10 Movies Disowned By Their Screenwriters

3. Ring Lardner - MASH

Officially Ring Lardner, Jr. is credited for writing the screenplay for the classic 1970 Korean War comedy MASH based on the novel by Richard Hooker about a medical unit that uses humour to shield themselves from the horrors of the battlefield.

In truth, while Lardner did write the screenplay, it largely went unused. You see, when then little-known director Robert Altman was hired to direct MASH, he told his cast to ignore the script's dialogue and allowed them to improvise much of the movie. While Altman stuck to Lardner's plot, most of the movie's hilarious banter can largely be credited to the cast. MASH was not only a major box office success, but it also inspired a long-running hit television series.

Lardner was furious that the film had strayed so far from his words and denounced the film, but nonetheless he still accepted the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay when he won. Ironically, it was the only Oscar the movie won.