History Trivia / CatchMeIfYouCan

* ActorAllusion:
** When [[Creator/TomHanks Hanratty]] is closing in at the engagement party, a dollar bill slips under the bedroom door and floats by him, [[Film/ForrestGump just like a certain feather]].
** This comes seconds after another actor allusion, as Frank makes a hasty exit through a window, kissing Brenda before he goes into exile. After talking about the meaninglessness of his names, no less. [[Film/WilliamShakespearesRomeoAndJuliet Sound familiar?]]

* CareerResurrection: For Leonardo [=DiCaprio=] alongside ''Film/GangsOfNewYork'' (also released in 2002). Unlike Gangs, where Bill the Butcher and Creator/DanielDayLewis was credited for carrying the film, Leonardo was clearly the central lead and star of ''Catch Me If You Can'' (albeit supported by Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks in supporting turns). Frank Abagnale was a more complex character than Amsterdam Vallon (a rather classic Hero's Journey AudienceSurrogate). Both films by major directors proved that Leonardo was more than a pretty face made famous by ''Titanic''. With ''Catch Me If You Can'' showing his range in a part that calls him to shift from comic to dramatic registers while also taking his usual romantic leading role characters and giving it a darker edge. More than that, ''Catch Me If You Can'' was a major commercial success unlike ''Gangs of New York'' which made a smaller profit than expected.

* ThrowItIn: When filming the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting Frank's mother (who he is now divorced from) in France during World War II, Creator/ChristopherWalken did the first few takes straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly broke down crying. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Johnny Depp was the original choice for Frank.

* CareerResurrection: For Leonardo [=DiCaprio=] alongside ''Film/GangsOfNewYork'' (also released in 2002). Unlike Gangs, where Bill the Butcher and Creator/DanielDayLewis was credited for carrying the film, Leonardo was clearly the central lead and star of ''Catch Me If You Can'' (albeit supported by Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks in supporting turns). Frank Abagnale was a more complex character than Amsterdam Vallon (a rather classic Hero's Journey AudienceSurrogate). Both films by major directors proved that Leonardo was more than a pretty face with ''Catch Me If You Can'' showing his range in a part that calls him to shift from comic to dramatic registers while also taking his usual romantic leading role characters and giving it a darker edge. More than that, ''Catch Me If You Can'' was a major commercial success unlike ''Gangs of New York'' which made a smaller profit than expected.

* DawsonCasting: Frank ages from 16 to his early twenties over the course of the film; he was played by a 27-year-old Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio. Justified in that the real Frank Abagnale looked older than his age, which was how he got away with many of his scams, and it's Hanratty's initial profiling of Abagnale after their first encounter includes being age 26 -- 30. In fact, [=DiCaprio=] arguably looks ''younger'' than Abagnale at the same age; [[https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/leo-e1490715536149.png?strip=all&w=960 here's]] a comparison of the real 29-year-old Abagnale on ''To Tell the Truth'' compared to 27-year-old [=DiCaprio=] in the digital recreation of the show.

* DawsonCasting: Frank ages from 16 to his early twenties over the course of the film; he was played by a 27-year-old Creator/LeonardoDiCaprio. Justified in that the real Frank Abagnale looked older than his age, which was how he got away with many of his scams. And that's invoked in-movie; Hanratty's initial profiling of Abagnale after their first encounter includes being age 26 -- 30.

* ThrowItIn: When filming the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting Frank's mother(who he is now divorced from) in France during World War II, Creator/ChristopherWalken did the first few takes straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly broke down crying. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.

* ThrowItIn: When filming the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting Frank's mother(who he is now divorced from) in France during World War II, ChristopherWalken did the first few takes straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly broke down crying. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.

* ActorAllusion: When [[Creator/TomHanks Hanratty]] is closing in at the engagement party, a dollar bill slips under the bedroom door and floats by him, [[Film/ForrestGump just like a certain feather]].

* OneOfUs: Abagnale. Evidenced from his aliases which were based on comic book characters.
* StarMakingRole: Oddly averted for Creator/AmyAdams, who despite being prominently featured as Frank's girlfriend had to wait until ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' some years later to become an A-lister. Spielberg actually cast her in order to make that star, and said he was crushed when her career didn't take off immediately. But her career got better, so it all worked out in the end.

