In 1968, Richard Hooker wrote a novel entitled MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. Robert Altman then adapted the book into a film in 1970, which later inspired the TV series in 1972. Each version generally shares the same characters and basic premise, but they each have unique qualities that make them stand on their own.
The Novel
Hooker based the novel on his own experiences as a U.S. Army surgeon during the Korean War; as such, it contains numerous descriptions of medical procedures and a constant sense of life and death. To balance the horrors of war, the novel uses dark humour at times as a coping mechanism for the characters in the midst of war. Two of the characters go so far as to tie a man to a cross, lay flammable materials around him, and pretend to set him ablaze.
The novel is written episodically; that is, its structure is a series of short stories that are loosely connected by the characters and the setting of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, rather than one overarching plot.
The Film
Altman’s film adaptation is quite chaotic, from the overlapping dialogue to the abrupt tonal shifts. It takes the absurdity of the pranks and antics from the novel and really dials it up. There is also a heavy dose of satire. The football game at the end of the film parodies both the absurdity of military competition and the futility of seeking victory in war.
I was never able to finish watching the film in the past on multiple occasions because I could not get past the pacing. However, after sitting through all one hour and fifty-six minutes and revisiting the film more than fifty years later, it is a time capsule of its era. In my opinion, it does not hold up well due to the blatant sexism and racism sprinkled about, but I understand it was a different time. Although the film is set during the Korean War, it explores themes of anti-government and anti-military attitudes as a commentary on the Vietnam War, which had reached its peak a few years before the film was released.
The TV Series
The series combined the absurd humour of the novel and film with character development and evolving story arcs. Unlike the novel and film, the supporting characters of the series became more fleshed out, being given backstories and moments of growth, making the ensemble feel more like a family. Over time, the series evolved from a straight sitcom into a dramedy, balancing humour with explorations of loss, ethics, and the psychological toll of war.
What made the series unique was its longevity since it lasted eleven years on the air, which was longer than the Korean War itself, though the span of the war was spread over those eleven years. The series finale is, to this day, the most-watched finale in American TV history with around 105 million viewers.
Comparison
- Tone: the novel is darkly cynical; the film is nihilistic and satirical; the series is a dramedy
- Character: the novel’s characters are pranksters; the film’s characters are purposefully unlikable; the series’s characters are complex
- Theme: all three generally share the idea of war’s absurdity
