32. The Trial of Henry Blake

November 3, 1973 (K-408)

Written by: McLean Stevenson
Directed by: Don Weis.
Guest Stars: Jack Aaron as Major Murphy, Roy Goldman as the MP, Hope Summers as Nurse Meg Cratty.
Semi-regulars: Jamie Farr as Corporal Klinger, Robert F Simon as General Mitchell, Bobbie Mitchell as Nurse Marshall.

Plot: Henry is called to Seoul to answer some charges laid by Burns and Hot Lips. Most of them are to do with the usual shenanigans that go on at the 4077th, including a gurney race on Kentucky Derby Day, Radar selling shoes door-to-door fashion (through mail order), Klinger building a hang-glider and, most damningly, supplying aid and comfort to the enemy. The main one is giving aid and comfort to the enemy, the penalty for which is death. Trapper and Hawkeye escape from a Burns arrest to show that Henry's been giving the aid and comfort to Meg Cratty, an American who runs a clinic north of the 38th parallel. His contributions have greatly reduced the infant mortality amongst unfortunate local women. Burns withdraws the charges after the boys threaten to grass Burns and Hot Lips's affair to his wife.

Great Lines: Hawkeye under arrest and away from booze: 'How long does he expect us to last on just bread and water?'
Nurse Cratty tries to demonstrate how beneficial Henry's efforts have been by showing off a pregnant woman and saying 'This is a sample of Henry Blake's work!' Henry sighs, 'Oh brother, that's all I need...'

The Klinger Collection: The first couple of flashbacks, he's got a white number with tiny black spots topped off with a red hat. Later, for his flying act, he's acquired a silvery robe with flying goggles and a scarf, not to mention big pink fluffy slippers! Later still, he's got a white-and-pink checked with a red scarf. At the end of the episode (he's been busy), his lovely vermilion dress is back. We like that one. (He seems to as well.)

Notes: Hawkeye and Trapper have built a ping-pong table out of medical equipment (Burns doesn't like it). Klinger managed to fly two miles from camp (and is continually compared to a big red bird with fuzzy pink feet).

Comments: Another in the 'letter home' format, albeit with a completely different framing sequence. Sometimes these don't quite come off, and this is one of those times. It feels a bit like a clip show, even if the material is all new. All right, though, Hawkeye's withering sales resistance is a classic. The second half takes a turn as Henry's trial is resolved, but it feels rather detached from the front of the show.
Henry's commentary at the gurney race is very reminiscent of Spike Jones's William Tell Overture. Witness M*A*S*H's big (and nowhere near as convincing as it was probably meant to be) use of CSO/ bluescreen/chromakey as Klinger flies over the camp.

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