The 4077th's Halloween celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of wounded, including one supposedly dead soldier who is actually comatose and clinging to life.The 4077th's Halloween celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of wounded, including one supposedly dead soldier who is actually comatose and clinging to life.The 4077th's Halloween celebrations are interrupted by the arrival of wounded, including one supposedly dead soldier who is actually comatose and clinging to life.
- Corp. Hrabosky
- (as Andrew Clay)
- Pvt. Crotty
- (as James Lough)
- Lt. Kellye Yamato, RN
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Dennis Koenig
- Larry Gelbart
- Richard Hooker(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhile discussing a patient's irregular heartbeat, Hawkeye refers to it as "arrhythmia" while Potter uses the term "dysrhythmia." This is not a terminology error or anachronism, nor is Potter being cute by using some sort of unique folksy cowboy-dialect self-invented word, as he is occasionally wont to do. Cardiac dysrhythmia and cardiac arrhythmia refer to the same thing; both are synonyms for an irregular heartbeat and can be used interchangeably.
- GoofsGeorge Wendt is credited in this episode as "Pvt. LaRoche." However, Dr. Winchester refers to him directly as "Pvt. Mosconi" during his examination. However this is not a goof. Winchester was referring to Willie Mosconi, the professional pool player.
- Quotes
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: Oh, my dear man. How can I discover what's wrong with you if you will not cooperate?
Pvt. La Roche: [Billiard ball is stuck in his mouth] Mmm-mmm!
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: Oh, I see. You want me to take your temperature. I can do that.
[Sarcastically]
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: *Gaah* Do you realize you have something in your mouth?
Pvt. La Roche: Mm-hmm!
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: What on earth could that be?
Pvt. La Roche: Mmmm mmmm mmm mmmm!
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: Oh, lookie. There's a little 6 painted on it. Could that be how old you are?
Pvt. La Roche: Mmmmm-mmmm!
Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III: Now I see. You may not realize this, but you have a pool ball lodged in your mouth. No sweat, there is an alternative: I'll just take your temperature the other way.
- ConnectionsReferences The Howdy Doody Show (1947)
- SoundtracksHeat Wave
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Alan Alda with alternate lyrics ("We're Havin' a Party, a Halloween Party")
On top of that, a group of Marines known for their misbehavior, "The Pusan Pirahnas," are whopping it up at Rosies, which leads to some non-combat related injuries/need for medical attention. The first was a Marine private with a pool ball stuck in his mouth. Played by George Wendt, the comedic interplay between him and David Ogden Stiers is quite funny. Interesting overlap: the acclaimed and popular TV series "Cheers," with Wendt playing Norm, debuted just 30 days prior on September 30, 1982.
Also showing up after involvement in a crash during a drunken in reverse jeep race, is a Corporal Hrabowsky, played by Andrew Clay. It is so early in his career that "Dice" is not included in his end credit name. Instead of the in your-face misogynistic humor "The Dice Man" is now famous for, he plays it as a likeable, not so bright lug. Interestingly, at the time, there was a major league baseball player named Al Hrabowsky. Better known as "The Mad Hungarian" for his antics on and off the field. Hmmm...
During surgery scenes, being Halloween night and all, the cast members give various accounts of possible supernatural events they have been party to. This results in poo-pooing and, of course, mild condescension from Major Winchester. And this then leads to a funny prank on him by you know who (plural).
Colonel Potter gets in one of the "war is bad" monologs Mash is famous for when an Army MP arrives to arrest Hrabowsky for destroying a local family's chicken coop during the jeep race. And Father Mulcahy gets squeezed in late and ends up saving a man's (mortal) life, a good guy as always. It was also nice to see Kellye Nakahara in her recurring role as LT Kellye Yamato RN at a time when roles for Asian-Americans were very limited.
Finally, foreshadowing? Prior to the start of taping, by majority vote, the cast had decided this would be the last season. Throughout its run, the characters on Mash rarely referenced dates. Perhaps because the Korean War lasted three and a half years and the show 11. However, in this episode, Hawkeye says that for all their efforts, they deserve the year 1954 off. To me, this is a nod that the end of the conflict (and the show) is in sight (the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953). Also, Hawkeye mentions recurring character psychiatrist Dr. Sidney Freedman, though he does not appear in the episode. I think this is part of the setting up of Dr. Freedman's significant participation in the Grand Finale.
- ChrisMoore-2315
- Apr 3, 2024
Details
- Runtime25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
- 4:3