"M*A*S*H": A Title Sewn Into Our National Fabric

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 2002)

"M*A*S*H" is the original film of 1970 which was a smash hit both critically and commercially and of course spawned the popular television series which lasted a decade and received a whopping 99 Emmy nominations over its run. The film is the subject of this review and no doubt "M*A*S*H" is one of the best films of the 1970s. It is a black comedy in every sense of that term. Surgeons in the Korean War try to survive the horrors associated with combat by not taking anything too seriously. Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould and Tom Skeritt are the primary surgeons whose parts are followed in "M*A*S*H". The ensemble cast includes the likes of Sally Kellerman (Oscar-nominated), Robert Duvall, David Arkin, Rene Auberjonois, Michael Murphy, Bud Cort and former NFL star Fred "The Hammer" Williamson (remembered most for being knocked out of Super Bowl I). Then-current NFL stars Ben Davidson, Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp participated in the football game scenes. Screenwriter Ring Lardner, Jr. won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar in 1970 even though most of the film was ad libbed on the spot. Robert Altman was nominated in the directing category and he is remembered more for this film than any other. On a special note, Gary Burghoff, who played Radar, was the only performer to appear in both the movie and the television series. 4.5 stars out of 5.