Robert Altman

 Robert Altman

Robert Altman
1)Was one of the most prolific directors working during the 1970s.
2) He passed away in 2006 after directing 33 feature films including MASH (1970),
    McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), and Nashville (1975).
3)Altman developed a reputation for being "anti-Hollywood" and non-conformist in both his themes and
    directing style.
4)He preferred large casts for his films
5)Developed a multitrack recording technique which produced overlapping dialogue from
    multiple actors. This technique produced a more natural experience for the viewer.
6)He also used highly mobile camera work and zoom lenses to enhance the action taking place on the
   screen. Some actors like Elliott Gould and Shelley Duval worked with Altman regularly.

Critic David Thompson explains "MASH began to develop the crucial Altman style of overlapping, blurred sound and images so slippery with zoom that there was no sense of composition....Altman explained that to (Thompson) such overlapping dialogue in his films was closer to reality, especially with large groups: 'If you've got fourteen people at a dinner table, it seems to me it's pretty unlikely that only two of them are going to be talking.'"

Clip introduction:

The following surgery scene from MASH demonstrates Altman's overlapping dialogue as well as his unique sense of humor.

This isn't the scene we saw but the movie trailer Click Here
The scene we saw had people in a surgery room talking in separate conversations and over each other. Well done.