Jeff Maxwell Movies
- 1981
To boost morale on the day after Christmas, Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) adopts the "Boxing Day" strategy popularized in the British military. For 24 hours, the officers of the 4077th will trade places (and ranks) with the enlistees, and vice versa. Naturally, the officers have less fun than their subordinates, but an eleventh-hour emergency enables everyone to appreciate the wisdom of Potter's temporary switcharound. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
On New Year's Eve, Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan) and the staff of the 4077th look back on the events of 1951. As the Korean War raged on unabated, the unit found all manner of ways to keep their sanity. Highlights include Margaret's (Loretta Swit) marathon knitting bees, Father Mulcahy's (William Christopher) new garden, the doctors' makeshift kidney machine, and the Great Baseball Game Debate. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Ostensibly visiting the 4077th on a standard fact-finding tour, Congressional aide R. Theodore Williamson (Lawrence Pressman) turns out to be a stooge for the McCarthyites. As such, Williamson is determined to prove that innocent Margaret (Loretta Swit) is a Commie-loving security risk. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) cook up a scheme to save Margaret's military career--and, incidentally, to make Williamson look a bigger jackass than he already is. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
At the suggestion of Charles (David Ogden Stiers), Margaret (Loretta Swit) prepares to bury a time capsule at the 4077th. Hawkeye volunteers to help collect souvenirs for the capsule, but Margaret turns him down, worried that he will turn the whole ceremony into joke. Before Hawk inevitably proves that his intentions are honorable, Klinger (Jamie Farr) develops a fondness for Soon-Li Hahn (Rosalind Chao), a wounded Korean woman suspected of being an enemy sniper. Originally telecast as the next-to-last installment of M*A*S*H (though actually filmed after the series' celebrated feature-length finale), "As Time Goes By" is dedicated to the memory of the series' late technical advisor Dr. Connie Izay. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is profoundly touched by a terminally ill GI (well played by a young Patrick Swayze) who is more concerned about the plight of his wounded pal. Unfortunately, the fact that Hawkeye can do nothing for the dying soldier exacts quite an emotional toll. All this occurs while a nervous Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) prepares for a visit from no-nonsense Cardinal Reardon (Ray Middleton). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Having toted up a humongous bar tab, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) vows that he will make the supreme sacrifice. No, he's not giving up drinking, but he does intend to stay stone cold sober for a whole entire week. Meanwhile, aristocratic Charles (David Ogden Stiers) tries to prevent his sister from marrying "beneath her station." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Gail Strickland guest stars as Helen Whitfield, one of the 4077's best nurses. What head nurse Margaret (Loretta Swit) doesn't know--but, alas, will soon find out--is that Helen is a closet drinker. As for the doctors, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is cold-shouldered by the camp after one of his practical jokes humiliates Charles (David Ogden Stiers) in the operating room. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Still in charge of the 4077th, Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville) arrogantly lords it over his subordinates. Things change when the unit's new commanding officer, Col. Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan), arrives at the camp. A old "regular army" man, Potter at first seems to be sympatico to the martinet Burns--but soon proves to be more in tune with the breezy irreverence of chief surgeons Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Everybody is anxious to hear news from home, but the only member of the 4077th in possession of stateside newspapers is Charles (David Ogden Stiers). To be sure, Charles will share the papers with his colleagues--but only after he reads them himself, from cover to cover, one edition at a time. The rest of the 4077th tries to hatch a scheme to wrest the precious papers from Charles' ink-stained clutches. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
In his annual Yuletide letter to his sister (the "Sister"), Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) recounts recent events at the 4077th. Mulcahy's missive is tinged with melancholy: As the war drags on and casualties pile up, he feels that his spiritual solace has been of little practical use to his colleagues. Naturally, everyone else in camp has a different point of view. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
It looks like the 4077th won't get the Christmas turkey dinner they'd been promised. The only staffer not feeling sorry for himself is Father Mulcahy (William Christopher), who is more concerned that a group of local youngsters will not be properly fed. Mulcahy takes up a collection for the kids, with all but the Scroogelike Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) pitching in with a contribution. Contrary to popular belief, it turns out that Charles is in his own way as generous as the next fellow--but this generosity may have an unintended negative result. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Margaret (Loretta Swit) has a new phonograph but no records. Charles (David Ogden Stiers) has a huge record collection, but a lousy phonograph. Obviously, one of these people is going to try to curry favor with the other--and B.J., caught in the middle of the intrigue, tries to play both ends down the middle. Meanwhile, Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) must confront the possibility that his old WW1 buddy, Col. Woody Cooke (John McLiam), is a dangerously incompetent military leader. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
