M*A*S*H (TV Series) The Interview (1976) User Reviews

Black and White - Most Effective

[dennis-cox-0-994983 · 10/10 · 13 May 2014]

Few television programs evocate as many memories as this episode of M.A.S.H.

In its long run on first-run television (and now in syndication) M.A.S.H. depicted the horror and sometimes comical side of war. This particular episode is worth watching again and again for its insight into the lives of those who serve.

"THE INTERVIEW" is just that; a series of interviews with many of those attached to the 4077th.

Take time to watch and absorb this episode. It will stay with you for a long, long time.

Many Poignant Comments

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 16 March 2015]

A filmmaker goes to the camp to get a first hand view of the unit by interviewing several of our regulars. It is done in black and white which would have been typical of the newsreel type of reporting. This concluded the fourth season of MASH. This mostly works though I always felt it could have been better. Hawkeye, in his inimitable style, makes random comments that would be hard to interpret for the casual observer. He is so cynical and so self centered (as he usually is) and doesn't respect the questions being asked. B.J. comes across as a man out of his element. Klinger is silly and loud. Frank says exactly what you would think. Radar is cute and sort of clueless. The figures that come across the best are Potter and Mulcahy. They are both really good actors and their openness and sensitivity shine through. I wonder why none of the women were in this. Was that true to the style of these to simply ignore them. At least, it seems, Margaret, in her position of authority, would have been a good interview. Of course, Father Mulcahy's line about the doctors warming their hands over the bodies on the table is priceless.

"The steam rises from the body..."

[safenoe · 10/10 · 11 August 2020]

This is one of the most poignant lines uttered in M*A*S*H. It was from Father Mulcahy, and is one of many in this fine episode. Clete Roberts gave much authenticity in this episode, and also it being in black and white. This episode shows war is not all black and white.

Too Real

[padresteve · 10/10 · 14 December 2022]

This episode has always been one of my favorites. I remember seeing it when it first aired when I was in high school. Back then I only knew about war from movies, television and what my dad and others told me about Vietnam. I was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer in 1983 and commanded an Army Medical Ambulance Company in Cold War Germany, waiting for the Soviets to, come across the Fulda Gap. We planned and exercised in expectation that we would take at least 75% casualties in supporting the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Since then I have been to war in Iraq and was involved a couple of mass casualty situations as a Priest and Navy Chaplain during the "surge" in Al Anbar Province in 2007-2008. That wasn't my normal duty, I was in between missions with our advisors and Iraqis. But I remember so much, the images of the wounded, even their blood stained beard stubble, tattoos, and the sound of their voices as they were stabilized before going to surgery make me think of Father Mulcahy, a fictional character so well played that I saw him as a model of priestly ministry as a chaplain. But, before and after my time in Iraq I served as a trauma and critical care chaplain in major civilian and military medical centers. I have seen so much death. The words of the actors as they answered the questions of Clete Roberts still resonate with me. The writers of the series, especially with this episode, Abyssinia Henry, and Good Bye, Farewell and Amen showed such an understanding of the feelings of the men and women who see so much and do so much to alleviate the physical, psychological, and spiritual trauma is amazing. Since I served nearly 40 years in the military, I really understood Harry Morgan's portrayal of Colonel Potter. The funny and kind of ironic thing is that in 1983, shortly before I was commissioned I was with a marching contingent of California Army National Guard Soldiers and a Color Guard at the People's Choice Awards "Salute to M*A*S*H. I am now retired but this episode still gets me. It is amazing how a television show shot in black and white like this episode can conjure such memories.

Heartbreaking

[fernandd-37343 · 10/10 · 4 January 2022]

To me, this episode has sort of a parallel with another best, "Abyssinia, Henry". They were both quite shocking and contraballanced the comedy of their seasons, bringing us to earth. In any episode of MASH, even the lighter ones, we can see the absurdity of war, but there are few that inspire real horror about the war, maybe only "Abyssinia, Henry", "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" and certainly "The Interview". Besides, I think it brings the cast perfectly as an ensemble (I only miss Margaret in this one); the best interviews are given by Father Mulcahy, Col. Potter and Radar. I think they represent three important views of war: Father Mulcahy sees it as a grown wise man, but who is very pure and sensitive, and had no experience whatsoever with that sort of violence; Col. Potter as a man who knows war very well; and Radar sees it naively, experiencing not only war, but almost everything for the first time. William Christopher always did a wonderful job as Mulcahy, but he is brilliant in this one; the story he tells to explain how the war changed him, I honestly think it summarizes MASH, in the sense that we understand with that image that everything those people do that may look absurd and even ridiculous is actually heartbreaking, the result of despair. It reminded me of "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet", when Hawkeye is crying because he didn't feel that sad when he lost other patients. Those doctors learned how not to feel, but Mulcahy didn't, and that's why he can see and express that sadness in the interview. Aside from that, we can always see how lonely he is, but I believe this is the first time we see him aware and bothered by that loneliness, when he says there are no other priests around... Always loved the moment when the interview asks if they want to say something to the people at home, they are very much themselves here.

Bright Idea To Get Away From Jokes

[DKosty123 · 8/10 · 21 February 2017]

This episode made waves when it ran, and not just because it is in black and white. The episode pretty much plays like a serious documentary about the 4077. It rounds out a lot of characters, making them more than comedic characters.

The format is very much serious. The comments even more so. We see a serious Frank Burns, and every other character is serious in their comments. Their lines seems so relevant. No one appears stupid here as the script is well written.

Father Mulcahey for example - "No one can help but be changed here, when they watch a surgeon operating in the cold weather opening up a body and the steam rising from that body as they work. It is an image that can not help but change you when you experience it."

This serious episode really helped cement this series for a long run as it proved this show could be totally serious and yet have many people watching it. There was nothing lame about this concept.

Remaster Oops

[thetipgiver · 8/10 · 12 August 2018]

When the series was remastered to HD, this episode was assembly-line converted along with all the other episodes: In color.

As a production buff, it's interesting to see it this way.