Reviews (12)

mel mel mel
I personally thought that this movie was hillarious. The first time i saw it i couldn't stop laughing. Yes, it's true that it's not the best Brooks film but i thought it was a great change from watching most of his recent movies. The little things in the movie crack me up, like when the Col. keeps falling off the desk. That's just classic Brooks. Brooks is one of my favorite actor/directors and i think that it might not match up to Space Balls, Young Frankenstein, and others, but, i still think it's a great movie and very entertaining.

A nice little movie
When I see the name Mel Brooks on a film title, I think bawdy gags, double-entendres and a bathroom-humor punchline. (But that's me!) This movie was a pleasant change from the usual Brooks offerings with crisp dramatic direction, a good dramatic cast (Ann Bancroft was perfect as the wife with a wandering eye) and a bitter sweet plot. Watching Mel Brooks interact with some accomplished actors, you realize the depth of his talent - he holds his own very well and has a strong screen presence. Although this is a remake of a wonderful 1930's Jack Benny film, Brooks does a great job updating the script for today's audiences. It's not Young Frankenstein or even High Anxiety but it is a nice little movie that any Brooks fan will thoroughly enjoy. As an aside, I think Mel must lay awake at night thinking of ways to poke fun at Nazis in general and Hitler in particular (think Producers, Blazing Saddles...). He does it so well, I hope he never stops.

Cure for the blues
I love this movie--I watch it whenever I feel down . It's my favorite Mel Brooks film--relatively clean and much much funnier than Space Balls or History of the World. "Sweet Georgia Brown" in Polish is great, as well as "Excuse me.Pardon me......" Young Frankenstein and The Producers are great, but for a cure for the blues, you can't beat To Be or Not to Be!

just a fun movie
Can anyone tell me if/when we will see this on DVD? Very cleverly written with excellent performances from ever single person in the film. Charles Durning was nominated for an Academy Award for his role. Durning is great in everything he does but I believe he is at his best in this.

To Be or Not to Be
Mel Brooks is off again, this time taking us to Poland as it is invaded by the Nazis. Even the title makes fun of an earlier spy movie produced during world war two.

The cast is brilliant, spearheaded by Mel Brooks himself. Its pretty much a roll call of 1970's comedy and is just brusting with Brooks's usual silliness(silliness is used in a good contex here)

My impression-Great movie, but at times doesn't measure up to some of Brook's other films. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

i loved it!
As someone who was in a production of "Teahouse of the August Moon", I loved this movie. Most directors do not suggest watching a movie of the play before starting rehearsal because most movies are worse than their plays. However, our director showed the film at one of our rehearsals and it gave a place to aspire to go. I recommend anyone to see this film and have fun with the subtle comedy and life lessons.

Timeless, comedy with a fantastic script
This movie will be funny for people watching it 1000 years from now. This is a classic comedy with a few "life lessons" as well. My husband who typically does not like anything made prior to 1960 laughs outloud at this film. We use lines from this movie as a code. For example: Glenn Ford's character says "Alright, I'm sorry, shall I kill myself?" Paul Ford's character replies "Don't minimize this." If that kind of dialogue tickles your funny bone then this is the film for you. "Socks up!"

DVD???
When will we see a DVD??? (in widescreen please) Loved the movie but watching it on fullscreen VHS does ruin things a bit. Hope Warner Brothers will see what a gem theyve got in this movie and release a DVD soon.

Fabulous Film
We just spent 4 years in Okinawa and it is a paradise on earth. The people are what make the island a great place to be. This film presents the wonderful aspects of the island and is hilarious in showing how the US Army tries to run the island after the war and the travails of one Capt. who tries to build what the Okinawans actually want. The author of the book (which is also excellent, and is different enough from the movie to warrant its purchase) was stationed on Okinawa and the story reflects an awareness of the island and the actions of the Army. This is a great movie that can be watched over and over. The movie is especially relevant given what is going on currently in Iraq - it makes you wonder if there will be similar stories from our building up of Iraq.

If you can't wait for DVD and/or If you missed it on TCM...
It's a lot to ask of yourself and your pocketbook, but if you absolutely *have* to watch this fantastic film in letterbox widescreen - then you might want to consider a Laserdisc.

It's terribly out of date and functionally a dead-end technology. But for the true fan of films like this - it's the only way to go for now.

This film and about a half a dozen like it are the only reason I scoured through a ton of eBay auctions trying to find a decent used LD which has the 'auto-flip' function and a remote.

That was four years ago and I *still* get tremendous joy being able to watch 'Teahouse' in a true digital widescreen format. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Good, Clean Fun For The Whole Family!
This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen!!! I am an avid fan of The Andy Griffith Show, but even if you're not, you'll love this movie. Andy plays a backwoods hick that is drafted into the Air Force. When he meets the tough, rules and regulations world of the Air Force, all sorts of hilarious situations arise. Buy this movie, its one for the whole family.

Funny Air Force Comedy("I'm P L O!")
This is one I have had in my collection for years. Great fun from start to finish. Griffith is funny, but so are the co stars(Adams, McCormick, Knotts, etc.). Inspection scene is classic as is the pyschiatrist sketch. McCormick is hilarious as the tired old Air Force Staff Sgt. who assigns Griffith job as permanent latrine orderly(PLO!). Andy Griffith show fans will recognize that this was the first on-screen teaming of Knotts and Griffith. This one is full of memorable lines such as Pvt. Whitledge(Adams) telling Stockdale(Griffith)"Honest, Will, sometimes I wonder why they took ya in the draf at all!". Fans of MASH will recognize a young Jamie Farr in latter half of film. This film came out during a post Word War II and Post Korean War America and there is even a subplot thrown in involving the Yucca Flats testing site. I have never seen the tv version or the broadway play, but this film is just downright funny and all fans of Griffith or anyone that has been in the military should watch this one.

No Time for Sergeants
Great family movie. Shipped very quickly.

DVD, Please!!!
We have watched this movie many times. In fact this video is what turned our kids onto the "old" movies that they now like so well. Please tell me there are putting it on DVD!!! Kids love it. I love it. We pop it in any time we just want a good, healthy laugh.

one of the greatest
I have remembered this as one of my favorite films of all time. This is one of the most hilarious movies that Andy Griffith has has ever made. It is funny, sweet, tender, kind, and has all of the good things encountered in the best movies. I highly recommend this film and wish it would come out on DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Arguably the greatest black comedy ever made, Stanley Kubrick's cold war classic is the ultimate satire of the nuclear age. Dr. Strangelove is a perfect spoof of political and military insanity, beginning when General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), a maniacal warrior obsessed with "the purity of precious bodily fluids," mounts his singular campaign against Communism by ordering a squadron of B-52 bombers to attack the Soviet Union. The Soviets counter the threat with a so-called "Doomsday Device," and the world hangs in the balance while the U.S. president (Peter Sellers) engages in hilarious hot-line negotiations with his Soviet counterpart. Sellers also plays a British military attaché and the mad bomb-maker Dr. Strangelove; George C. Scott is outrageously frantic as General Buck Turgidson, whose presidential advice consists mainly of panic and statistics about "acceptable losses." With dialogue ("You can't fight here! This is the war room!") and images (Slim Pickens's character riding the bomb to oblivion) that have become a part of our cultural vocabulary, Kubrick's film regularly appears on critics' lists of the all-time best. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (264)