* HeyItsThatGuy: The movie featured [[Series/GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[Series/{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and Creator/AmyAdams as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''Series/{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, garnering her attention between then and the film's release.
** [[Series/TheWestWing President Bartlet]] is Brenda's dad.
** Creator/AmyAcker was one of the distractingly sexy stewardesses.
** The musical has Creator/AaronTveit from the original cast of ''Theatre/NextToNormal'' and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}''. Funnily enough, Butz was the original Broadway Fiyero, and Tveit also played Fiyero at the Gershwin Theatre, ''Wicked''[='=]s Broadway home.
** Not even [[Film/TheDeadZone Johnny Smith]] could have predicted his son would end up engaged to Greg Stillson's daughter!

** The musical has Creator/AaronTveit from the original cast of ''Theatre/NextToNormal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}''. Funnily enough, Butz was the original Broadway Fiyero, and Tveit also played Fiyero at the Gershwin Theatre, ''Wicked''[='=]s Broadway home.

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl]]: The movie featured [[Series/GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[Series/{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and Creator/AmyAdams as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''Series/{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, garnering her attention between then and the film's release.

** The musical has Creator/AaronTveit from the original cast of Next to Normal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of Wicked.
*** Funnily enough, Butz was the original Broadway Fiyero in ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}'' and Tveit also played Fiyero at the Gershwin Theatre, Wicked's Broadway home.

* ThrowItIn: When filming the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting Frank's mother(who he is now divorced from) in France during World War II, ChristopherWalken did the first few takes straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly breaks down and cries. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.

** This comes seconds after another actor allusion, as Frank makes a hasty exit through a window, kissing Brenda before he goes into exile. [[Film/WilliamShakespearesRomeoAndJuliet Sound familiar?]]

*** Funnily enough, Butz was the original Broadway Fiyero in ''Theatre/{{Wicked}} and Tveit also played Fiyero at the Gershwin Theatre, Wicked's Broadway home.

** The musical has Creator/AaronTveit from the original cast of Next to Normal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of Wicked

* ThrowItIn: When filming the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting his wife(Frank's mother who he is now divorced from) in France during World War II, ChristopherWalken did the first few takes straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly breaks down and cries. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.

* ThrowItIn: During the scene where Frank meets his father in a fancy restaurant and Frank Sr. reminisces about meeting his mother in France during World War II, ChristopherWalken did a few takes where he played it straight. Then during one take Walken suddenly breaks down and cries. Spielberg was so moved that he used it in the movie.

** AmyAcker was one of the distractingly sexy stewardesses.

** Not even [[Film/TheDeadZone Johnny Smith]] could have predicted his son would end up engaged to Greg Stillson's daughter!

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl]]: The movie featured [[Series/GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and {{Amy Adams}} as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''Series/{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, [[IncrediblyLamePun garnering]] her attention between then and the film's release.

** The musical has AaronTveit from the original cast of Next to Normal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of Wicked

** Not even [[TheDeadZone Johnny Smith]] could have predicted his son would end up engaged to Greg Stillson's daughter!

** The musical has Aaron Tveit from the original cast of Next to Normal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of Wicked

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl]]: The movie featured [[GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and {{Amy Adams}} as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''Series/{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, [[IncrediblyLamePun garnering]] her attention between then and the film's release.

** The musical has Aaron Tveit from the original cast of Next to Normal and Norbert Leo Butz from the original cast of Wicked

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl]]: The movie featured [[GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and [[{{Enchanted}} Amy Adams]] as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''Series/{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, [[IncrediblyLamePun garnering]] her attention between then and the film's release.

* [[HeyItsThatGuy Hey, It's That Girl]]: The movie featured [[GreysAnatomy Ellen Pompeo]], [[{{Scrubs}} Elizabeth Banks]] and [[{{Enchanted}} Amy Adams]] as women Frank came across during his misadventures, all of whom were virtual unknowns at the time. Jennifer Garner was also relatively unknown at the time of her casting, but she was cast as the lead in ''{{Alias}}'' shortly thereafter, [[IncrediblyLamePun garnering]] her attention between then and the film's release.