As the fifth season opens, the Chinese are getting too close for comfort and the 4077 has been ordered to bug-out. Unfortunately, Hawkeye, B.J. and Margaret are in the middle of critical surgery and have to keep going even as the bombing starts. The rest of the 4077 find themselves in an equally dangerous situation upon discovering that the new location that HQ has chosen for them is actually in occupied territory. Luckily the Chinese are driven back and the 4077 get to bug back to their old location.
But the real bomb, as far as Frank Burns is concerned, is when Margaret returns from a medical conference in Tokyo engaged to Lieutenant Colonel Donald Penobscott. “How’d Burns take it?” a concerned Colonel Potter asked. “Hard,” Hawkeye replied. “He was clucking like a chicken last night. For nine straight hours.” Potter shook his head. “He’s heading for a Section Eight.” As expected, Klinger was green with envy.M*A*S*H‘s fifth tour of duty finds the 4077th operating at peak efficiency. Harry Morgan, as Colonel Sherman Potter, and Mike Farrell as BJ Hunnicutt, pumped new blood into series, and in this, their sophomore year, became integral parts of the ensemble. Gary Burghoff joined the Emmy elite for his role as company clerk Radar O’Reilly. William Christopher was also promoted, finally earning his opening-credit stripes for his role as Father Mulcahy. This season was also pivotal for Loretta Switt’s Major Margaret Houlihan. “The Nurses,” one of Switt’s finest half-hours, humanized her rigid, by-the-book character. Margaret’s engagement provided the season with its dramatic arc, and set the stage for the departure of Larry Linville’s Major Burns, who by this time had wrung all the music he could from his one-note character. In addition to “The Nurses,” another episode that looms large in the show’s legend is the Emmy-winning “Dear Sigmund,” in which weary and depressed psychiatrist Sidney Friedman sought refuge at the 4077th. This episode further fleshed out BJ, and established him as the camp’s practical joker. The episode “Hanky Panky,” in which a compassionate BJ consoles a nurse whose marriage has fallen apart, ranks as one of his best.
Alan Alda’s Hawkeye suffers physical and psychological crises in two of his most effective episodes, “Out of Sight, Out of Mind,” in which he is temporarily blinded, and “Hawk’s Nightmare,” in which the war haunts his dreams. We also see the first warning signs of sanctimony that would infect the show in later seasons. Tell us, Hawkeye–and he does, in “The General’s Practitioner”–why war is worse than hell. Whereas Hawkeye and Trapper in earlier seasons were partners in crime, Hawkeye and BJ become tireless (and sometimes tiresome) crusaders to right all wrongs in their “little corner” of the world, as witness their shutdown of a heartless junk dealer in “Souvenirs.” One cure is “Movie Tonight,” an ensemble episode in which camp members bond during a much-interrupted screening of My Darling Clementine. –Donald Liebenson
List Price: $ 39.98
Price: $ 17.98
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Collector’s
December 20, 2010
#1
Significant season,
Most shows after a few seasons being to lose their impetus, but MASH proved to be one of those shows that proved the complete opposite, and especially with the fifth season.
By now Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman T. Potter and Mike Farrell as Captain B.J Hunnicutt were now fully settled in to the full cast as this was their second season. This series would prove significant for two cast members, this was to be Larry Linville’s last season as Major Frank Burns and William Christopher’s first season as a full cast member as Father Francis J. Mulcahy. I find this strange that they waited until this season to make him so, as he had been there since the first season.
My favouite epsiodes from this season includes the one-hour show to open the season “Bug Out” in which the camp had to move en-masse while Hawkeye, BJ and Margaret had to operate on a patient with spinal injuries. “The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan” in which it is rumoured that Hotlips had been abducted and the appearance of the loony CIA man Colonel Flagg wanting to invade North Korea as a result. “Dear Sigmund” of more in the next paragraph. “Mulchay’s War” in which was the first episode where Father Mulcahy played the significant part of him doubting his effectiveness in the camp, and “Movie Tonight” where they watch a bad copy of My Darling Clementine and the entertainment that takes place when projectionist Klinger has to repair it.
The episode that is one of the very best episodes in all 251 episodes is “Dear Sigmund”, significant in that the main character and narrator in this episode is Dr Sydney Freedman played by Allan Arbus. Suffering from depression after the suicide of a patient and writing as a form of self-therapy to Sigmund Freud, he watches how the 4077th observes how they cope with the pressures of war, and the paves the way in the future when the originator of a series of practical jokes reveals himself near the end.
This episode written and directed by Alan Alda shows him by this stage becoming a huge part behind the scenes on the show, but in this episode does not show him taking center stage, which anyone who knows the history of the show, knows that is typical of Alan alda realising that is a ensemble show. It was also of no surprise that “Dear Sigmund” won him the 1977 Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, 1977 Director’s Guild Award, and 1977 Writer’s Guild Award. An episode and season well worth recommending.
Was this review helpful to you?
|December 20, 2010
#2
Another season,
This was the final season for one of the actors, Larry Linville, who played Major Frank Burns. Linville claimed that he went as far as he could in making this character look like an azz. Unlike the first four seasons (and the movie, too), Frank doesn’t get to sleep around with Major Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in this season. Two episodes into this season, Margaret gets engaged, and in the final episode of the season: Margaret gets married, with Frank acting as best man for the groom.
This was the second season for two of the actors: Mike Farrell (who played BJ Hunnicut) and Harry Morgan (who played Col. Potter). It being their second season on the show, it was easier for them to find their characters’ humor and their seriousness, when needed. It really added some more to the show. In season four, they were just starting out.
