	Colonel Korn
Bob Newhart	...	Major Major
Anthony Perkins	...	Chaplain Tappman
Paula Prentiss	...	Nurse Duckett
Martin Sheen	...	Dobbs
Jon Voight	...	Milo Minderbinder
Orson Welles	...	Brig. Gen. Dreedle
Bob Balaban	...	Orr
Susanne Benton	...	Dreedle's WAC
Norman Fell	...	Sergeant Towser

Storyline

A bombardier in World War II tries desperately to escape the insanity of the war. However, sometimes insanity is the only sane way to cope with a crazy situation. Catch-22 is a parody of a "military mentality", and of a bureaucratic society in general.

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Plot Keywords:

bomber | based on novel | world war two | u.s. military | world war two in italy | 

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Taglines:

The anti-war satire of epic proportions.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

24 June 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Catch-22

Filming Locations:

Empalme, Sonora, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$24,911,670

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Filmways Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Austin Pendleton had worked on the film for two weeks, given that it was based entirely on all of his scenes with Orson Welles. Pendleton claimed that Welles had made working on the film, which was already difficult to begin with, even more difficult as Welles had previously tried to get the film rights to the book and would try to re-direct his scenes over director Mike Nichols in the way that Welles would want to direct them.

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Goofs

In the dream sequence where the nurse sheds her uniform and tosses it into the water, Yossarian swims up and grabs the uniform with his right hand, then sinks. As he's sinking the uniform is now in his left hand. These continuity "errors" show his unstable mental state.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: American Cinema of the 70s (2011)

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Soundtracks

September Song
(uncredited)
Music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson
Performed by Django Reinhardt

User Reviews

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.