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M*A*S*H

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MASH is a film from 1970, directed by Robert Altman, starring Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye and Elliott Gould as Trapper John.

The screenplay for the film is based on the novel "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors" (1968) by Richard Hooker and recounts the experiences of doctors and nurses in an American field hospital (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital 4077) in the Korean war.

The film was released in the autumn of 1970, and was an instant hit, partly as a result of the anti-Viet Nam war-feelings of back then. In the u.s. alone brought the film 73.2 million dollar MASH won a Oscar on. for the scenario and got four nominations. In 1996, the film because of the historical, cultural and aesthetic value for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress American

Content[]

[hide]*1 Story

Story[Edit][]

Read warning: text below contains details about the content and/or the end of the story.

Korea, 1951. The US is involved in the Korean war and many wounded are collected in different Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) units. Two surgeons who are called up for military service, Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce and Captain "Duke" Forrest log the 4077th MASH. If both Hawkeye Pierce behave like adolescents, they steal cars, sit behind the sisters and firing their own drinks. But they are good surgeons and they save lives. Despite the fact that they have the blessing of their boss Lieutenant Colonel Blake they find yet opposition from major Frank Burns. Burns is deeply faithful, hate the military authority and infringement is a stiff rake who don't drink alcohol. Burns is a very bad surgeon. Hawkeye and Duke know of Burns to come off by asking for a specialist surgeon. The new guy is an old acquaintance of Hawkeye, Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre. The last arrives at the same time as major Margaret Houlihan, who run is going to give to the nurses. As Blake get away see McIntyre that Burns are trying to cover up mistakes by blaming a subordinate and saves him. Yet that same evening consult Burns and Houlihan how they can sue McIntyre and Hawkeye. This turns it both so that they surrendering to a ferocious sex scene. What they do not know that someone the microphone of the broadcasting system has put in the tent. The whole camp can enjoy and hear Houlihan say "Kiss my hot lips" (Kiss my hot lips). With which a new nickname was born and now the major Hot Lips is called. The next morning as Hawkeye Burns what taunting with his sexual escapades, the last by the Ribbon and is drained in a straitjacket.

If it turns out that dentist soon has problems with his libido, he thinks and wants to commit suicide. Hawkeye is psychic (fictitious, has three fiancées and a very extensive post mistresses) and ensures that occupies a fictitious, fast-acting sleeping pill instead of a poison pill. As Hawkeye, Trapper, and Duke engage in a bet to see if Hot Lips really blond is, uninstall them the shower curtain as the major State to take a shower. A hysterical Hot Lips insists that Hawkeye and Trapper are arrested, but Blake chooses the side of its surgeons. That surgeons are meanwhile working to the South Korean Ho-Jon, a teenager who does chores for them, outside to keep conscription. They give him medicine to increase his blood pressure, but the medical examiner kicks and Ho Jon should stand up. If they return in the camp is Trapper called to to Tokyo and the son of a member of the u.s. Congress to operate. Trapper takes Hawkeye along for the fun. They operate successful and then enjoy an afternoon in a brothel, in which a children's home is connected to. One of the babies is sick and Trapper and Hawkeye operate the infant in the military hospital. If they are stopped by the head of the military police that she wants to arrest for unauthorized use of medical equipment, stun the man. A number of prostitutes dress the man out and pose with him for pictures. With this material they blackmail the man to release them.

Back to the 4077 MASH they get visit from the General Hammond. During a drink they talk about American football. Hammond boast about his team so well this game practices. Although 4077 MASH can hardly play football allows Hawkeye from 5000 to $ 6000 for a bet for the team to a friendly game of WINS. Later he reveals to his troubled friends a plan to win the contest. They apply for a neurosurgeon, Dr. Oliver Harmon "Spearchucker" Jones, a former American football player. Furthermore Hawkeye for order half the money in the first half of the game. Hammond will then become convinced of the terrible quality of the MASH-team and more willing to do their best for the second half. In which half will Jones be deployed. Although it is still almost goes wrong, the other team also puts an old player in, know MASH at the last minute to win. Not long after that Hawkeye and Duke home. They leave as they have come in a stolen car site.

