Production Year: 1969 - Comedy - Director: Robert Altman - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Sally Kellerman, Robert Duvall, Jo Ann Pflug, Rene Auberjonois, Roger Bowen more
With the release of Robert Altman's M.A.S.H. in 1970, a new form of comedy was born, one that would help to forever change the face of cinema. Altman's audacious film reflected the... more
seeingMASHin 1970 confused the film for anything but a caustic comment on the Vietnam War; this is one of the counterculture movies that exploded into the mainstream at the ...
seeingMASHin 1970 confused the film for anything but a caustic comment on the Vietnam War; this is one of the counterculture movies that exploded into the mainstream at the ...
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A review by MAFARRIMOND on M.A.S.H (Vanilla Version) (DVD) October 14th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Good
Special Effects
Good
How does it compare to similar films?
Good
Advantages:
Offbeat comedy, haunting theme song
Disadvantages:
No storyline
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
A Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H) stationed on the front line of the Korean War may not seem the most obvious setting for a comedy. However, Robert Altman’s Oscar-winning film comedy, M*A*S*H (1970), was just that. Not only was the film a success in itself but it also spawned a cult TV series.
Based on the novel by Richard Hooker, Ring Lardner Jr wrote the screenplay for the film for which he was awarded an Oscar. Apparently, some thirteen directors rejected the screenplay before Altman finally agreed.
The film itself does not have a specific plot, it is more a hotch-potch collection of scenes centered around two madcap surgeons. Trapper John McIntyre (Elliott Gould) and Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland) are dedicated and hardworking. Faced daily with the horrors of war, the surgeons battle against the personal devastations of war providing medical treatment to those wounded in combat. To reduce the stress, they relax by thinking up and carrying out rebellious and crazy schemes.
The anti-authoritarian pair’s main adversaries are their direct superiors, Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall) and Major "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Sally Kellerman). They are subjected to all manner of humiliation and derision apperantly deserved to their overly placed importance on protocol rather than on the person.
There are a number of memorable scenes not least the one that would inspire the film’s theme song, Suicide is Painless. A well-endowed dentist, Painless (John Schuck), ironically impotent, is embroiled in a fake suicide complete with a last supper. Also watch out for the scene that provides “Hot Lips” with her nickname and the classic shower scene. Some scenes do not work as well in particular the drawn out football game (but maybe that is due to my personal dislike for the game).
Apart from the two main actors, Altman cast largely unknowns in the film. The cast works well together with the banter and action seemingly working naturally. Special mention has to go to Gary Burghoff who played the loveable Radar O'Reilly. Gary portrayed the character so appealingly and was the only actor from the film who went onto the television series.
The soundtrack to the film consists of incidental music, a variety of pop classics (including Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy, Onward, Christian Soldiers, My Blue Heaven, Happy days are here again and Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo) and the recurring theme song. The music for the film, including the theme song, was written by Johny Mandel. The lyrics to the song were amazingly written by Altman’s then fourteen year old son, Mike. (Just to go off track a little here, I was looking for a recording of the theme song not so long ago and my son did a trawl through the internet for a downloadable copy for me. He came up with a copy by Marilyn Manson. – which was quite good incidentally).
The cinematography is effective particularly the opening scene, with doctors and nurses running silently towards helicopters carrying incoming wounded, immediately creating a sense of the MASH unit. The operating theatre scenes are realistic and can be shocking.
The end credits, presented in an unusual and fitting manner, are read over the camp’s PA system without accompanying titles. The film is rated PG due to a short nude shot and mild language. Apparently M*A*S*H was the first major film in which the f-word was heard, uttered by Painless during the football game scene.
Altman's black comedy succeeded in reflecting the anti-war spirit of the 1970s that had evolved from the conflicts in Vietnam. Altman later said that he purposefully set out to create an impression that the film was set in Vietnam. No mention of which war the action took place in was ever referred to in the film. Through the hilarious antics, the gravity and destructive effects of war cannot remain unnoticed.
I did love the film and would thoroughly recommend watching it. Try not to be too influenced by the series as I know most will have seen at least one episode. Watch the film with unbiased eyes.
Advantages: It spwaned a brilliant TV show Disadvantages: Everything else
Despite seeing very few M*A*S*H episodes in my life I knew from these few that it was a television series that I would love and so when I ordered it for Christmas I also ordered the M*A*S*H film which incidentally is what the television series is based upon. I must at this point say that I was thoroughly disappointed with the film and since watching the first two series' of the television series have become even more disappointed with it. Now I'm ... ...that the film was brilliant and hilarious throughout but I just can't find the appeal. Like the television series the film is based in the 4077th MASH unit and shows how they cope with the day to day burden of facing countless young men that they must put back together again and ship out to continue the fighting. Unlike the television series however the film, being much longer, didn't simply deal with one issue and in my opinion this is its downfall. ...
