Granted this isn't the world's greatest episode. The title reference is to Humphrey Bogart's character in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." He lusted after gold, just like Frank did in this offering. When the guys put a cast with a curved piece of metal coming out of it on Frank's arm, he has had enough and pushes Henry into letting him have a transfer. When Frank and Margaret get together in her tent, a recording is made and played to the whole camp. If Frank were a real character, Hawkeye and Trapper could be accused of being sadists. It would be interesting if some of this stuff happened to them. Anyway, it is a comedy, and the way the two Captains draw Frank back in (because now they have both drawn double duty until Frank is relieved) is to make it seem that there is gold near the camp. He is set up and needs to get back in the fold so he can get the gold. The conclusion goes way beyond necessity. These guys that seem to not have any time to rest expend a lot of energy in superfluous pursuits.
5 Reviews
Solid, not terrible
joshmlewis14 May 2022
Not sure why ExplorerDS has a stick up their rear about season 1. Sometimes You Hear the Bullet is one of the series' most iconic and impactful episodes. Requiem for a Lightweight is one of the funniest of season 1. As for this ep, it's far from a masterpiece but not deserving of vitriol either.
A Gold Jeep....... A Gold Jeep?!
ExplorerDS67898 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Do I need to say anymore? This is probably one of the worst episodes in M*A*S*H's run. It's stupid, much like many of the first season's episodes, like "Requiem for a Lightweight", "I Hate a Mystery", "Edwina", and "Germ Warfare." I know it's only the first season and they're still starting out, but they still need to try, and these episodes are proof that they were not. "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet", sorry but that didn't do anything for me. I just don't feel that bad for Hawkeye or his friend. Should I? Because I don't. But that's another story.
"Major Fred C. Dobbs", there's no character by that name in this episode, it's just an obscure reference to Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which this episode has nothing to do with. Basically: Frank Burns acts like a jerk, Hawkeye and Trapper plaster a hook to his arm. Finally tiring of their childish pranks, Frank whines to Henry and wants a transfer. Hot Lips requests one too after they broadcast her and Frank's sweet nothings over the camp's speakers. Movie callback, anyone? So because Hawkeye and Trapper can't stand extra work, they figure to save their lazy butts by stopping Margaret from leaving, and she'll stay only if Frank won't leave. They use some of Radar's fools gold to fool Frank into thinking the land is rich with gold. He discovers this late one night in a scene not unlike one out of a horror movie. Bad cinematography I guess. Frank wants his transfer thrown out, as does Margaret. The hoax is revealed, as well as the entire area painted gold, right down to the golden Jeep Trapper and Hawkeye drive by in.
This episode was bad. It's not even funny. Sid Dorfman obviously wasn't even trying when he wrote the script, nor was Don Weis when directing it. It's not clever, it's just bad. They paint a Jeep gold. What else is there to say? That's the dumbest thing ever. M*A*S*H is a great show, but crappy episodes like this one and others listed above should be avoided because they're an insult to integrity. I will say this: McLean Stevenson was the only bright light in this story. His performance shows he was the only one who was actually trying, and he was the only one generating any laughs. McLean saved this one from being a total A-bomb, or F-bomb I should say.
"Major Fred C. Dobbs", there's no character by that name in this episode, it's just an obscure reference to Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which this episode has nothing to do with. Basically: Frank Burns acts like a jerk, Hawkeye and Trapper plaster a hook to his arm. Finally tiring of their childish pranks, Frank whines to Henry and wants a transfer. Hot Lips requests one too after they broadcast her and Frank's sweet nothings over the camp's speakers. Movie callback, anyone? So because Hawkeye and Trapper can't stand extra work, they figure to save their lazy butts by stopping Margaret from leaving, and she'll stay only if Frank won't leave. They use some of Radar's fools gold to fool Frank into thinking the land is rich with gold. He discovers this late one night in a scene not unlike one out of a horror movie. Bad cinematography I guess. Frank wants his transfer thrown out, as does Margaret. The hoax is revealed, as well as the entire area painted gold, right down to the golden Jeep Trapper and Hawkeye drive by in.
