PHIL MEETS THE MOVIES – QUICK LIST: CLASSIC TV CAST FLICKS – MOVIES FROM THE CAST OF M*A*S*H
Phil Meets The Movies on Digging Star Wars, has a new theme, which is about famous, classic, TV cast members and one theatrical motion picture, by each member on the list. I call this theme, Classic TV Cast Flicks. These lists will also be part of the PMTM Quick Lists. Quick Lists are strategically made film lists, that movie-buffs can complete, in short time periods. Quick Lists can be completed in a day, a couple of days, a weekend, one or two weeks, but no more than a month. They are recommended lists for movie-buffs, looking for something they haven't seen or experienced already, that they can knock out quickly. In the case of this month's Quick List, you can complete it in two weeks. February has a lot of meaning to our next classic TV series. This is probably one of the best shows ever to air on network television. M*A*S*H (1972-1983) ended its incredible, eleven-season run, with an epic 2 1/2-hour long series-finale, that aired on February 28th, 1983. Last year was the 40th anniversary of this finale, which is still the most-watched television program ever seen (not counting Super Bowls, which came after 2010). The M*A*S*H series finale held the record for 27 years.
The story of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), actually began in 1968, with the release of author, Richard Hooker's novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (1968). It was then that legendary writer/director Robert Altman, had the book adapted for the silver screen and two years later, released the motion picture M*A*S*H (1970). Later that year, the film would be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and would eventually win the Oscar, for that amazing screenplay, which was written by script-writer, Ring Lardner Jr. The film was again adapted for television, by legendary TV writer/director, Larry Gelbart, and the series debuted in September of 1972. This month, we will celebrate the theatrical motion picture careers of the main cast members from M*A*S*H (1972-1983). It is a great Quick List to tackle because most of the films picked on our list show all the different aspects of every actor's life. These films show that everyone had to start somewhere or everyone had to keep busy, during summer breaks from the show. They also chronicle that everyone had to keep working when the show ended. This list was another fun project for me to take on, considering I'm a huge fan of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), as well as the 1970 motion picture. As I worked my way through this Quick List of films, I realized there were many connections between the films, the actors, the directors, and even connections to Star Wars. Three films on this list are also on our Film366 movie list. Most of the films on our M*A*S*H Classic TV Cast Flicks list would be considered successful, critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated classics, but one or two are not as great. Like I said, everyone had to start somewhere. There are ten films on this list and we will be working our way through each film, in order of release date.
Quick List: Classic TV Cast Flicks: Movies From the Cast of M*A*S*H (1972 - 1983), on Letterboxd
Quick List:
Classic TV Cast Flicks:
The Cast of the M*A*S*H TV Series
There were eleven main cast members, who walked past the television screen, during the eleven years that M*A*S*H (1972-1983), originally aired. Of all the main cast members, Gary Burghoff, who played Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly, was the only cast member who appeared in both the theatrical movie and the TV series, as the same character. With this in mind, it was only fitting that we start this list with the original, theatrical version of M*A*S*H (1970), with our first cast member, Gary Burghoff. We now go to Korea, in 1951 and visit the dark-comedy shenanigans, of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, known as the 4077th.
Radar is a secondary or maybe even a tertiary character, in the Robert Altman-directed, motion picture version of M*A*S*H (1970), but his character would grow on the TV series and become one of the most popular and pivotal characters on the show. Certain situations on the sitcom tended to flow towards Radar's office and thus, created wonderful acting opportunities for Gary Burghoff and the rest of the cast. He was the one who kept the rest of the characters organized. He was the one who kept Major Burns off of everyone else's back. He is the one who gave us and the other characters the horrible news of Henry Blake's fate. He is the one who brought B.J. Hunnicutt into Hawkeye's life and he is the one who helped guide Klinger to his, post-section-8, second phase. Life in the middle of a war, in the early 1950s, in Korea, working in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, would not have gone smoothly, if it wasn't for Radar. Burghoff left the show in 1979. He had pushed himself to the point of burnout when he left the sitcom. He ended up only being in five theatrical movies during his career (not counting M*A*S*H - 1970), so if you wanted to, you could do your own, mini-Quick List, of the six theatrical films of Gary Burghoff. M*A*S*H (1970), is one of the films on this list, which is also on our Film366 film list for June. It is also important to note, that Robert Duvall, who plays Major Frank Burns in M*A*S*H (1970), came out, almost an exact year later, in Star Wars creator and director, George Lucas', methodically electrifying film, THX 1138 (1971). There was one other guy, who appeared in M*A*S*H (1970), and who also was a brief cast member on the TV sitcom. That was actor George Wood, who carried his General Charlie Hammond character, from the motion picture, over to TV, into three episodes of the sitcom, including the pilot episode and two others, during the first season.
