MovieChat Forums > Catch-22 (1970) Discussion > Little detail I never noticed...

Little detail I never noticed...

posted 14 years ago by HikerBoy57
8 replies | jump to latest

... (maybe because until the DVD, video transfer was lousy)

After the plane crash-lands and explodes on the runway during Milo & Col. Cathcart's conversation, an after-explosion blows Milo's hat off somewhere into the back of the jeep. Without missing a beat, Milo picks up a BRAND NEW HAT from the front, and puts it on all while still talking, driving, and ignoring the explosion.

Another great detail: Orr is still dripping wet, comically so, waiting to see Col. Cathcart. Sure, he was "just plucked out of the sea", but in reality he would have been dry by that time.

The war is not meant to be won... it is meant to be continuous.

[–] Bry-2 13 years ago

Part of the "dream quality" of the film. Watch for the unrealistic lack of extras in almost all long shots on the base -- not only a budgetary limitation, but a conscious decision on Nichols' and Henry's part to make the whole movie a little more subtly "other worldly."

--If they move, kill 'em!

[–] ridge-m-1 11 years ago

Well, you are correct about the "dream quality" of the picture. I think Nichols' conscious choice to present the film in this fashion confused much of the viewing public upon its release.

However, MN made this decision after he had already begun filming and had seen rushes. He decided to make the picture this way purely for artistic reasons. This was his next picture after "The Graduate" and this film had a huge budget.

If I remember correctly the first scene that was filmed is the one by Doc Daneeka's tent when Yossarian asks to be grounded. Initially it was done in a traditional way with lots of extras and background action utilizing trucks and jeeps. It was a complicated scene but Nichols scrapped the footage and had most of the extras that had been imported from Tucson, AZ fired as he decided to go with his dreamlike approach.

Very perceptive of you to pick up on the lack of extras.

[–] GWGLocations 13 years ago

How about the changing portraits in Cathcart's office. During a long take the picture changes from Roosevelt to Stalin to Dreedle. Not sure on the order, haven't seen it in a long time. Very subtle, didn't notice it until 4th or 5th viewing.

http://imdb.com/name/nm1265863/

[–] Alwood 12 years ago

That last portrait was of Churchill, not Orson Welles as Dreedle.

[–] jejozi 12 years ago

Actually, the last one is Stalin. FDR, Churchill, Stalin. That is all.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] corgi37 10 years ago

Great scene!!

[–] BobbyDupea 10 years ago

Interesting thread, as I've seen the movie several times and didn't notice the details mentioned here. I like this movie a lot, and I usually argue against the many people who say it wasn't well done because it was too different from the book. I think they did a great job with it, and the cast was wonderful.

My real name is Jeff

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

The lack of extras combined with the frequent close-ups of characters on the base, serves to highlight the functioning dysfunction (if you know what I mean) of the place, as it becomes just another factory outlet of the all-pervasive M&M syndicate. I think this is a fine adaption of the book, that even back in the day, was frequently cited as almost being unfilmable.🐭