Burt Metcalfe
Producer / Director
About This Interview
In his four-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Burt Metcalfe talks about his early years as an actor in films and in television series in the 1950s and '60s, including his role as a regular on the sitcom Father of the Bride. He mentions some of his television guest appearances on such series as Hennesey, The Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits, and discusses his transition to behind-the-camera work as a casting director and as the assistant to producer Harry Ackerman. Metcalfe then details his association with the long-running classic sitcom M*A*S*H, on which he worked for the series entire run, moving up from associate producer to executive producer. He recounts the casting and research for the series, the production, and memorable series episodes. B-roll consists of a few M*A*S*H -related stills. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview in Studio City, CA on October 23, 2003.
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Highlights
Burt Metcalfe on the laugh track in M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 24:03, Duration: 02m 04s
Burt Metcalfe on the M*A*S*H episode "The Interview"
Clip begins at: 00:01, Duration: 03m 01s
Burt Metcalfe on watching the M*A*S*H finale "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
Clip begins at: 02:05, Duration: 01m 45s- Burt Metcalfe on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 06:18, Duration: 04m 39s - Burt Metcalfe on the legacy of M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 07:22, Duration: 02m 37s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early life and influences; on his early acting roles
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On his stint in the Navy; on acting in the movie "Gidget"; on meeting Rod Serling and Robert Mitchum
Clip begins at: 16:05 - Part 2
- On acting in the now-classic Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street"; on early roles on The Outer Limits and Father of the Bride; on beginning to make the transition to behind-the-camera
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On acting in The Fugitive; on getting into casting; on casting Days of Our Lives
Clip begins at: 14:52 - Part 3
- On his early years as a casting director at Screen Gems; on the process of casting; on the Hollywood Blacklist in the '60's
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On working with producer Harry Ackerman; on recasting the role of "Darrin Stephens" in Bewitched and casting Sally Field in The Flying Nun; on leaving Screen Gems
Clip begins at: 16:40 - Part 4
- On how he came to work for and leave Universal; on how he became an associate producer for M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On casting M*A*S*H; on shooting the pilot for the show
Clip begins at: 07:49 - Part 5
- On casting and producing the pilot for M*A*S*H (continued); on producing and doing research for M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On show creator Larry Gelbart's importance to M*A*S*H; on M*A*S*H and the Vietnam War; on network interference on the show - CBS's edicts about showing blood and including a laugh track
Clip begins at: 16:36 - Part 6
- On Gene Reynolds' contribution to M*A*S*H; on his shifting duties and Alan Alda's contributions to M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On M*A*S*H's evolving characters and cast defections; on having the cast members direct M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 14:53 - Part 7
- On M*A*S*H's cast members and characters; on the death of "Col Henry Blake" on M*A*S*H
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On memorable episodes of M*A*S*H that he directed or co-wrote, including "A War For All Seasons", "The Party", and "The Interview" - which he considers M*A*S*H's best episode
Clip begins at: 17:48 - Part 8
- On shooting the final scene of M*A*S*H; on various behind-the-scenes contributors to M*A*S*H; on noteworthy episodes of the show
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On Standards and Practices and M*A*S*H; on the M*A*S*H finale "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
Clip begins at: 13:47 - Part 9
- On the reception of the M*A*S*H finale "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"; on the legacy of M*A*S*H; on executive producing After MASH
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On post-M*A*S*H projects; on what makes a good television producer; on how he would like to be remembered
Clip begins at: 14:17 - On B-Roll photos from his career: photo of Burt Metcalfe directing M*A*S*H, of kissing his wife on the set of the final filming day of M*A*S*H, of Alan Alda, Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe, and a cast photo of M*A*S*H given to him by Mike Farrell
Clip begins at: 28:47
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