PMTM Grade: A (9.4) = 4 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 9 IMDB
Harry Morgan, known as beloved Colonel Potter, during seasons four through eleven, started his career as Henry Morgan, but when the roles got bigger and his popularity began to grow, he changed his name to Harry. When our next film pick came out in 1962, he was still being credited as Henry "Harry" Morgan. During the third season of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), Morgan was cast as a crazy General, who takes an immediate dislike of Hawkeye (Alan Alda). When McLean Stevenson, like Henry Blake, left the show at the end of season three, it was a no-brainer of a decision to cast Morgan as the new leader of the 4077th, regular-Army, gifted surgeon, Colonel Sherman T. Potter. The character of Potter was molded from the large amount of leadership-type roles Morgan did over his, by then, almost 35-year career, and being the crazy General, in one episode, earlier in the third season of the sitcom, made him the perfect choice. His acting evolution in a leadership role, most notably, as an Army officer, was even felt in 1962. In How the West Was Won (1962), Morgan plays General Ulysses S. Grant. Keep your eye out for him, because you might miss him among the huge cast, that is in How the West Was Won (1962). This film is also on our Film366 film list too, for April, in celebration of Ulysses S. Grant's birthday in 1822. How the West Was Won (1962), has a cast list a mile long, and whatever experience you get out of this film, the biggest selling point and most fun is trying to name all the actors/actresses that pop up on the screen, throughout this epic, nearly, three-hour long epic. A Hollywood classic.
PMTM Grade: B- (7.9) = 4 Stars Letterboxd / 8 IMDB
Next, we will move on to the character, who portrayed Hawkeye's (Alan Alda's), first, best friend on the sitcom, Captain Trapper John McIntyre, played by Wayne Rogers. Rogers's acting career, like Harry Morgan's, also predated the 1970 release of the M*A*S*H motion picture, in which Elliot Gould ended up portraying Trapper in the film version. Rogers got his start doing small supporting roles in films during the 1960s. As I mentioned before, everyone has to start somewhere, but in this case, Rogers found himself in a small supporting role, in a critically acclaimed, well-received motion picture, that is still well-respected today. It is probably this role in Cool Hand Luke (1967), that helped get Rogers onto the map and into the 4077th when the show debuted in 1972. Just like M*A*S*H (1970) and How the West Was Won (1962), Cool Hand Luke (1967), is another pick from our Film366 film lists. The date for it happened in January, in celebration of Paul Newman's birthday. Newman was born on January 26th, 1925. Cool Hand Luke (1967) is most likely one of the films, that launched Paul Newman from movie star status to movie icon. Also, this film stars a young Dennis Hopper, who becomes, somewhat, of a theme on this Quick List.
PMTM Grade: A- (9.0) = 4 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 9 IMDB
From Trapper John (Wayne Rogers), we move on to the man, who replaced Trapper as Hawkeye's (Alan Alda's), next, best friend. At the start of the fourth season, B.J. Hunnicutt, played by Mike Farrell, meets Radar and Hawkeye, while Hawkeye unsuccessfully tries to say goodbye to Trapper. They arrive too late and miss Trapper's plane, but Hawkeye meets B.J., and a new friendship begins. This was an amazingly difficult situation, that the producers of this successful TV sitcom were facing, after just three seasons and it was a problem, that M*A*S*H (1972-1983), managed to overcome. Not only did Wayne Rogers leave the series and need to be replaced by Mike Farrell, but remember, McLean Stevenson also left the show at the same time and had to be replaced by Harry Morgan. This was a huge change to the show and it was uncertain how the audience would react, seeing two of the main characters being replaced at the same time. Fortunately, it turned out to be a huge success and M*A*S*H (1972-1983), continued, for eight more seasons. Again, in the case of Mike Farrell and this film, Panic in the City (1968), everyone has to start somewhere. This low-budget, atomic-age, science-fiction film did make it to the movie theaters, but it gives off a very ominous, TV-movie-look when watching the film. To make things even worse, unfortunately, you still can't find a copy of Panic in the City (1968), in its original theatrical version. According to IMDB, the film was shot in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio, but the only versions available come from a television SD, the 4:3 version, found on YouTube, thus emphasizing the cheapness.
