4. Catch 22 (1970)
This is an example of a director using a long shot to show-off his dedication to historical accuracy. The scene in question is one of the longest and most complex scenes ever filmed, and is rendered all the more stunning through being completely uninterrupted. As two actors converse, in the background 16 authentic full-sized WW2 bombers four groups of four planes take off at the same time. Without cutting away, these two actors proceed to enter a building. Through a window behind them, perfectly framed, we can see the very same planes climbing into formation. Nowadays the two actors would simply act before a greenscreen, but for every subsequent take of this scene, those 16 planes had to be called back and made to take off again. The pressure to get things right must have been tremendous on everyone's part, but luckily it was achieved in a comparatively succinct four takes. It's easy to take this scene for granted nowadays, as we naturally assume any grand spectacle to have been rendered on a computer. But if you watch it in mind of how it was achieved, you may subsequently be required to pick up your jaw from the floor.