Joseph Heller said that he had fond memories of his wartime service and that his commanding officers were competent leaders, and that the book is really about bureaucracy in general, with the various characters representing the different archetypes you find in an office environment. e.g. Yossarian is the interminable complainer who thinks everybody else is an idiot. Heller said that he set it on a WWII air force base because that was the setting he knew and could describe convincingly, and also because it's a more exciting setting than an office. Given what Heller has said about the book, one can also hypothesize that Yassarian might be an unreliable narrator, and the events he describes are coloured unfairly by his sour disposition. Maybe.
Thanks for pointing it out. I didn't notice the pictures until I glanced at the "Uncle Joe" one. Although a nominal Ally, I thought it strange that they'd have the pic of him in Africa. Then I saw Major Major putting on a mustache somewhat like Stalin, and thought maybe that was the joke. I must see that movie again. Or better, maybe get an Audible of the book. Naw, both...the movie has a set of great, quirky actors.
Boy, I tell you one of the reasons this movie is a masterpiece is how well it works as Satire and Comedy because they are not the same. Related, sure, but different. And the best, the masterpieces blend the two. From scathing, subtle commentary to outright belly laughs.
The way Anthony Perkins absent-mindedly picks at the siding while speaking with Arkin is a seemingly insignificant action, but it is *acting at its finest* It's genius, really. This is the sort of stuff that's not taught in acting school.
Hats off to Shelby , lower down, for catching the changing portratits. Each time I watch bits of film, am struck by the great dialogue & excelelnt work by Buck Henry, Newhart ,Arkin & Perkins. like the book again again never gets old !
Not only are Fell and Newhart comedy gold here, keep your eye on the picture on the back wall through this long shot. Fell played a similar character (less zany, however) in the Lee Marvin film Sergeant Ryker. Fell is superb there too.
They both served in the Army (Fell was actually a B-25 tail gunner), so they were only too familiar with Army decisions that made absolutely no sense. They worked so well off each other. Loved when Newhart felt a little guilty about snapping at him and tried to shake his hand. Fell saluted as deadpan as humanly possible. Brilliant.
Omg it does change! (The photograph.) Very observant! I think the middle guy is Winston Churchill? I'm pretty ignorant about history.. Who's the first guy? And the last guy: is that Stalin? Or some Latin revolutionary like Cesar Chavez? (I'm not that knowledgeable about historical figures.)
@@cockeyedoptimista there was this guy named che Guevara , executed. And then there was Fidel castro , never heard of Cesar Chavez . Either you are too ignorant about history, or iam . Who knows .
Yeah, maybe the 2nd time watching this & is so 'huge" FDR at first and then a "moustached" Stalin...have to watch it again for more. we all know it was a very great book but few ppl talk about the movie. Hats off to Dir. M Nichols for nice adaptation. Required reading at USAFA & oughta be in USA high schools , lots of real stuff in all the exaggeration (a knowing vet !)
No, Major is my name not my rank! That’s just about as clear as mud! Well, now you’re a major. We all have to make our little sacrifices, now, don’t we MAJOR?
I laughed when I saw that huge rock holding the papers down but I don't know what it's a metaphor of. I don't recall Major Major being such a shiftless nincompoop in the story, I thought he was a dead ringer for a Hollywood actor unless I'm remembering it wrong.
In the book, he's described as being "born too late and too mediocre" and he is a dead-ringer for Henry Fonda. As such, he hates being noticed because he looks so much like Henry Fonda that he's always noticed. So he goes about with a ridiculous name and looking like Henry Fonda trying not to be noticed. In the film, the Henry Fonda gag is dropped and he's just a meek and mediocre guy who wishes no one would notice him.
I've seen this movie multiple times, and I never noticed until now that the photo on the wall keeps changing. ... I also never noticed until just now that Norman Fell has a band-aid on the back of his neck. As far as I can remember, there is no scene in the movie where the character's neck gets injured. It violates the Chekov's Gun rule to include such an odd little detail without any explanation. Since it only becomes visible once Major Major starts his "people can see me when I'm not here" speech, perhaps it's there to symbolize that Major Major is a pain-in-the-neck. Dang it, now I'm gonna hafta watch this movie _again_ to find all the other little details the filmmakers included just to mess with my brain! ;-)
Bob Newhart served state side during the Korean war as personnel clerk earning a good conduct medal Norman Fell served in The US Army Airforce's during WWII and he is Credited with two kills over Japanese fighters while serving as a tail gunner on B-25 Mitchell with the Fifth Air Force.
