Movies - TV
The Director Of The M*A*S*H Movie Didn’t Hide His Dislike Of The Series
By JEREMY SMITH
“M*A*S*H” might've been one of the most popular series of the 1970s and early ‘80s, but it never drew the attention of Robert Altman, the man who made the hit movie.
He was a lauded director in New Hollywood, but he didn’t enjoy the series. According to Altman’s biography, he said, “I don't like it, and I don't like any of those people.”
It's one thing to hate the show, but to abhor the people involved seems a tad harsh. Altman’s distaste for the series wasn’t just about aesthetics, it was about intent and theme.
On the 2002 DVD commentary track for Altman’s war comedy, he spoke about his dislike of the series and how it perpetuated a foreign war every Sunday night for 12 years.
Altman said, “The basic image and message is that the brown people with the narrow eyes are the enemy.” He called the series “a racist thing,” and lamented the forgotten film.