Movie review - M*A*S*H

Reviewed by Justin Colburn and Keayn Dunya

When director Robert Altman set out to make M*A*S*H, it was his goal to make an anti-war film set in Korea that would draw parallels to Vietnam. At the same time Fox studios was working on two other highly anticipated war films, Tora! Tora! Tora! and Patton. Altman knew that he would be able to take more liberties with the film if he kept it under budget and didn't do anything to draw attention to himself. When the film was finished the studio was furious. Altman and his producers fought hard and in the end proved themselves when M*A*S*H ended up being a huge success. This often overlooked classic is a landmark in the history of film.

The script for M*A*S*H was adapted from Richard Hooker's book by Hollywood Blacklist victim Ring Lardner jr. and to many people this film marks the end of the blacklist. In 1971 Lardner won an Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium." Ironically Altman encouraged improvisation so much that the final cut of the film barely resembled Lardner's original script. Despite the fact Altman strayed from the script, he says that Lardner set the tone for the movie, and if it had not been for him it would not have turned out the way it did.

At the time the movie was released there was a very big anti-war movement in the country. It was in this spirit that Altman intended the movie to be made. He hoped by taking out everything that would specifically link it to Korea, he would be able to make audiences believe that it was taking place in Vietnam. When the studio got a hold of the movie they made Altman go back and add in the caption at the beginning of the film signifying that it was talking place in Korea. With or without the caption the movie's message still comes through considering the only gunshots you hear on the front lines of the Korean War are from the referee's pistol during a military football game.

M*A*S*H follows Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and Duke Forrest (Tom Skerritt) as they arrive in Korea and take their post at the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. The movie really begins when Trapper John McIntyre (Elliott Gould) arrives and joins Hawkeye in his struggle against military rules and regulations. Together they go head to head against Frank Burns (Robert Duvall) and Hotlips O'Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), help Painless Paul to commit suicide and cheat their way to victory in an inter-military football game.

Justin:

This is one of my favorite war movies of all time. I've always been a big fan of the series and when I stumbled across the movie, it became an instant favorite. Gould and Sutherland compliment each other perfectly on screen and Altman did a wonderful job directing. Altman did two things that stick out in my mind more than anything else. First was how he used the camp's loudspeaker as a transition point between scenes and the second was how he set up Painless Paul's suicide scene to look like the Last Supper, complete with a light over his head that makes him look like he has a halo.

I've heard people say that my generation had no great war to fight for and no great cause to believe in, but during times such as this country is going through right now the film's anti-war message isn't lost me. It may not have the same impact it did when M*A*S*H hit theatres in 1970, but it's still there.

Keayn:

I have never been a big fan of war movies but I really liked this one. This movie doesn't focus on the war but on the people behind the lines. It also shows that you can be patriotic and not necessarily agree with what's going on. Which in light of recent events, puts a lot of things in perspective.

The way the PA system was used to set up a scene or to highlight the action was wonderful. Trapper and Hawkeye portray a team as great as any other, and the interplay between the Colonel and Radar is as enlightening as it is entertaining.

With all the strife in the world today, M*A*S*H is a welcome reminded that even in the most turbulent of time there's always a little fun to be had and still get the job done.

M*A*S*H Movie Trivia

-The first movie to use the "F-Word"

-Director Robert Altman's 14 year old son, Mike, wrote the lyrics to the theme song "Suicide is Painless." Since the release of the film, Mike has made more money off of the song royalties than his father did making the movie.

-The movie was based on the book by Richard Hooker, and was the inspiration for the television series. If you go back and watch early episodes you will notice the character Spearchucker Jones shares a tent with Hawkeye and Trapper.

-Gary Burghoff (Radar) and G. Wood (General Hammond) were the only two actors from the movie to move on to the television series

4.25 out of 5 First Aid Stars