Panic in the City (1968), Full Movie, on YouTube:
The lack of a clean, widescreen-version, just adds extra evidence to the 4:3 TV-movie, low-budget, cheesiness, of late-1960s television. However, it was still a necessary move for Mike Farrell, during his rise to fame and isn't that bad of a movie, if you can get past the budget. The end of the film also has an interesting parallel to the end of The Dark Knight Rises (2012). I'll let you figure out what that parallel is on your own. Panic in the City (1968), also co-stars, well I'll be, Dennis Hopper. This is another atomic-age, Cold War movie, about bad guys making an atomic bomb in Los Angeles. Can the good guys save the day?
PMTM Grade: D (5.9 ) = 3 Stars Letterboxd / 6 IMDB
For our next film on the list, we are going to include the next two cast members from M*A*S*H (1972-1983), because they both appear in the Doris Day, rom-com, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968). Well, there is a third guy in this film, who also appeared in season one of the sitcom. Playing the husband of Day's best friend in With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), is character-actor, Herb Voland, who played the reoccurring, General Crandell Clayton, in seven episodes of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), most notably, in the famous episode, "Yankee-Doodle Doctor". But, getting back to our next film pick, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), Doris Day's Abby McClure, recently widowed, meets Brian Keith's Jake Iverson, also recently widowed. Can two people heal each other and move on with their lives? Find out in, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), which is a fun, entertaining look at late-1960s, PG-type (pre-MPAA), romantic comedies. The part of With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), that makes this film fun, is the laundry list of great TV comedy actors, who show up in this film. Two of those actors are William Christopher and Jamie Farr, as 1960s, biker-beatniks, Zip Cloud and Jo Jo. Both William Christopher and Jamie Farr were the only cast members to make it through the entire run of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), not named Alda or Swit. Well, they came in slowly in the beginning.
In the motion picture M*A*S*H (1970), Father Mulcahy was played by the late, great character-actor, Rene Auberjonois. In the sitcom's pilot episode, the Father is played by a virtual unknown, George Morgan (not related to Harry Morgan), who oddly enough, was also in an episode of The Doris Day Show (1968-1973). In episode three of M*A*S*H (1972-1983), William Christopher was introduced as the new and forever, Father Francis Mulcahy. In the following episode, a skirt-wearing, young man from Toledo, seeking a section-8 transfer and forever known as a break-out TV character, Cpl. Max Klinger (Farr), was introduced to the series, and the world, would never be the same again. Klinger wasn't in the 1970 motion picture. His character was added to the show, but ended up being a break-out character, like Fonzie (Henry Winkler), on Happy Days (1974-1975), Frasier (Kelsey Gramer), on Cheers (1982-1993) or Kramer (Michael Richards), on Seinfeld (1989-1998). Before M*A*S*H (1972-1983), both William Christopher and Jamie Farr's careers had been growing all through the 1960s, with Farr doing work as far back as 1955. Both of them were perfectly qualified to garner laughs in With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), which made them perfect fits, for their roles on M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
PMTM Grade: C- (6.8) = 3 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 7 IMDB
Larry Linville had only been in the acting business, since 1968 and as mentioned before, you have to start somewhere. A year before he was cast as Major Frank Burns on M*A*S*H (1972-1983), he played a small part in this film, as the smarmy, selfish, weaselly, older brother, to our pregnant protagonist, Deborah Winters', Erica Herzenstiel, who comes under the care of Walter Matthau's, aging senior-citizen, Joseph P. Kotcher, in the comedy-drama, Kotch (1971). This film was another collaboration between Matthau and his pal, Jack Lemmon, however, Lemmon isn't in the film. He is the director this time. This is a quiet comedy, with some serious undertones, that come to the surface, at pivotal moments of the film. Jack Lemmon was a veteran already in these types of comedy dramas, so he was a good choice for this film. In the case of Larry Linville and Kotch (1971), his character as Erica's brother, Peter, gives us an excellent look as to why he was chosen as the antagonistic, disliked, Major Frank Burns on M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
PMTM Grade: C- (6.5) = 3 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 7 IMDB
As mentioned before in this article, many television actors picked up extra acting jobs during the Summer break. Back in the 1970s, television shows took four months off for the Summer, which allowed the actors to pick up roles in feature films or guest-star on other TV shows, in between trying to relax during the Summer breaks. Loretta Swit appeared in a handful of films, while she did her turn as Major Margaret Houlihan on M*A*S*H (1972-1983). She kept busy and ended up being the only cast member, other than Alan Alda, to be credited for all 251 episodes of the show. In the Summer of 1975, right in between the third and fourth seasons of the TV sitcom, Swit's latest film, Race With the Devil (1975), was released in theaters. This film was another one of those gritty, chase, biker vs evil, horror films, that were very popular in the 1970s. These films showed motorcyclists or racecar drivers or police cars, being chased or having to chase or somehow, became dangerously involved with one horrible entity after another.
There were films like Werewolves on Wheels (1971), Psychomania (aka The Death Wheelers, 1973), Death Race 2000 (1975), The Car (1977), and don't forget, Steven Spielberg's, cult-classic, tractor-trailer nightmare, the TV movie, Duel (1971). So, that was just to name a few. What also adds to the mixture of this genre-mixed, motion picture, is the casting of the most famous biker of this era, Easy Rider (1969), himself, Peter Fonda, as our main character, motor-bike enthusiast, Roger. Roger has brought along his wife Kelly (Lara Parker), his best buddy, interestingly named Frank (Warren Oates), and Frank's wife, Alice (Loretta Swit), on a little Winnebago camping trip. It was interesting hearing Oates being called Frank by Loretta Swit. It was like another Frank for Hot Lips Houlihan, considering M*A*S*H (1972-1983), was airing at the same time this film was released. This was a different side of Loretta Swit than the one seen on the show. Without giving anything away, the group accidentally witness something, of the paranormal variety, that they shouldn't have. From there, it is a desperate attempt by Roger and his friends to escape from the evil, in Race With the Devil (1975). There is plenty of automotive action too, 1970s-style.
PMTM Grade: C- (6.8) = 3 1/2 Stars Letterboxd / 7 IMDB
As mentioned before, you have to start somewhere, but that's at the start of an acting career, not in the middle. In the case of McLean Stevenson, this was a restart or reboot of an acting career, that needed a boost, after making one of the biggest faux pas of television, by leaving a successful TV series too soon. Stevenson joins a small group of television stars, who made the wrong choice of leaving TV, for aspirations towards great film careers or their own, headlined show. It's an alumnus of acting talent like, Shelley Long (Cheers, 1982-1993), Suzanne Somers (Three's Company, 1977-1984), as well as, fellow 4077th cast member, Wayne Rogers. After both McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers left M*A*S*H (1972-1983), in 1975, their careers slowed almost to a halt. For Rogers, due to legal-rights lawsuits, about the TV show Trapper John, M.D.(1979-1986), Rogers never even got a chance to be that character either. However, all these actors still had steady careers, but the spotlight was not as bright after they left their, respective, break-out shows. McLean Stevenson ended up doing just a few, guest-starring roles, on a handful of TV series. He had three failed television series of his own, two pilot shows, that were never picked up and he appeared in only three theatrical films, with The Cat From Outer Space (1978), being one of them.
Also, the man who replaced Stevenson on M*A*S*H (1972-1983), also co-starring in this film, is returning champ, Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter), as a clueless General, who is trying to capture the cat from outer space. The Cat From Outer Space (1978), is probably the highlight of McLean Stevenson's post-M*A*S*H (1972-1983), career. It is a Disney film, but mostly in name only. Movie studios in the 1970s, while competing with television, created their television divisions, which subbed for lower-budget film productions too. That's why there is a plethora of TV actors in this film. One particular actor, Ronnie Schell, who is the voice of our feline from space, also has a smaller role as Sgt. Duffy, who is General Stilton's (Harry Morgan's), right-hand man. Another TV legend, Ken Berry, who was very busy on television during the 1970s and had a couple of Disney films already on his resume, is our main character, Frank, who befriends Jake, the cat. McLean Stevenson is his football-loving, gambling buddy, Link. The Cat From Outer Space (1978), is nowhere near a Disney classic, but it is a good example of a fun, family-oriented, television-type comedy, with those late 1970s, science-fiction, visual effects, inspired by the release of Star Wars (1977), the year before.
