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Nominated for five Academy Awards and the inspiration for one of the most successful TV series ever, it's hard to believe that Fox was so opposed to releasing the war comedy "M*A*S*H". The history of the film is dealt with in-depth on this superb new DVD release.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Picture The grainy veneer of "M*A*S*H" remains intact, but this is a transfer with damage removed and considerably improved colour contrast, compared to the washed-out 80s video release.
Sound An effective 2.0 stereo score handles both music and effects well, but most importantly, that deadly witty dialogue is crystal clear for you to enjoy.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Audio Commentary (Disc One) Director Robert Altman may provide a somewhat spartan commentary, but this is clearly a very personal movie to him, and the remarks he comes out with are generally worth waiting for. He points out the Korean title inserts the studio made him put in, discusses filming on the Fox backlot, and on discovering most of the cast courtesy of a San Francisco theatre company.
Backstage: "M*A*S*H" (Disc One) The titles of this documentary are so cheesy you'd think they were going to reveal the sordid sex scandals of "M*A*S*H" we never knew about. In actual fact it's a chronological look at the development of the film from book to controversial nightmare for Fox. They were determined to bury it, but Altman's additions of the loudspeakers in editing gave life to what he even admits was a flat and directionless movie.
Additional Disc One Extra Features Also on disc one is a trailer and a large behind-the-scenes stills gallery.
Disc Two Special Features
Enlisted: The Story of "M*A*S*H" Altman lets slip again his famous quote: "This film didn't get released from Fox, it escaped!" Still, if Fox was thinking along the same lines of Gary Burghoff (who played Radar), he thought the movie was about potatoes. This 40-minute documentary gets right under the skin of what became a hot potato for Fox. Despite Altman keeping a low profile on the backlot, both Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould agreed that "he should be committed", complaining to Fox about him. Of course, Elliott admits now that "we were arrogant snobs", but there's sadness in Altman's face when this point is put to him in interview. "I would have quit had I known," he says with an expression of genuine hurt.
"M*A*S*H" Comedy Under Fire In this 42-minute documentary, there's valuable background information on the Korean War mixed in with facts about Richard Hooker, who served in the war, and who wrote the book that inspired the film. The plain fact was that the US Army couldn't afford to discipline minor infractions, so high jinx to relieve the endless supply of wounded were always in order, and Hooker based the character of Hawkeye upon himself.
"M*A*S*H" Reunion Fox executives at the time branded "M*A*S*H" "the worst thing we've ever made". Thirty years later, and Fox's movie channel honours the cast and crew of the film with a screening of a restored print, and talks from the people involved in the film back in '69.
Region: 2
Chapters: 15
Ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 (stereo)
Technical Features: Scene selection, animated menus, multiple language subtitles, and English captions for the hearing impaired.
This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-S57 DVD player.
