MovieChat Forums > MASH (1970) Discussion > Differs from the book how?

Differs from the book how?

posted 12 years ago by Evil_Bob
6 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this movie many times over the years and have just finished reading the book.
From the wikipedia page and peoples comments on her I am to gather that there is a massive difference between the book and film.
I don't see that though. Reading the book I can see it all happening in the film. All the jokes, characters, loutish behaviour and much of the dialogue is right there on the page.
Am I missing something?

If revenge is a dish best served cold, but revenge is sweet then is revenge ice-cream?

[–] ExplorerDS6789 12 years ago

For one, the book wasn't nearly as sex driven. Hawkeye, Trapper and Duke were much nastier in the book than in the movie.

[–] balducci2 11 years ago

Were they nastier in the book? I just read the book for the first time a few weeks ago, and that did not really jump out at me.

And I do not recall the Hot Lips shower scene from the movie appearing in the novel. Actually, I think that prank was mean as anything in the novel.

I also thought there was a subplot or two in the book that may not have appeared in the movie, though at the moment I cannot remember what they were.

But I have not watched the movie in probably over 5 years or so. I guess I should do so while the novel is still relatively fresh in my mind.

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

is it worth a read?

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[–] ExplorerDS6789 10 years ago

I'd say so.

[–] dadoo4050 11 years ago

In the book there was a sub plot about Ho Jon after he was drafted. Hi Jon got wounded, and, incredibly, was taken to the 4077. He survived surgery, and Hawkeye arranged for him to be admitted to Pierce's alma mater. In order to fund his passage to the US, the Swampmen sell 8x10 autographed glossies of Our Lord and Savior (Trapper had grown a beard).

Also, the curing of Painless's impotency was handled differently.

[–] louiseculmer 9 years ago

The film is halfway between the book and the Tv series, resembles both in some ways. Main differnce from the book I woukd say are the characters of Henry Blake and father Mulcahey - both are much more regular army tpes in the book, much tougher.