The movie M.A.S.H (Robert Altman, 1970), the scenario of which was written in accordance with the eponymous book of Richard Hooker, is a 1970 American satire military film. The movie is the only feature picture of the M.A.S.H series to be released in theaters, and it was one of Twentieth Century Fox’s popular pictures in the early 1970s. M.A.S.H became a successful film that described the conditions associated with the war and influenced the people of its time.
The video features a group of medical staff positioned in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. Even though the plot is centered following the actions of the Korean War, the underlying concept is the Vietnam War, which was a major issue at the time this story was filmed (M.A.S.H). Ideas about warfare generate practical jokes, and the main characters are both motivated and heartless. They smuggle a recorder beneath Major Hoolihan’s bed and stream her intimacy to the rest of the camp. In addition, a general is drugged and photographed at a brothel.
As for the success and popularity and social influence on the masses of people, this film has succeeded in all the areas. During the twentieth century, the filmmaking industry had substantial growth in popularity among Americans, and it became a key social influencer (Warren 460). Feature films, especially those directly related to hostilities and war, have a tremendous impact on the human brain and perception of the world (Kuri and Kaufman 53). M.A.S.H gained the Grand Prix at the 1970 Cannes Picture Festival, afterward known as the Palme d’Or. The work was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won Best Adapted Screenplay.
To summarize, M.A.S.H was one of Twentieth Century Fox’s popular military comedy pictures in the early 1970s. The film’s plot is believed to be tough and turns into a war satire, which shows the undisguised life of people associated with military operations. Considering the received awards and the impact of war movies on ordinary people, it can be stated that M.A.S.H was recognized as a successful work that depicted the life conditions during armed battles.
Works Cited
Kuri, Subrato, and Eric Kaufman. “Leadership Insights from Hollywood-Based War Movies: An Opportunity for Vicarious Learning.” Journal of Leadership Studies, vol. 14, no. 1, 2020, pp. 53-61.
M.A.S.H. Directed by Robert Altman, performance by Donald Sutherland, Twentieth Century Fox, 1970.
Warren, Craig. “The civil war in film.” Cambridge University Press, vol. 3, 2019, pp. 460-480.