Division Of Roles[Edit][]

Preproduction[Edit][]

The preparation[Edit][]

The origin of the movie and series is a book written by Dr. Richard Hornberger "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors". Waiting for the patients in his practice in Bremen, Maine (United States) he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Hooker about his imaginary at mobile field hospital 8055 in Korea. He based the character Hawkeye on himself. Hornberger wrote a series of books on his time, but none of the books was as successful as the first. Even before the book appeared were bought the film rights for $ 100,000 by Ingo Preminger that produce the movie for Twentieth Century-Fox went. Preminger had the idea to buy the rights of author of Ring Lardner Jr. who had read the proofs for Hornberger. The producer did right to ask some back by Lardner to write the screenplay for the film. In January 1969, Preminger Director Robert Altman for the Director. In March 1969 were actors Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland contracted for the lead roles of Trapper and Hawkeye. Altman explained in the same month the rest of the actors fixed, usually actors with whom he had previously worked as Michael Murphy and Tom Skerritt and employees of several theatre groups such as the American Conservatory Theatre and Chicago Second City .

Scenario[Edit][]

Read warning: text below contains details about the content and/or the end of the story.

Ring Lardner Jr. wrote the screenplay and processed in multiple story lines. One of the most famous scenes from the movie is the ' suicide ' of Painless Pole, played by John Schuck, containing the song Suicide is Painless. The scenario differs quite dramatically from Horn bergers book. According to Altman was the roman poorly written and racist in tone. The writer himself was described as a right-wing Republican with conservative ideas. Lardner threw the tone of the book complete, but Altman later said that he was still right and that he used only the scenario as a starting point. According to Lardner, the bulk of his work has, however, maintained and Altman only the order of the scenes and some dialogs adjusted and improvisations allowed. One of the changes is leaving out the scene in which Ho-Jon as prymus. Lardner also still applied to itself in the characters: so is the character Frank Burns a combination of two characters from the novel, Frank Burns and major Jonathan Hobson.

Actors[Edit][]

Although Elliott Gould as early as March 1969 was contracted was that initially not for the role of Trapper John McIntyre, for this was Burt Reynolds candidate. Altman wanted Gould would play the role of Duke Forrest. But Reynolds refrained from the role of Trapper John and Gould whined just as long at Altman that he got the role. Tom Skerritt received the role of Duke. Another problem was the choice of the character Hot Lips Houlihan. For the role Sally Kellerman was attracted, but Altman found her too attractive for the role, and he wanted to really only unattractive actors and actresses use. Eventually he tied in and got the Kellerman role. Also Donald Sutherland was second choice, Altman saw James Garnermore in, but Sutherland did so its best in the audition that he was adopted. For the role of Radar was initially Austin Pendletonfavourite, but after this actor Gary Burghoff, the total unknown got droped the role.

Production[Edit][]

Read warning: text below contains details about the content and/or the end of the story.===Locations[Edit]===

Most shots were made on the Twentieth Century-Fox Ranch in Malibu, California. The ranch was isolated and that was exactly what Director Robert Altman wanted. He wanted artistic freedom and no meddling from the studio. Twentieth Century-Fox was also involved in two expensive war films Tora! Tora! Tora! and Patton and Altman hoped he, under the budget and not too many to attract attention, by could work to a movie that had a clear anti-war message and actually was a reference to the Viet Nam war. Other locations where was filmed are:

  • Griffith Park in Los Angeles, for the scenes with the American football game.
  • Malibu Country Club in Malibu for the golf scenes.
  • Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, California, for the site around MASH
  • Stage 8 and 18 of the 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles

Recordings[Edit][]