Of course the original book is the best thing ever, but in my opinion both the 1970 movie and the 2019 Hulu series have their good moments, so I recommend you watch both to make the picture complete. ^^
As a kid on the way to the Nam I thought the film was big onions - now it lost its luster - can not watch it even if Orson Wells does his best to save it!
Did you know kings and emperors walked around their subjects in disguises? Why did they do that, sir? Why did they do WHAT? Why did they walk around in disguises? How would I know! I’m not a historian!
I always liked Anthony Perkins. There were a lot of familiar names in this, somewhat overacted, movie. The dark side of WWII. Glory didn’t exist in this B-25 squadron.
Did you know kings and emperors walked around their subjects in disguises? Why did they do that, sir? Why did they do WHAT? Why did they walk around in disguises? How would I know! I’m not a historian!
Bob Newhart was hilarious.....such subtle delivery. Genius.
Anyone who's been in any country's military in any war can relate to this madness.
Joseph Heller said that he had fond memories of his wartime service and that his commanding officers were competent leaders, and that the book is really about bureaucracy in general, with the various characters representing the different archetypes you find in an office environment. e.g. Yossarian is the interminable complainer who thinks everybody else is an idiot.
Heller said that he set it on a WWII air force base because that was the setting he knew and could describe convincingly, and also because it's a more exciting setting than an office.
Given what Heller has said about the book, one can also hypothesize that Yassarian might be an unreliable narrator, and the events he describes are coloured unfairly by his sour disposition.
Maybe.
Maybee@@roystonlodge
Anyone catch the framed picture switch-a-roos? Brilliant!
Thanks for pointing it out. I didn't notice the pictures until I glanced at the "Uncle Joe" one. Although a nominal Ally, I thought it strange that they'd have the pic of him in Africa. Then I saw Major Major putting on a mustache somewhat like Stalin, and thought maybe that was the joke.
I must see that movie again. Or better, maybe get an Audible of the book. Naw, both...the movie has a set of great, quirky actors.
It switches between Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill. It seems to add to the confusion of this scene.
Such an incredible cast in this movie.
Boy, I tell you one of the reasons this movie is a masterpiece is how well it works as Satire and Comedy because they are not the same. Related, sure, but different. And the best, the masterpieces blend the two. From scathing, subtle commentary to outright belly laughs.
RIP Mr. Newhart. Thanks for the laughs.
Just off the scale funny as f#@k man.
An absolute gem of a film.
The way Anthony Perkins absent-mindedly picks at the siding while speaking with Arkin is a seemingly insignificant action, but it is *acting at its finest*
It's genius, really.
This is the sort of stuff that's not taught in acting school.
Hats off to Shelby , lower down, for catching the changing portratits. Each time I watch bits of film, am struck by the great dialogue & excelelnt work by Buck Henry, Newhart ,Arkin & Perkins. like the book again again never gets old !
First read the book when I was 13 - now at 70, after reading it for the fifth time, I get it 😂
RIP Alan Arkin.
over half of the cast has passed away ..
@@davediamond7228 That's the thing with age - Especially old age.
…in addition to the amazing cast don’t forget to remember this extraordinary director! TY for posting!!
OMG….The stars and character actors in this movie is amazing. Such a great film!
Norman Fell = genius
Thank you for showing such a good scene from a great movie.
One of my top five favorite movies!!
One if my favorite books❤❤❤
Love this movie, as you can tell. I really relate to Yossarian's predicament.
Major Major Major Major
This is hilarious. Buck Henry is terribly funny in this.
That's the general idea, _Padre_
Not only are Fell and Newhart comedy gold here, keep your eye on the picture on the back wall through this long shot. Fell played a similar character (less zany, however) in the Lee Marvin film Sergeant Ryker. Fell is superb there too.
I noticed that,too. Churchill then Stalin? Lol
They both served in the Army (Fell was actually a B-25 tail gunner), so they were only too familiar with Army decisions that made absolutely no sense. They worked so well off each other. Loved when Newhart felt a little guilty about snapping at him and tried to shake his hand. Fell saluted as deadpan as humanly possible. Brilliant.
@@rodneylambert594 FDR, Churchill, then Stalin
the painting changes
Omg it does change! (The photograph.) Very observant! I think the middle guy is Winston Churchill? I'm pretty ignorant about history.. Who's the first guy? And the last guy: is that Stalin? Or some Latin revolutionary like Cesar Chavez? (I'm not that knowledgeable about historical figures.)
@@cockeyedoptimistait's FDR, Churchill and Stalin
@@tinfoil1225 Thank you for answering.
@@cockeyedoptimista- Are feigning insanity just now?
@@cockeyedoptimista there was this guy named che Guevara , executed.
