Frank is actually the star here, in a very negative way. When Henry is sent to Tokyo to assist General Hammond, the people who got him there, his amazing surgeons, are left with Frank Burns as their commanding officer. Of course, he goes for the kill. Reveille, calisthenics, no still, and so on. Larry Linville plays the obnoxious Major with great aplomb, sounding like an utter tyrant. It's time to act and the guys cook up a scheme to bring him back. This is an average episode which still makes it better than a lot of television. McLean Stevenson did a nice job of using that delicate balance between beloved boss and bumbling buffoon (for you alliteration fans).
6 Reviews
Giving Up Geisha Girls in Favor of A MASH Unit
DKosty1237 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Veteran Director William Wiard handles the 4077th for one of several episodes in this, one of the early attempts for Henry Blake to leave. This one is a surprise to everyone including Henry. General Clayton comes to give Henry an award for the 4077 outstanding record with a string attached- a promotion to Tokyo General.
Frank Burns take over and somehow manages to miss Hawkeye & Trapper leaving camp to try and go to Tokyo to get Henry back our of desperation as Frank with Hot Lips help is messing up the entire 4077th operation.
This was the best deal leaving that Henry was to get the entire series but somehow our heroes Hawkeye & Trapper manage to get him back to the 4077. Plenty of good laughs in this episode.
Frank Burns take over and somehow manages to miss Hawkeye & Trapper leaving camp to try and go to Tokyo to get Henry back our of desperation as Frank with Hot Lips help is messing up the entire 4077th operation.
This was the best deal leaving that Henry was to get the entire series but somehow our heroes Hawkeye & Trapper manage to get him back to the 4077. Plenty of good laughs in this episode.
The Turning Point!!
ellisel22 August 2007
Captains Pierce and McIntyre had just finished ten hours of surgery at the start of this episode titled -- "Henry, Please Come Home." Corporal O'Reilly was about to speak directly at Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake about something important. Obviously, Henry Blake told Walter O'Reilly not to interrupt his conversation while speaking to the surgeons unless he obtained a letter from General Hammond.
Henry Blake received a letter from General Hammond. The M*A*S*H 4077th received a ninety-seven percent efficiency rating for work done in surgery to mend the wounded soldiers in the Korean War. General Hammond had a special citation -- a fourth class medal -- pinned on Henry Blake's surgical gown. Little did they know Major Burns would take over the unit; Henry Blake was reassigned to Tokyo as instructed under General Hammond's orders.
Major Burns immediately laid down the law at the M*A*S*H 4077th. He told Corporal O'Reilly to straighten up the office in one hundred percent ship shape. Everyone was forced to participate in activities like morning exercise, inspections, bed checks, and latrine digging duties while he ran the unit. Eventually, Captains Pierce and McIntyre sneak in to Tokyo to see Henry Blake. Corporal O'Reilly was faking a four o'clock barfing ... all in order to have Henry Blake home. Major Burns's demeanor turned into disgust when he would not become the Commanding Officer ... that was after Henry Blake found out the emergency was a ploy to get off Major Burns's back. Funny Episode!! A Solid 9!!
Henry Blake received a letter from General Hammond. The M*A*S*H 4077th received a ninety-seven percent efficiency rating for work done in surgery to mend the wounded soldiers in the Korean War. General Hammond had a special citation -- a fourth class medal -- pinned on Henry Blake's surgical gown. Little did they know Major Burns would take over the unit; Henry Blake was reassigned to Tokyo as instructed under General Hammond's orders.
Major Burns immediately laid down the law at the M*A*S*H 4077th. He told Corporal O'Reilly to straighten up the office in one hundred percent ship shape. Everyone was forced to participate in activities like morning exercise, inspections, bed checks, and latrine digging duties while he ran the unit. Eventually, Captains Pierce and McIntyre sneak in to Tokyo to see Henry Blake. Corporal O'Reilly was faking a four o'clock barfing ... all in order to have Henry Blake home. Major Burns's demeanor turned into disgust when he would not become the Commanding Officer ... that was after Henry Blake found out the emergency was a ploy to get off Major Burns's back. Funny Episode!! A Solid 9!!
Henry Blake can be decisive when motivated
cashbacher17 April 2020
Like all new television shows, it took a few rounds of episodes until M*A*S*H managed to hit its stride. This episode is not quite halfway through the first season and seasoned viewers of the show will note that there are still some rough edges.
Due to the high level of success of the 4077, Henry Blake is given a commendation and promoted to a position in Tokyo, leaving Frank Burns in charge. Always one to throw his weight around when he can, Frank tries to make the atmosphere more military and advances his command and control. He of course alienates the people under his command.
