How Rob Reiner Nailed That Tricky Four-Way Call in When Harry Met Sally

Rob Reiner’s knack for storytelling has given us some of the most cherished films around, from the emotional journey of Stand By Me to the whimsical charm of The Princess Bride. But it’s hard to go past When Harry Met Sally as his crowning achievement in the romantic comedy genre. The story kicks off in the late ‘70s, with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s characters sharing a car ride after finishing uni. Their first meeting is anything but smooth, with the pair butting heads over whether blokes and women can ever just be mates. Over the years, they keep running into each other, eventually building a friendship laced with both understanding and a fair bit of unspoken attraction. You can’t help but barrack for them, even when Harry’s being a bit of a cynic or Sally’s showing her neurotic side, hoping they’ll finally admit what’s been obvious all along.

Attention to Detail on Set

Nora Ephron’s script is both sharp and heartfelt, and Reiner’s direction brings it to life with a warmth that makes the characters feel like real people. His own romance with Michele Singer, which blossomed during the making of the film, even shaped the story’s direction. Unlike his own experience, though, he made sure Harry and Sally got their happy ending. The film’s atmosphere is cosy, perfect for a night in during the cooler months, and it’s the little touches that make it stand out. One scene in particular demanded a level of precision that would test anyone’s patience: a four-way phone call that took a whopping 60 takes to get right.

While the film features a few phone conversations, most were straightforward to shoot. The scene where Harry and Sally watch Casablanca in their own beds, for example, was simply edited together. But the four-way call was a different beast entirely.

The Challenge of the Four-Way Call

This sequence has Carrie Fisher’s Marie and Bruno Kirby’s Jess in bed together, each on their own phone, chatting with Harry and Sally. All four characters are on screen at once, and the camera doesn’t budge. Reiner described it as,

“one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done with four actors”.

He went on,

“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.”

It was a logistical headache, with each actor needing to hit their lines perfectly, even when their cues came from someone else’s conversation. The scene ran for about four pages, and there was no room for error. If anyone fluffed a line, they had to start from scratch. As Reiner put it,

“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”.

A Memorable Moment in Film

All that effort paid off, though. The result is a seamless, unforgettable moment that stands out in a film packed with great scenes. It’s a testament to Reiner’s commitment to getting things just right, even if it meant running through the same scene dozens of times. For punters who love a good rom-com, it’s one of those moments you can’t help but remember.