In the trivia it says Catch-22 has one of the most complex scenes ever filmed. I didn't catch it the first way through and can't find it now that I'm going back to it. Does anyone know what this scene is?
Thanks
I believe the most technically complex scene is the shots of Yossarian at a bombed-out headquarters being offered a deal by Cathcart and Corn with the B-25's flying in the background. The no doubt most pressure packed scene was the bombing of the base which had to be done in only one take and was pulled off without a hitch. The most difficult special effect was the cutting in half of Hungry Joe with the awesome stunt-flying ability of Frank Tallman.
shareThere really were a lot of very complex scenes, weren't there! Long outdoor takes, with characters moving and talking, lots of things passing by, people, trucks, planes on the ground in the air!
In the DVD commentary, Nichols mentions how Arkin complained that he was spending so much time dealing with the logistics of those kinds of scenes, especially choreographing those very expensive planes, and hardly any time with the actors.
Interesting, the mentioning of the 'Texas Switch'. If you watch the scene with Bob Newhart and Norman Fell, there's a portrait on the wall that changes a couple of times... but instead of it being in motion, it stands still while the camera does all the moving! I think there are several instances of the 'Texas Switch' going on throughout the film, just part of its absurdist atmosphere.
share