The shooting started on 14 april 1969 and ran until 11 June 1969. The first scene that was recorded was the golf scene that had to play in Japan and was included on a nearby golf course in Malibu. Additional recordings were made on the outer areas of the studio for the street scenes. Altman used a zoom lens and a fog filter to a more nasty image of MASH and to get the surrounding terrain. He encouraged the actors to improvise and not on the camera to play but more on each other. Sally Kellerman originally had but a few sentences text and extended this by improvisation to a complete role. One of the improvisations was also the use of the word ' fuck ' in the film. (The first time it was pronounced in an American film). Actor John Schuck (dentist Painless) calls at an opponent during the game: "All right, Bud, this time your fucking head is coming right off!" (OK size, this time you klotekop off). Another improvisation was the blessing of the car park by the father Mulcahy. Actor Rene Auberjonois was made this blessing in a handbook for chaplains and added it to the scene. Another improvisation was the scene in which Gould and Sutherland call each other ' Shirley '. They did this even if they were not on the set and Altman seemed like a good idea to use it."Shirley" came from Shirley Douglas, the then-wife of Sutherland.

Quarrels and other discomforts[Edit][]

Altman had its own style of filming and also knew exactly what he wanted to capture. However, this was not as clear for his two protagonists Gould and Sutherland. They found Altman a film student who barely up cases had experience with film. At the time, Altman was in Hollywood not so highly regarded. He was their debut in 1957 with the film The Delinquents and not until eleven years later made his second film Countdownwhere he was right was fired. His third film That Cold Day in the Park was a huge flop. Despite this experience remained Altman his own course. He wanted quality, but had a feeling that not everyone understood him.His unorthodox way of filming only later would be appreciated. Altman was much more interested in the characters than in the plot and were searching for a more realistic test that actors through each other talk and are not always clearly understood. This gave Gould and Sutherland the impression that the Director but what did and saw ' their film ' fail. They tried several times to get to the studio and the producer that Altman would be fired. Altman could stay on and heard only later by Elliott Gould about the attempts to dismiss him. He appreciated the honesty of Gould and would later work with him, for example inThe Long Goodbye (andCalifornia Split. With Donald Sutherland was different. Altman never wanted to work with him.

Use the situation[Edit][]

The inclusion of the scene where Hot Lips in the shower and the tent sail is pulled away, was hard to take. Sally Kellerman reacted way too fast on the disappearance of the sail and was already on the ground to see for something was. Altman devised something at some point. He and actor Gary Burghoff (Radar) walked to the shower tent and left their trouser pockets. Kellerman looked startled at that time fell to both men and the tent cloth. The look of surprise and shock on her face is so basically by the sight of the two partly ontkleedde men. Altman also made use of the helicopter crash during the shooting. One of the helicopters crashed on 1 May 1969 at the ranch. Pilot of l. Honeycutt and the stunt people John Ashby and Eddie Smith were not seriously injured in. The wreck was by Altman in use at many recordings, such as the scene where the staff is sunbathing. For the shots of the match used Altman various players from the National Football League, such as Buck Buchanan, Timothy Brown and Fred Williamson as "Oliver" Spearkchucker "Jones. Although it is not listed in the credits were the contest scenes directed by Andy Sidaris, Director of sports programming at ABC-TV.

Post Production[Edit][]

Pin ups[Edit][]

Since the film is made up of a mosaic of short scenes, saw Altman that more structure in had to. This he wanted to reach by the scenes together by becoming the speaker system of the MASH camp that a message is heard. There was a film crew had additional recordings made by the speakers because Altman had too little of here yet. Altman edited the film together with his fixed montageman Greene. To style the film to stick pin ups they had pinned on the walls. Halfway through the mounting post production at the head of the Fox came along and demanded that Altman left because he wasn't part of the Assembly team. Altman threw the man out there. The man walked up to the Executive Board and the next day came a memo from the studio that no pin ups on the walls of the editing room may be pinned. Altman and Greene shrieked with laughter, then ran it out Altman to the sound recording studio and read the memo for, after which the in the film as communication can be heard through the speakers.