Absolutely Brilliant, Yet Creepy Satire
Splendidly acted and brilliantly directed, Dr. Strangelove is Kubrick's satiric masterpiece about the insanity of the Cold War Era and the silliness of the infamous military-industrial complex--i.e., militaristic war machine-- that seems hell-bent on destroying the world with its overblown paranoia and jingoism. After rumors of a supposed Doomsday Machine that the "Commie Rats" are developing, a general, Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), tricks 34 U.S. Air Force bombers into nuking the U.S.S.R. without asking the President's permission (played by Peter Sellers in one of three roles). Not surprisingly, he's a little touched in the head, as he decides to bomb Russia not only because of this device, but because he's obsessed with the idea of preserving America's "precious bodily fluids." (It's a long story, folks.) Adding to the mess is Joint Chief of Staff, Turgidson (George C.Scott, in a brilliant performance), who's as paranoid as they come and wouldn't mind helping Ripper take out half of civilization to save America from the evil Russians. (One hilarious scene has Turgidson confronted with the possiblity of killing millions of people because of Ripper's stunt. "So what if we get our hair a little mussed?" he says.) Also mired in the madness is another military man, the veddy British Mandrake (Sellers) who works under Ripper and tries desperately to get the insane man to give him the code needed to turn the planes back, but alas to no avail. The star of the movie, however, is the weapons scientist, Dr. Strangelove (Sellers again), a very bizarre wheelchair-bound ex-Nazi with a "trick arm" that can't stop doing the Seig Heil salute. (For trivia buffs out there, this character may have been an allusion to the very real Wernher von Braun, the rocket scientist for Nazi Germany who was recruited by the U.S. after the war.) Also doing a wonderful turn is Slim Pickens, the tough-talking cowboy and man in charge of the only bomber that fails to get the recall from Washington; the scene in which he rides a falling nuke to its destination is a cinematic classic.

What makes Dr. Strangelove so brilliant is that is able to straddle that line between reality and absurdity without having each side cancel the other out. On one hand, the performances are so over the top that you not only laugh, you sigh with the relief that this is, after all, *just* a movie. (A weird cat like Dr. Strangelove could never exist in real life.) On the other hand, there's something about the way the film is directed where there's an eery and creepy feeling that something like this *could* happen-- not with these zany characters, of course, but with saner people in similar circumstances. In the end, no matter how crazy people like Turgidson and Ripper may act, the bottom line is that their underlying beliefs are shockingly similar to what a lot of U.S. military personnel in a position of power to push the button feel like. But then again, that was the point of the film-- on one hand to make people laugh, but on the other hand, to wake them up to the dangers of the Cold War and an entity like the military-industrial complex, that-- if not kept in check-- could one day feel itself powerful enough to perform certain reckless acts without consulting Congress or even the President himself. All in all, a terrific film, and a complete thumbs up from me.

A Kubrick Classic.
U.S. Air Force General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Heyden) goes entire and Utterly Crazy and Sends his Bomber Wing to Destory the U.S.S.R. He distrust that the Communists are Noted to Contaminate the Expensive Carnal Liquids of the American People. The U.S. President (Peter Sellers) meets with his Advisors, where the Soviet Ambassador tells him if the U.S.S.R. is hit by Nuclear Weapons, it will trigger a Doomsday Decive. Which will Annihilate all Plant and Animal Life on Earth. British Captain Lionel Mandrake (Also Sellers), the only person with access to the Demented General Ripper. U.S. President Merkin Muffley, whose Best Effort to Avert Disaster depend on Placating a High Soviet Permier and the former Nazi genious Dr. Strangelove (Also Sellers), who concludes that such a decive would not be a Cognizant Deterrent for Reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious. Will the Bombers be Stopped in Time or will General Jack D. Ripper succeed in destroying the world?

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (Lolita, 2001:A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange) filmed a well made Black Comedy, feature an Impressive Cast including-George C. Scott, Slim Pickens and James Earl Jones. This film is Unique and It's gets better, every year. Oscar Nominated for Best Actor:Peter Sellers, Best Picture and Best Director:Stanley Kubrick and Best Adapted Screenplay by Peter George, Stanley Kubrick and Terry Southern. DVD has an clear Pan & Scan format and an Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono Sound. A well made that become a Classic. The Newest Edition from Columbia Home Video DVD has Many Extras. Grade:B+.

Oh for the days of the Cold War!
Every ideology that seems terribly important to one generation usually ends up seeming idiotic and even disturbingly naive to the following generation.

Think about it. The ideologies of the 18th century - dying for one's prince, duke or loot - seemed insane during the Napoleonic Wars, when nationalism became THE primary motivating factor.

"Pure" nationalism - like the extreme gung-ho attitudes at the beginning of World War I - seemed rather distasteful to the Allied forces in World War II, who fought to liberate peoples from Fascism.

The idea that Fascism would always endure, and was seriously in danger of taking over the world, seemed laughable during the Cold War.

How does the Cold War look to us today? The McCarthy era; Americans truly believing the USSR and the Communists were veritable Antichrists; truly believing that DESTROYING ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET was a feasible prediction about life in the near future; that the world was, always had been, and always would be, characterised by a fight between Communists and Capitalists.

*Sigh*

Dr Strangelove (or: how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb) is actually MORE funny - and disturbing - in some ways now than it was before. Admittedly I can sort of understand the immense impact of this film - could ANY politial satire have been more timely - but the fact that the "better red than dead" ideology nowadays seems as ridiculous as fighting for your Duke, means that this film can be seen in a new light.

People actually believed that is was better to be dead than Red? (Yes they did). People actually believed fluoridation of water was a communist conspiracy??? (Yes, they did). The Russians actually contemplated building a Doomsday device? (Yes they did!!! Josef Stalin actually started research on such a device, which would have EXTERMINATED ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET for the sake of a politial dispute between Communist and capitalist that today seems absolutely laughable!)

The passing of the Cold War era means that this movie is seriously disturbing. To a new generation, the all-annihilating power of the superpowers of the 1960s appears to have been based on disputes that appear petty in the extreme. Truly this movie makes us wonder what future generations will think of our fixation on modern ideologies; in an era that began three years ago with the late unpleasantness - and which is already making Francis Fukuyama's ideas, from the happy days of the 1990s, seem obsolete. He claimed that history was over; that free market ideology was the ULTIMATE ideology that would finally bring about an end to all future historical events by making us all live in peace.
That is SO 1995...

History is not over. Each generation seriously believes its own era is the ultimate era - that their own era is THE era whose disputes TRULY matter.

Well, history changes, as Strangelove shows us. I seriously hope that this movie makes us moderns think a little further before considering annihilating the world again! At least over something like fluoridation of water...

Satire at its best!
There are excellent reviews here about this movie, most of them rate it highly, and rightly so. It is no accident that this DVD is on average (at the time of writing) around 4.5 stars.
I must confess I did not know about Peter Sellers before watching this movie. I was recommended the movie by an 'artsy' friend - you know, the type of guy that thinks Citizen Kane is the greatest movie ever made - so I wasn't expecting too much, knowing how these types prefer style over substance.

I was pleasantly surprised. This is the type of film anybody can enjoy, it's seriously funny. It will probably have more meaning if you are familiar with the Cold War and the arms race, but if you don't know too much about that, the extras are a great help. There is one extra that deals with the making of the film, and how at the time of its production there was some subtle opposition to its release. Subtle in that the Air force was unwilling to lend it's expertise in the design of the B-52 bomber used in the film, and there was fear that its release at the time of J.F.K's death might have been seen as unpatriotic.

Well that's all behind us now, and we don't have to worry about the bomb so we can enjoy it more as a comedy than as a political message presented as satire. I must say that Peter Sellers is a genius; I couldn't tell when I first watched it that he was playing three roles! There are so many funny parts in the film and I don't want to spoil it for you by mentioning any. George C. Scott is also excellent and has some very memorable lines.

