Jeff Maxwell Movies

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

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

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

Margaret (Loretta Swit) wonders if she should renew her battlefiled romance with scrappy soldier Jack Scully (Joshua Bryant), especially since he's been busted to Private for punching out an officer. On another front, B.J. (Mike Farrell) and Charles (David Ogden Stiers) are asked to collaborate on a medical-journal article describing a recent life-saving operation. This sparks a literary rivalry the like of which has not been seen since the days of Gilbert and Sullivan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

As a result of Klinger's Thanksgiving dinner, the 4077th is laid low with food poisoning. The only healthy staffers are Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), who volunteer to pick up some much-needed antibiotics. On their way back to camp, the two doctors become hopelessly lost in what appears to be enemy territory--and find themselves face to face with an oddball from "the other side." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

We're not sure who the gentlemen are in this TV movie adaptation of Nora Ephron's Perfect Gentlemen, but there's no doubt as to the identity of the ladies. The plot revolves around three convict's wives. Sandy Dennis owns a bankrupt deli; Lisa Pelikan is pregnant and broke; and Lauren Bacall (in her TV movie debut) is the wealthy wife of an incarcerated labor leader, who has just learned that her husband was cheating on her. Teaming up, the three ladies plan to steal the million dollars that was supposed to secure the release of Bacall's errant hubby. Along for the ride is Lisa Pelikan's mother-in-law Ruth Gordon, a veteran safecracker. Perfect Gentlemen sags a bit a midpoint, but overall is good underhanded fun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

Comedy writers David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams of Airplane and The Naked Gun fame got their start at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, when they formed a theatrical group known as The Kentucky Fried Theater. The Kentucky Fried Movie is based on the KFT's gag-filled theatrical skits. Including well-known stars such as Bill Bixby, Donald Sutherland, Tony Dow, George Lazenby and Henry Gibson, the film has over 22 different segments of varying lengths. Some are seconds long. Longer segments include such highlights as: "Zinc Oxide," which spoofs school educational films; "Cleopatra Schwartz," a spoof of female blaxploitation action films, whose heroine is married to a rabbi; "Sex Record," which depicts a couple who are attempting to follow the step-by-step instructions of a how-to-do-it record; "Catholic High School Girls In Trouble," and "A Fistful of Yen," (the longest episode), which is an elaborate spoof of martial-arts films. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

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

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