M*A*S*H - Season One (Collector's Edition) [1972] [DVD]

Mash the TV series is not nearly as satirical or dark as the Robert Altman movie, but excels in so many ways. The first series takes a little time to get going for those new to the show, but when it does it is great.

As soon as you hear the opening bars of one of the greatest TV themes of all time you are in for a treat. (oddly, they tinker with the theme tune about of a third of the way through the series and it becomes very 70s - but by the end the original is restored).
The acting of most of the cast is excellent:
Maclean Stephenson as Colonel Henry Blake excels as a non military man struggling with day to day command of an anarchic unit;
Loretta Swit as Margaret (Hotlips) Houlihan epitomises pent up sexuality;
Gary Burghoff as 'Radar' O'Reilley is as sweet a character you are likely to find, but is more worldy wise in this first series than in later ones, where his character developes (regresses?) into an almost childlike innocent - the son/kid brother replacement for his displaced colleagues;
Larry Linville is the tightlipped Major Frank Burns who is destined to be the butt of many a gag;
Wayne Rogers is Trapper John and in this series is not relegated to a secondary character.

The outstanding performance, however, is that of Alan Alda as Dr Benjamin Franklin Pierce (Hawkeye). This is one of the defining characters of both the programmes and of American TV. There are teething problems in the first series but Hawkeyes credentials are soon established and he takes the essential heart and conscience of the series. It is a performance of great wit but also great integrity.

Sidelined in the first series are William Christopher's Father Mulchaey and Jamie Farr's cross dressing Klinger. But those of us who love Mash can sit and watch with anticipation of their rightful places being established later.

There are some things that I had forgotten. The show started with another occupant of 'The Swamp' (Frank,Hawkeye and Trapper's tent) - Spearchucker, the only black character. He mysteriously disappears halfway through series 1 - the official explaination being that the producers discovered there were no black surgeons serving in the Korean War. And Father Mulchaey was played by a different actor in the pilot.

remember, though to turn of the laughter track which marred the shows in the States. In the UK we were lucky when BBC2 ditched the laughs and let the show stand on its own.

Mash is a superbly funny and essential part of TV history.

I can't wait for series 2 -11.

The juxtaposition of two young brilliant but disaffected surgeons (Alan Alda’s “Hawkeye” & Wayne Rodger’s “Trapper”) against the older, less able, “true blue” Maj Frank Burns (performed excellently by Larry Linville) allows for excellent situation comedy. This is all under the command of Col Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), a good surgeon but weak commander with the true administration centre of the unit focussed on a 18 year old corporal from rural Iowa named “Radar” O’Reilly (Gary Burghoff).

Struggling against Army order, inefficiency and apparent stupidity series one showcases classic episodes where Trapper & Hawkeye trade a desk on the black market for medical supplies, cheat in a boxing match to stop a much liked nurse from being transferred, obtain an incubator for the hospital by working their way up a dizzying array of uncooperative officers and even deal with unexploded ordinance in sharp satire aimed sqaurely at the military. But the true root of the comedy is in the fast and frequent exchanges between characters.

This is a truly enjoyable DVD that will give food for thought but also entertainment. If let down at first, persevere, this is a truly great series and is well worth the investment.