MASH

Now Showing

On Sky Movies Modern Greats 27/11/09 14:00

Director: Robert Altman

Stars: Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, Tom Skerritt

Year: 1970 Running Time: 116 mins Rating:

Robert Altman's lacerating black comedy stars Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould as army surgeons fighting to find the bright side of the Korean War. Sally Kellerman gives great sass as nurse 'Hot Lips', while Ring Lardner Jr's Oscar-winning script sets the gutsy, irreverent tone for what became one of the most successful TV series of all time. Trivia: Altman's 14-year-old son Mike wrote the lyrics to the memorable theme song 'Suicide is Painless'.

Review

This blood-soaked black comedy gave new dimension to the word irreverence, and has perhaps been undeservedly eclipsed in memory by the outstanding TV series that stemmed from it.

The film boosted several star careers, including those of Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland, while Robert Altman's direction of their capers as surgeons in an ill-equipped mobile army service hospital (thus the title) in Korea brings home with full force the desperation behind the humour.

The football match at the end is the funniest of its kind since the one enjoyed by the Marx Brothers in Horse Feathers. Screenwriter Ring Lardner Jnr won an Academy Award.