M*A*S*H - The Martinis & Medicine Collection [DVD] [2008]

Description

Product Description Finally available in a complete, all eleven seasons of this classic comedy are presented in a stunning, specially designed First Aid Kit. As well as over 260 episodes, this highly collectable edition contains an entire disc of special features to pay tribute to this critically acclaimed comedy legend.Over three and a half hours of brand new features including:* 30th anniversary reunion * Memories of M*A*S*H * 'My Favourite M*A*S*H' * Bloopers * M*A*S*H Game * Script from a never made episode * Cast interviews * Optional laughter track selection * And much more desertcart.co.uk Review This M*A*S*H-tastic 36-disc collection is one for the television time capsule. It contains all 11 seasons of this multi-Emmy Award-winning series. Adapted for television by legendary comedy writer Larry Gelbart, the series has long since supplanted Robert Altman's film in the public's consciousness. Life and death at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War doesn't seem like ripe fodder for a comedy series, but M*A*S*H masterfully balanced laughter and tears (less so in its later, more preachy seasons). It often does play better without a laugh track (a viewing option for all episodes). During its run, M*A*S*H survived several delicate operations, including the departure of Gelbart after season 4 and the loss of core ensemble members McLean Stevenson as Col. Henry Blake and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John (after season 3), Larry Linville as Frank Burns (after season 5) and Gary Burghoff (a veteran of the original film) as Radar (after season 8). The show thrived with the introduction of some new blood, Henry Morgan as "regular Army" Col. Potter and Mike Farrell as compassionate BJ (season 4) and David Ogden Stiers as elitist Charles Emerson Winchester III (season 6).M*A*S*H was honored with the prestigious Peabody Award "for the depth of its humour and the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war." This was a sitcom that did not always leave you laughing, as witness the classic season 3 episode "Abyssinia, Henry." And throughout its run, M*A*S*H broke the sitcom mould with several episodes, including "The Interview" (season 4), in which Clete Roberts interviews the staff of the 4077th, "Point of View" (season 7), subjectively seen through the eyes of a wounded soldier and "Life Time" (season 8), which unfolds in real time. M*A*S*H boasted one of television's greatest ensembles, fully embodied characters who each became icons, most notably Alan Alda, who served with distinction as Hawkeye, the series' soul and conscience. But a special salute to Loretta Switt, whose Margaret Houlihan went from "Hot Lips" to nobody's pushover. From the "Pilot" to the feature-length finale, "Goodbye, Farewell & Amen," still the most-watched episode in history, this essential (but not so much if you bought the individual season sets) collection honours one of television's greatest half-hours. --Donald Liebenson Review: What T.V. Shows Should Aim To Be Like - Firstly, I wanted to just mention that a previous reviewer mentioned the packaging of this item. Whether the packaging has been changed, I'm not sure, but the set now features normal, standard disc storage. I had previously purchased the DVD's individually, but this disc set takes up a tiny amount of the space of that which is one reason to swap. Another being that the set features not only every episode of the show, with the ability to turn the laughter track on or off (if you have only ever seen this show with the laughter track off, it's a bit weird the first time you hear it), but two discs of special features. The old interviews, the 30th reunion and bloopers are real gems and not something that I'd seen being a UK viewer. M*A*S*H, as a T.V. show stands the test of time well. It was progressive for it's time with the issues it dealt with and there are messages in it that are still so relevant today. And even though the show had a sitcom approach to the episodes and was at it's core, a comedy, that didn't mean that the show shirked away from progressing their characters and making them human and flawed. I'd also like to say that while the later seasons of the show are often tarnished with being more preachy and dramatic, I don't think they are and I have always preferred the cast and the chemistry in those later years. Some of the episodes, like 'Preventative Medicine' is quite a shocking episode, in the lengths Hawkeye goes too to do what he believes is right and the ensuing disagreement between BJ and Hawkeye is quite jarring and serious for a comedy. I could review this show and never run out of things to say. If you ever enjoyed it a bit, snap this up. At £30 it's a steal and the quality doesn't fade with time. A classic in every sense of the word Review: Fantastic! - Apart from disk menus - I am not going to review MASH. If you don't know how good the programme is, then this is probably not for you. I am also going to award it 5 stars but will have a good moan about disk menus. The good bits 1. Physical presentation is fine. 36 disks in 6 plastic boxes (not cardboard). A little booklet giving minimal information. All you need really. 2. Includes the original Altman film. 3. Assorted extras. 4. Picture quality is very good for a 1970s TV show. 5. Allows you listen without the awful canned laughter track. Call me strange but I tend to know when something is funny. The meh! bits 1. Given there are 250-something episodes, the DVDs are not set up for binge watching. At the end of each episode, you select home, locate the next episode and choose play. Groan. 2. They give you a different menu display for each episode based on its content which is cute for the first 3 and irritating after 4. You have to think before you press the arrow keys. (Sometimes it is down and sometimes across and sometimes both.) 3. The sound option is per episode. So at the end of one episode do the following. Select Home->Choose next episode->Choose sound options->Find "Without Laughter Track"->Click Resume. Each and every time! Season 8 adds an irritating don't pirate stuff intro but by season 9 they just about get the menu system correct. You think someone might have twigged that, when a pack of 36 disks is bought, the likelihood is the person wants to just sit down and rattle through several episodes in a sitting. You just want the disk to play the next episode right after the last, or at worst click the next button. Being somewhat of a simpleton, more than once I have started playing the episode, I have just watched!!! That said its a fantastic and bargain set. if you like MASH, buy it.