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M*A*S*H - Season One (Collector's Edition)

M*A*S*H - Season One (Collector's Edition)

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $31.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: At last, it's here!
Review: Finally, Fox has put this together... 612 minutes, all twenty-four episodes of the first season (1972-1973). As one of those who originally took Time-Life up on their video tapes subscription, buying two "random" episodes per tape , I am MUCH relieved to see this... and see that there are already plans for more (next season is to be released in May 2002 according to the insert); I only wish they would finish them sooner! But here it is, great quality and in broadcast order!

My /only/ complaint about the DVD is that the menues feel a bit more cumbersome than I think they need to be (select the episode, then the scene and option selections are inside each of those) rather than being a bit more "top down." For example, you should be able to turn off the laugh track or set options from a main menu or something, rather than inside each episode (though those options apparently "stick" between episodes). I'd also like to be able to advance to the next or previous episodes from inside each episode.

It would have also been nice if they would have included some bonus material with it (eg. history, episode summaries on the menu, cast/crew interviews, commentary, etc), but this is still a great value without it. (guess that's probably a good idea for them for the inevitable re-release from them on-down-the-line)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The First Season of a Great and Timeless Series
Review: M*A*S*H the series: Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper John (Wayne Rogers), Radar (Gary Burghoff), Klinger (Jamie Farr), Colonel Blake (McLean Stevenson), Hot Lips Houlihan (Loretta Swit), Father Mulcahy (William Christopher), and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) are the core of a great cast telling the story of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, just a few miles from the front in the Korean War, trying to stay sane in an insane situation. Great irreverent comedy, with the early cast.

This VHS set: This is a three-tape set giving you the 24 episodes of the entire first season. I've been watching the reruns on late-night TV for years, and did not realize how much had been edited out of those (to squeeze in more commercials). Now, these tapes bring us the episodes uncut. It's fun watching them and going, "Hey, I don't remember that!" A good buy; a good set of tapes to have on the shelf for rainy (or snowy) days.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Low Quality Tapes
Review: The VHS tapes I received were recorded in the lowest quality extended play (EP) mode. I advise buying the DVD version if possible.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Greatest Show of all time
Review: This show is the greatest show of all time even thought it is
Anti War happy days is #2 and Seinfeld,and others are in top 10
Trapper is the best here but also is Henry and Frank.Why did
they not have any Spearchucker after season 1 this was the craziest year where it was joint pure fun on every episode
Here is my review of each of the episodes.
1.The Pilot-The Auction episode is a classic 10/10
2.To market To market-a classic in its own right they have
to get some penicilin and Henry has a desk so they give away
Henrys brand new desk for some medicine this is classic 10/10
3.Requiem for a Lightweight-Trapper has to box and he draws some
massive 275 pounder and he has to get in training this also includes the line"I thought you were Franks bag" 10/10
4.Chief Surgeon-big competition between Hawk and Frank 8/10
5.The Moose-some young girl named Yung Hi 10/10
6.Yankee Doodle Doctor-The classic video of them 10/10
7.Bananas Crackers & Nuts-Hawkeye goes nuts 10/10

8.Cowboy-This one is a classic episode I would say Top 5
if not the best he tries to kill Henry 10/10
9.Henry please come home-Henry gets transferred out 10/10
10.I hate a mystery-Ho Jon is a thief 8/10
11.Germ Warfare-They take Franks blood classic 10/10
12.Dear Dad-just lets you know wvery one 6/10
13.Edwina-Hawk with the vergin Edwina 7/10
14.Love Story-Radar is in love with a girl 10/10
15.Tuttle-no one knows Tuttle but they all know him 10/10
16.The Ringbanger-with Leslie Nielson enough said 10/10
17.Sometimes you here the bullet has Ronnie Howard 5/10
18.Dear Dad Again-to let you know other charectors 5/10
19.The Longjohn Flap-talks about Hawkeyes Long Johns 10/10
20.The Army-Navy game-there is a bombing in it 9/10
21.Sticky Wicket-Great dramatic episode 9/10
22.Major Fred.c.Dobbs-Frank ask for a transfer 10/10
23.Cease Fire-they all believe theres a cease fire 9/10
24.Showtime-This has some USO entertainment 9/10
This was a great season for MASH just get it

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: M*A*S*H* Born again!
Review: I can't tell you how excited I am to have this on DVD. I have the incomplete Columbia House VHS tapes but this collocetion on DVD obviously reigns supreme. The complete and uncut first season with the option to eliminate that pesky and sometimes insulting laugh track is a Godsend. Sure some of the first seasons episodes don't live up to later standards but we all have to start out somewhere. I love "growing up" with the characters and the production alike. The picture quality is great and the sound aint too shabby either. Without that laugh track you are able to hear and catch many subtle things from the actors that were previously ran over by the canned laughter. My only problem with this colection (and I have to say it is a big one in my book)is the same one that "eodguy2" mentioned in his review. You can not run the episodes back to back! That just aint right! You have to go back to the main menu and click the next episode. I love this package and the fact that they are in the order in which they originally aired. I hope that they release all 11 seasons (with the ability to run them all back to back without retuning to the main menu) inclucing the final episode. A few extras, commentary and the like, would be nice too. It would be a crime if they stop before finising this through. It is a blessing and a treasure to have this great piece of television history to enjoy in all it's glory whenever I want. An absolute must for any M*A*S*H* fan.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This is how it should be done...
Review: I have only the highest praise for the way 20th Century Fox has packaged and marketed TV's MASH on DVD. Taking the approach of issuing all 24 episodes of the first season together in one set, is the way it should be done. I hope that this form of marketing is successful, so that other TV programs will be packaged in a similar fashion.

...this set is a bargain compared to most other packaged collections. You get more than 10 hours of programming, with the episodes presented in broadcast order. Now you can truly follow the evolution of the series, and the characters from day one. The transfer to DVD is outstanding. After viewing countless poor quality TV reruns, one becomes so accustomed to garbage, that the ultra sharp DVD images are bit of a shock at first.

Though the show went through various cast changes, I always liked the original 4077 cast the best. So having these uncut episodes is a real treat. Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers and Larry Linville really had a special chemistry. The same can be said for the relationship between Gary Burghoff and McLean Stephenson. Can anyone forget the scene when Radar announced that Henry's plane had crashed? I still get choked up when I think about it. (No, that episode is not in this set).

Unfortunately, there are no substantial extra features in the set. The booklet with the DVD has most of its text devoted to listing the credits for each episode, including the chapter stops, which someone has actually taken the time to title. I don't pay much attention to the titles of chapter stops, so this is kind of a wasted effort.

I'm no MASH scholar, and will leave the detailed "dissection" of the series for others. I will note that the series did feature production personnel, and writers who also worked on my favorite sitcom "Hogan's Heroes". Some elements from that earlier program are also present in MASH. Also William Christopher, who appeared in a few episodes of Hogan's Heroes, later became a MASH cast regular. I would love to see Hogan's Heroes released on DVD in a similar fashion.

Don't hesitate to add this marvelous set to your collection. MASH, the complete Season 2 will be "incoming" in May 2002.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: S*M*A*S*H
Review: Based on the cynical, political, and satirical Robert Altman (THE PLAYER, GOSFORD PARK) film of the same name, the television series was the best television of its time. The series is a unique re-imagining of the film. Ironically, it had greater focus as the film did meander and had little to no storyline, just events. The film was also an ensemble piece where the television series did put most of its focus on Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce, (Alan Alda in a Groucho Marx interpretation.)

This DVD set presents the entire first season uncut and unedited. It is interesting to watch the series find itself, even with a few episodes where the opening theme is changed. The characters change, come and go. For example, "Spearchucker" Jones unceremoniously disappears while supporting role Corporal Clinger ends up returning and eventually becomes a regular. Radar O'Reilly is the only major character that is played by the same performer as the film (Gary Burghoff). And his character is another example of the series finding itself. He starts off as more of a troublemaker, always deeply involved with Hawkeye's shenanigans. Later he becomes more timid and his character becomes more innocent, teddy bear always waiting for him in his bunk.

So, if you are a fan of the series, this complete first season is a great offering. Larry Gelbart creates a miracle series, unique from the film, but carrying over its cynicism. Although, it is difficult to watch more than one or two at a sitting as they start to run together. Watch for A BEAUTIFUL MIND director Ronny Howard as a young patient in the "Hear a bullet" episode.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Where this classic series got started
Review: What can be said about M.A.S.H. that hasn't been said already? Among the longest running and best sitcoms ever made, it stands the test of time despite its very specific setting. The gags still work, the characters are still wonderful, and the show still enjoyable.

The first season is less serious than later seasons, which were not shy about dropping the gags in order to throw serious topics into the mix. The actors, too, were still finding their tone and pacing during this first season. But still, few shows can match these "baby steps." Hilarious from start to finish.

This DVD set is bare bones, though not poorly produced. We get the episodes spread out over three discs (all in a sturdy triple-case) and a small booklet with info on each episode. And that's it. No extras, no commentaries. Just the episodes.

Which is just fine, because the episodes are great. Good, crisp picture far better than reruns, and good sound.

And the bare bones format pays off. With TV-on-DVD sets routinely breaking the $50 to $70 range, $35 sounds pretty darn good. A no-brainer buy for M.A.S.H. fans.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A rare opportunity
Review: I've always wanted to see this show and finally the opportunity has come thanks to these wonderful DVDs. I have recently retired and am spending much of my time catching up on recent pop culture and I'm thrilled to come across this gem. The writing, acting, photography are all top-notch. One minute, you're laughing, the next you're reminded that these people are in the midst of a horrible situation. My favorite episode of this set is when they steal the commanding officer's desk (don't think that would go over well in the Army!).

Kudos to all involved. I just wish the opportunity to see this great show wasn't limited to people with DVD players or those with the inclination to purchase these DVDs. Can't some brave network (broadcast or cable) realize what a find this show is and air it?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great 3 DVD set!!! A+!!!
Review: This 3 DVD set of MASH's first season is top notch!!! all 24 season one episodes on 3 little DVD's!!!The choice of soundtracks(with or without the laugh tracks)is totally cool!!! Great for MASH fans!!! A+!!!


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