Monday M*A*S*H Discussions offers fans the opportunity to offer their opinions on a wide variety of topics relating to M*A*S*H. Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. My hope is these discussion posts will continue to elicit comments in the weeks and months after they’re initially published. Have a suggestion about something you think might be worth discussing? Let me know and maybe it will become my next Monday M*A*S*H Discussion topic.
penguinphysics suggested today’s topic: Have you seen any movies starring M*A*S*H cast members?
Movie Tonight?
I’ll let penguinphysics explain the genesis of this discussion topic:
What brought this idea on was a movie with Jamie Farr called something like Return of The Rebels (which was so awful that it was painful to watch). I only watched this film because of Farr’s participation (I think it was a made-for-TV film) but the story is just so horrifically bad that I have to wonder how it would have ever gotten made without his inclusion.
Personally, I’ve never watched a movie simply because it had a member of the M*A*S*H cast in it. Most of the time, I watch movies because the trailers or TV commercials look interesting, or because they’re part of a franchise I’m a fan of (like Star Trek, Marvel, James Bond). In the past, when I had access to the wonderful cable channel Turner Classic Movies, I watched almost any movie with Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, or Jimmy Stewart, among others. More recently, I’ve watched a number of movies on Netflix that I otherwise wouldn’t be interested in because they starred Kate Beckinsale.
That doesn’t mean I haven’t seen any movies starring, co-starring, or featuring a member of the M*A*S*H cast. I took a quick look through the Internet Movie Database and came up with the following list:
-Alan Alda: Flash of Genius (2008)
-Harry Morgan: High Noon (1952), Strategic Air Command (1955)
-Gary Burghoff: Behind the Waterfall (1995)
-David Ogden Stiers: Beauty and the Beast (1991), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Krippendorf’s Tribe (1998)
I think this is a complete list. It’s possible I’ve seen some of Harry Morgan’s other movies from the 1940s or 1950s.
Let’s Discuss
Have you seen any movies with Alan Alda, Harry Morgan, David Ogden Stiers, or other members of the M*A*S*H cast? Have you gone out of your way to watch a movie specifically because it featured a member of the M*A*S*H cast?
Hit the comments with your thoughts.
I remember Alan Alda as the President in Canadian Bacon. From wikipedia:
“Canadian Bacon is a 1995 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by Michael Moore which satirizes Canada–United States relations along the Canada–United States border. The film stars an ensemble cast featuring Alan Alda, John Candy, Bill Nunn, Kevin J. O’Connor, Rhea Perlman, Kevin Pollak, G.D. Spradlin, and Rip Torn.
The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival,[3] and was the final released film to star John Candy, though it was shot before the earlier-released Wagons East!. It is also Moore’s only non-documentary film.[4]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Bacon
I’ve seen Strategic Air Command, and I didn’t know Harry Morgan was in it.
I’m going to investigate a bit for other MASH actors in film.
Growing up, I would often hear David Ogden Stiers’s vocal talents in a variety of Disney movies, including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, POCAHONTAS, and LILO & STITCH, not to mention I’ve also seen him in JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE, but this was all before I ever started watching M*A*S*H, so I didn’t see these movies out of his involvement of M*A*S*H . . . even fact, it was actually interesting to see M*A*S*H after seeing these movies to see what he was like when he was younger. One thing I will say about DOS is that he has a remarkable talent at mimicking accents – I especially love his Russian accent.
As for other movies specifically for M*A*S*H castmembers, I’ve seen two of Alan Alda’s movies: SAME TIME NEXT YEAR and THE SEDUCTION OF JOE TYNAN; the former I’ve seen a couple of times and is a really thought-provoking and well-written romcom, the latter of which I’ve seen only once, and not in its entirety, but it’s really political, so for me, it wasn’t that interesting.
Jamie Farr also has a bit-part in NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS, but I didn’t seek that movie out because of it – I watched it for Andy Griffith and Don Knotts . . . I didn’t even know Jamie was in it until I saw a young pilot with an instantly recognizable nose, lol. Likewise, Jamie and William Christopher are the leaders of a hippy motorcycle gang in the Doris Day/Rock Hudson romcom WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL, and while he’s not a M*A*S*H castmember, Vic Tayback plays a truck driver who wears a cap and jacket like Radar’s.