This episode was bad. It's not even funny. Sid Dorfman obviously wasn't even trying when he wrote the script, nor was Don Weis when directing it. It's not clever, it's just bad. They paint a Jeep gold. What else is there to say? That's the dumbest thing ever. M*A*S*H is a great show, but crappy episodes like this one and others listed above should be avoided because they're an insult to integrity. I will say this: McLean Stevenson was the only bright light in this story. His performance shows he was the only one who was actually trying, and he was the only one generating any laughs. McLean saved this one from being a total A-bomb, or F-bomb I should say.
Bronze
safenoe10 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I'm enjoying very much really reflecting on M*A*S*H and how it progressed through its 11 years on air, especially after becoming a fan of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, of course he was very famous for playing Igor in later seasons. This episode is considered one of the worst as mentioned in the podcast and it's hard to see it pass the muster now, but at the time it was worth airing being in 1973. Sadly we see a few supporting characters phased out such as Ginger, Ho Jon, Ugly John and others who didn't make the cut into season two. Still worth watching once.
The one where Frank gets gold fever
jarrodmcdonald-126 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the episodes that I remembered from watching the show as a kid. Probably because it's so far-fetched, yet a lot of fun thanks to Larry Linville's inspired comedic performance. He's having a field day. The title is inspired by Humphrey Bogart's character in the Warner Brothers film THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE. Like Bogey, Major Frank Burns is fixated on the possibility of striking it rich when gold is supposedly found near the camp.
Of course this is all a ruse by Hawkeye and Trapper, who are planting gold nuggets in the area to keep Frank interested in sticking around, since he had planned on transferring to another unit. It seems they need Frank's operating skills at the 4077th. In a way, this contrived story reveals the appreciation that Hawkeye and Trapper do have regarding Frank's contributions as a medic, even though they are often quick to cut him down to size. Either that, or they just don't want the increased workload if Frank left.
Margaret has also run into trouble with Hawkeye and Trapper, due to one of their latest pranks. She too considers a transfer. Of course, she is probably more competent than Frank in surgery, so her skills would be missed even more.
I do find it interesting that writer Sid Dorfman chose to reference a hit film from a rival studio. Usually episodes borrow music (like 'My Blue Heaven) and plot points from motion pictures made by 20th Century Fox, since M*A*S*H the 1970 feature film was a Fox picture and M*A*S*H the weekly series is a product of 20th Century Fox Television.
In 1973, when this episode first aired, there was no such thing as cable or home video. So unless the Bogart film had recently been seen on network TV or was syndicated on a local channel, most viewers would have to try and remember bits and pieces from the old movie that this episode's story is referencing.
Of course this is all a ruse by Hawkeye and Trapper, who are planting gold nuggets in the area to keep Frank interested in sticking around, since he had planned on transferring to another unit. It seems they need Frank's operating skills at the 4077th. In a way, this contrived story reveals the appreciation that Hawkeye and Trapper do have regarding Frank's contributions as a medic, even though they are often quick to cut him down to size. Either that, or they just don't want the increased workload if Frank left.
Margaret has also run into trouble with Hawkeye and Trapper, due to one of their latest pranks. She too considers a transfer. Of course, she is probably more competent than Frank in surgery, so her skills would be missed even more.
I do find it interesting that writer Sid Dorfman chose to reference a hit film from a rival studio. Usually episodes borrow music (like 'My Blue Heaven) and plot points from motion pictures made by 20th Century Fox, since M*A*S*H the 1970 feature film was a Fox picture and M*A*S*H the weekly series is a product of 20th Century Fox Television.
In 1973, when this episode first aired, there was no such thing as cable or home video. So unless the Bogart film had recently been seen on network TV or was syndicated on a local channel, most viewers would have to try and remember bits and pieces from the old movie that this episode's story is referencing.
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