I grew up with the television series and when I first saw the film, it wasn’t my jam. So what did I think of it now, having rewatched it a number of years ago (and apparently previously written about it – too late now, I already wrote this one!).

I greatly enjoyed it. I didn’t see the humor in it, as the doctors are soaked in blood, surrounded by death and trauma, and still clinging to their chats about sex, golf and drinking. And let’s deal with this first, there is a lo of inappropriate sexual stuff going on in this film, but you have to take into account this film was shot in the 70s, based on a book written by a doctor about his own time in Korea, in the late 50s.

So, to put not too fine a point on it, it was a different time.

The film stars Donald Sutherland as Captain ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce, Elliott Gould as Trapper John, and Tom Skerritt as Duke Forrest. The three surgeons are practically inseparable in their hedonism and it is pretty entertaining.

They have to deal with the annoying Frank Burns (Robert Duvall), they harass Major Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), they run their CO, Blake (Roger Bowen) ragged, and Radar (Gary Burghoff – the only actor to transition to the show) has the whole camp wired. And hey! There’s Rene Auberjonois as the camp chaplain!

There’s supply problems, there’s a well-hung dentist who wants to kill himself over latent homosexuality, lots of infidelity, a football game with ringers, and yes, sadly, lots of racism and sexism.

In typical Altman style there is lots of overlapping dialogue, and a real intention to put the viewer in the story. The camerawork is almost verite in its way, and there is a lot of fun to be had throughout the film.

It’s problematic in today’s era, but reflects the time and the mentality that pervaded it very well.

And being a huge Sutherland and Skerritt fan it’s great seeing them play off of one another. And Sutherland’s Hawkeye is a different being from Alan Alda’s. They are both Lotharios in their way, but Sutherland is a little more restrained, and lets his mouth get him in and out of trouble – like with the jeep.

And, of course, the song also features the M*A*S*H theme, which has lyrics that wouldn’t have worked on national television… Suicide is Painless.

This was a lot of fun, wonderfully brought to life, and is very anti-war. And what cast. I’m not going to lie, I love the series more, as it was such a huge part of my life, but the movie is solid.