A bonus for me was that there was a language soundtrack in five languages; German, Italian, French, Spanish and English (off course) plus there were subtitles in more languages which is great for anyone trying to learn a new language.

I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves satire and who appreciates jokes that aren't always below the belt.

"I think you're some kind of deviated pre-vert."
Some films have a timeless quality intrinsically inherent with the story, allowing for them to maintain a certain amount of relevance, despite the subject matter, or when they were made. This aspect holds true for many of Stanley Kubrick's films, in my opinion, and is true with this film, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Directed by Kubrick, written by Kubrick and Terry Southern (Easy Rider), based on the serious novel Red Alert aka Two Hours to Doom by Peter George, and starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden, Dr. Strangelove deals in a highly farcical and satirical manner the subject of nuclear proliferation, and proposed responses devised by men of power to perceived threats, whether they be based on reality, or founded from paranoia.

The film starts off with Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper (Hayden), commander of Burpelson Air Force Base, initiating Attack Plan R to his group, a plan created to allow someone other than the president to launch a nuclear counterattack in the event the enemy has managed to disrupt the normal chain of command, thereby preserving our response abilities despite significant loss of leadership. Only problem is, there has been no offensive put forth by enemies of America, and it turns out this issuance was completely unprovoked and the result of one who has basically lost his mind. Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Seller, in one of three roles), a British officer participating in a officer exchange program, and, subsequently Rippers 2nd in command, realizes this, and must act before the B-52 bombers reach their destinations within the Soviet Union and deliver their atomic payloads, in turn setting off a new doomsday device conceived by the Soviets due to the fact that they were unable to keep up the United States in terms of arms proliferation, which, if activated, would cover the planet in a radioactive cloud for 100 years, destroying all life on Earth. Pretty heavy stuff, huh? One wouldn't think there'd be much humor to be found in a situation like this, but then one would be wrong...

The humor comes in the form of the absolute ludicrosity (it's not a word, as I just made it up) of the situation grown from the intense level of paranoia developed between democratic and communist powers after WWII and how, once things are set into motion, how safeguards meant to protect us basically work against that goal. It's really pretty funny to see what a mutated beast has been born of these fears, both perceived and real. Hayden Sterling is wonderful as the psychotic general with visions of communists infiltrating the very core of our democratic being, with his thoughts on 'precious bodily fluids', and conspiracies by the red menace to undermine and sap our strength. Peter Sellers is perhaps the standout in the film, playing three separate parts with such ability that I often unable to distinguish the actor from the characters within the film, seeing not an actor playing three separate parts, but only seeing three distinct characters in the British officer Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room", and finally ex-German scientist Dr. Strangelove "Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost if you keep it a secret! Why didn't you tell the world?", advisor to the President. One thing each of the characters does have in common is the Seller's comedic genius. His most memorable roles were those involving the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movies, but his skills shine through in his portrayal of three completely separate personalities, one straight-laced (Mandrake), another sort of bewildered but trying to maintain a sense of control (President Muffley), and a third hilariously over the top (Dr. Strangelove). Finally, there's George C. Scott's performance as the scheming, opportunistic, plotting and conniving, but all in the name of patriotism, General 'Buck' Turdigson "Mr. President, I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks". He completely reminds me of his lead role from the film Patton (1970), but in a very perverted, devolved manner. Great support roles include Slim Pickens Major T.J. 'King' Kong as the pilot of one of the B-52's, James Earl Jones as one of his crewmembers, and Colonel 'Bat' Guano as the leader of the force assigned to take control of Burpelson Air Force Base, and recover the recall codes from base commander General Ripper.

All in all, Kubrick has just an amazing style for relating a story to the audience. From his use of different formats of film to evoke a particular mood or convey a sense of feeling, i.e. the documentary style use for the actual fighting footage at the air force base, to the choice of music to enhance the tone set in the various scenes. It all works perfectly to create mock realism in spite of the comedic nature, presenting the essence of a black comedy.

The picture looks wonderful in this full screen format, and you will see that change from time to time as Kubrick used various aspect ratios in the film. As far as special features, there are quite a few of them, including a theatrical trailer, a featurette titled 'The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove', a documentary titled 'The Making of Dr. Strangelove', original split screen interviews with actors Scott and Sellers (this was done by having the actors answer pre-determined questions, and then local interviewers could be added in later asking said questions, making it look like they were interviewing the actors), promotional advertising gallery, and talent files. Some have called this 'The Greatest Black Comedy of All Time', and I would have little difficulty in arguing that...

(...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

This 1991 comedy by Gabriele Salvatores was knocked for notbeing deep enough, but it is what it is, and it's actually an easygoing, sunnymovie about eight Italian soldiers who manage to strand themselves on a tiny Greek island paradise during World War II. The sort of mutts who would shoota donkey for not knowing the proper password, these clumsy warriorsbecome a comic variation on the Lotus Eaters of myth, their fighting spirit evaporated in the midst of so much beauty and sexual availability among the local women. There are also sundry opportunities for the men to find another purposefor their lives (one particularly artistic fellow works on the restorationof a church, for example). Amid the sometimes coarse jokes and gratuitous nudity, there are subtle themes about the contrast between what men are truly like in their natural state versus what they are like as killers. (The ThinRed Line this isn't, but Salvatores does, in his own way, touch on some of the same themes.) Watch this one on a cold winter's day and vicariously enjoythe tans as well as the antiwar sentiment. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Great Movie
Just one quick thought: please release this title on DVD. Cinema Paradiso has been released, Il Postino has been released, now this movie should be released. It easily holds its own when compared to these 2 movies. Simply delightful. The acting, the plot, the scenery, easily give this movie a five-star rating. Makes you want to visit the Greek island where the movie was shot and live the experience of "la dolce vità" portrayed in this movie. This film shows you how, even in the thick of war, enemies are more alike then different. We are all linked by the same human spirit.
I await impatiently for the DVD version.

A Comedy Classic for Foreign Film Lovers
I have the Italian version of this DVD (Region 2, without subtitles) as well as the VHS tape that was made available in the US. It's easily my favorite Italian comedy, and I'm very surprised it hasn't come out on DVD for the United States yet. Afterall, it did win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1991. I felt the film did a great job of conveying some of the mystery and serenity of the Greek islands. Also the character development right from the beginning of the film is excellent. According to one Italian review I've read, the various Italian accents in this film also add to the humor. Another major attribute is the soundtrack music...brilliant. I've looked for it on CD but haven't been able to find it. From what I've been able to find out, this film is finally being released in European countries (besides Italy) in mid October, 2002. I would hope that the US release will be timed around that date. We'll see I guess. It's funny to think that if a group of Italian soldiers really got stranded on Meghisti like that during WWII, escaping the island would have been relatively easy. The coast of Turkey is only several miles across the water!

Why is this movie so moving?
Well, it's difficult to explain why is this movie so moving... Essentially, nothing really happens most of the time (like in real life). The background is war but you actually dont see any. There's a love story, sort of, but no real love scene, or emotional romance... it's also a comedy, but there aren't any really great memoreable jokes that knock you off. There is some "philosophy", escapism, let's-enjoy-life-while-it's last or whatever, but that's not that revealing either... So why is it so good? Am not sure, although I've seen it many-many times, over and over, can memorize whole scenes and dialogs, completely obssesed with it. Maybe, it creates a certain atmosphere, a silly happy smile that wan't move from yr face for the duration and some time after... you fall in love
with some of the charachters, the italian language, the greek landscape, you watch it and want to ride (or better walk next to)a donkey, sit on a rock and eat some feta, hide in an olive barrell... every small detail of a scene is beautifully shot and sculpted, tasteful, subtle yet simple, every word in its place, it all fits together so well... everytime I see it I discover new details, change my opinion and preferences about the charachters. Now I am quite convinced "lo Russo" is the main personality, although at some pt I thought it was Farina, or perhaps there is no "main" one, like in real life etc.

I tried to show this movie to some teenagers but they got super bored, which was sad, so I wan't do it again, just watch it myself, over and over again...

A great movie telling a story of forgotten soldiers
Every movie, like life itself, has a beginning and an ending. Comparing the beginning and the ending tells a lot about a movie. The opening picture in Mediterraneo shows a group of people, with little and common, shuffled together by fate. The ending shows a group of friends, who have learnt to share their lives.

It is 1941, and a fierce battle is raging through the eastern part of the Mediterranean, where Italian troops are battling British forces for the control of Islands, such as it happened in similar ways between American troops and the Japanese in the Pacific theatre.

On this background, an Italian platoon is sent to the tiny island of Kastellorizo, the southernmost island of the Dodekanesos, huddled against the Turkish coastline. The cruiser, that brought them to the Island, is sunk the same day, and their radio equipment fails. The soldiers gradually make contact with the Islanders. As the war progresses the soldiers and their little island are forgotten by the war-faring parties.

Step-by-step they find new lives. Some become goat herders, fishermen, while others fall in love with the village prostitute. The commanding lieutenant discovers his talent for fresco painting, and restores the island's church, whilst his eleven members of the platoon serve as models for the followers of Jesus and other saints.

In this movie, the soldiers collectively forget about their identity, and become part of the islander community. However, as the war ends, the island's male abducted population returns to reclaim their wives.

Reluctantly, the Italians leave the island. Only one of them hides in a barrel, after having married the village's prostitute.

This movie is not only highly entertaining. It plays in a rarely portrayed theatre of the WWII.
It portrays the development of human society in the context of compassion and friendship.

I highly recommend this movie to spectators interested in psychology, the absurdity of life, and human development.

Franz L. Kessler www.authorsden.com/franzkessler

Un Film Eccellente!
Excellent movie! It's more than just some WWII Italian soldiers "invading" a Greek isle. I watched it in Italian with English subtitles and not understanding Italian was, in a way, a bonus. It made me more attentive to the music and the expressive tone of the soldiers' screams, grumbling, and delirium. We often watch movies that depict the difficulty of people from one culture to adapt to the environment and get a long with people of another culture. In Mediterraneo, it's the opposite. The Italian soldiers adapted so well and easily to the island and its people. Of course the Mediterranean factor helped, but it's the human factor after all, that bonds people together. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

It's set during the Korean War, in a mobile army surgical hospital. But no one seeing M*A*S*H in 1970 confused the film for anything but a caustic comment on the Vietnam War; this is one of the counterculture movies that exploded into the mainstream at the end of the '60s. Director Robert Altman had labored for years in television and sporadic feature work when this smash-hit comedy made his name (and allowed him to create an astonishing string of offbeat pictures, culminating in the masterpiece Nashville). Altman's style of cruel humor, overlapping dialogue, and densely textured visuals brought the material to life in an all-new kind of war movie (or, more precisely, antiwar movie). Audiences had never seen anything like it: vaudeville routines played against spurting blood, fueled with open ridicule of authority. The cast is led by Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland, as the outrageous surgeons Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper John McIntyre, with Robert Duvall as the uptight Major Burns and Sally Kellerman in an Oscar-nominated role as nurse "Hot Lips" Houlihan. The film's huge success spawned the long-running TV series, a considerably softer take on the material; of the film's cast, only Gary Burghoff repeated his role on the small screen, as the slightly clairvoyant Radar O'Reilly. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (88)

"The game of life is hard to play, I'm gonna lose it anyway"
Probably no cinematic comedy produced by Hollywood in the last half of the twentieth century is as irreverent, disdainful of authority, critical of war and its effects, and, incidentally, as funny as "M*A*S*H", that 1970 comedic masterpiece starring Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Tom Skerritt, Gary Burghoff, and Sally Kellerman; written by Ring Lardner, Jr.; and directed by Robert Altman, in his directorial debut.

"M*A*S*H" is actually a very difficult film to review for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it's darned near impossible to provide an adequate synopsis for readers who've never seen the movie. Because, unlike most modern films that contain a linear story line, an easy-to-follow plot, and well developed characters that one can either root for or vilify with ease, "M*A*S*H" is a film that can only be described as a series of loosely joined comic vignettes, featuring a set of very true-to-life characters that are all BOTH very likeable and flawed.

"M*A*S*H" is one of the best comedies ever made, and for good reason. It is genuinely funny. It is artistically produced; it contains great writing and acting; and it proclaims an important social message to viewers.

Having said all that, "M*A*S*H" is very likely NOT a movie that will appeal to everyone's tastes - even now, 32 years after it was first released. How the movie was written and produced has a lot to do with that fact.

As the story goes, the idea for producing a movie version "M*A*S*H" got its start when literary agent Ingo Preminger referred Dr. Richard Hooker's famous novel of the same name to 20th Century Fox executive Richard Zanuck. Zanuck enthusiastically supported the idea, hired Preminger as the movie's producer, and set out to find a screen writer and director. Ring Lardner Jr. (son of the famous 1930s sports writer) was brought in to write the script. Robert Altman was hired to direct. (As Altman tells it, he was about the "13th choice" of the studio to direct.)

Shooting began during the summer of 1969. At the same time, the films "Patton" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" were in production. Altman, eager to be successful in his first major film, decided to "hide out" on a back lot of the studio, where he would escape the watchful eyes of studio executives.

As a result, Altman was able to apply many innovative techniques to the film. He wanted his actors to improvise as much as possible in each scene. He wired each actor with an individual microphone and encouraged them to talk over one another. He incorporated several bloody operating room scenes in the film. He tried to mask the fact that the film was supposed to be set during the Korean War. He wanted audiences to assume that this was a film about Vietnam, and he wanted them to understand his clear message about the monstrosity of war.

(By the way, Altman's technique enraged Lardner, who thought Altman had basically thrown away the script. Lardner came perilously close to disassociating himself from the project, but in the end, accepted both the sole writing credit for the film... and the Oscar for Best Screenplay at the 1971 Academy Awards.).

Because of Altman's innovative (some say crazy) filmmaking techniques, "M*A*S*H" succeeds as a brilliant film that achieves almost all of Altman's goals. The film is deeply imbued with a lifelike realism that allows viewers to "feel" what it was like in the fictional 4077th MASH. The actors speak like one would expect them to when confronted with the reality of war and the boredom of inactivity.

Comedy scenes are uniformly uproariously funny, employing jokes and gags that range from subtle to coarse to borderline lewd. Interspersed with the comedy scenes are operating room sequences that are bloody to the point of horrific, but that bring home with full force the full brutality of war... so much so that, for a short time, the Defense Department banned the "M*A*S*H" from being shown in military theaters worldwide.

I've read some reviews of "M*A*S*H" in which a criticism is leveled that the movie's characters are not well developed. I disagree with this judgment. I found I was readily able to identify with all the characters, whether they were likeable or not. Hawkeye, Duke, Trapper, Frank, Hot Lips, Henry, Radar, and all the others were completely believable, and fleshed out in detail... no small feat since the actors who played these parts were directed to perform their roles in such a highly improvisational manner.

"M*A*S*H" is one of those rare films that gives viewers everything they could ask for from a great film: wonderfully realistic acting; a great script; brilliantly funny comedy; superb drama, important social commentary; and artful, innovative filmmaking techniques. "M*A*S*H" has steadfastly stood the test of time for thirty years, never becoming outdated or irrelevant. Whether you've never seen it, or, like me, you've seen it many times: RUN, don't walk, to your nearest video store and check it out!

