MovieChat Forums > When Harry Met Sally... (1989) Discussion > The "we did it" scene

The "we did it" scene

posted 7 years ago by esskayess
3 replies | jump to latest

That has to be the most beautifully timed phone call scene in the history of cinema. I've long wondered how many takes it required.

My people skills are fine. It's my tolerance of morons that needs work.

[–] JaneThree 7 years ago

Carrie Fisher talked about it and said all four actors were actually on set doing it "live" and it was a lot of work. Finally they got a good take and she told Bruno Kirby she was done. That was it for me, sir.

[–] esskayess 7 years ago

That was great inside info, Jane. Many thanks!

My people skills are fine. It's my tolerance of morons that needs work.

[–] Beau_Buffet (332) 3 months ago

I've long wondered how many takes it required.

61

Reiner: "If somebody makes a mistake - and it's a three- to four-page scene - you can't cover it. You can't cut away to anything. You have to do it over again." So how many times did they try to get it right? "We shot it 61 times! If you remember at the end, they each hang up their phone - boom, boom, boom boom - in rhythm. It took forever to get it right. We did one I think 54 in, and we did it: They hung up the phones perfectly. Then Bruno blew his last line. So we had to start over again!""