Robert altman talks about the difficulty directing mash for 20th century fox. Mash robert altmans classic antiwar satire from 1970, using the korean war 4077th mobile army surgical hospital as its focal point, as a metaphor for our involvement in vietnam. With donald sutherland, elliott gould, tom skerritt, sally kellerman. When the movie was made into a tv show, just one movie cast member, gary burghoff, made the jump to the small screen. One of the reasons mash is so funny is that its so desperate. The 1970 film mash, directed by robert altman, featured an ensemble cast list that included donald sutherland, elliott gould, tom skerritt, sally kellerman and robert duvall. The music was written by johnny mandel, but robert altman felt it needed lyrics, over the objections of mandel, altmans 14yearold son wrote the lyrics. So is tv, said larry gelbart, who developed the series for tv from the 1970 robert altman film. February 20, 1925 november 20, 2006 was an american film director, screenwriter, and producer. Based on the novel by richard hooker, mash follows a group of mobile army surgical hospital officers at they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the front lines of the korean conflict.
It is set in a surgical hospital just behind the front lines in korea, and it is drenched in blood. Mash movie one of the worlds most acclaimed comedies, mash focuses on three korean war army surgeons brilliantly brought to life by donald sutherland, tom skerritt and elliott gould. The horror of war is set in counterpoint to their need to create havoc with episodic latenight parties, practical jokes, and sexual antics. Movie typography from mash 1970, directed by robert altman, starring donald sutherland, elliott gould, tom skerritt, robert duvall. Scott looks back at robert altmans irreverent film about an army hospital near the front lines in the korean war. Michael altman was the son of the mash movie director robert altman. Mash features the song suicide is painless, with music by mandel and lyrics by mike altman, the directors then 14 yearold son. See more ideas about mash 4077, alan alda mash and classic tv. Listen free to mash matters on iheartradio podcasts.
Mash robert altmans classic antiwar satire from 1970, using the korean war 4077th mobile army surgical hospital as its focal point, as a metaphor for our. Altman is known as fivetime nominee of the academy award for best director and an enduring figure from the new hollywood era with such directors as martin scorsese, woody allen, sidney lumet, and david lynch. Jacqui lambie calls for mash style units to fight ebola. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of mash, heres a look back at robert altman s oscarwinning film, starring donald sutherland, elliott gould, and sally kellerman. Mash is a 1970 american black comedy war film directed by robert altman and written by ring lardner jr. Although all major players were veteran actors, mash gave a serious boost to the careers of director robert altman, as well as actors donald sutherland. The picture is the only theatrically released feature film in the mash franchise, and it became one of the biggest films of the. Altmans next film, mash 1970, was a phenomenal success. Mash, the 1970 movie based on the book by richard hooker, was the quintessential ensemblecast comedy movie and became a template for both movies and television comedies and dramas for decades. Suicide is painless is a song written by johnny mandel music and mike altman lyrics, which is best known for having been featured as the theme song for.
Though highly skilled and deeply dedicated, they adopt a hilarious, lun. Rob welcomes both halves of the moviefilm podcast, zaki hasan and brian hall, to discuss robert altmans groundbreaking 1970 war comedy mash. Though highly skilled and deeply dedicated, they adopt a hilarious, lunatic lifestyle as an antidote to the tragedies of their mobile army surgical hospital, and in the process infuriate army bureaucrats. For film fans of the 1970s, he was father john mulcahy, the military chaplain who played straight man to the doctors antics in m. Released at the height of the vietnam war, this brilliant black comedy was set during the korean war but transparently was a reflection on the more recent conflict. Mash the dark 1970 comedy by robert altman about a medical. It focuses on three army surgeons donald sutherland, elliott gould and tom skerritt who develop a lunatic lifestyle in order to handle the everyday horrors they encounter in the korean war. The game of life is hard to play im gonna lose it anyway. An analysis of the movie, mash by robert altman kibin. So, the lyrics for mash were written by a 14yearold boy. Mash stylized on the poster art and related marketing as mash is a 1970 american black comedy war film directed by robert altman and written by ring lardner jr. Set during the korean war but made at the height of the war in vietnam, robert altmans exceptional antiwar comedydrama follows the fortunes of a mash mobile army surgical hospital. An analysis of the movie, mash by robert altman pages 2.
