Rob Reiner's 60-Take Marathon for One Tricky Phone Scene
The legendary director pushed his cast through dozens of attempts to nail a complex four-way phone conversation that became one of cinema's most memorable moments.
Rob Reiner has given moviegoers some of cinema's most treasured films, from the nostalgic journey of Stand By Me to the whimsical adventure of The Princess Bride. Yet among his masterpieces, When Harry Met Sally stands out as perhaps the finest romantic comedy ever made.
The story follows two college graduates whose initial car ride together becomes a clash of philosophies about friendship between men and women. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan bring these characters to life across multiple encounters over the years, building a friendship layered with unspoken romantic feelings that audiences can't help but cheer for.
The Challenge of Coordinating Four Voices
Nora Ephron's brilliant screenplay came alive under Reiner's direction, influenced by his own real-life romance with Michele Singer during production. While the film feels effortless and natural, achieving that authenticity required incredible attention to detail, particularly for one sequence that demanded extraordinary persistence.
The movie features several telephone conversations, but one scene proved exceptionally challenging. Unlike the simpler bedroom scene where Harry and Sally watch Casablanca together, this particular moment required all four main characters to appear simultaneously during a phone call.
Technical Complexity Meets Artistic Vision
The sequence shows Marie, played by Carrie Fisher, and Jess, portrayed by Bruno Kirby, in bed together while speaking on separate phones to their respective friends. Reiner described this as "one of the most difficult things I've ever done with four actors."
The technical setup proved incredibly complex. "Camera never moves. I had to rig the phone system. Sometimes their cues were not what they were hearing from the guy they were on the phone with. Their cue would be from something that was being said on the other conversation, but it was all intertwined, like a Fugue for Tinhorns. You know, it just kept going," Reiner explained.
Perfection Through Persistence
The director knew he needed to capture the entire sequence in one uninterrupted take. "And the scene was like four pages long. And if anybody blew a line, no good. You had to start all over again. And we did 60 takes," he revealed.
This marathon filming session demonstrates the dedication required to create movie magic. The investment of time and energy paid off handsomely, as this intricate phone conversation became one of the film's most unforgettable moments, showcasing the interconnected relationships that drive the story forward.