Catch-22 (1970)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

This pairing salutes actor Alan Arkin, who passed away on June 29th of 2023. We begin with the film based on a Joseph Heller novel that now sits on several banned book lists. Directed by Mike Nichols and adapted for the screen by Buck Henry, 1970's "Catch-22" examines the absurdity of war in a truly satirical fashion. The film stars Arkin as Captain Yossarian, a B-52 bombardier who has grown completely disillusioned with the war against the Germans and the Japanese and is trying to get grounded. He no longer trusts his commanding officers, and begins observing the truly insane actions of those supposedly "in charge." The film feature a cornucopia of Hollywood stars, including Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, singer Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Bob Balaban, Norman Fell, Charles Grodin, Austin Pendleton, and Orson Welles! The film gathered so many World War II bombers, it features the largest private air force ever assembled, and the sixth largest in the world (after France) at the time!