Catch-22 (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | [[American]] [[popular culture]] has expressed itself through nearly every medium, including movies, music and sports. [[Mickey Mouse]],[[Britney Spears]], [[Barbie]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Babe Ruth]], [[screwball comedy]], [[G.I. Joe]], [[jazz]], [[Blues|the blues]], [[Rap & Hip Hop]], ''[[The Simpsons]]'', [[Michael Jackson]], [[Superman]], ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', [[Marilyn Monroe]], [[Michael Jordan]], [[Indiana Jones]], ''[[Sesame Street]]'', ''[[Catch-22 (film)|Catch-22]]''—these names, genres, and phrases have joined more tangible American products in spreading across the globe. | + | | style="text-align: left;" | |
| + | "There was only one [[catch]] and that was [[Catch-22]], which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. [[Orr (Catch-22)|Orr]] was [[crazy]] and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to, but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle." --''[[Catch-22]]'' (1961) by Joseph Heller (p. 56, ch. 5) | ||
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| - | It is worth noting that while America tends to be a net exporter of culture, it absorbs many other cultural traditions with relative ease, for example: [[origami]], [[soccer]], [[anime]], and [[yoga]]. | + | '''''Catch-22''''' is a [[1970 in film|1970]] [[war film]] adapted from the [[Catch-22|book of the same name]] by [[Joseph Heller]]. Considered a [[black comedy]] revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical novel, the film was mired in production problems and artistic issues that led to its commercial failure. |
| - | It can be argued that this ability to easily absorb parts of other cultures and other languages is its greatest strength and helps American culture and language spread. Americans in general do not worry about protecting their "indigenous culture" (see below) but instead eagerly create and adopt new things and then change or modify to make them their own. | + | Although a talented production team – which included director [[Mike Nichols]] and screenwriter [[Buck Henry]] (who also acted in the film) – worked on the film for two years, the complex task of recreating a [[World War II]] bomber base and translating an anti-war satire proved daunting. Besides Henry, the cast included [[Alan Arkin]], [[Martin Balsam]], [[Richard Benjamin]], [[Norman Fell]], [[Art Garfunkel]], [[Jack Gilford]], [[Bob Newhart]], [[Anthony Perkins]], [[Paula Prentiss]], [[Martin Sheen]], [[Jon Voight]] and [[Orson Welles]]. |
| + | ==Plot== | ||
| + | Captain [[John Yossarian]], a [[U.S. Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Force]] [[North American B-25 Mitchell|B-25]] [[Bombardier (air force)|bombardier]], is stationed on the Mediterranean base on [[Pianosa]] during World War II. Along with his squadron members, Yossarian is committed to flying dangerous missions, but after watching friends die, he seeks a means of escape. | ||
| - | === Exportation of popular culture === | + | Futilely appealing to his commanding officer, [[Colonel Cathcart]], who continually increases the number of missions required to rotate home before anyone can reach it, Yossarian learns that even a mental breakdown is no release when [[Doc Daneeka]], explains the "Catch-22" the Army Air Corps employs. |
| - | The [[United States]] is an enormous exporter of [[entertainment]], especially [[Television in the United States|television]], [[Movies of the United States|movies]] and [[Music of the United States|music]]. This readily consumable form of culture is widely and cheaply dispersed for entertainment consumers worldwide. | + | While most crews are rotated out after twenty-five, the minimum number of missions for this base is eventually raised to an unobtainable eighty missions; a figure resulting from Colonel Cathcart's craving for publicity. Compliance with this insane number invokes regulation 22 for which, as explained by [[Doc Daneeka]], there is a catch: An airman would have to be crazy to fly more missions, and if he were crazy he would be unfit to fly. Yet, if an airman would refuse to fly more missions, this would indicate that he is sane, which would mean that he would be fit to fly the missions. |
| - | Many nations now have two cultures: an indigenous one and globalized/American popular culture. That said, what one society considers entertainment is not necessarily reflective of the "true culture" of its people. More popular syndicated programs cost more, so overseas entertainment purchasers often choose older programs that reflect various, and dated, stages of United States cultural development. Pop culture also tends to neglect the more mundane and/or complex elements of human life. | + | Another strange "catch" in the movie involves [[Major Major Major Major|Major Major]], who had recently been promoted by Brigadier [[General Dreedle]], who didn't like the look of the name "Capt. Major" on the roll call. Capt. Major was promoted to Major Major and put in charge of a squadron, very much against his will. Major didn't want to be bothered, so he told First Sgt. Towser that if someone wanted to talk to Major Major, the person had to wait in the waiting room until office hours were over, unless Major wasn't in his office. Then the visitor could go right in, but Major wouldn't be there. |
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| + | Trapped by this convoluted logic, Yossarian watches as individuals in the squadron resort to unusual means to cope; Lt. [[Milo Minderbinder]] concocts elaborate black market schemes while crazed [[Captain Aardvark|Captain "Aarfy" Aardvark]] commits murder to silence a girl he raped. Lieutenant [[Nately]] falls for a prostitute, [[Major Danby]] delivers goofy pep talks before every bomb run and Captain Orr keeps crashing at sea. Meanwhile, [[Nurse Duckett]] occasionally beds Yossarian. | ||
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| + | Nately dies as a result of an agreement between Milo and the Germans, trading surplus cotton in exchange for the squadron bombing its own base. While on a pass, Yossarian shares this news with Captain [[Nately's Whore]], who then tries to kill him. | ||