Messages[Edit][]

In post production edited Altman the movie further. The speakers acted as spokeswoman. We hear messages, fragments of radio broadcasts in Japanese and recommendations for movies that are turned in the canteen. These are mostly old films from the Second World War that the fight be vaunted, a silent protest against the Viet Nam war. The songs can be heard, often form a commentary on the scene. So to hear a Japanese version of "My Blue Heaven" during a love scene, while the song "Sayonara" (Goodbye) is heard as Frank Burns in a straitjacket is drained. Altman left even the actors "broadcasters" on the end of the movie. Instead of the usual end credits we hear announcer mention the names of the actors.

Music[Edit][]

Background[Edit][]

The film music was written by Johnny Mandel. In addition to his own compositions he also made use of Japanese songs and songs that were popular before and during the Korean war as "Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy", "My Blue Heaven", "Happy Days are Here Again", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", and "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo"; and the actors ' improvisations on songs like "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and "Hail to the Chief". The number that always the most is associated with M * A * S * H is "Suicide Is Painless", on melody of Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman's with text. The then 14-year-old Mike Altman was the son of Director Robert Altman. Eventually would Mike Altman about 2 million to earn copyrights to the song. Significantly more than the $ 75,000 that his father got for directing. The song is heard twice in the film. At the beginning where it is sung by the vocalists John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ron Hicklin, and Ian Freebairn-Smith and later during the scene of the so-called suicide of Painless. Here it is sung by Timothy Brown (corporal Judson) while on the guitar is accompanied by Corey Fischer (Captain Bandini).

The songs[Edit][]

  • "Suicide Is Painless" (Johnny Mandel/Mike Altman) performed by John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ron Hicklin, and Ian Freebairn-Smith. Also performed by Timothy Brown.
  • "Onward, Christian Soldiers" (Arthur Sullivan/Sabine Baring-Gould)
  • "Tokyo Shoe Shine Boy" (Tasuku Sano/Ida Seiichi)
  • "The Darktown Strutters ' Ball" (Shelton Brooks)
  • "When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World)" (Eddie Seiler/Sol Marcus/Bennie Benjamin)
  • "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" (Bronislau Kaper/Helen Deutsch)
  • "Hail to the Chief" (James Sanderson)
  • "My Blue Heaven" (Walter Donaldson/George Whiting)
  • "Sayonara" (Hasegawa Yoshida/Freddy Morgan)
  • "Taps" (Daniel Butterfield)
  • "The Washington Post" (John Philip Sousa)

Awards and nominations[Edit][]

1971 Academy Awards[Edit][]

  • Best screenplay (Ring Lardner jr.)

Nominations:

  • Best Supporting Actress (Sally Kellerman)
  • Best Director (Robert Altman)
  • Best montage
  • Best film

Ascap Film and Televison Awards 1988[Edit][]

  • Best song ("Suicide is Painless")

American Editors Award 1971[Edit][]

  • Best montage

BAFTA Awards[Edit][]

Nominations

  • Best actor (Elliott Gould)
  • Best Director (Robert Altman)
  • Best Film
  • Best Montage
  • Best Sound

Cannes Film Festival 1970[Edit][]

  • Palm dÓr (Robert Altman)

Directors Guild of America Awards 1971[Edit][]

  • Price for outstanding Director (Robert Altman)

1971 Golden Globes[Edit][]

  • Best film

Nominations:

  • Best actor (Elliott Gould)
  • Best actor (Donald Sutherland)
  • Best Supporting Actress (Sally Kellerman)
  • Best Director (Robert Altman)
  • Best screenplay (Ring Lardner jr.)

Sequel[Edit][]

After the success of the film produced CBS television the tv series M * A * S * H, which ran between september 1972-september 1983 with Alan Alda as Hawkeye and Loretta Swit as Hot Lips. The only actor from the film that starred Gary Burghoff was again in the role of Radar.

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