M*A*S*H (1970)
During the Korean War, three surgeons raise havoc at a Mobile
Army Surgical Hospital in Robert Altman's Oscar-winning satire.
Though highly skilled and deeply dedicated, they adopt a
hilarious, lunatic lifestyle as an antidote to the tragedies of
their M*A*S*H, and in the process infuriate Army bureaucrats.
This sanguine black comedy was a genuine shocker when it was
released - not only for its bloody depiction of life in the
emergency operating ward, but also for its cheerful irreverence
and unequivocal anti-war stance.
Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland were memorably teamed and
Altman's freewheeling direction gave the feeling that the film was
perilously balanced on a high wire above deep and dangerous
waters.
Robert Duvall, Gary Burghoff and Sally Kellerman co-star as a
sanctimonious Major, an other-worldly Corporal, and a
self-righteous yet lusty nurse.
The movie provided inspiration for the long-running TV series
of the same name, although only Gary Burghoff made the transition
from the movie version to the TV series.
McLean Stevenson played Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV
series and died of a heart attack on 15 February 1996. Roger Bowen
played Henry Blake in the movie version and died of a heart attack
the very next day . . . on 16 February 1996. Spooky!
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