FAQ

Three extremely non-regulation army surgeons-Captains Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland), Trapper John McIntyre (Elliott Gould]), and Duke Forrest (Tom Skerritt)-are drafted and sent to the 4077th MASH unit on the Korean front during the Korean War (1950-1953). Forced to share their quarters with extremely-regulation surgeon Major Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), they deal with the horrors of war by ignoring protocol, engaging in zany antics, and snatching laughs and love between amputations and brain surgery.

Yes, The movie is based on MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (1968) by Richard Hooker, the pen name for American surgeon Dr. H. Richard Hornberger and American sportwriter W.C. Heinz, based on Hornberger's experiences as an army surgeon during the Korean War. The novel was adapted for the movie by screenwriter Ring Lardner Jr. The movie's popularity led to the long-running TV serial M*A*S*H (1972) (1972-1983).

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

He's referring to the color of his hair, while "dago red" is actually a slang term for cheap red wine, particularly the homemade wine brewed by Italians.

It's creamed chipped beef on toast, commonly served in military chow lines. The GIs dubbed it "SOS", which was an acronym for "Shit On [a] Shingle".

Dentist "Painless Pole" Waldowski (John Schuck) was legendary for his well-endowment and sexual prowess. However, he has a bad night (i.e., he couldn't get it up) and starts doubting his own sexual orientation, so he decides to commit suicide. His friends humor him, going so far as to arrange a fake suicide on his behalf ("the Black Capsule") and instead of dying, he has sex with Lt Maria "Dish" Schneider (Jo Ann Pflug) who restores his self-confidence.

While most of the main characters, i.e., Hawkeye, Trapper John, Col Henry Blake, Cpl "Radar" O'Reilly, Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, Major Frank Burns, and Father Mulcahy, made the transition from the movie to the television show, the only actor to remain in his role was Gary Burghoff (Radar O'Reilly). Some minor characters, such as Spearchucker Jones, Lt Dish, Pvt Boone, and Brig Gen Charlie Hammond also appeared during the first season of M*A*S*H, but they were not seen in succeeding seasons. The only minor actor to follow his movie role into the TV show was G. Wood (Gen Hammond). Timothy Brown, who plays Cpl Judson in the movie, appears as Spearchucker Jones during the first season of the TV series. Duke was mentioned on the TV show as "that brain surgeon from Georgia" but didn't appear physically.

Robert Altman's son, Michael Altman, then 14, wrote the lyric. Director Robert Altman states that his son earned over a million dollars in royalties much more than his $70,000.00 Director fee.. Johnny Mandel wrote the music

Through early morning fog I see, Visions of the things to be, The pains that are withheld for me, I realize and I can see...

[REFRAIN]

That suicide is painless. It brings on many changes. And I can take or leave it if I please. I try to find a way to make, All our little joys relate, Without that ever-present hate, But now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

The game of life is hard to play, I'm gonna lose it anyway. The losing card I'll someday lay, So this is all I have to say.

[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat, And lay it down before I'm beat, And to another give my seat, For that's the only painless feat.

[REFRAIN]

The sword of time will pierce our skins. It doesn't hurt when it begins. But as it works its way on in, The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me, to answer questions that are key. Is it to be or not to be? And I replied, "Oh why ask me?"

[REFRAIN]

'Cause suicide is painless. It brings on many changes. And I can take or leave it if I please. And you can do the same thing if you please.

The film MASH spawned two TV series, M*A*S*H and Trapper John MD. Also, M*A*S*H spawned its own sequal After M*A*S*H which lasted two seasons plus a pilot for a proposed series featuring the character of Radar as a small town sheriff called "W*A*L*T*E*R".