M*A*S*H Retrospective

Adapted from a novel by Richard Hooker and then filtered through Robert Altman’s signature improvisational style, the courageously uproarious antiwar satire M*A*S*H was one of the most successful comedies of its day. Ostensibly set during the Korean War but no doubt a response to the country’s embroilment in Vietnam, the film introduced audiences to the hijinks of indelible characters like Hawkeye Pierce, Hot Lips Houlihan, Father Mulcahy and Radar O’Reilly — names that would live on for 11 more years in the enormously popular television series adaptation for CBS. Altman received his first Best Director Oscar® nomination for M*A*S*H, which also scored a Best Picture nomination and a win for Ring Lardner, Jr.’s screenplay. – Mike Dougherty