This season featured some rather interesting episodes. One where Radar gets some phony promotion orders, promoting him to Lietenient. The phony papers were made by Hawkeye and BJ to give Radar a taste of “what it feels like to be an officer”. The psychiatrist, Dr. Freedman, makes two appearances in this season. In the first, he comes to the 4077th to relieve some of his own stress, as opposed to some patients’. He joins in on a practical joke with BJ. In the other episode, he comes to aid Hawkeye, when he experiences some sleepwalking and nightmares. Also the CIA fruitcake, named Col. Flagg, returns to the 4077th when Major Houlihan turns up missing; at a time, where North Koreans are spotted sneaking around. A crossword puzzle becomes a great pass-time, in one episode. Also, the priest, Father Mulchay, has some good moments in this season. One where he goes to the front line, persuaded to when a wounded solider at the 4077th starts talking about the front line, and Mulchay’s hero: a priest who calls himself ‘Boom Boom’.
Many good episodes, and many good laughs make season five of MASH a great one. It is Major Burns’ last season. In the next season, season six, we are introduced to Major Burns’ replacement. A rich guy from Boston named Charles Emerson Winchester III, one of the most smug characters you’ll see.
Was this review helpful to you?
|December 20, 2010
#3
Margaret’s engagement and marriage book-end this season.,
Aside from the first episode this season, Bug-Out, this year is dominated by the sudden shocking engangement of Margaret to Donald Penobscott. This is also the final year for Frank Burns.
Bug-Out – Radar and Klinger are talking in the office with Klinger celebrating his new cigars when the phone rings. There’s a rumor of a camp bug-out. Word spreads fast. Meanwhile, the latrine digging stops and Hawkeye worries over a delicate surgery in which the patient can’t me moved for 24 hours due to possible paralysis. Potter makes a phone call and finds it’s just a rumor.
Hawkeye and Margaret start the surgery, with B.J’s assistance. Then, after calling assembly to stop the rumors Potter finds out that there is a full out bug-out happening. Radar runs in and tells Hawkeye, but it’s too late. Hawkeye, Margaret and Radar stay behind to watch the patient. Meanwhile, the rest of the camp finds a damaged old school house which doulbes as a brothel. They trade Klinger’s dresses for the building. Hawkeye and Radar go to Rosie’s for one last drink before leaving themselves. They get into a jeep, but it breaks down. Suddenly there’s the sound of a large number of vehicles. It’s the rest of the camp returning.
Margaret’s Engagement – Margaret returns from a conference in Tokyo with news of her sudden engagement. This drives Frank over the top. He brings in a family, suspecting that they are snipers. He stays up all night, rifle in hand, with an itchy trigger finger. Potter says he’s heading to a section eight. “Section Eight, Section Eight,” Frank yells jumping to action. Everyone reacts. Radar tells him there’s a phone call. He called Frank’s mom. The final scene shows Margaret talking about Donald Penobscott. Frank tells Hawkeye that he wants to double date. He mentions a young new nurse with freckles. Margaret says that she’s a bit young.”I don’t know. I thought a little youth might be nice for a change!”. Margaret leaves in a huff, B.J and Hawkeye both shake their heads. “I really got her on that one didn’t I!”, is Franks responce. This gets good laughter our of the three of them.
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind – An act of kindness in trying to fix the nurses tent stoves leave Hawkeye blind. Frank litens to a game at night, and then bets eveyone on the outcome for the replay. Hawkeye does some soul searching with another blind patient. Klinger gives him a kazoo to get people attention. In the end he gets his sight back, but not before getting revenge on Frank. He does the play by play of a fake game, with the assistance of Radar, Klinger, and B.J. When the patches are taken off and Hawkeye finds the blindness over, the real score of the game is announced over the radio. Eveyone chases Frank seeking resitution.
The Nurses – A nurse gets into hot water with Margaret. This happens just before her husband, who she rarely sees, comes to camp. B.J and Hawkeye conspire to get them together. They come up with a bogus disease and place the husband in Margaret’s tent. The two spend the night together, but he’s caught by Margaret. When she tells her who the man is, Margaret relents. When Potter confronts everyone on the miraculous cure Margaret syas it’s a private matter between her and her nurses.
Dear Sigmund – Sydney comes to the Swamp for the usual poker game. He ends up staying for two weeks due to stress from work. Hawkeye and B.J find that he’s been writing Dr. Sigmund Freud. Sydney rights about the antics of the camp. The barage or practical jokes, including shoe polish on binocular lenses which puts rings around Potter’s eyes. Radar falls out of the jeep he’s laughing so hard. A mess tent bench with one leg half sawed off. As soon as Frank sits down the bench collapses, sending him to the floor. He tells of his view of each of the main characters.
Mulcahy’s War – A patient is brought in with a self inflicted foot wound. Hawkeye sends Father Mulcahy in to talk to him. Turns out they both know the same pastor at a church in Philadelphia. The patient though won’t talk to Mulcahy because the good Father has no idea what it’s like. Father Mulcahy heads to the front with Radar. They end up saving a patients life on the road back. The patient hears about it and ends up talking to the good Father.
The Colonel’s Horse – Potter gets a week of R&R for a second honeymoon with his wife. While he’s gone his mare gets sick. B.J calls his father in law to get help. Meanwhile Margaret gets appendicitis and requests Hawkeye’s help. Both girls turn out fine.
Hawk’s Nightmare – Hawkeye suffers through several bad dreams and some bouts of sleepwalking. Sydney is called in. Sydney figures that the problem is just the war and that it will pass. In the end Hawkeye and Sydney play a mean game of zombie basketball.
End Run – Radar discovers that one of his hero’s, a college football player from Iowa, is brought in a…
Read more
Was this review helpful to you?
|