Marty Dolan

Favorite Movie

I. Catch Me If You Can Overview

A. Production and Reception
1) Steven Spielberg was born on December 18th, 1946
2) The story Catch Me If You Can was in fact an autobiography written
by Frank Abagnale, the main character. Spielberg turned this autobiography
into a thrilling cinema for the ages.
3) Catch Me If You Can made roughly 30 million dollars in its opening
weekend.
4) The 52 million dollar budget was made six times over.
B. Characters
1)
2)
3)
4)

Frank Abagnale - Leonardo DiCaprio

Carl Hanratty - Tom Hanks
Frank Abagnale Sr. - Christopher Walken
Brenda Jones - Amy Adams

C. Plot
1) Carl Hanratty, an FBI agent, hunts down a young con artist who
successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, and assistant attorney,
making more than $2.5 million dollars in fraudulent checks in 26 countries.
2) Frank Abagnale, a 16 year old in New York, first starts conning his
students after being harassed. He poses as their substitute teacher. This act

foreshadows how easy Frank can take on new roles and have the people
around him adapt to what he wants to do.
3) After Franks parents have a divorce due to the believed affair
committed by Franks mother, he needs to make money to support himself
and father. He runs away and ends up taking on the persona of an autoplane
pilot. This is where he first discovers forging checks.
4) FBI agent Carl Hanratty is set to find out whats going on with these
forged checks. Due to FBI involvement, Frank changes his identity but
continues to forge checks. He eventually becomes a doctor and meets his
first love, Brenda Jones.
5) The FBI try to arrest Frank at his wedding with Brenda. Frank had
lied to Brenda about his true identity. When he ran, Brenda told Carl of
Franks plan to escape. After much swindling Frank flees the country.
6) Carl Hanratty was determined to find Frank, he chases Frank to
France where he is finally arrested. After an agreement is struck between the
FBI and Frank, he walks a free man as long as he works as a forge detective
for the FBI.
II. Influence
A. Foreshadowning
1) Foreshadowning is a very large part of the movie. It is used with all
characters and can be seen in the characters family life. For example,
Franks only way of escape from his sadness due to the separation of his
parents was to run. This concept in his mind carried through to the end.

B. Camera Angles
1) Camera angles can make or break a scene or movie entirely. Steven
Spielberg did a great job switching close ups and camera angles to influence
drama and intensity on the viewer.
2) Spielberg used a brisk tempo accompanied with colorful
cinematography which gave the movie more flavor.