M*A*S*H - intelligent satire in a benchmark DVD release
M*A*S*H is one of the zaniest and most intelligent satires ever produced by Hollywood. This is a war movie in which only two shots are fired -- as signals in a football game. It is a masterpiece of wider appeal -- even to veterans -- than is suggested by its setting in Korean War military hospitals, or by its director's explicit aim of promoting liberal opposition to the Vietnam war during the '60s and '70s.

The 2002 two-disk M*A*S*H special edition from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in many ways is a benchmark for DVD releases of cult movies. Picture and sound quality are high. The special feature content is entertaining and insightful.

This content includes extensive retrospective comment by director Robert Altman, producer Ingo Preminger, former studio boss Richard Zanuck, scriptwriter Ring Lardner Jr, actors including Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman, Tom Skerritt, John Schuck and Gary Burghoff, and medical veterans of the Korean War. We see the 30th anniversary M*A*S*H reunion at Fox, and presentation of a studio life achievement award to Altman.

The special content gives fascinating insights into the driving half-mad genius that so often makes a great director, and of egos and bigheartedness in movie making.

Almost everyone, from the scriptwriter to the studio executives and the actors, lined up against the director at some time. Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould once even tried to get Altman fired, fearing that he would damage their careers. In the M*A*S*H special edition features they eat their words and graciously pay tribute to Altman. Former studio boss Richard Zanuck says that until Altman came along other directors were afraid of the screenplay or didn't like it. 'Altman came in, and seemed unruly enough to be able to understand this subject matter.'

M*A*S*H was made on a shoestring budget with Fox's Century Ranch standing in for Korea. It emerged from chaotic creative tension as an enormous artistic and financial success. Altman accepted a salary of only $75,000. His son Mike is reputed to have made more money from writing the lyric to the keynote ballad, 'Suicide Is Painless', with Johnny Mandel. Altman kept costs down by casting the movie with mostly unknown and out-of-work actors. 14 of the movie's 30 speaking roles were played by actors making their screen debut. Shooting finished three days ahead of schedule in 1969, and almost half a million dollars under budget. M*A*S*H went on to earn more than $80 million at the box office, a Palme d'Or at Cannes and an Oscar (for the heavily reworked script of formerly blacklisted scriptwriter Ring Lardner Jr), and to inspire a long-running popular TV series.

This is a rare thing: a five star classic movie in a five star DVD release.

Second Release on DVD?
Normaly I would give this movie a 5 stars. I mean it is that good. The movie is outstanding.

Here is the reason I am giving this only 3 stars:

I am puzzled of why 20th Century Fox is re-releasing this movie as a single disc DVD.

They should have released the single disc first, then the Five Star Collection edition.

Hey 20th Century Fox, why????????

GOTTA HAND IT TO ALTMAN, GRUDGINGLY
At the same time, Robert Altman's "M*A"S*H" came out. It, too found an audience, and truth be told many who enjoyed "Patton" enjoyed "M*A*S*H". It was just plain funny, and the anti-military theme was subtle. Altman walked a brilliant tightrope between a pro-American and unpatriotic premise. There is no doubt that Altman intended it as an anti-Vietnam movie. It was written by former Communist Ring Lardner, Jr. Lardner had been Blacklisted, and this fact featured prominently in the politics of the film's aura. It was based on a sexy paperback novel about surgeons in Korea. The film was set in Korea, yet made every possible attempt to convey the image that it was actually Vietnam. Many of the movie's set pieces were deliberately Vietnamese in nature and costume, for that very purpose. To the extent that it was unpatriotic, it subtly described "regular Army" officers as unyielding, intolerant Christians, utterly blinded by stupid jingoism. The draftees, however, are funny and attractive as they drink and love their way through a bevy of good-looking nurses, all while saving lives in the style of comic Galahads. Altman showed genius as a filmmaker. The movie avoided real controversy because it was just so darn good.
"M*A*S*H" spurred a television show that ran for years. In the 1970s it played for its time and audience. Re-runs, however, strain its credibility beyond Altman's original themes. Two doctors played the "bad guy." The first was a complete buffoon. Frank Burns was prominently identified as a Republican. He is given zero good qualities. He is ugly, a bad doctor, a coward, a racist and all-around mean SOB who cheats on his wife with Major Margaret Hoolihan, who at least is given some character. She is half-Vixen, half-Fascist, naturally Republican, a patriotic American in the "worst way," who worships the idols of war. Over the years the writers gave Margaret a little development. Very little. Burns was replaced by Major Charles Emerson Winchester, a Boston Brahmin, naturally a Republican whose father "knows Truman. He doesn't like him, but he knows him." Winchester, like Hoolihan, is allowed a touch of humanity when the liberal writers felt charitable, but generally was available for all possible bashing. Two hero-doctors anchor the show by showing their intelligence, medical skills and tolerance as direct contrasts to the war effort. The CIA is lampooned, and a military effort that in reality featured MacArthur's Inchon campaign, perhaps the most brilliant invasion in history, is also played as foolish. In the end, the TV show and the film avoid being really and actually unpatriotic because they do feature an emphasis on the basic goodness of the American spirit under stress, but you will not catch me tuned in to those old re-runs(...)

Suicide is painless
Dear lord, I could not stop laughing during this movie, everyone from Hawkeye to Hotlips are back in a special edition five star collection restored set, the picture and sound are restored wonderfully, I watched this on VHS when I was 12 and I can appreciate DVD quality, the anti-war message is beautifully satirical, right from the opening theme to the heart warming ending, it is quite a trip ... Read more

Reviews (6)

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO USE A GRENADE THAT WONT WORK
JUMPING JACKS is a great film-I've watched it twice since I rented it-its so funny-like when Jerry falls out of the plane at the end-and when he lands on Deans parachute-hilarious!

JUMPING JACKS is about a nightclub entainter who mistakenly gets
a letter to join the army and takes someone elses name-and also
is afraid to parajump!

One of my favorite scenes is when Dean is singing the parachute jump and when Jerry is running on the beds-and-actually any scene with Jerry is enjoyable!

Another great scene is the start-with Jerry and a dame singing
I cant resist a boy in a uniform-that trick uniform was great!

I hope that my video store will let me have the rented one-since its christmas!

Great movie!
I have always loved this movie, of course I have always been a Jerry Lewis fan. I have never been to crazy about Dean Martin and his singing but I guess without him in some of these movies Jerry wouldn't have been so funny. Even though Jerry carries himself well without Dean in alot of movies. My kids love Jerry Lewis now! This one is the best one that they made together in my opinion! Very funny!

A good performance
Really really like the paratroopers dancing around Dean Martins Singing. It's like where they left off on At war with the army. I would buy these two movies together.

Martin/Lewis' best film together (I think so, anyway)
Watch this movie and look around the jump towers at Fort Benning and you'll SEE NO BUILDING 4 INFANTRY HALL which wasn't built until 1964! One thing we should remember about films like this, though they be comedies, they are often filmed on location, with help from the U.S. Army and in so doing, they capture rare moments (like a jump tower mound with no Building 4 behind it!) that are lost forever. For example, at the film's end you see Martin/Lewis take part in a mass tactical parachute jump where you see C-82 aircraft with their rear clam shells removed to airdrop jeeps and artillery pieces...this footage alone makes this video worthwhile....where else can you find it?

O, yes its a very funny movie!

Airborne!

