Product Details

• Actors: Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Gary Burghoff, Larry Linville
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 1.0), French (Dolby Digital 1.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 36
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: November 7, 2006
• Run Time: 6695 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (354 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000HT3P5Q
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,544 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #41 in Movies & TV > DVD > Military & War
• For more information about "M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This M*A*S*H-tastic 36-disc collection is one for the television time capsule. It contains all 11 seasons of this multi-Emmy Award-winning series, PLUS Robert Altman's 1970 iconoclastic anti-war classic, PLUS two discs of special features, including two reunion specials and a series retrospective episode of A&E's Biography. As with the individual season sets, there are no new episode commentaries, a major disappointment. But M*A*S*H-ophiles will enjoy this set's other bonus features, including emotional behind-the-scenes footage of the filming of the last half-hour episode, "As Time Goes By," the inevitable bloopers, interviews with cast members as well as fans about their favorite episodes, a segment about the series' "Jocularity," a parade of PSAs (cut down on salt to avoid heart disease), and the text of an unproduced script penned by Alda for an episode titled, "Hawkeye on the Double." All of this material (except for a commemorative booklet) is available elsewhere in different configurations, but this space-saving (albeit ungainly packaged) box set collects them all under one tent.

Adapted for television by legendary comedy writer Larry Gelbart, the series has long since supplanted Altman's film in the public's consciousness. Life and death at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War doesn't seem like ripe fodder for a comedy series, but M*A*S*H masterfully balanced laughter and tears (less so in its later, more preachy seasons). It often does play better without a laugh track (a viewing option for all episodes). During its run, M*A*S*H survived several delicate operations, including the departure of Gelbart after season 4 and the loss of core ensemble members McLean Stevenson as Col. Henry Blake and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John (after season 3), Larry Linville as Frank Burns (after season 5) and Gary Burghoff (a veteran of the original film) as Radar (after season 8). The show thrived with the introduction of some new blood, Henry Morgan as "regular Army" Col. Potter and Mike Farrell as compassionate BJ (season 4) and David Ogden Stiers as elitist Charles Emerson Winchester III (season 6).

M*A*S*H was honored with the prestigious Peabody Award "for the depth of its humor and the manner in which comedy is used to lift the spirit and, as well, to offer a profound statement on the nature of war." This was a sitcom that did not always leave you laughing, as witness the classic season 3 episode "Abyssinia, Henry." And throughout its run, M*A*S*H broke the sitcom mold with several episodes, including "The Interview" (season 4), in which Clete Roberts interviews the staff of the 4077th, "Point of View" (season 7), subjectively seen through the eyes of a wounded soldier and "Life Time" (season 8), which unfolds in real time. M*A*S*H boasted one of television's greatest ensembles, fully embodied characters who each became icons, most notably Alan Alda, who served with distinction as Hawkeye, the series' soul and conscience. But a special salute to Loretta Switt, whose Margaret Houlihan went from "Hot Lips" to nobody's pushover. From the "Pilot" to the feature-length finale, "Goodbye, Farewell & Amen," still the most-watched episode in history, this essential (but not so much if you bought the individual season sets) collection honors one of television's greatest half-hours. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

One of television's longest-running and most beloved shows of all time is now available in one extraordinary DVD collection. Loaded with top-rank extras that every M*A*S*H fan will love, The Ultimate Collection contains all 11 heartwarming and hilarious seasons, including the record-breaking series finale (still the most-watched episode in TV history), plus the original 1970 film, two all-new bonus discs and a retrospective book created exclusively for this release. Relive all your favorite M*A*S*H memories with the doctors and nurses of the 4077th that kept us in stitches-and created a true television classic.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection but Needs Better Packaging, May 11, 2007

By 

Jeff, Young Old-Timer (Lakeland, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection (DVD)

When MASH first began, I was overseas most of the time and didn't get into it too much. Years later, it caught on with me, and I've been a big fan ever since. The price for this entire series collection averages around $16 per season (think about that, Warner Bros.!), not counting the orginal movie or the two bonus features discs. Okay, $175 divided by 36 discs is less than $5 per disc. For me, it's more than worth it to have all the digital clarity with no ads, editing, or -ugh!- pop-ups and banners prostituting the show on TV nowdays. Now then, why four stars? The packaging. Another reviewer was dead on about the cardboard packaging. The box is really neat, and the little playbook is crucial to keeping up with the episodes. If you order this package, have 36 proper center-spindle DVD cases ready. Cardbord is ABRASIVE! Also, if you have a shelf system that is designed to hold DVD cases upright, this box will not fit - too tall. I've got the regular cases, which I'm labeling and putting the discs into them, 'cause I surely don't intend to leave them on the shelf!! I'm looking forward to lots of laughs and many other emotions with one of the best series ever put on the carrier waves. Personally, I never liked Frank Burns, which is a positive testament to Larry Linville whose great acting skills had me convinced that he was really like that. I preferred Potter over Blake because Potter wasn't wishy-washy and knew when to be firm and when to be lenient. I welcomed Winchester because he could hold his own with Hawkeye and B.J. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and will probably wear our out more than one DVD player. Six stars for the series and special features, three stars for the pretty but poorly planned container for an average of fours stars.

461 of 486 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars BE AWARE, November 17, 2006

By 

MrTwistoff "hobbesclarity" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection (DVD)

Nice collection. All shows included, the original movie, and a couple of "Extras" DVD's.

However, it is important for you to know that the MEGASet comes in a large binding book. All the DVD's are pushed into cardboard slots (a lot like the coin collector books). This means if you take the DVD's out a lot they are going to get scratched - EVEN If you are careful.

I have a soft, CD carrier that works very much the same, and I'm meticulous about not putting pressure on it. Still my CD's have gotten marred over the years using this.

If the DVD's were mounted on a spindle holder (like a normal case) this would be much much better. There is a reason that design was chosen, it protects the product.

If you just want these DVD's to sit on a shelf, okay then. But if you are going to use them, *****BE AWARE***** you may wind up damaging them. Put them in real cases as soon as you get them.

The cardboard slots are also quite tight, causing lots of pressure. And they have a tendency to break easily (the glue comes off, causing the DVD to slip down - more opportunity for scratching).

Highly recommended that you get a real storage system for this excellent collection.

Should also know that the original movie is provided in Widescreen format, whereas the TV series is provided in Full Frame.

190 of 199 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fox Got Almost Everything Right Here, December 12, 2006

By 

Matthew Comegys (Ueda, Nagano, Japan) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection (DVD)

I'll assume you're reading this because you like this comedy show and don't need a review of it, but rather the product.

I had bought a few of the MASH sets, but not enough to feel ripped off my buying this set. I'm glad to have a better appreciation for the later seasons which I previously avoided. Winchester is a fine character whom I used to dislike simply because he replaced Frank Burns. Oops.

Except for the bonus features, there is no difference between this and the previous discs. For better or for worse, the bonus features are quite good with the fine A&E Biography episode about the show and the 30th anniverary special. Fox really should put the two discs out separately for the fans that bought all the seasons.

The packaging here is really cool, but the cardboard sleeves are not. If you decide to purchase this, be ready to transfer the 36 discs into a DVD suitcase. The sleeves will scratch your discs in no time.

All in all, buy this and a DVD wallet if you don't already have MASH on DVD, and nicely bug Fox about the bonus features if you do.