The crews of a US Army Air Force Bomber Group based in Italy during WWII, are continually forced to fly more missions before allowed leave, which of course, never comes, as the blustering Colonel of the Group (Martin Balsam) has other ideas, and keeps upping the missions quota. In order to get some respite, Capt.Yossarian (Alan Arkin) decides he can take no more, and feigns insanity. The M.O. has to refuse all such requests on the basis that anyone sensible enough to attempt to get out, has to be sane. Only the mad want to stay, but they don't ask to get out. Simple, it's Catch-22 ! Comedy doesn't get much blacker than this, in the style of Dr.Strangelove, and was rare for the time. It's great, with some real laugh-out load moments, especially when Gen.Dreedle (an uncredited Orson Welles) gives a briefing to the crews. Watch out for a great turn by Bob Newhart, who causes confusion as Major Major. Also good are Jon Voight as the amoral Lt.Milo Milerbinder, and Anthony Perkins as the timid Chaplain Tappman.