The movie was made almost 50 years ago, and withstands the test of time, if one understands. The staff of a korean war field hospital use humor and hijinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war. Donald sutherland and elliott gould in mash 1970 elliott gould and ben davidson in mash 1970. Led by captains hawkeye pierce donald sutherland and trapper john mcintyre elliott gould, they add to the chaos and hilarity of the situation. Through early morning fog i see visions of the things to be the pains that are withheld for me i realize and i can see that suicide is painless it brings on.
He is the director of 33 feature films since his first. Mashs wayne rogers talks about rehearsing with alan alda part 5 of 5 by pop goes the culture tv. Johnny mandel suicide is painless lyrics genius lyrics. Mash stylized as mash on the poster art is a 1970 american satirical black comedy war film directed by robert altman and written by ring lardner, jr. Mike altman is the son of the original films director, robert altman, and was 14 years old when he wrote the songs lyrics.
Mash mash tv series action figures 4 pack boxed set. The staff of a korean war field hospital use humor and high jinks to keep their sanity in the face of the horror of war. I believe the story goes that as payment, all he wanted was a new guitar, but it was insisted, not sure if by altman or the studio execs looking to avoid union problems, that michael altman. Forty years ago today, on january 25th, 1970, robert altmans mash or mash premiered in new york city.
Donald sutherland, elliott gould, jo ann pflug, robert duvall, sally kellerman, tom skerritt. The movie was made almost 50 years ago, and withstands the test of time, if one understands the backgrounds of the korean war depicted and the vietnam war during. Richard hooker is the pseudonym of hiester richard hornberger jr. Based on the novel by richard hooker, mash follows a group of mobile army surgical hospital officers at they perform surgery and pass the time just miles from the. Suicide is painless theme from the 1970 robert altman. It was his first significant film role and the first of.
Directed by robert altman, this was a groundbreaking production in its. Robert altman nostalgia larry mejores series tv mash 4077 the lone ranger old shows posters model. Mash creates a casual, chaotic atmosphere emphasizing the constant noise and activity of a surgical unit near battle lines. This entry was posted in film, music and tagged johnny mandel, marilyn manson, mash, michael altman, mitchell zuckoff, robert altman, robert altman.
The surgeons work rapidly and with a gory detachment, sawing off legs and tying up arteries, and making their work possible by pretending they dont care. Robert altman great director profile senses of cinema. Heres the rare trailer for the 1970 comedy mash directed by robert altman. Fancy watching mash in the comfort of your own home. Robert altmans mash comes sugarcoated in associations. Although he was not the first choice to direct it, the hit black comedy mash established robert altman as one of the leading figures of hollywoods 1970s generation of innovative and irreverent.
The picture is the only theatrically released feature film in the mash franchise, and it became one of the biggest films of the early. The novel was based on his own personal experiences during the korean war at the 8055th mobile army surgical hospital. Mash 15 movie clip hot lips on the radio 1970 hd duration. Mash stylized onscreen as mash is a 1970 american black comedy war film directed by robert altman and written by ring lardner jr. Looking back at robert altmans iconic 70s movies gallery. No 18 best comedy film of all time robert altman, 1970 phelim oneill. Nashville is a film dramamusical that centers around 5 days in the lives of a number of musicians and their various entourages as they ply their trade in country musics capital city. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of mash, heres a look back at robert altmans oscarwinning film, starring donald sutherland, elliott. We discuss a variety of topics, including garys earliest memories of performing as a child, playing the musical version of charlie brown, originating the role of radar in the classic robert altman film, and the mashrelated question hes most often asked. Although he was not the first choice to direct it, the hit black comedy mash established robert altman as one of the leading figures of hollywoods 1970s generation of innovative and irreverent young filmmakers. Mash was one of the most popular tv shows of all time, and the members of the 4077th became well known and beloved characters to the entire country. The mash is a name under which the writers johnny mandel and mike altman of the theme song suicide is painless from the movie mash are sometimes credited.
One of the worlds most acclaimed comedies, mash focuses on three korean war army surgeons brilliantly brought to life by donald sutherland, tom skerritt and elliott gould. And when they are at last out of the operating tent, they devote their. Prince, tom petty, steve winwood, jeff lynne and others while my guitar gently weeps duration. So altman did use the asterisks in the title, though theyre tiny. After more than a decade, people did want to know what happened to all of them after the war. This classic american war comedy received an oscar nomination for best picture and spawned one of the most popular shows ever to run on television.