20th Century Television
The iconic sitcom “M*A*S*H,” set in the backdrop of war, has etched its place in the annals of television history as one of the most cherished and significant shows. However, during its inception in the early 1970s, there were doubts about its potential success. Alan Alda, the actor who immortalized Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, harbored serious initial apprehensions. Yet, he emerged as perhaps the most influential voice on the entire series, writing and directing episodes and being the only actor to appear in every episode. Even though the show witnessed significant cast changes and lost one of its creators after the fourth season, Alda’s presence remained a constant, embodying the show’s heart, soul, and moral compass.
As time passed, Alda shared some of his initial reservations about his starring role in “M*A*S*H,” most of which centered around the portrayal of war. Having served as an officer in Korea post-war, he was determined to ensure the on-screen depiction of wartime didn’t mislead viewers about the atrocities of war.
Alda’s concerns about the portrayal of war
20th Century Television
Despite not serving during wartime or being in combat, Alda witnessed the war’s effects on the soldiers, the land, and the Korean people. He explained to NPR:
“I realized from that experience that war is real. It’s not a game. People are going to be killed or maimed. And when we made ‘M*A*S*H,’ I wanted to ensure that this understanding was portrayed — that we dealt with these realities and didn’t trivialize them by making the show about the humor in the mess tent.”
Alda was adamant that the series should not be a mere collection of comedy and antics. He was also concerned that the series might promote war. In Raymond Strait’s 1983 biography about Alda (via MeTV), he notes that Alda’s primary concern “was that the show would become a thirty-minute commercial for the Army.” Fortunately, he discussed his concerns with the show’s creators, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, and they unanimously agreed to create a show about the realities of war, neither glorifying the violence nor completely hiding its brutality. This decision would prove to be somewhat controversial among some earlier “M*A*S*H” creatives.
M*A*S*H was loved by many, but not by Robert Altman or Richard Hornberger
20th Century Television
“M*A*S*H” was a phenomenal success, running for 11 seasons and setting records that are unlikely to be broken. However, two individuals were not fans: Richard Hornberger, the book’s author, and Robert Altman, the director of the 1970 film. Hornberger’s book had a strong pro-military stance, and Altman’s film was quite explicit about sex and violence, with little regard for the actual impacts of war. Altman criticized the show as racist, even though the series mostly portrayed Koreans (both South and North) with affection and respect. Hornberger was particularly critical of Hawkeye and Alda’s liberal leanings influencing the show.
In retrospect, Alda’s contributions to the show played a significant role in its long-term success and enduring appeal, more than 50 years after its initial airing.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
