M*A*S*H (MASH)-Season 6 (1974)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	None
Rating
Year Of Production	1974
Running Time	600
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (3)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Alan Alda Hy Averback Gabrielle Beaumont Terry Becker
Studio Distributor	Twentieth Century Fox	Starring	Alan Alda Wayne Rogers McLean Stevenson Loretta Swit Larry Linville Gary Burghoff Mike Farrell Harry Morgan Jamie Farr David Ogden Stiers William Christopher Odessa Cleveland Johnny Haymer
Case	?
RPI	$44.95	Music	Benny Golson Earle H. Hagen John R. Harris

    The MASH 4077 continue their tour of duty in Korea for their sixth season. Falling apart after Houlihan (Loretta Swit) marries Penobscot, Frank (Larry Linville) is shipped home with the Section 8 Klinger (Jamie Farr) has so desperately been trying to snare, marking the arrival of Harvard educated self-proclaimed cultural elitist Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers). Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and BJ's (Mike Farrell) new foil proves just a little more of a challenge than the snivelling Frank and brings an altogether different dynamic to the series. Father Mulchahy (William Christopher) faces a moral dilemma or two, Radar (Garry Burghoff) works on becoming a man, Houlihan's marriage stalls, while Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) keeps a fatherly eye over his surgeons. And on top of all the usual antics, a long expected romantic tryst is finally realized.

    Season six continues MASH's solid run of quality comedy/drama. Although most of the characters still deal with the usual hang-ups, the arrival of Charles adds just a little spark to the proceedings. In my book, Frank was always just a little too much of a weasel and never really an equal opponent for Hawkeye and BJ. Charles, on the other hand, although he too often comes off second best, readily matches wits with his roommates. As much as you hate to see characters leave, Charles makes a very welcome addition and rounds out the best character line up MASH - a line-up sadly brought to an end by Radar's departure. But then that's a whole different season . . . . A highly enjoyable release.

    The box-set includes all 24 episodes from Season 6, in broadcast order, over three discs.

    Disc 1

    1. Fade In, Fade Out - Charles' arrogance gets a temporary assignment to the 4077th changed to a permanent one.

    2. Fallen Idol - When Hawkeye's advice lands Radar on the operating table of the 4077th, Radar's idol comes down a notch.

    3. Last Laugh - BJ's friend Bardonaro (James Cromwell) is getting shipped home and embarks on one last round of practical jokes.

    4. War of Nerves - Sydney Freedman helps the 4077th deal with pent-up tensions, but questions his actions after a soldier he sent back to the front turns up wounded.

    5. The Winchester Tapes - Desperately trying to get out of the MASH unit, Charles tapes a letter to his influential parents.

    6. The Light That Failed - BJ's mystery novel gets passed around camp a page at a time. Stress levels increase when the last page goes missing and no one can work out the ending.

    7. In Love and War - Hawkeye falls in love with a Korean woman caring for her sick mother.

    8. Change Day - When the army changes the colour of its scrip dollars, Charles attempts to pull a quick scam.

     Disc 2

    9. Images - Radar decides that getting a tattoo is the key to relationship success.

    10. The MASH Olympics - Potter tries to get the 4077th into shape by offering three days of leave to the winners of the camp Olympics.

    11. The Grim Reaper - Hawkeye is threatened with a court marshal after shoving Colonel Bloodworth, a man obsessed with death and injury statistics.

    12-13. Comrades in Arms (Pt 1 and 2) - Hawkeye and Houlihan get lost behind enemy lines and find love among the ruins.

    14. The Merchant of Korea - Charles begins to call in favours after loaning BJ money. Hoping to turn the tables, Hawkeye and BJ start an all night poker match.

    15. The Smell of Music - Charles takes up the French horn and his limited skill leads Hawkeye and BJ to swear off bathing until he quits.

    16. Patent 4077 - Hawkeye needs a special surgical clamp and turns to the local jewellery peddler for help. Houlihan loses her wedding ring.

    Disc 3

    17. Tea and Empathy - After hearing a confession, Father Mulcahy learns of a secret stash of penicillin and enlists Klinger's help to recover it.

    18. Your Hit Parade - When heavy casualties look set to keep the 4077th up all night, Radar lends a hand by turning DJ and playing the hit parade.

    19. What's Up, Doc? - Houlihan thinks she is pregnant and needs Radar's pet rabbit Fluffy to carry out the test.

    20. Mail Call Three - The arrival of delayed mail brings unwelcome news for some and unexpected love letters for others.

    21. Temporary Duty - A temporary swap has Hawkeye transferred to the 8063rd. BJ and Charles make sure it isn't permanent.

    22. Potter's Retirement - The General informs Potter that complaints from the 4077th might jeopardize his position.

    23. Dr Winchester & Mr Hyde - Charles develops an amphetamine habit and uses the drug on Radar's mouse.

    24. Major Topper - Contaminated morphine forces the MASH surgeons to use placebos.

Video

    The video transfer for Season 6 is on par with all previous releases and, taking into account the flaws inherent in the source, is a good transfer. Each episode is presented in its original full frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1.

    The image is a little soft to my eyes and grain and low level noise is visible throughout. Stock footage, such as the exterior shot of Tokyo General in Episode 1 (9:29), exhibit higher levels of grain, as do the opening credits. Shadow detail is very poor at times. Lens flare appears at times, especially in Episode 23. Colours stick to the usual army greens and browns but appear natural, although skin tones are just a little pink.

    Dark and grainy areas of the image tend to show pixelization which can become distracting, really letting the transfer down. Black and white spots and specks are visible, but unobtrusive, throughout. The opening credits are especially affected. Episode 6 displayed a little wobbling of the image.

    Irritating to the level of overkill, a copyright warning plays before every episode. White subtitles are available in English and French. The English is relatively accurate, but drop a few words from most dialogue.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    Audio is available in Dolby Digital English 2.0 (mono) with and without the laugh track and French Dolby Digital 2.0 (mono). All tracks are adequate, considering their monaural source.

    There's just a little hiss and crackle in dialogue and all episodes sounds flat and tinny. Otherwise, dialogue is always clear and audible. The French has the dialogue mixed at a higher volume and it tends to overwhelm the other audio elements.

    True to its mono source, no surround or subwoofer information has been encoded.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    Once again, no extras.

    Both the Region 1 and Region 2 releases of Season Six are identical to ours.

    With the arrival of Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III, MASH - Season 6 keeps the series running strong.

    The video is good, and equal to previous releases.

    The audio is adequate.

    There are no extras.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall