# MASH

> 1970 film by Robert Altman

**Wikidata**: [Q494085](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494085)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M*A*S*H_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mash

## Summary

MASH (also stylized as M*A*S*H) is a 1970 American war comedy-drama film directed by Robert Altman. The film is notable for its unique blend of black comedy and drama, set during the Korean War, and is recognized for its significant impact on both the war film and comedy genres. It was distributed by 20th Century Studios and has achieved lasting cultural significance, being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

## Key Facts

- **Title**: MASH (also known as M*A*S*H)
- **Director**: Robert Altman
- **Release Date**: January 25, 1970 (initial release); May 27, 1970 (US theatrical release)
- **Production Studio**: 20th Century Studios (American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company)
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Genre Classification**: Comedy drama, War film, Black comedy film, Drama film
- **Awards Won**: Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay; Palme d'Or (Cannes Film Festival)
- **Preservation Status**: Selected for the National Film Registry (United States Library of Congress)
- **Wikidata Description**: 1970 film by Robert Altman
- **Wikipedia Title**: M*A*S*H (film)
- **Sitelink Count**: 46

## FAQs

**What genre does MASH belong to?**
MASH is classified as a comedy drama, war film, black comedy film, and drama film, making it a unique hybrid that blends dark humor with serious wartime themes.

**Where was MASH produced and distributed?**
MASH was produced in the United States by 20th Century Studios, which is an American film studio now owned by The Walt Disney Company, founded in 1935.

**What major awards did MASH win?**
MASH won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay and the Palme d'Or, which is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.

**Why is MASH historically significant?**
MASH was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, which is a selection of films maintained by the United States Library of Congress for their cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.

**What is the connection between MASH and Nik Ranieri?**
Nik Ranieri is an American animator listed as a key person associated with MASH, holding citizenship in the United States and Canada.

## Why It Matters

MASH matters as a landmark film that redefined the war comedy genre by combining satirical black humor with anti-war themes. Its success demonstrated that audiences could engage with serious topics through comedic lenses, influencing countless films that followed in both the war and comedy genres. The film's Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay validated its innovative approach to storytelling, while the Palme d'Or cemented its international critical acclaim. Its inclusion in the National Film Registry ensures its preservation as a culturally significant work that reflects the attitudes and social climate of late 1960s America. The film's success also launched what would become a long-running television series, extending its cultural impact beyond the original theatrical release.

## Notable For

- Winning the Palme d'Or at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival, the highest honor at that prestigious event
- Receiving the Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
- Being selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress
- Pioneering the blend of black comedy with war film themes
- Achieving a sitelink count of 46, indicating significant digital presence and reference value

## Body

### Production and Studio

MASH was produced by 20th Century Studios, an American film studio with a rich history in Hollywood cinema. The studio was founded on May 31, 1935, and has evolved significantly over the decades, now operating as part of The Walt Disney Company. The studio is headquartered in Los Angeles and employs approximately 2,300 people, primarily operating in the film industry. The production of MASH represented one of the studio's notable releases during the early 1970s, a period when the studio was producing films that challenged traditional genre boundaries.

### Genre and Classification

MASH occupies a unique position in film taxonomy, being simultaneously classified as a comedy drama, war film, black comedy film, and drama film. This multi-genre classification reflects the film's innovative approach to storytelling, which combined the absurdity of war with comedic elements while addressing serious themes. The comedy drama genre encompasses works that blend humorous and dramatic elements, while the war film genre specifically depicts conflicts and military operations. The black comedy classification indicates the film's use of dark humor to address difficult subjects, and the drama film classification covers its serious narrative elements.

### Awards and Recognition

The film achieved significant critical acclaim through its award wins. The Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, established in 1929, is a prestigious category within the American film awards system that recognizes excellence in screenplay adaptation. MASH also won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, an award established in 1955 that represents the highest honor at the annual French film festival. Cannes is headquartered in Cannes, France, and the Palme d'Or has become one of the most coveted prizes in international cinema.

### Preservation and Cultural Significance

MASH's selection for the National Film Registry demonstrates its enduring cultural importance. The Registry, established in 1988 by the United States Library of Congress, preserves films that are deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Selection into this collection ensures that the film will be preserved for future generations, recognizing its contribution to American cinematic heritage. The United States, founded on July 4, 1776, has maintained the Declaration of Independence as a foundational document, and the country's independence was formally recognized through the Treaty of Paris in 1784.

### Associated Entities and Relationships

The film is connected to several key entities through various relationships. As a film work, it belongs to the broader class of films, which are sequences of images that create the illusion of movement and are stored on film stock. The United States serves as the country of origin, reflecting the American production context. The studio relationship with 20th Century Studios connects the film to a major American film production entity with deep roots in Hollywood history. The award relationships with the Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay and the Palme d'Or connect the film to two of the most prestigious recognition bodies in global cinema.

### Key Personnel

Nik Ranieri is listed as a key person associated with MASH. Ranieri is an American animator with citizenship in both the United States and Canada. While the specific nature of his involvement with MASH is not detailed in the source material, his association with the film places him within the broader production ecosystem. The animation profession represents a distinct creative discipline within film production, though the connection to MASH as a live-action war film may indicate either a peripheral involvement or a potential data association that warrants further verification.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971)
3. The Movie Database
4. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
5. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
6. Freebase Data Dumps
7. M*A*S*H. Rotten Tomatoes
8. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066026/)
9. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066026/releaseinfo)
10. Kinopoisk
11. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/mash/)
12. Entertainment Identifier Registry
13. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
14. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
15. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2010&s_month=12&e_year=2010&e_month=12&pageID=2)
16. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/37054)
17. Online-Filmdatenbank
18. [Source](https://movie.douban.com/subject_search?search_text=M*A*S*H)
19. mymovies.it
20. Trakt.tv
21. FilmVandaag.nl