University of Virginia Library

Sanity Rituals

Question: The survivors in
M*A*S*H survive through rituals,
through insanity, really. Is that
your view?

Altman: I think that's a good
way to remain sane in an insane
world. In the beginning with the
sergeant and the jeep, they are the
ones' that are insane ... I mean it's
the other people. Its the people
who are trying to go along with an
absolutely ridiculous set of systems
and values. During the Inquisition
in Spain, it was the Inquisitors who
were insane, not the witches. The
witches were all right.

Robert Altman Raps With "M*A*S*H" Cast On Location.