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05.01.2009
MASH - Loved it Review ofM.A.S.H (Vanilla Version) (DVD)by
flashpointz
Advantages: good subject, great yarn, great cast, enduring film Disadvantages: none really
The movie "MASH" is a hilarious trip through a Korean War MASH Hospital. With a star-studded cast and a bizarre plot line, it is guaranteed to please.
I first saw an edited version of this movie on TV. From that minute on I was fascinated. I had seen the TV show, but the film is even better.
People should be warned however that this movie is not for everyone. There is a strong sexual content, and a bit of nudity. There are also several depictions ... ...to say, lots of blood. This movie is based around adult themes, despite the low rating. Not only that, lots of young people would not understand the references or humor of the movie. This is definitely not a date movie, but watching it with friends is highly recommendable.
The black humor of this movie is indescribable, and the irony is great. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes irony. The only other military movie with a comparable ...
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14.07.2000
Surgery as War Review ofM.A.S.H (Vanilla Version) (DVD)by
luaph
Advantages: Wonderfully bleak, dark and funny. Disadvantages: You can tell it was made in the 70s
I only saw this film after having seen many series of the television spin-off, and was expecting a rather sit-com style romp through the bloodshed and horrors of war. Whoops - got that one wrong. This is, without a doubt, a comedy film, but the humour is so black it is sometimes possible to forget that.
The film centres around the same characters as the TV series (i'm assuming that most people have seen at least one episode of this - it seemed to ... ...or so). However, rather than being affable, sane doctors who have a mild disagreement with the wat, Hawkeye and BJ are driven close to insanity by their position, having been drafted into the army.
Their refusal to acknowledge authority, the heavy consumption of alcohol, and the frequesntly cruel pranks are born out of disgust as much as boredom, and their attempts to ignore the reality of the war occurring all around them show the desperation of ...
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Plot: With the release of Robert Altman's M.A.S.H. in 1970, a new form of comedy was born, one that would help to forever change the face of cinema. Altman's audacious film reflected the American counterculture's growing distrust of religion and government in the late 1960s and early 1970s, resulting in one of the biggest box office smashes of its time. Introducing the techniques he would employ throughout his storied career overlapping dialogue, a constantly moving camera with a heavy amount of zooming, and a bold combination of frank subject matter with cynical humour Altman immediately vaulted himself to Hollywood's upper ranks. Based on the novel by Richard Hooker, M.A.S.H. follows a group of Mobile Army Surgical Hospital officers as they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the front lines of the Korean conflict. Led by sardonic captains Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and Trapper John McIntyre (Elliott Gould), the film has the feel of an absurd three-ring circus. Other characters include the uptight nurse Hot Lips O'Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), the confused Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), the troubled Captain Painless Waldowski (John Shuck), and the simpleminded Captain Duke Forrest (Tom Skerritt). Altman's decision to present his film as a series of loosely connected vignettes rather than a traditionally unfolding narrative perfectly captures the freewheeling spirit so unique to early-'70s cinema.
DVD Description
With the release of Robert Altman's M.A.S.H. in 1970, a new form of comedy was born, one that would help to forever change the face of cinema. Altman's audacious film reflected the American counterculture's growing distrust of religion and government in the late 1960s and early 1970s, resulting in one of the biggest box office smashes of its time. Introducing the techniques he would employ throughout his storied career overlapping dialogue, a constantly moving camera with a heavy amount of zooming, and a bold combination of frank subject matter with cynical humour Altman immediately vaulted himself to Hollywood's upper ranks. Based on the novel by Richard Hooker, M.A.S.H. follows a group of Mobile Army Surgical Hospital officers as they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the front lines of the Korean conflict. Led by sardonic captains Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and Trapper John McIntyre (Elliott Gould), the film has the feel of an absurd three-ring circus. Other characters include the uptight nurse Hot Lips O'Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), the confused Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), the troubled Captain Painless Waldowski (John Shuck), and the simpleminded Captain Duke Forrest (Tom Skerritt). Altman's decision to present his film as a series of loosely connected vignettes rather than a traditionally unfolding narrative perfectly captures the freewheeling spirit so unique to early-'70s cinema.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; Deluxe Video Service - Fox
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