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Catch-22

332 votes

A WWII military pilot makes a valiant effort to be certified insane in order to be excused from flying missions. But there's a catch.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1970-06-24

Runtime: 121 mins

Director: Mike Nichols

Spoken language: English, Italiano

Genres: War, Comedy

Original title: Catch-22

Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Filmways Pictures

Production Countries: United States of America

Cast

Alan Arkin

Martin Balsam

Richard Benjamin

Art Garfunkel

Jack Gilford

Buck Henry

Bob Newhart

Chaplain Capt. A.T. Tappman

Anthony Perkins

Nurse Duckett

Paula Prentiss

1st Lt. Dobbs

Martin Sheen

1st Lt. Milo Minderbinder

Jon Voight

Brigadier General Dreedle

Orson Welles

Capt. Orr

Bob Balaban

Dreedle's WAC

Susanne Benton

Reviews

Geronimo1967

Alan Arkin is "Yossarian" - a flight bombardier determined to get himself invalided home from combat during WWII. He's been dropping bombs on Italy for ages and is tired of being shot at and is also becoming less sure of his chances of survival each time. He is also quite suspicious of his CO - "Cathcart" (Martin Balsam) who seems to make sure that every time a tour of duty ends, there is another reason for him to stick around. How to get home? Well, he hits on a plan that will bring his mental acuity under suspicion. Thing is, this plan is not without risks and what now ensues is quite a complex analysis of the horrors of a wartime existence. Though I found the predictable comedy elements of this wore thin really quickly, it does offer quite a seriously thought-provoking look at just how warfare can affect a man. The constant pressures of remaining alert and vigilant whilst simultaneously dealing with day-to-day threat and tragedy are quite well illustrated in Mike Nichols' adaptation of the poignant Joseph Heller bestseller. There is a pretty stellar supporting cast, but their largely cameo roles augment rather than outshine the effort from Arkin as things gradually become more immediate for the man. It's very, very verbose and I found the third quarter of the film just a bit slow and contrived - but as a glimpse of just how war might have looked and impacted on the people involved, it's interesting and at times the darker elements of the story are potently effective.

2023-06-19

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