PMTM Grade: D (5.9 ) = 3 Stars Letterboxd / 6 IMDB
David Ogden Stiers was brought onto M*A*S*H (1972-1983), at the start of the sixth season of the show, to replace out-going, cast-member, Larry Linville, who portrayed Major Frank Burns. Stiers' Major Charles Emerson Winchester III was designed to be a new antagonist to Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), just like Frank was, but as time went on, the excellent writers of the show, managed to craft a rivalry, that still existed, but there was a level of respect and admiration between the characters, once M*A*S*H (1972-1983), ended. What was mostly hatred towards Frank was remodeled into a battle of different egos and backgrounds, but there was still a feeling of family. Stiers managed to keep his acting career moving and just two years after M*A*S*H (1972-1983), ended, he made his first hit, when he appeared as the bewildered father of John Cusack's, Lane Myers, in the forgotten-gem, comedy-classic, Better Off Dead (1985). The character of Al Myers, that Stiers gives to us, is a completely different character than the one seen on M*A*S*H (1972-1983). Watching him try to fathom the silliness going on around him, while at the same time, pretending not to notice, is priceless.
PMTM Grade: B+ (8.5) = 4 Stars Letterboxd / 8 IMDB
We come to our final cast member and the final film on our PMTM Quick List. We saved the main event for last. M*A*S*H (1972-1983), owes its success to a huge group of contributors, but it isn't out of the realm to say, that the driving force and face of the series, was its top-billed, main cast member, through all eleven seasons of the sitcom, Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce, portrayed, like he was born for the role, by Alan Alda. Hawkeye was portrayed in the 1970 motion picture by Donald Sutherland, who gave the character a more somber, darker, less-witty prominence, but just as effective a cunningness, that showed he cared for his friends and patients. Alda's character was a little bit brighter, less abrasive, and a much wittier jokester. He also had a near-Cary Grant-styled aura when it came to romantic scenes. The change may have been because the show was on television and wasn't an R-rated, feature film. Plus, since M*A*S*H (1970), was a dark comedy, it made sense to make the show a situation comedy, however, there is a big difference, when you go from theatrical dark comedy to a TV sitcom. Alan Alda nailed it through eleven great seasons. Hawkeye Pierce truly became a television icon, on the most-watched TV show ever. He won multiple Emmy Awards for acting, writing, and directing for the show. Then, one day, the show ended. It was time to take that star to the silver screen. Alan Alda has had a pretty good career in films. By the time M*A*S*H (1972-1983), started, he had credits in seven films already. He was the son of actor Robert Alda, who appeared in two or three episodes of the sitcom over the years. Alan took a six-year break during the run of the show and resurfaced in theaters, with a big impact, in the classic rom-com, Same Time, Next Year (1978), with Ellen Burstyn. From here and for the next ten years, Alda appeared in five more films, including three films he directed himself. Then in 1989, he was cast in the first of three movies he would do, with film legend, Woody Allen. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) is a comedy/crime-drama, that boasts a brilliant cast. It shows how good Woody is with storytelling. He could take two different stories and blend them so that the comedy didn't detract from the serious part of the film, which was a murder. It works both ways too. The serious aspect of the film didn't detract from the comedy or the romantic aspect of the film. They are all blended beautifully and the supreme cast sells it all.
PMTM Grade: B (8.1) = 4 Stars Letterboxd / 8 IMDB
About the Author
Phil Congleton is a lifelong film buff, who worked in television for 30 years and produced a few, small independent films in the 1990s. He is the co-creator of Film366 with Chris Mich and curator of Phil Meets the Movies. Now retired, Phil commits his time to promoting the movies and the art of film. You can read more about Phil's film reviews on Letterboxd.
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