Finally, a friend of mine a few years ago introduced me to the Robert Downey B-movie GREASER’S PALACE, starring Allan Arbus in his first acting role as a Zoot suit-wearing, boogy-woogying Jesus Christ. Weird movie, but a lot of other familiar faces as well, such as Tattoo from FANTASY ISLAND, Old Man Marley from HOME ALONE, and a topless Toni Basil. Oh yeah, and George Morgan (the pilot episode Father Mulcahy) has a minor role, and even a line of dialogue.
Now, is this discussion limited to just movies? Because I could name a number of other shows I’ve seen with the cast.
You beat me to mentioning Pocahontas and Lilo And Stitch as Davod Ogden Stiers vehicles. I’m not a Disney fan, and my daughters had moved on from wanting to have every Disney film after Beauty And The Beast. What a talented man.
I forgot to mention I saw Wayne Rogers replacing Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson in the I DREAM OF JEANNIE reunion movie. Love the show, but the movie was really weak, and Wayne didn’t have much to do as Tony, but either way, it seemed more like Jeannie somehow ended up with Trapper instead of Tony.
Oh, and even though it’s not something I saw in its entirety, I once took a glance at a movie Edward Winter was in . . . I don’t remember the title, and I only glanced at it once about ten years ago, but I seem to recall he was some kind of a businessman who sent one of his associates (played by John Denver) on a retreat to a town where they apparently celebrate Christmas every day of the year.
I considered including TV shows but I think it’s a topic suitable for another discussion entirely.
I also seem to recall seeing Harry Morgan in some sort of a historical movie from the 70s. I don’t remember what, but I seem to recall he was a ships captain, commending a young passenger for taking the death and sea burial of his ill mother like a man.
Wayne Rogers was in films such as Cool Hand Luke, WUSA, and Ghosts of Mississippi.
Perhaps the most famous film Loretta Swit was in was Blake Edwards’ SOB.
William Christopher appeared in The Shakiest Gun In The West and With Six You Get Eggroll (both staples of The Saturday Family Movie on Channel 56 when I was a kid).
McLean Stevenson mostly did TV, but was in Disney’s The Cat From Outer Space…ironically with Harry Morgan!
Speaking of which, how could you ignore Harry Morgan as Captain Gannon in the 1987 Dragnet! remake. A true classic!
Appearing as Dr. Bob in the classic 80s film Earth Girls Are Easy was Larry Linville.
Mike Farrell had an uncredited role in The Graduate, and produced Robin Williams’ film Patch Adams.
David Ogden Stiers did voices for many Disney projects besides Beauty And The Beast, including Pocahontas and Lilo And Stitch.
By no means exhaustive, but it shows that the main actors did more than TV and game shows!
Too many to count – Alda: Joe Tynan, Four Season, Sweet Liberty, Crimes & Misdemeanors, The Aviator, Bridge of Spies, What Women Want, Everybody Says I Love You, California Suite and the Mephisto Waltz.
Loretta – Beer and SOB
Wayne – Ghosts of Mississippi, Cool Hand Luke
Mike – The Graduate
Stiers – Doc Hollywood, Everyone Says I Love You, Mighty Aphrodite, Man with One Red Shoe, Oh God! (written by Larry Gelbart) – skipping his voice work because it was a huge quantity.
As a bonus, I have just about every movie Larry Gelbart ever wrote on DVD – that was fun to watch.
I’ve seen the Man with one Red Shoe too. I don’t remember Stiers being in it.
He was the conductor at the philharmonic when Tom Hanks begins playing his own composition rather than the scheduled music (I think it was Scheherazade)
@penguinphysics. I remember now. (Sorry, won’t let me reply directly)
I’m one of them who watches a movie purely if it has a M*A*S*H cast member in it, some of them which turn out to be terrible.
Alan Alda – ‘California Suite,’ ‘Betsy’s Wedding’ (which he wrote and directed), ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors,’ ‘Manhattan Murder Mystery,’ ‘Bridge of Spies,’ ‘The Aviator,’ and many more.
