New Catch-22 mini series - George Clooney to Direct

[Brettafett]

This looks exciting. 6 parts... If done well, can expect some great period set, airplanes and A-2 flight jackets.This looks exciting. 6 parts... Some decent actors involved. If done well, can expect some great period sets, airplanes and A-2 flight jackets. I believe one or two well known, top tier repro makers are hoping to make the jackets.

 

[p51]

I know a few of the people who try to make a living off of working on films like this (there are more than you might think) and I can't figure out who's working the 'nuts and bolts' portions of this series, and apparently nobody else in the biz seems to know either.
The only thing I've heard is that they intend on filming in Italy and Corsica.

 

[Seb Lucas]

This looks exciting. 6 parts... If done well, can expect some great period set, airplanes and A-2 flight jackets.This looks exciting. 6 parts... Some decent actors involved. If done well, can expect some great period sets, airplanes and A-2 flight jackets. I believe one or two well known, top tier repro makers are hoping to make the jackets.

Hmmm. I guess the real question is can Clooney adapt what is widely considered to be one of the most acerbically amusing novels of the 20th century into a watchable production? Mike Nichols (with the great Buck Henry writing) barely got away with it, even with Orson Welles offering unsolicited directorial advice. Not one of my favourite books I have to say but many baby boomers (I doubt younger people have even heard of it) love it.

 

[Frunobulax]

Definitely a book that sparked an absurdist streak in me. I fear they will update the references to be "politically timely" and in doing so ruin the story to score cheap points - especially with Clooney in the chair.

Although I'd love to see Patton Oswalt as Milo.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Brettafett]

Some set pics surfacing online are making me rethink this... Its looking good.

 

[Taikonaut]

Eastman supplied the jackets, lots of them.

 

[CBI]

Overall very well done IMO. I enjoyed all 6 episodes but I'm not going to nitpick and over analyze. A WW2 aviation mini-series with high production values, can't really ask for more.

 

[Brettafett]

Yes, totally agree... I'm two in and enjoying it. It very well done for a modern WW2 series.
Its not the 'original', but was never meant to be... Enjoy it for what it is.

 

[nick123]

Unrelated question, but in the older film, were original A-2s worn? I watched it yesterday and noticed knits that looked non-authentic, but a scene I could have sworn a jacket with red knits (presumably an Aero and not a repro?)

Distressed Avirexes or WWII old stock?

For the series, I'm going to enjoy it with a bowl of chocolate-covered cotton!

 

[Brettafett]

Hey Nick, as I understand all original jackets were used in the original movie. As for replacement knits as such, I can't say. But the movie released in 1970, so any replacement bits must have been pre-1970. Potentially NOS...
But I recon most of what you see is original, although the patches were likely sewn on.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Unrelated question, but in the older film, were original A-2s worn? I watched it yesterday and noticed knits that looked non-authentic, but a scene I could have sworn a jacket with red knits (presumably an Aero and not a repro?)

Distressed Avirexes or WWII old stock?

For the series, I'm going to enjoy it with a bowl of chocolate-covered cotton!

After the war Western Costume and places like it that rent costumes to movie producers bought up hundreds of authentic military uniforms including those from Nazi Germany, but also scores of A2's and US army gear. The real thing was being used in films up until the 1980's as I understand it, with repairs by the in house seamstress.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

A friend of mine and my wife's, the late Tony Hillerman, told me about his one encounter with Heller. Tony, a WWII vet himself with some decidedly acerbic views about the Allied leadership of that war (he thought there should have been some trials and executions of Allied generals and admirals,) asked Heller about the incompetence of the officers Heller served with in the Med. Heller said that the officers he served under were first-rate people. Tony said words to the effect of "Wait a minute. You created General Dreedle, Major Major Major Major, Lieutenant Scheisskopf and a host of other epic losers"
Heller told him, "I made all that stuff up." As always with Heller, take it for what it's worth.