Desperate to get out from under Frank Burns, Hawkeye and Trapper concoct a scheme to convince Henry to come back and retake command. They succeed and things quickly get back to "normal" at the 4077.
One interesting feature of these early episodes was the character of Spearchucker Jones, a black doctor. The character disappeared shortly after this episode in an attempt to maintain what was thought to be the historical fact that there were no black doctors in the Korean War. That was in fact not the case, so the character was removed without justification.
Oh Henry
safenoe9 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I think I've watched every M*A*S*H episode at least once, and anyway, on reflection Henry, Please Come Home is quite poignant because sadly by the end of season three Henry tragically never makes it come. I'm reflecting more on M*A*S*H because of the superb podcast M*A*S*H Matters hosted by Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, who played Igor.
In this episode Patrick Adiarte plays Ho-Jon, Odessa Cleveland plays Ginger, and Timothy Brown plays a surgeon. It's a shame these three characters were written out by the end of season one, but hopefully Ryan and Jeff can invite Patrick and Odessa to the podcast to talk about their M*A*S*H days (sadly Timothy passed away in 2020).
In this episode Patrick Adiarte plays Ho-Jon, Odessa Cleveland plays Ginger, and Timothy Brown plays a surgeon. It's a shame these three characters were written out by the end of season one, but hopefully Ryan and Jeff can invite Patrick and Odessa to the podcast to talk about their M*A*S*H days (sadly Timothy passed away in 2020).
The one where Henry gets promoted
jarrodmcdonald-111 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
In the previous episode, Henry's life was in danger. This time he's been promoted to a swell job in Tokyo after helping the 4077th reach a 90% efficiency rating. General Hammond shows up for a special ceremony and announces Henry's transfer to Tokyo, which surprises everyone.
We quickly get a scene with Henry leaving the camp, while Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar look on in disbelief that their beloved colonel is actually going away. However, Frank who will be taking over in the interim, is pleased and already keen on making changes. Big changes.
Most of the comedy in Laurence Marks' script comes from Frank's attempts to instill discipline in Hawkeye, Trapper and Jones. As well as his attempts to overwork Radar. It's a bit odd that Margaret is nowhere around, as I think her presence would have bolstered the scenes where Frank is on a power trip.
The men conspire to overthrow Frank and get Henry back. Of course, this involves Hawkeye and Trapper obtaining a pass to Tokyo. There are some exterior shots of Tokyo, probably from the 20th Century Fox library of stock footage, and we see a bathhouse where Henry is being pampered alongside Hawkeye and Trapper. During their rendezvous, a call comes from Radar and Henry's old girlfriend Leslie, in which it is said that Radar is now ill. This is a ploy to persuade Henry to go back with the other two and treat Radar, before it's too late.
There is a funny scene where Radar is faking illness at the 4077th, with Henry swooping in to save him, much to Frank's chagrin. Henry realizes he missed being at the camp. He will tell Hammond that he'll remain here and won't return to Tokyo. The story and its resolution are all pretty formulaic, but we do get some nice bonding moments between Henry and the men who look up to him, which is in sharp contrast to the way none of them look up to Frank.
We quickly get a scene with Henry leaving the camp, while Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar look on in disbelief that their beloved colonel is actually going away. However, Frank who will be taking over in the interim, is pleased and already keen on making changes. Big changes.
Most of the comedy in Laurence Marks' script comes from Frank's attempts to instill discipline in Hawkeye, Trapper and Jones. As well as his attempts to overwork Radar. It's a bit odd that Margaret is nowhere around, as I think her presence would have bolstered the scenes where Frank is on a power trip.
The men conspire to overthrow Frank and get Henry back. Of course, this involves Hawkeye and Trapper obtaining a pass to Tokyo. There are some exterior shots of Tokyo, probably from the 20th Century Fox library of stock footage, and we see a bathhouse where Henry is being pampered alongside Hawkeye and Trapper. During their rendezvous, a call comes from Radar and Henry's old girlfriend Leslie, in which it is said that Radar is now ill. This is a ploy to persuade Henry to go back with the other two and treat Radar, before it's too late.
There is a funny scene where Radar is faking illness at the 4077th, with Henry swooping in to save him, much to Frank's chagrin. Henry realizes he missed being at the camp. He will tell Hammond that he'll remain here and won't return to Tokyo. The story and its resolution are all pretty formulaic, but we do get some nice bonding moments between Henry and the men who look up to him, which is in sharp contrast to the way none of them look up to Frank.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