Wayne Rogers – ‘I Dream of Jeannie – 15 Years Later’
Mike Farrell – Terrible movie called ‘Sins of the Mind’
Harry Morgan – ‘It Started with a Kiss’
Loretta Swit – ‘SOB,’ ‘Whoops Apocalypse’
DOS – ‘Doc Hollywood,’ ‘Krippendorf’s Tribe,’ ‘Jungle 2 Jungle,’ ‘Creator’
Gary Burghoff – ‘The Man in the Santa Claus Suit’
Jamie Farr – ‘Blackboard Jungle’
William Christopher – ‘The Fortune Cookie’
Bridge of Spies with Alda and Beauty and the Beast with DOS would be the only two for me. Not counting voice only roles, the M*A*S*H actors movies’ from what I’ve always understood tend to be either a bit too old for my taste, or just flat out terrible. Bridge of Spies is the only live action movie with a M*A*S*H actor in it that looked not low budget or terrible.
Several years ago my husband and I watched “The Majestic”. I usually avoid Jim Carrey movies, but I have to say I enjoyed the movie which also included David Ogden Stiers. For those of you who haven’t seen it, it is well worth watching. Of course, I have to mention Roy Goldman. He was in “At Long Last Love”, “Sherlock Holmes in New York”, and “To Be or Not To Be”.
Without checking these are the films I know I’ve seen.
Harry Morgan – Inherit The Wind, The Wild Wild West Revisted, Dragnet
Alan Alda – A New Life
David Ogden Stiers – Doc Hollywood
Wayne Rogers – I dream of Jeanie – 15 years later, though I wasn’t aware of the MASH connection at the time.
I’ve also seen Mike Farrell in something playing a murderer but don’t know what it was called.
D’oh! How could I forget DRAGNET? Yes, Harry Morgan reprised his role from the series in that movie, however his character had been promoted to Police Chief, whereas he was Jack Webb’s Sgt. Friday’s partner in the original series.
And speaking of murderer, I saw a clip on YouTube of a movie Gary Burghoff did in the early 90s where he played a gay, crossdressing, drug-dealing, homicidal fortune teller. That was really shocking.
And I’ve also seen INHERIT THE WIND for Dick York from BEWITCHED, however I didn’t remember Harry Morgan being in that movie as well.
He was the judge presiding over the case.
I watched it for Dick York as I like Bewitched. Harry Morgan was and added bonus.
Another Jamie Farr bit role was in the 1967 film ‘Who’s Minding The Mint?’ It’s an extremely tiny role near the end of the film. He plays a non-English speaking part (I think he’s supposed to be Italian, but I don’t remember) who loses the money because he mistakes garbage collectors for police officers. It’s a silly film but kind of charming.
If it isn’t obvious, I’m a huge fan of Jamie Farr. I hate what the writers did with him in the later seasons, but he worked gold with a badly written part.
I just remembered some of the minor recurring and guest cast members have also appeared in some movies I’ve seen over the years:
– Rosalind Chao (Soon-Lee) was a Chinese restaurant owner in the Lindsay Lohan/Jamie Lee Curtis remake of FREAKY FRIDAY.
– Jeff Maxwell (Igor) was an extra in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, he can be seen as a student in Frederick Frankenstein’s (Froederick Fronkensteen) biology class. I wasn’t aware of this until after the fact.
– Oliver Clarke (Tippy Brooks and the other Benjamin Pierce) was a struggling actor/puppeteer who was in line to become the next Santa Claus in ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS. Again, I wasn’t aware of this until after the fact.
– Leonard Stone (the General’s aide from “The General’s Practitioner”) was Violet Beauregard’s father in WILLY WONKA & AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, which, again, is something I wasn’t aware of until after the fact.
– Patrick Swayze I’ve seen in a few movies growing up, but perhaps the most memorable, to me, is THE OUTSIDERS.
– Shelley Long (one of Hawkeye’s nurse interests) playing Carol Brady in the two 90s BRADY BUNCH movies.
