Don't cross these guys. If a group of doctors did what these guys do, it would test the mettle of anyone. Hawkeye is at the breaking point, but Henry takes off, leaving Frank in charge. Of course, R & R is going to be almost impossible and Frank becomes the usual tyrant, incompetently mishandling things. Hawkeye decides to bring in the heavy artillery. He chews out a beautiful nurse after she sort of propositions him, he pretends he is eating a North Korean's liver, and on and on. Instead of giving in, Frank and Margaret call in a psychiatrist (Stuart Margolin) to check on him. He is a cold fish but has a thing for Major Houlihan. He decides to actually have Hawkeye committed to a mental hospital. Now the fun really starts. One of many episodes where Hawkeye deals with authority figures for whom he has no respect.
3 Reviews
Sign of things to come
safenoe9 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Bananas, Crackers and Nuts is from season one of M*A*S*H, and upon reflection, and no way the writers would have known this in 1972 when this episode debuted, but it presaged Hawkeye's chill breakdown in Goodbye, Farewell, Amen which was the finale of this very fine series. Who would have thought that Hawkeye would experience the real thing, and after 11 years even though the Korean War ran for three years. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on the series, especially after being a fan of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast, hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, famous for playing Igor in M*A*S*H.
The one where Hawkeye feigns madness
jarrodmcdonald-18 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I suppose we could also call this episode 'the one where Hawkeye pretends he's sexually attracted to Frank.' Reviewers may have a problem with the show's occasional sexism and treatment of homosexuality. But in this installment of the show, written by Burt Styler, I don't think it's so black-and-white as all that. Hawkeye tries to convince a visiting psychiatrist (Stuart Margolin) that he's lost touch with reality. It seems he's eaten a liver from a dead Korean and is now professing his being in love with Frank Burns, who shares sleeping quarters with him and Trapper.
Some of the dialogue is quite funny, even though Alan Alda is not exactly delivering it with a knowing wink to the audience. On some level, it could be interpreted that Hawkeye is truly nuts since he seems willing to go to any extreme to obtain a pass for three days of R&R in Tokyo with Trapper. Of course, we'd have to say that Trapper is equally off his rocker for going along with this scheme of Hawkeye's.
I should point out that the character played by Margolin, Captain Phillip Sherman, is not seen again in subsequent episodes. When a shrink is needed, we usually have Allan Arbus as Major Sidney Freedman who begins appearing in season 2 and turns up a dozen times during the show's run.
There are some realistic operating scenes at the beginning of this episode which detail how fatigued the doctors are after lengthy surgeries. I guess it might justify the outrageous antics of Hawkeye and Trapper, who are eager to enjoy a weekend away from the grueling aspects of the war.
Mixed into this is the fact that Margolin's character, Captain Sherman, has a slightly romantic past with Margaret, though she had ultimately rejected him. Sherman wants another chance with her, despite the fact she's now involved with Frank and still not any more receptive to Sherman.
When Henry seems to agree that Hawkeye may need to remain under observation and therefore will not be able to enjoy any R&R, this prompts the guys to enlist Radar's help to frame Sherman so that his authority will be compromised. To do this, they trick him into thinking Margaret still likes him and then he is fooled into going into Margaret's tent.
She shows up a short time later and starts to undress, which causes him to pounce on her. Her cries for help (basically that he's sexually attacking her) are laughed at by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper. Henry, Frank and the others hear the commotion and hurry to Margaret's tent. This results in Sherman being escorted off the camp, and in Hawkeye now obtaining R&R passes with Trapper. However, their victory is short-lived as there are incoming wounded and plans for a weekend getaway must wait.
I don't think this is the worst episode of the show. In fact there is some clever dialogue, but I do think the script overplays insanity to generate laughs. Watching Hawkeye act mad reminded me of the last episode in 1983, where the character actually did suffer a mental breakdown.
I am not sure what I feel about Margaret's near-rape scene being played for humor, as it seems rather distasteful. There would have been other ways to undermine Sherman and get him to leave. The scene where Hawkeye acts like a cannibal is equally distasteful, pun intended.
Some of the dialogue is quite funny, even though Alan Alda is not exactly delivering it with a knowing wink to the audience. On some level, it could be interpreted that Hawkeye is truly nuts since he seems willing to go to any extreme to obtain a pass for three days of R&R in Tokyo with Trapper. Of course, we'd have to say that Trapper is equally off his rocker for going along with this scheme of Hawkeye's.
I should point out that the character played by Margolin, Captain Phillip Sherman, is not seen again in subsequent episodes. When a shrink is needed, we usually have Allan Arbus as Major Sidney Freedman who begins appearing in season 2 and turns up a dozen times during the show's run.
There are some realistic operating scenes at the beginning of this episode which detail how fatigued the doctors are after lengthy surgeries. I guess it might justify the outrageous antics of Hawkeye and Trapper, who are eager to enjoy a weekend away from the grueling aspects of the war.
Mixed into this is the fact that Margolin's character, Captain Sherman, has a slightly romantic past with Margaret, though she had ultimately rejected him. Sherman wants another chance with her, despite the fact she's now involved with Frank and still not any more receptive to Sherman.
When Henry seems to agree that Hawkeye may need to remain under observation and therefore will not be able to enjoy any R&R, this prompts the guys to enlist Radar's help to frame Sherman so that his authority will be compromised. To do this, they trick him into thinking Margaret still likes him and then he is fooled into going into Margaret's tent.
She shows up a short time later and starts to undress, which causes him to pounce on her. Her cries for help (basically that he's sexually attacking her) are laughed at by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper. Henry, Frank and the others hear the commotion and hurry to Margaret's tent. This results in Sherman being escorted off the camp, and in Hawkeye now obtaining R&R passes with Trapper. However, their victory is short-lived as there are incoming wounded and plans for a weekend getaway must wait.
I don't think this is the worst episode of the show. In fact there is some clever dialogue, but I do think the script overplays insanity to generate laughs. Watching Hawkeye act mad reminded me of the last episode in 1983, where the character actually did suffer a mental breakdown.
I am not sure what I feel about Margaret's near-rape scene being played for humor, as it seems rather distasteful. There would have been other ways to undermine Sherman and get him to leave. The scene where Hawkeye acts like a cannibal is equally distasteful, pun intended.
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