Martin and Lewis shine in the "Funniest" movie ever made!
My sister and I both agree that "Jumping Jacks" is our favorite movie! I fell in love with Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin the first time I saw them on the screen! Jumping Jacks will keep you 'laughing out loud' from the moment it begins, to its ending credits! Watch it, and enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This tongue-in-cheek 1970 variation on The Dirty Dozen looks less fresh than it did in the year of its release, but it still has some enjoyable moments. Clint Eastwood stars along with Donald Sutherland, Harry Dean Stanton, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, and Gavin MacLeod in the story of American soldiers who try to steal gold behind enemy lines in World War II. Sutherland's hippie G.I. doesn't have the sardonic and timely appeal he did during the Vietnam War, but the film's irreverence and several of the performances are worth a visit. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (89)

"To a New Yorker like you...a hero is some kind of sandwich"
Exciting, humourous and well paced WWII action film sees Clint Eastwood and Co. looking to liberate $16 million worth of gold bullion from the retreating Nazi forces in Europe !

Director Brian G. Hutton (who directed Clint in the WWII thriller "Where Eagles Dare") is at the helm of this movie and again demonstrates his passion for fiery, loud battle scenes !!

Eastwood plays Kelly...just another war weary soldier slogging through the muddy battlefields of France until he comes across a German colonel and top secret information about a bank full of plundered Nazi bullion...now all he needs is a skilled team to carry out this most audacious of bank heists in the middle of a war ! Kelly enlists the assistance of tank commanding flower child "Oddball", (Donald Sutherland in an unforgettable performance ) fast talking hustler "Crap Game" ( I don't think Don Rickles was acting ! ), battle hardened sergeant "Big Joe" ( Telly Savalas )....along with a motley crew of troops including Harry Dean Stanton as "Willard" and Jeff Morris as "Cowboy".

I know some reviewers tend to be a bit critical of some of the humourous aspects of this movie....but what the heck...it's not trying to be "All Quiet on the Western Front" or "Paths of Glory"...the movie is a fictional tale about an elaborate bank heist thrown in amongst a very noisy war, and peopled with some larger than life colorful characters. "Kelly's Heroes" is an enjoyable little cult film and is a fun way to spend a lazy evening watching a "Boys Own" action adventure.

Great to finally have "Kellys Heroes" out on DVD (although a few extra goodies would have been nice)....picture and sound quality is very good...and I always enjoy "The Mike Curb Congregation" singing "Burning Bridges" (the film's theme track)......

Classic Army Comedy
Very enjoyable comedy about a platoon of Army soldiers who set out to steal gold bars in a bank behind German lines during WW II. The movie takes place after D-Day when a Private, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, finds out that there is a huge stash of gold in a bank deep in enemy territory. The humor is centered around the lackluster group of soldiers he rounds up to penetrate German lines in a mission to retrieve the prize. What really makes the movie work are the actors: Donald Sutherland (a hippy tanker if you can believe that), Telly Savalas (the strong, reluctant platoon sergeant), Don Rickles (the scheming supply sergeant), and Carrol O'Connor (the division commander who has been trying to get the infantry division on the move). Although funny, it still has it's somber moments when the soldiers and tankers run into the enemy as they advance towards their objective, but it's not too violent nor bloody as recent movies with WW II themes. Previous reviewers have remarked how well done the production sets are with uniforms and equipment, and they are pretty impressive considering this is only a comedy. Interesting remarks about the Tiger Tanks, they probably are modified T-34s considering that they do not have front drive sprockets that original Tigers had, nor do they have the over-lapping road wheel suspension. Plus the turrets of these tanks sit forward on the chassis just like T-34s, regardless of these picky comments, they do almost like the real thing. An enjoyable movie and it has a lively soundtrack that compliments the plot very well.

Great entertainment,, with WWII backgound

Studio: Warner Studios
Video Release Date: November 6, 2001

Cast:

Clint Eastwood ... Pvt. Kelly
Telly Savalas ... Master Sgt. Big Joe
Don Rickles ... Staff Sgt. Crapgame
Carroll O'Connor ... Major General Colt
Donald Sutherland ... Sgt. Oddball, Tank Commander
Gavin MacLeod ... Moriarty, Tank crewman
Hal Buckley ... Captain Maitland
Stuart Margolin ... Pvt. Little Joe
Jeff Morris ... Pvt. Cowboy
Richard Davalos ... Pvt. Gutowski
Perry Lopez ... Pvt. Petuko
Tom Troupe ... Cpl. Job
Harry Dean Stanton ... Pvt. Willard
Dick Balduzzi ... Pvt. Fisher
Gene Collins ... Pvt. Babra
Len Lesser ... Platoon Sgt. Bellamy 42nd Engineers
David Hurst ... Colonel Dumpkoppf
Fred Pearlman ... Pvt. Mitchell
Michael Clark ... Pvt. Grace
George Fargo ... Pvt. Penn
Dee Pollock ... Pvt. Jonesey
George Savalas ... 1st Sgt. Mulligan, Artillery Unit
John G. Heller ... German Lieutenant
Shepherd Sanders ... Turk, Tank crewman
Karl-Otto Alberty ... German Tank Commander
Ross Elliott ... Major Booker, Gen. Colt's Staff Communications Officer
Phil Adams ... Pvt. Whiskey
Hugo De Vernier ... French mayor
Frank J. Garlotta ... Tanker
Harry Goines ... Supply sergeant
David Gross ... German Captain
Sandy Kevin ... Mo
James McHale ... Guest
Robert MacNamara ... Major Roach, Gen. Colt's Staff
Reed Morgan ... U.S. lieutenant
Tom Signorelli ... Sgt. Bonsor, Gen. Colt's Staff
Donald Waugh ... Roamer, Gen. Colt's Staff

Vincent Maracecchi ... Old man in town
Tony Wheeler ... Cpl., General Colt's Driver

This film is rich with humor, as well as suspense. Kelly (Eastwood) learns about a bank full of gold bars, in Germany behind enemy lines. He gets together a mixed bag of what can only be called losers and misfits, appropriates a tank, and heads for the gold. The ensuing struggle to get rich provides the motivation which keeps the motley band together.

Donald Sutherland ("oddball"), the hippy tanker, is the source of much humor, as well as Don Rickles ("Crapgame"), and (believe it or not) Carroll O.Connor as the general.

This is a funny movie, with more than a little action. Nothing offensive.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

Off-beat WW2 classic with all-star cast!
This is definitely one of the funniest war movies of all time! Donald Sutherland, who plays a hippie(!) tank commander, seems out of place in a WW2 setting. However, he had me laughing the whole way through! I can't imagine what this film would be like without his hysterical performance. One of my favorite scenes is when Sutherland's three Sherman tanks attack a Nazi railroad station while playing Hank Williams' music on a loud speaker! I realize that this "WW2 movie" has a definite 70's feel to it (especially with one of the hit songs of the decade, Burning Bridges), & some don't like this movie for that reason. I can't help but have fun everytime I see this! The tanks, even the German ones, look much more authentic than those in Patton or The Battle of the Bulge. This is a real treat for WW2 tank buffs like me who appreciate authenticity. I know the plot is hokey, but who cares? If you want to see a war movie that isn't depressing (like most) or boring then this is for you!