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| + | Because of Yossarian's constant complaints, [[Colonel Cathcart]] and Lt. [[Colonel Korn]] eventually agree to send him home, promising him a promotion to Major and the awarding him a medal for the fictitious saving of Cathcart's life; the only requirement being that Yossarian agrees to "like" the Colonels and praise them when he gets home. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Immediately after agreeing to Cathcart's and Korn's plan, Yossarian survives an attempt on his life when stabbed by [[Nately's Whore]], who had disguised herself as an airman. Once recovered, Yossarian learns from the Chaplain and [[Major Danby]] that [[Orr (Catch-22)|Captain Orr's]] supposed death was a hoax and that Orr's repeated 'crash' landings had been a subterfuge for practicing and planning his own escape from the madness. Yossarian is informed that after his last ditching Orr had paddled a rescue raft all the way to Sweden. | ||
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| + | Yossarian decides to ditch the deal with Cathcart, leaps out of the hospital window, takes a raft from a damaged plane and, while a marching band practices for the ceremony to award Yossarian the promotion and medal, he hops into the sea, climbs into the raft and starts paddling. | ||
| - | == See also == | ||
| - | *[[Americanization]] | ||
| - | *[[American culture]] | ||
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Revision as of 10:11, 14 January 2020
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"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to, but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle." --Catch-22 (1961) by Joseph Heller (p. 56, ch. 5) |
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Catch-22 is a 1970 war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical novel, the film was mired in production problems and artistic issues that led to its commercial failure.
Although a talented production team – which included director Mike Nichols and screenwriter Buck Henry (who also acted in the film) – worked on the film for two years, the complex task of recreating a World War II bomber base and translating an anti-war satire proved daunting. Besides Henry, the cast included Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Norman Fell, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight and Orson Welles.
Plot
Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Force B-25 bombardier, is stationed on the Mediterranean base on Pianosa during World War II. Along with his squadron members, Yossarian is committed to flying dangerous missions, but after watching friends die, he seeks a means of escape.
Futilely appealing to his commanding officer, Colonel Cathcart, who continually increases the number of missions required to rotate home before anyone can reach it, Yossarian learns that even a mental breakdown is no release when Doc Daneeka, explains the "Catch-22" the Army Air Corps employs.
While most crews are rotated out after twenty-five, the minimum number of missions for this base is eventually raised to an unobtainable eighty missions; a figure resulting from Colonel Cathcart's craving for publicity. Compliance with this insane number invokes regulation 22 for which, as explained by Doc Daneeka, there is a catch: An airman would have to be crazy to fly more missions, and if he were crazy he would be unfit to fly. Yet, if an airman would refuse to fly more missions, this would indicate that he is sane, which would mean that he would be fit to fly the missions.
Another strange "catch" in the movie involves Major Major, who had recently been promoted by Brigadier General Dreedle, who didn't like the look of the name "Capt. Major" on the roll call. Capt. Major was promoted to Major Major and put in charge of a squadron, very much against his will. Major didn't want to be bothered, so he told First Sgt. Towser that if someone wanted to talk to Major Major, the person had to wait in the waiting room until office hours were over, unless Major wasn't in his office. Then the visitor could go right in, but Major wouldn't be there.
Trapped by this convoluted logic, Yossarian watches as individuals in the squadron resort to unusual means to cope; Lt. Milo Minderbinder concocts elaborate black market schemes while crazed Captain "Aarfy" Aardvark commits murder to silence a girl he raped. Lieutenant Nately falls for a prostitute, Major Danby delivers goofy pep talks before every bomb run and Captain Orr keeps crashing at sea. Meanwhile, Nurse Duckett occasionally beds Yossarian.
Nately dies as a result of an agreement between Milo and the Germans, trading surplus cotton in exchange for the squadron bombing its own base. While on a pass, Yossarian shares this news with Captain Nately's Whore, who then tries to kill him.
Because of Yossarian's constant complaints, Colonel Cathcart and Lt. Colonel Korn eventually agree to send him home, promising him a promotion to Major and the awarding him a medal for the fictitious saving of Cathcart's life; the only requirement being that Yossarian agrees to "like" the Colonels and praise them when he gets home.
Immediately after agreeing to Cathcart's and Korn's plan, Yossarian survives an attempt on his life when stabbed by Nately's Whore, who had disguised herself as an airman. Once recovered, Yossarian learns from the Chaplain and Major Danby that Captain Orr's supposed death was a hoax and that Orr's repeated 'crash' landings had been a subterfuge for practicing and planning his own escape from the madness. Yossarian is informed that after his last ditching Orr had paddled a rescue raft all the way to Sweden.
Yossarian decides to ditch the deal with Cathcart, leaps out of the hospital window, takes a raft from a damaged plane and, while a marching band practices for the ceremony to award Yossarian the promotion and medal, he hops into the sea, climbs into the raft and starts paddling.
