M*A*S*H

As the camp loudspeaker might put it: "Set in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, tonight's film is a picaresque comedy tracking the high-pressure lives of doctors and support staff. Watch as Hawkeye (Donald Sutherland) and Trapper John (Elliott Gould)--a.k.a., the pros from Dover--together with Duke (Tom Skerritt) and the handsomely endowed Polish dentist Waldowski (John Schuck) fight to save lives while battling bureaucratic numbskulls such as Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall) and Major Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan." Although extraordinarily idiosyncratic for its day (20th Century Fox execs were very nervous about releasing the film), Robert Altman's 1970 breakthrough M*A*S*H would become both a critical and commercial success upon its initial release and spawn one of the most highly regarded and longest running television comedy series in history. Although nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, it would only win one--for Ring Lardner's screenplay, an ironic choice given that Lardner was furious since Altman hardly used any of his original script based on Richard Hooker's novel. In this double-disc entry in Fox's notable "Five Star Collection," viewers will see the genesis of Robert Altman's stylistic quirks (such as multiple characters talking at once) that have either endeared or alienated him to critics and viewers over the past 30 years. Sporting a reasonably good restored digital transfer and a Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack, the set's excellent extras include an audio commentary by Altman, three documentaries (an AMC episode of Backstory, "Enlisted: The Story of M*A*S*H" and "M*A*S*H: History Through the Lens") with new interviews with the director and many of the principals (viewers will learn that at one point Sutherland and Gould tried to get Altman removed from the film), and footage of a cast reunion shot during Altman's acceptance of the Fox Legacy Award. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Sept. 15, 2009—Fox, 116 min., R, $34.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1970's M*A*S*H sports a great transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Robert Altman, an AMC episode of Backstory (25 min.), “Enlisted: The Story of M*A*S*H” (41 min.), “M*A*S*H: History Through the Lens” (44 min.), footage of a cast reunion filmed during Altman's acceptance of the Fox Legacy Award (30 min.), a “Complete Interactive Guide” with onscreen pop-ups throughout the film, a stills gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a biting comedy classic makes a wonderful debut in Blu.]