Action packed and funny
Another "tough-guy" film that is sure to entertain you over and over again. Starring Clint Eastwood as the demoted Sgt. Kelly, Telly Savalas as "Big Joe", also starring Don Rickles, Donald Sutherland, Carol O'Connor and Dean Stanton. Truely great action packed film with lots of dry humour. Donald Sutherland looks like he's spent the last 5 years in San Fransisco than an actual Tank commander. I recommend this film. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

The Laughs are coming, the Laughs are coming !
I have watched this movie more times than I can count, and each time I find myself laughing until I cry. When a Russian submarine accidentally runs aground of a sleepy little island summer town, the people literally go nuts. Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Brian Keith and Jonathan Winters are just a few of the many fine actors who make this movie a laugh a minute. When the bumbling Russians tie up and gag the elderly Post-Mistress "Muriel Everitt" and sit her on top of the refrigerator - you will laugh until your sides ache when her nearly deaf husband eats breakfast 2 feet from her and never realizes she's behind him struggling to get his attention. The sight of Carl Reiner tied up face to face with the hefty town operator and their efforts to hop down a steep flight of steps, (ending, naturally, with the heavy woman falling on top of Carl Reiner and passing out ) is more than I could take with out laughing until I cried. Please rent this movie and have the entire family watch it with you. It's in the genre of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and you will enjoy every moment !

Everybody to get from street...and buy this video!
I also agree that this has to be one of the best comedies from the 1960's. With Norman Jewison directing, this isn't your average flick, quite polished for a comedy, with excellent editing and cinematography and a strong script adapted from Benchley's novel. Jewison's creation of place captures just the right amount of sleepyness for this small island, and is perfect. Many of the performances are also exceptional, highlighted by Brian Keith as the long-suffering Glouscester Island sheriff; Jonathan Winters, of course, as one of his deputies; Carl Reiner as the vacationing writer; Eva Marie Saint as his long-suffering wife; their son (whose name escapes me, but who almost steals the movie with his antics); and Alan Arkin, as the long-suffering Soviet submarine lieutenant who must somehow get his sub off the reef. But first he must venture on-shore with his men and into the lives of the feared Americans. For its time, this movie must have been quite subversive given how the Russians are portrayed, which is truthful, normal and with affection. These aren't killers, just sailors, and right off the bat we're rooting for them to succeed. Arkin gives one of his best performances ever; it's a pleasure to watch him swing from drama to comedy and back. His rendition of the Reiner character's name as "Whitaker Walt" is a classic and a family favorite. He does it all here, and very movingly. The same can be said for Keith, who also shows great range and appeal. This movie also has one of the best endings of any film. A great comedy with a great message.

Excellent Anti-War Comedy
A Russian submarine runs aground on an island near New England. The Russian skipper (Theodore Bikel) sends a landing party ashore to find a boat to tow the stranded sub. The landing party is headed by Alan Arkin. The winter residents of the island have a police department of sorts which is headed by Brian Keith and his assistant is Jonathan Winters. Paul Ford heads a small band of mostly unarmed volunteers. Carl Reiner and Eva Marie Saint are taken captive by the hapless Russians. In response to the "invasion" Ford rallies his group with slogans which remind us of the battles of Concord and Lexington and also Bunker Hill. Two old ladies ride through the village on a motorcycle doing their own imitation of Paul Revere.

The movie is an anti-war comedy made after the Cuban Missile Crisis and during the period of escalation in Vietnam. It is also a time when private bomb shelters are being built by Americans.

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Actor (Alan Arkin), Adapted Screenplay and Editing. The main competition for Oscars in 1966 came from A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS.

Norman Jewison also directed FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

One of the funniest ever
I'm old enough that I first saw this classic at the theatre, yep, upwards of 40 years ago. I laughed then, and haven't stopped.

I have a habit of collecting films that are a must for my library when they come out in different formats. So, while I already had this in VCR, it's now necessary to get it for DVD. It hasn't lost even a little of its humorous effect.

Where does one start? Alan Arkin was brilliant, deserved an academy award. Carl Reiner was fabulous. Perhaps my favorite of all, even to this day, was Paul Ford. (Oh, and Jonothan Winter's part is incredible.)

But the DVD is even better than the others. You see, there's an interview with producer/director Norman Jewison that's worth its weight in gold. He goes on about how well the actors worked together. And I remember that the film, even in my much younger days, gave me some hope: Maybe we CAN live together despite Cold War rhetoric and the like. It seems the Russians felt the same way!

This is a film that should be part of everyone's collection. It's hysterial, satirical, some of the finest acting I've ever seen--and a collection of one liners to make the Marx Bros. jealous. Get it and relish it.

HILARIOUS!
This movie is really funny! It is a light-hearted comedy. The chocolate cake scene is the funniest and "Mr. Whitaker, Walt" does a great job! Although this was a highly stressful time for the USA with a pending threat from the USSR, it is funny to see how the people ultimately react. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Comedy classic with Sal Mineo
One of the brightest comedies of the 1950's,"The Private War of Major Benson", features brilliant performances by Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, and "scene stealer", SAL MINEO, in one of his first featured roles.Heston is "Major "Bernard Benson. A tough battle-scarred officer whose inappropriate comments to a magazine almost get him kicked out of the service. Instead, as a last resort, he is transferred to the Sheridan Military Academy for boys, aged 6-16. Demanding and unsympathetic is how he seems towards the boys, and they retaliate towards Benson. And the school nurse, Kay (Adams), is concerned that Major Benson's unorthodox methods have much to be desired. Many HILARIOUS moments fill this uproariously funny film. Eventually, nurse Kay falls for the stoic, yet big-hearted Benson. A young SAL MINEO steals the film, as Cadet Colonel Sylvester Dusik. He gains much respect for Major Benson, and has some truly comedic moments. Especially in the scene where Sylvester tells the training troups, in a frenzy, "Does everybody in this school have two left feet? Alright you guys, you're gonna keep on drilling till you do it right!" The delivery of these lines, shows Sal also had a terrific flair for comedy, and shows why he was such a meteoric rising young star! Also notable, is 6 year old actor, Tim Hovey, adorable in the role as Tiger, one of the youngest cadets at the academy. Directed by Jerry Hopper, "The Private War of Major Benson" is a true comedy classic.

Gentle Comedy Scores a Touchdown!
Charlton Heston is generally thought of as the hero of epic-style films. But in this family-style comedy, filmed after The Ten Commandents and before Ben-Hur, he proves he has comedy chops. As a hard-driving Army major, he is "punished" by being sent to work at a boy's milatary school. Perhaps unique to the times, the love interest of this film is not, as Major Benson first supposes, a nurse . . . but a full-fledged doctor, beautifully played by Julie Adams. A trove of child actors from that period, plus wonderful William Demarest and quite a few other recognizable familiar faces (including a very young David Jansen, in the first few minutes) round out the cast. A good script and delightful theme song (used also for another Tim Hovey movie, Toy Tiger) make this a very enjoyable experience.

Never mind Charlton Heston...
It's pretty boy Sal Mineo who's hard to take your eyes from..he was so adorable!..I would've let him keep his shoes under my bed any ol' time!...Handsome Harry From Honolulu

A classic comedy for all time.
Charlton Heston outdoes himself again as the war-hardened, whisky drinking Major who discovers his sensitive side after taking command of an ROTC school in California. Classic lines include: "You'll do it until you get it right." If you love Charlton Heston, you've got to see this movie. ... Read more

Reviews (159)

The First Season of a Great and Timeless Series
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.

It's About Time
It's about time that Fox put out M*A*S*H for the public (and without those stupid subscription/shyster video clubs). Thank heaven for DVD!

M*A*S*H is a brilliant show. Funny, yet touching. I have seen every episode at least 50 times but only in reruns, since I was only four when the series debuted. It was fantastic seeing these episodes uncut. Syndication takes it toll on the series and they cut many of the really funny parts for commericals. Epsiodes like "Chief Surgeon Who?" and "Pilot" show how much talent was in the writing, directing and acting of this excellent show. My favorite is "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" with a very young Ron Howard.

