'M*A*S*H': 30th Anniversary Reunion (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Writers:

Alan Alda (series)
Christine Triano (additional material)

Release Date:

17 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Asterisk In Title | Digit In Title | Punctuation In Title | Reunion | Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Himself / Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce (also archive footage)
Wayne Rogers	...	Himself / Captain John McIntyre (also archive footage)
Mike Farrell	...	Himself / Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt (also archive footage)
Jamie Farr	...	Himself / Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger (also archive footage)
Gary Burghoff	...	Himself / Corporal Walter Eugene O'Reilly (also archive footage)
Loretta Swit	...	Herself / Major Margaret Houlihan (also archive footage)
Harry Morgan	...	Himself / Col. Sherman T. Potter (also archive footage)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Himself / Major Charles Winchester (also archive footage)
William Christopher	...	Himself / Father Francis Mulcahy (also archive footage)
Allan Arbus	...	Himself / Maj. Sidney Freedman (also archive footage)
Gene Reynolds	...	Himself
Larry Gelbart	...	Himself
Burt Metcalfe	...	Himself
Larry Linville	...	Himself / Major Franklin Marion Burns (archive footage)
McLean Stevenson	...	Himself / Lt. Colonel Henry Blake (archive footage)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Movie Connections:

References "M*A*S*H" (1972)

My brief review of the film

An enjoyable retrospective documentary on an excellent television program, it is filmed in a very relaxed atmosphere and footage from the show is cleverly edited into interviews and group discussion. The living actors and producers sit around and chat for a large part of the time, and memories and insights on making the series are relayed in a friendly manner. However, it all feels a little forced, as the conversation is conducted very much as if it had been written out already. This does not matter too much, as the content at the heart of it all is interesting, but it does seem awkward and it becomes a bit repetitive towards the end. Also, some more outtake footage may have juiced it up a bit more. Still, as far as documentaries on shows go, it rates well, as it is quite well made. Not perfect, and it is questionable whether it would be liked by those who are not fans of the television series. But then again, why else would one want to watch this?