It is Charles' (David Ogden Stier turn to handle the collection charities, an assignment he devoutly wishes to dodge. As he tries to pass his responsibilities along to others, things inevitable come full-circle back to him. And on a less amusing note, a GI (Craig Wasson) resents the fact that the North Korean soldier (Dereck Wong) who wounded him has been placed in the bed next to his. A morbid twist results in an outpouring of guilt feelings from a most unlikely source. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
In the opening episode of M*A*S*H's 11th and final season, Margaret (Loretta Swit) drives the nurses of the 4077th mercilessly while her own superior officer, the notoriously severe Colonel Buckholtz (Peggy Seury), conducts an inspection. In the process, Margaret learns to fully appreciate the women in her command. So does Hawkeye (Alan Alda), as he witnesses an act of effortless efficiency and unexpected compassion performed by the hitherto taken-for-granted Nurse Kellye (Kellye Nakahara). This episode was directed by veteran actress Susan Oliver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
A young corporal who swapped his dog tags with a friend is consumed by guilt when that friend dies in battle. As the doctors of the 4077th wrestle with this problem, they must also deal with the crestfallen recipient of a "Dear John" letter. And friendly enemies B.J. (Mike Farrell) and Charles (David Ogden Stiers) joins forces to challenge a wheeler-dealer GI securities salesman who threatens to bankrupt the camp. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
In an episode cowritten by M*A*S*H's medical consultant Walter Dishell), the 4077th must perform immediate surgery on a soldier with a severely lacerated aorta. With only 20 minutes to close the wound and restore circulation, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) must rely upon an aortic graft. This puts the doctors in the unenviable position of hoping that the potential graft donor, a GI with a fatal head wound, will die in enough time to save the life of their patient. "Life Time" is the famous episode in which the precious seconds are ticked off by a clock superimposed in the lower corner of the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
As the result of a bet made during a poker game, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) are able to cut phony orders "promoting" Corporal Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) to the rank of second lieutenant. Unaware that it's all a joke, Radar nervously does his best to take his new rank seriously. But if Radar proves to be uncomfortable as an officer, his discomfiture pales in comparison to the envy displayed by Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) is fed up with the camp's bellyaching in general, and with the constant carping of Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) in particular. Hoping to shut everyone up, Potter appoints the two doctors as the 4077th's new morale officers. As Hawk and Beej go about their seemingly insurmountable duties, Charles (David Ogden Stiers) uses his knowledge of composer Maurice Ravel to give a seriously injured musical prodigy a new lease on life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) makes a bet that he can get through an entire day without cracking a joke. Meanwhile, the chronically humorless Charles (David Ogden Stiers) hopes to square accounts with Col. Baldwyn (Robert Symonds), the officer who had Charles "condemned" to a tour of duty at the 4077th. Things boil down to a matter of honor and at least two heaping helpings of self-control. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1981
Sweltering through another nocturnal Korean heat wave, the men and women of the 4077th seek out ways to keep cool--at least mentally. Charles (David Ogden Stiers), for example, labors over his income taxes, while Klinger (Jamie Farr) tries to repair the PA system. Alas, poor Margaret (Loretta Swit) is suffering from a prickly-heat rash--and before long, the whole camp is apprised of Margaret's embarrasingly itchy plight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1978
A hellish Korean hot spell has everyone at the 4077th sweltering. Resourceful Klinger (Jamie Farr) tries to exploit the blistering weather by claiming to be crazy with the heat, thereby (hopefully) securing himself a Section 8. Meanwhile, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) attempt to hide the fact that they've just received a portable rubber bathtub, and Radar (Gary Burghoff) needs to have his tonsils removed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) generously offers to help a pretty nurse (Alexandra Stoddart) study for her medical-school entrance exams. Unfortunately, the girl responds in a manner far too affectionate for the celibate Mulcahy. Meanwhile, the rest of the camp tries to figure out how to take showers with an extremely limited water supply. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) earns the undying enmity of grumpy Artillery colonel Spiker (Tim O'Connor) when he splatters mud on the unforgiving officer. Elsewhere, Frank (Larry Linville) searches high and low for an enemy saboteur, and B.J. (Mike Farrell) offers advice and comfort to the cuckolded Sgt. Zale (Johnny Haymer). Best moment: Hawkeye's sarcastic response to Col. Spiker's climactic "absolution." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
With Radar gone, Klinger (Jamie Farr) is overwhelmed by his new responsibilities as company clerk--a situation that Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) tries to remedy. Meanwhile, a depressed B.J. (Mike Farrell), yearning to be reunited with his family, has a violent falling out with his pal Hawkeye (Alan Alda). Before long, the entire camp is looking for Klinger and B.J., who have gone off together on a spectacular bender. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
