M*A*S*H - Special Edition (1970)
Before the TV series there was the classic movie that started it all
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerrit, Sally Kellerman, Robert Duvall, Jo Ann Pflug, Rene Auberjonois
Director: Robert Altman
Running Time: 111 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Comedy, Drama, War
On DVD It is 1951, and two young surgeons - Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and Augustus Bedford 'Duke' Forrest (Tom Skerrit) - find themselves in the employment of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in the middle of the Korean War. They will do their jobs to the best of their abilities, and they are fine doctors who will save many lives. However, they are also reluctant draftees rather than career army officers and they see no reason to make the army's job easy. Joined by renowned chest-cutter John Francis Xavier 'Trapper John' McIntyre (Elliott Gould) they set about dealing with their feelings by letting off steam in any way they can.
There is no plot as such - instead there are a series of vignettes which show life in the M*A*S*H unit through the eyes of those on the ground. They go from saving lives to making trouble, joking all the while as a means of dealing with the situation. On one occasion, they become involved in a football game against a larger unit which is complicated by the placing of substantial bets and a battle between the two teams to find the best players. Another time, they take a trip to Tokyo to operate on a congressman's son and to play a little golf, creating much havoc on the way. They also plot to get rid of the incompetent Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), and they help the camp dentist to commit 'suicide' with all due ceremony.
This was a groundbreaking film when it was made, and it still stands up well considering how much the subject matter has dated. The cast, largely unknown when the movie was made, do a superb job of bringing these characters to life - many careers were launched on the back of this film. Although there is no doubt that the film has aged, much of the humour still works, and the blood-and-guts message that war isn't pleasant remains all too relevant.
Based on the novel by Richard Hooker.
DVD Extras: This package has managed to gather together a decent collection of extras for a film of this age. The documentaries are particularly interesting and amount to nearly two hours of material on their own.
Extras: Director's commentary, Featurette, 3 documentaries, Still gallery, Theatrical trailer.
It's Got: An extremely strong cast. One Oscar and four nominations.
It Needs: To be seen in context - some of the jokes have faded a little over the years.
Alternatives: Dr Strangelove, Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came, Whoops Apocalypse.
Summary: Still a funny movie more than thirty years after it was made even if some of the jokes have lost their relevance in the modern world. A great classic.
Review by Andrea Chee
Review Date: 17th May 2003
External Links
M*A*S*H - Special Edition at the IMDB
