MASH Donald Sutherland Elliot Gould 1970

MASH 1970

The original film MASH which stood for (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) This film ended up with a great spin off TV show that ran 11 seasons. The film MASH was great of course, with much more realism than the TV show, and with a war that lasted about three years, some of the main character were discharged at the end of the film. The film version stars Elliott Gould as Trapper John McIntyre, and Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye Pierce.

Richard Hooker wrote the book the film MASH is based on

The film is where the Trapper John character is the more skilled chief surgeon. On the the TV show its reversed. The movie is based on a book by a guy named Richard Hooker, about three Army doctors which he really was and station in Korea. The book by Hooker MASH A Novel about Three Army Doctors gained life as a film directed by Robert Altman in 1970; The film was perfect for Altman with his trademark with overlapping dialogue which was superb for this film with people talking at the same time and interrupting each other. Robert Duvall plays Frank Burns, and Sally Kellerman in the role of Hot Lips Houlihan.

MASH is fast paced with a lot of slapstick comedy with the seriousness of the Korean war as a back drop and realism with the surgery that you see on film with lots of blood. Their is a football game towards the end of the film with the 4077 verses the 325 Evac hospital. You will see some real hall of fame NFL players in the game such as Fran Tarkington, and Johnny Unitas. MASH was nominated for 5 Academy Awards winning one for best screenplay-based on material from another medium. Mash is a film I can watch many times over and never get tired, enjoy the film. If you are a big fan of the MASH TV show you will enjoy the film.

released by 20th Century Fox and directed by Robert Altman