I plan on collecting every season, just to have a complete library. M*A*S*H is one show I never get tired of. Now, if they would just do the same thing with "I Love Lucy"!

Truly a classic TV show
"M*A*S*H" is definitely one of the greatest shows to ever grace the small screen-I recently purchased the first season episodes on home video-These episodes introduced us to a memorable cast of characters:Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce aka "Hawkeye",Captain John Mc Intyre aka "Trapper",clueless Colonel Henry Blake,pompous Major Frank Burns,no nonsense head nurse Margaret Houlihan,alias "Hot Lips",myopic company clerk Cpl Walter "Radar" O'Reilly,& the cross dressing Cpl Max Klinger-Ironically,"M*A*S*H" didn't become a top 10 Neilsen favorite until the following season-I didn't realize that the reruns seen in syndication had been trimmed to allow for the airing of more commercials-That was clearly evident when I watched the first batch of episodes-Someone asked if the show was still on somewhere-It's presently seen on cable's Hallmark Channel-Unfortunately,I don't happen to receive that particular station-Thank God I can watch these classic episodes in this format.

The best of M.A.S.H.
The first series is my favourite, so I'm delighted to have it on DVD at last. It contains my two favourite episodes. 'To Market, To Market' is the one where Hawkeye and Trapper steal Henry's new oak desk to swop for medical supplies with a Korean black marketeer ("You know how it is, Colonel, we all look alike"). Even better, my all-time favourite episode " Tuttle" where Hawkeye and Trapper convince everyone that the imaginary Captain Tuttle is a real person. Every episode has a cracking script, and the cast are all wonderful, especially Alan Alda as Hawkeye and gorgeous Wayne Rogers as Trapper (how I adored him, it broke my heart when he left the series). And Maclean Stevenson is wonderful as daffy Colonel Blake, and Loretta Swit is brilliant as belligerent Margaret Houlihan, before they made the terrible mistake of softening her character and turning her into a nice, cuddly person (yuk). I've lost track of how many times I've watched this wonderful series over the years, and now I have it on DVD I can watch it even more.

Where this classic series got started
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. ... Read more

Description

1945, on an old cargo ship somewhere deep in the Pacific ocean: Captain Morton strives to become commander, so he demands the maximum quality of work from his crew, without granting them any freedom or favors - ignoring that they're thousand of miles away from the front. In one word: he drives his crew crazy. They are near mutiny, but no-one dares to do the first step. Until Ensign Pulver plays a prank on the captain that triggers fatal consequences... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Should be a classic if not!
First time I seen this movie, I loved it! Hadn't seen Mr. Roberts prior to seeing Ensign Pulver, but after seeing Mr. Roberts...Ensign Pulver is the video I bought!

Interesting Premise for a Sequel
This is not a bad sequel from director Joshua Logan. It more or less picks up where MISTER ROBERTS left off but is presented with an entirely knew cast in familiar roles. Robert Walker Jr. is Ensign Pulver. Burl Ives is the Captain. Walter Matthau is good as Doc. He has the cynicism and wit but lacks the good-natured purpose of being that William Powell demonstrated in MISTER ROBERTS. To its credit the film tries to uncover the facade that the Captain wears night and day. Is he really a no good miserable excuse for a human being or is there something lurking deep inside that keeps his humanity from emerging. Pulver sets out unravel the enigma. There are some great moments of comedy and humanity and the film does have a great supporting cast that includes Jack Nicholson, James Farentino, Millie Perkins, Tommy Sands, Al Freeman, Jr., James Coco and Larry Hagman that keeps it all moving.

Mister Roberts #2
Although not as classic as Mister Roberts, this is still a great movie. Hech, I didn't even know there was a sequel, so I bought both copies. They have both earned a Top Shelf placing in my bookcase. All characters play great parts, even though James Cagney and Henry Fonda aren't in this movie. It would have been great to see some of the actors from the Mister Roberts, even though the 'new' doc, played by Walter Matthea does a great job. Both he and the "old Ensign" make great movies together! As most movies drag the chain nowadays going for 2-3+ hours, this is one movie I thought could go on and not get boring. Another classic and great fun for all family to enjoy. We wish more movies were like this nowadays. No Swearing, No Violence, No War .... not even a bullet is fired. An allround great movie.

Sound General Quarters!
The sequel to "Mister Roberts" returns to the worst ship in the navy, with the worst officer on that ship squarely in its sights. Pulver is equally the ressurection and damnation of the ship, being responsible for more action and chaos than the crew has seen in it's whole tour. Pulver's problems are only beginning when he's stranded on a raft with the Captain, a positively venemous Burl Ives. What happens after shows the transformation of the lecherous, ambitious, adolescent Pulver into an adult, or does it? Keep your eyes on the movie and always count your marbles.

One must divorce all thoughts of Mr. Roberts to truly enjoy.
This movie, although no where near the classic status of Mr. Roberts, from which it is drawn, is a decent comedy.

Robert Walker takes over the role of Jack Lemmon and Burl Ives, not James Cagney, is the captain. Walter Matthau is great as the ship's doctor. It has some great comedic moments ("tastes like dead frogs.")

Again, not a classic, but worth viewing. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) directed this comedy-drama about an Armed Forces Radio disc jockey (Robin Williams) whose manic, hilarious delivery from a studio in 1965 Saigon gives U.S. troops in the field a morale boost (while upsetting military brass). Based on the real-life experiences of deejay Adrian Cronauer, the film is actually more concept than story: put Williams in front of a microphone and let him go nuts. Still, the surrounding stuff about the influence upon Cronauer of the endless deaths among his listeners--as Cronauer tries to stay funny while feeling the mounting losses--is affecting. Williams got a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his work. DVD release available. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (34)

funny comedy, so-so drama
This flick really put Robin Williams on the map, and deservedly so- he's freakin' hilarious in this movie! Good acting jobs by all major roles; Forest Whitaker also does nicely as the "protege".

However, the fault of this movie is where it tries to be serious. Williams's politics are thinly veiled, as the only people who oppose anything he does (VC's, bully GI's, "the brass") are stereotypes. Nothing Haup or Dickerson say or do is ever pleasant or reflective of any redeeming qualities whatsoever. In addition, after picking oneself up from the floor from laughing at Williams's brilliant jokes, one can step back and understand (empathize?) why people might not have liked such comments as "If it's being done well, here or abroad, it's probably *not* being done by the U.S. Army!" Now, maybe that's true, maybe it's not, but a lot of people work (and worked) very hard to be sure that what the U.S. Army did is/was done well, and these people wouldn't be the jerks that Dickerson and Haup (sp?) are in this film if they took offense to a deejay like Williams's portrayal of Cronauer.

In short, watch this movie and enjoy the humor, but think twice before taking any sort of "deeper meaning" more seriously.

He bucked authority and won the hearts of the soldiers
Starring Robin Williams as Airman 1st Class Adrian Cronauer, this 1987 film is loosely based on a real radio DJ whose outrageous sense of comedy bucked authority and won the hearts of the American soldiers in 1965 Vietnam. The audience never learns much about Cronauer's character as there is virtually no back story. He is just set down in Vietnam at a time in history when the American police action is about to escalate. When he gets to know the Vietnamese villagers, however, his character slowly changes. Of course there is conflict with his very uptight superiors which adds to the comedy. Eventually though, the story becomes more complex than the comedy and, at film's end, Cronauer has become more mature and wiser.

I found myself giggling at the jokes, but eventually the comedy all had a certain sameness. However, I did get into the story. There wasn't much military action, only some strong hints of what was to come. Wisely, the film focused on the characters and portrays the Vietnamese villagers as real people who Cronauer teaches to curse in American slang and with whom he plays baseball, using ma