War Correspondent Clete Roberts interviews the members of the 4077.War Correspondent Clete Roberts interviews the members of the 4077.War Correspondent Clete Roberts interviews the members of the 4077.
Loretta Swit
- Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFather Mulcahy's story about the surgeons warming themselves over a patient's open wound was based on something a real Army doctor who served in a Korean War MASH unit told the writers.
- GoofsDuring this episode Potter says "I miss my wife, of course...miss my son, daughter-in-law. I have a new baby grandchild. I haven't seen her. I'd like to."
In S11:E11 Strange Bedfellows, it's Potter's Son-in-Law that visits the 4077th.
- Quotes
Father Francis Mulcahy: When the doctors cut into a patient... and it's cold, the way it is now today... steam will rise from the body. And the doctor will warm his hands over the open wound. How could anybody look upon that and not feel changed?
- Crazy creditsThe opening and closing credits are in color while the rest of the program is in black and white.
- Alternate versionsIn 2017, the series was remastered in high definition widescreen for release on Hulu. The original CBS airing and all syndicated versions were in black and white. The episode however was originally filmed in color and later made black and white in post production. A color version was released for the first time as part of the series release on Hulu.
- ConnectionsFeatured in M*A*S*H: Our Finest Hour (1978)
Featured review
Too Real
This episode has always been one of my favorites. I remember seeing it when it first aired when I was in high school. Back then I only knew about war from movies, television and what my dad and others told me about Vietnam. I was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer in 1983 and commanded an Army Medical Ambulance Company in Cold War Germany, waiting for the Soviets to, come across the Fulda Gap. We planned and exercised in expectation that we would take at least 75% casualties in supporting the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Since then I have been to war in Iraq and was involved a couple of mass casualty situations as a Priest and Navy Chaplain during the "surge" in Al Anbar Province in 2007-2008. That wasn't my normal duty, I was in between missions with our advisors and Iraqis. But I remember so much, the images of the wounded, even their blood stained beard stubble, tattoos, and the sound of their voices as they were stabilized before going to surgery make me think of Father Mulcahy, a fictional character so well played that I saw him as a model of priestly ministry as a chaplain. But, before and after my time in Iraq I served as a trauma and critical care chaplain in major civilian and military medical centers. I have seen so much death. The words of the actors as they answered the questions of Clete Roberts still resonate with me. The writers of the series, especially with this episode, Abyssinia Henry, and Good Bye, Farewell and Amen showed such an understanding of the feelings of the men and women who see so much and do so much to alleviate the physical, psychological, and spiritual trauma is amazing. Since I served nearly 40 years in the military, I really understood Harry Morgan's portrayal of Colonel Potter. The funny and kind of ironic thing is that in 1983, shortly before I was commissioned I was with a marching contingent of California Army National Guard Soldiers and a Color Guard at the People's Choice Awards "Salute to M*A*S*H. I am now retired but this episode still gets me. It is amazing how a television show shot in black and white like this episode can conjure such memories.
helpful•50
- padresteve
- Dec 14, 2022
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3
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