– John Candy (the MP in “Souvenirs”) has been a longtime favorite, whom I’ve seen in HOME ALONE, PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES, UNCLE BUCK, SUMMER RENTAL, and lending his voice to Wilbur in THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER.
– Mary Wickes (Colonel Reese) is familiar to my childhood, as her final acting role was voicing Laverne in Disney’s THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
– Sal Viscuso (one of the PA announcers) had a bit part in my favorite movie, FATSO, in which he played one of Dom DeLuise’s character’s cousins.
– Stuart Margolin (Captain Phillip G. Sherman and Major Stanley “Stosh” Robbins) I’m pretty sure was in KELLY’S HEROES (along with movie Hawkeye, Donald Sutherland). And I’m pretty sure I caught a glimpse of him in another movie as a school principal or something, but I don’t remember.
Hate to argue, but the MP from Souvenirs is actual played by Brian Dennehey, famous for First Blood, Never Cry Wolf, and Cocoon.
Wow. He looks and sounds a lot like John Candy!
Another one I forgot:
– Ned Beatty (Colonel Hollister), the poor fat guy who had to squeal like a pig and get sodomized in DELIVERANCE, but he also more recently lent his voice to a couple of villanous roles in TOY STORY 3 and RANGO.
I have seen Alan Alda in The Aviator (where he feels very similar to Hawkeye at times in the way he delivers his lines), Wanderlust and Bridge of Spies (he’s only in that for about 1 minute from memory). I have only seen him in other things when he’s older, nothing from the MASH period.
I grew up with David Ogden Stiers in Disney films and I even knew his name from my parents naming him and the fact that he had done a few so even I could recognise it so like others, it was surreal to finally put a face to that voice when Season 6 onwards came on to what was then known as Paramount Comedy.
I think I’ve seen Harry Morgan in a couple of other things but I haven’t seen the others in any movies.
I also have never watched a movie just because it had an actor from M*A*S*H in it. But I did see Jamie Farr in _The Greatest Story Ever Told_, in which he played the Apostle Thaddeus, and in _With Six You Get Eggroll_ along with William Christopher. The only other one I remember was Gary Burghoff in, well, the movie MASH. Does that count? 🙂
Harry Morgan as John Wayne’s commanding officer (he plays U. S. Grant to Wayne’s W. T. Sherman) in “How The West Was Won.”
Wayne Rogers in “Once In Paris” (1978) which grabbed my attention at the time because he was playing a romantic lead opposite an actress named (Gayle) Hunnicutt.
Someone mentioned “Greaser’s Palace.” Both Allan Arbus and George Morgan (pilot episode Mulcahy) were the token white guys in another Robert Downey Sr. movie, “Putney Swope.”
And of course Jameel Farah (Jamie Farr before the name change) in “Blackboard Jungle.” Introducing Klinger and rock ‘n’ roll!
Larry Linville played Dr Bob in an 1988. Musical Comedy called Earth girls are easy
I’ve not really watched shows specifically for a M*A*S*H* cast member (unless it’s William Christopher, my favorite cast member.) I watched a few hilarious clips of him and Jamie Farr playing the leaders of a longhaired, sunglass-wearing hippie motorcycle gang in “With Six You Get Egg Roll”, and sometime in between schoolwork, searching for a college, and writing my Biblical fiction time-travel romance novels, I’ll find the time to watch “The Shakiest Gun in the West”, ya’ll mark my words!
I saw Bill Christopher in various shows, most memborble was “The Andy Griffith Show”, “The Love Boat”, and “Hogan’s Heroes” (which got me hooked on that series too, I’m an hopeless comedyholic)
I saw Jamie Farr in “Three Angry People” and Alan Alda on” Carol Burnett Show” recently, and I’ve seen Mike Farrell in various crime shows, my favorite one being wherr he played a paralyzed eldery man with M.S. on “Law and Order”.
When I was little, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Pocahantas” were my favorite Disney movies, and it took me months to figure out that DOS had played Cogsworth and Ratcliffe in those films, and why his voices sounded so familiar when I heard him acting as CEW the III.