» Catch Me If You Can

» Synopsis

Based on a true story, Frank W. Abagnale was employed as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline companyâ??all before reaching his 21st birthday. A successful con artist and master of deception, Frank is also a brilliant forger, whose skill at check fraud has netted him millions of dollars in stolen funds--much to the chagrin of the authorities. FBI Agent Carl Hanratty has made it his prime mission to capture him and bring him to justice, however Frank is always one step ahead of Carl, baiting him to continue the chase.

» Information

Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Jeff Nathanson (screenplay), Frank Abagnale Jr. (book), Stan Redding (book) Cast: Tom Hanks ... FBI Agent Carl Hanratty Leonardo DiCaprio ... Frank W Abagnale Jr Amy Adams ... Brenda Strong Chris Ellis ... Special Agent Witkins Ritchie Montgomery ... Young Doctor Morgan Rusler ... FBI Agent Christopher Walken ... Frank W Abagnale Sr Martin Sheen ... Roger Strong Nathalie Baye ... Paula Abagnale James Brolin ... Jack Barnes Brian Howe ... Tom Fox Frank John Hughes ... Earl Amdursky Steve Eastin ... Paul Morgan John Finn ... Assistant Director Marsh Jennifer Garner ... Cheryl Ann Nancy Lenehan ... Carol Strong Ellen Pompeo ... Marci Elizabeth Banks ... Lucy Guy Thauvette ... Warden Garren Candice Azzara ... Darcy Matthew Kimbrough ... Loan Officer Joshua Boyd (II) ... Football Player Kaitlin Doubleday ... Joanna Released on: 16 December 2002 (Los Angeles, California) (premiere)

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» Trivia

Gore Verbinski pushed production back a few months because Leonardo DiCaprio had to re-shoot scenes for Gangs of New York (2002), The delay led to James Gandolfini's withdrawal, because he had to go back to work on The Sopranos (1999). He was replaced by Tom Hanks. David Fincher, Cameron Crowe and Lasse Hallström were asked to direct before Steven Spielberg, who only wanted to produce the movie, took over.

When it appeared that Gore Verbinski would direct, Chloë Sevigny and Ed Harris were both considered for roles.

Until he saw the results of Leonardo DiCaprio's work, the real Frank Abagnale Jr. didn't think DiCaprio was "suave" enough to play him.

The names on the forged diploma from Harvard Medical School actually contains the signatures of the then (2002) deans of both Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Jennifer Garner shot her scenes in one day.

The blackboard that Carl Hanratty is writing on toward the end of the movie contains a small note at the bottom that says, "Steven and Tom's 4th project". Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, had previously collaborated on Band of Brothers (2001) , Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Joe Versus the Volcano (1990).

The fluttering dollar bill is a reference to the floating feather from Forrest Gump (1994).

Cans and reels were shipped to cinemas under the code name "The Doctor".

The concluding part of Steven Spielberg's unofficial "running man" trilogy, which started with Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) and continued with Minority Report (2002).

The first cut of the film was about 80% authentic, as quoted at the epilogue of Abagnale's book. Some scenes were corrected, added and change as per request of the real Frank Abagnale Jr. to ensure total authenticity.

The arrest scene in France was actually shot in Place Royale, Quebec city. The church in the background is called Notre-Dame-des-Victoires and the bust in the middle of the place is of Louis XIV.

Mrs. Abagnale's house after she remarried was the same house used for Father of the Bride (1991) and its sequel.

The F.B.I officer who was chasing Frank was really Joe Shea. Frank Abagnale Jr. used the pseudonym "Sean O'Reilly" in his book because Joe Shea was still in the F.B.I. He has since retired.

Director Trademark: [Steven Spielberg] [music] score by John Williams

Steven Spielberg's original choice for the role of Frank Abigale Jr. was Johnny Depp.

The exterior shots of Miami airport were filmed at the old Ontario, California airport terminal. The old terminal is still standing, but it was converted to office space when the new Ontario Airport opened.

Two of the personas that Frank takes are comic book characters. When pretending to be a federal agent he takes the name Barry Allen, the alter-ego of DC's The Flash. While a doctor, he uses Dr. Connors. This is the alter-ego of Spider-Man enemy The Lizard.

When Frank is being fitted for the James Bond suit he sees in the movie Goldfinger (1964), the tailor refers to him as Mr. Fleming. The original James Bond novels (including Goldfinger) were written by 'Ian Fleming'.

The episode of "Perry Mason" (1957) that Frank Abagnale Jr. is watching is "The Case of the Jealous Journalist", which originally aired 24 June 1961.

All road and concrete surfaces are wet in every shot, even though all scenes take place in sunny weather. Many cinematographers simply prefer the look of wet roads.

Director Trademark: [Steven Spielberg] [father] Frank Abagnale Sr. fails to set Frank Jr. straight throughout the film. Workaholic Carl Hanratty loses his daughter Grace to a divorce.

Director Trademark: [Steven Spielberg] [flashlights] At the beginning of the film, Carl shines one on the captured Frank Abagnale's face.

Director Trademark: [Steven Spielberg] [mirror shot] Conversation between Tom Hanks and Amy Adams in the bedroom at the engagement party.

Cameo: [Max Spielberg] Steven Spielberg's son, sitting behind Leonardo DiCaprio during both parts of the airplane scene.

In one deleted scene, Frank Abignale dresses as a security guard and stands outside a bank's night deposit box, so people will give money to him instead of putting it in the box. During filming, despite the cameras, real people came up to DiCaprio and tried to give him their money.

As in The Deer Hunter (1978) , also featuring Christopher Walken, the spilling of wine in an early scene is a bad omen.

The scenes in the French classroom and the library were filmed at McKinley School in Pasadena, CA. During spring break, about six months after the film's release, the production crew removed all of the set pieces the school had been using, to the school administration's surprise.

The Aston Martin DB5 that was seen in the movie was sourced by Autosport Designs Inc of Huntington Station, New York a specialist exotic car dealership. Dreamworks contacted Autosport Designs and asked if they could supply a silver DB5. However they did not have one in stock and instead contacted a customer and arranged for his car to be used. The car is the same make and model used in the movie Goldfinger (1964), one of Spielberg's personal favorite films. In the cinema, we also see Frank watching that movie.

In the scene where Frank is escaping from Brenda's father's house, he says "A name doesn't mean anything, right?" This is akin to the phrase "What's in a name?" from Romeo and Juliet. Leonardo DiCaprio played Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of the play Romeo + Juliet (1996).

When Frank begins recruiting decoy flight attendants; when announcing the girls picked he announces the actresses by real name.

Cameo: [Frank Abagnale Jr.] The real Frank W. Abagnale Jr arrests Leonardo Di Caprio in France, he is the man in the coat and hat who pins Leonardo against the police car.

According to costume designer Mary Zophres, there were about 130 'day-players' (bit part actors) and 3,000-4,000 background extras employed throughout the film.

The production made use of around 157 locations throughout North America.

Filmed in 52 days.

According to costume designer Mary Zophres, 'Leonardo di Caprio' has 100 costume changes throughout the film.