And then there was Fidel castro , never heard of Cesar Chavez .
Either you are too ignorant about history, or iam .
Who knows .
Bob Newhart a comic genius who made it look so easy! RIP.
We all have to make sacrifices, Major.
R.I.P., Bob Newhart.
That seargent wasn't listening...
...Major Major told him to do whatever needs getting done. That's basically a chance to take over.
Yep, when I first saw it I figured, "Instead of a laundry captain-turned-major, the squaron is now being commanded by a first sergeant."
Notice how the picture on the wall of that makeshift office keeps changing??
Yeah, maybe the 2nd time watching this & is so 'huge" FDR at first and then a "moustached" Stalin...have to watch it again for more. we all know it was a very great book but few ppl talk about the movie. Hats off to Dir. M Nichols for nice adaptation. Required reading at USAFA & oughta be in USA high schools , lots of real stuff in all the exaggeration (a knowing vet !)
No, Major is my name not my rank!
That’s just about as clear as mud!
Well, now you’re a major. We all have to make our little sacrifices, now, don’t we MAJOR?
I laughed when I saw that huge rock holding the papers down but I don't know what it's a metaphor of. I don't recall Major Major being such a shiftless nincompoop in the story, I thought he was a dead ringer for a Hollywood actor unless I'm remembering it wrong.
In the book, he's described as being "born too late and too mediocre" and he is a dead-ringer for Henry Fonda. As such, he hates being noticed because he looks so much like Henry Fonda that he's always noticed. So he goes about with a ridiculous name and looking like Henry Fonda trying not to be noticed. In the film, the Henry Fonda gag is dropped and he's just a meek and mediocre guy who wishes no one would notice him.
@@marks.3303Joseph Heller himself said he wanted either Henry Fonda or someone who looks NOTHING like Henry Fonda.
Newhart... vacillating..
'Catch-22' and 'M*A*S*H' both war comedy classics... Thanks! for the laughs (and RIP) Bob Newhart and Alan Arkin.
I've seen this movie multiple times, and I never noticed until now that the photo on the wall keeps changing.
...
I also never noticed until just now that Norman Fell has a band-aid on the back of his neck. As far as I can remember, there is no scene in the movie where the character's neck gets injured. It violates the Chekov's Gun rule to include such an odd little detail without any explanation. Since it only becomes visible once Major Major starts his "people can see me when I'm not here" speech, perhaps it's there to symbolize that Major Major is a pain-in-the-neck.
Dang it, now I'm gonna hafta watch this movie _again_ to find all the other little details the filmmakers included just to mess with my brain!
;-)
As far as I can tell Balsam and Henry were the only veterans in real life and playing dim officers must have been a thrill.
Bob Newhart served state side during the Korean war as personnel clerk earning a good conduct medal
Norman Fell served in The US Army Airforce's during WWII and he is Credited with two kills over Japanese fighters while serving as a tail gunner on B-25 Mitchell with the Fifth Air Force.
Never saw the movie.
Book was amazing, though.
Of course the original book is the best thing ever, but in my opinion both the 1970 movie and the 2019 Hulu series have their good moments, so I recommend you watch both to make the picture complete. ^^
Norman Fell never gets credit as the "straight man" in this scene, but it's his reactions to Bob Newhart's madness that makes it so funny.
Everyone is brilliant.
1:44 how I felt when I listened to the modern catch-22 script.
As a kid on the way to the Nam I thought the film was big onions - now it lost its luster - can not watch it even if Orson Wells does his best to save it!
Absolutely..
When can I come into your office to ask you if you need anything?
When I’m gone, of course!
The book is far better
Bob Newhart's greatest performance.
Gotta be.
If you think the movie is funny (and you should)...read the book.
RIP Bob Newhart
way a head of its time
This has to be taken from early 70s Monty Pythons.
Did you know kings and emperors walked around their subjects in disguises?
Why did they do that, sir?
Why did they do WHAT?
Why did they walk around in disguises?
How would I know! I’m not a historian!
Underrated?? No, they rated it just about right.
Were the last seven years of America the novel written by Joseph Heller?
I always liked Anthony Perkins. There were a lot of familiar names in this, somewhat overacted, movie. The dark side of WWII. Glory didn’t exist in this B-25 squadron.
Looks rubbish
Biggest waste of film since Hollywood was incorporated.
snivel and whine louder
@@davediamond7228He’s obviously a heathen
Did you know kings and emperors walked around their subjects in disguises?
Why did they do that, sir?
Why did they do WHAT?
Why did they walk around in disguises?
How would I know! I’m not a historian!