War; Korean, Vietnam, wherever, there is always going to be events that challenge the perseverance of the human spirit. Constant contact with death, nihilism, and conflicting ideas of being carefree yet having a duty to staying alert and responsible at all times are called into question by Director Robert Altman. He interrogates these problems however in a way that was unique to American cinema before this time. This was a progressive way to attack the Hollywood formulaic approach to producing war propaganda films, therefore MASH took the form of black, satirical comedy. For this movie one really has to understand the context. 1970s America had been given a decade to be shocked and appalled by the events in Vietnam; the government conscripts mere boys to get blown up by crazed commanders, or to go mad in the jungle heat. Drugs, and lack of army regulation/protocol was rife as efficient communication in Vietnam was impossible. The citizens back home were exhausted by getting blasted with moralistic propaganda which conflicted heavily with the reality of defeats and the futility of war. Protesting was very current however sometimes the best form of protest is through subversive humour. Seeing as the film is set in Korea rather than Vietnam, the controversy is surpressed so the presiding studios didn't have a reason to prevent the film from being released. Korean war is again about controlling emerging communist states. M*A*S*H at times feels almost apologetic for American being so domineering over less economically developed countries. As a protest film M*A*S*H was and still is a success.
The most moral problem is that Captain Hawkeye Pierce and his comrades in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital are cynical about army process, they are snide about authority and unashamedly lust for women. Despite being described as complete liabilities to the efficient handling of the wounded in Korea, they are in fact highly skilled surgeons and integral to the success of the hospital. Luckily most of the other soldiers and leaders of the hospital think similiarly to 'Hawkeye' and his friends, who therefore get away with a lot, and consequently the comedy works so smoothly. Their approach to life and confrontation, however is never greatly malicious, it is always with dry wit. They are almost too funny to laugh at. The overt nature of the farce increases as the film progresses, the film breaks down in plot structure, yet still clings together and resultantly is hilarious. (Just like, in the American football scene, the MASH football team increases in casualties yet still emerge victorious).
Altman uses interesting techniques to realise his low budget masterpiece to the audience. The dialogue, which actually was quite controversial - the script and scriptwriter were ignored and Altman encouraged improvisation - is natural, especially in the way there is a constant murmer, and interruption is frequent. The motif of orders becoming convoluted by overlayed voices amusing yet also thought provoking and prevalent to the conmunication crisis in Vietnam. There is no structure and it shows how the army is just a group of people who communicate with each other, sharing, then applying their initiative, rather than taking direction solely from the top, who are safe in Washington. "They always have more fun"
The young actors (Donald Sutherland) and those making their debut were thrust into a spontaneous atmosphere whereby the way the film was actually filmed was just as disorderly as the actual M*A*S*H camp itself. Scenes were set up and Altman would probe in with his wide angled camera, zooming in on improvised dialogue and real interaction between characters. The film however is linked together by the speakers that convey the days orders and announcements. Again this is satirized as the speaker begins to stutter and the actual content is really quite odd when you stop and think. They are even used quite deviously to hilarious effect (won't reveal because I'm sure you don't want spoilers).
The sexism is not even problematic for a femenist viewer like me, I have to accept it, and it is actually hilarious because you have to empathize with the desolate atmosphere of war. Religion is also a subject of mockery. The way that some army generals actually believed that they were doing God's bidding, that they would be saved by praying is shocking to the unassuming public. Death is normalized and no way is it religiously spiritual. The opening overture even gives suicide a melody. It is even more incredible as the song is even catchy.
The American population love buddy movies and this is equally great with its dastardly duo of Hawkeye and Trapper John (Elliot Gould). Hawkeye is a great character with his winks and sardonic attitude, which I believe may have influenced Wes Anderson's fantastic Mr Fox. Mr Fox is even as resourceful and inventive despite being equally antagonizing.
*****
