Recap / M*A*S*H S1 E6: Yankee Doodle Doctor

A film crew headed by Lieutenant Bricker of Special Services arrives at the 4077 on General Clayton's recommendation to shoot a documentary about MASH units. The doctors initially go along with it, until shooting has just about wrapped and Hawkeye and Trapper learn that, rather than being an accurate portrayal of the unit's work, the "documentary" will instead be a propaganda film, depicting the MASH doctors as "saints in surgical garb" and giving false confidence to potential volunteer soldiers that the surgeons will always save them. Incensed at this deception, Hawkeye and Trapper destroy Bricker's version by exposing the film reels to light.

Unable to get the two punished, Bricker abandons the film project and leaves the 4077. Hawkeye and Trapper consider the matter settled, until Henry reminds them that if they don't complete the film, then another MASH unit will. With this in mind, Hawkeye volunteers to direct the film, albeit completely in his own way.

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Attention, all personnel! Due to circumstances beyond our control, Captain Pierce's film contains the following:

• Actually Pretty Funny: General Clayton orders everything about the movie removed aside from his introduction and Hawkeye's Mood Whiplash monologue listed below. He does ask to have a private cut with those elements intact saved for himself so he can have something to laugh at.
• Alliterative Name: General Crandall Clayton, in his first ever episode.
• Cannot Tell a Joke: Henry, after introducing General Clayton at the film's premiere in the mess tent:
  Henry: Now, uh, this film that we're all about to see for the first time is the general's baby. And, of course, we're mighty proud to be able to deliver it. [grins, chuckles]
  [cut to the rest of the tent staring back stone-faced]
  Henry: [grin fading] Well, then, uh... on with the show.
• Corpsing: In-Universe: In the OR scene in Hawkeye's version of "Yankee Doodle Doctor", Radar is seen starting to laugh as Hawkeye "operates" on him. Lampshaded by Hawkeye:
  Hawkeye: Don't laugh. You're unconscious.
• Deadpan Snarker: Hawkeye really goes on a roll with this trope during the episode.
• Department of Redundancy Department:
  Henry: Well, sir, just about almost ready now, any minute now, pretty soon, sir.
• Description Cut: General Clayton discusses with Lieutenant Bricker about the 4077's capability and suitability as a filming location.
  Clayton: I think I know just the outfit you need – the 4077. Very high fitness record. Commanded by a dear friend of mine, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake. He heads up the best surgical team in the whole damn war. Real soldiers.
  [cut to Hawkeye and Trapper slow dancing together]
• Documentary Episode: The first of several of these produced by the show. Season 4's "The Interview" would prove to be a more famous example.
• Genre Deconstruction: The gist of Hawkeye's speech at the end of the film — things don't always work out for the best, no matter how good the doctors are or how hard they work.
• Happy Ending Override: A previous episode, "Requiem for a Lightweight," concluded with Nurse Cutler becoming romantically interested in Trapper. Here, she transfers that interest to Hawkeye, and it remains there.
• "Metaphor" Is My Middle Name: After Hawkeye suggests that they can remake the movie themselves:
  Henry: That's pretty gutsy of you.
  Hawkeye: Well, "Guts" is my middle name. [to Trapper] Actually, it's kind of disgusting.
• Mood Whiplash: For the most part, the film of Yankee Doodle Doctor as done by Hawkeye and the gang is outrageously comedic until it reaches the coda.
  Hawkeye: Three hours ago, this man was in a battle. Two hours ago, we operated on him. He's got a fifty-fifty chance. We win some, we lose some. That's what it's all about. No promises. No guaranteed survival. No saints in surgical garb. Our willingness, our experience, our technique are not enough. Guns and bombs and antipersonnel mines have more power to take life than we have to preserve it. Not a very happy ending for a movie, but then no war is a movie.
• No-Sell: Frank tries to get noticed by Lieutenant Bricker. Between his obvious sucking up and Hawkeye's quips, he fails immeasurably.
• Plot Hole: Hawkeye and Trapper are said to have destroyed all of Bricker's version of the film, and yet the opening scene featuring General Clayton still appears intact when the movie premieres.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: When all is said and done, Gen. Clayton is pretty understanding and tolerant about Hawkeye and Trapper's clowning – and antiwar commentary – in the completed film.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: At first, Hawkeye seems to be taking his anger about the original film production out on Frank Burns, but then expands it to include the film and Lieutenant Bricker.
  Hawkeye: Oh, you want a constructive criticism? You're right. How about you stink?! And so does this little movie show! And Lieutenant Bricker!
• Shout-Out:
  • When Bricker asks Frank, Hawkeye and Trapper if any of them have done any acting, Hawkeye does a brief imitation of James Cagney. Trapper hilariously follows it up by "mistaking" it as Carmen Miranda, inspiring Hawkeye to then channel Jack Benny.
    Bricker: Now, any of you done any acting?
    Hawkeye: Mmm! Mmm! You dirty rat. You come in here and ask if we've ever – you dirty rat – if we've ever done any acting. Why you dirty – that's not too bad, is it?
    Trapper: I never saw Carmen Miranda done any better.
    Hawkeye: Now cut that out!
  • Much of the Yankee Doodle Doctor film as done by Hawkeye seems to have been inspired by the Marx Brothers.
  • When ensuring all of Bricker's film has been ruined, Hawkeye confirms it by quoting Porky Pig.
    Hawkeye: Th-th-th-th-tha- Th-th-th-th-tha That's all, folks!
• Take That!: To the war propaganda films made in real life not only at that time, but also for World War II, that painted war as an adventurous and glorious thing.
• Title Drop: Given that the name of the movie being filmed is the same name as the episode, this was bound to come up. Several times.
• Troll: Hawkeye and Trapper usually bully Frank for a good reason, but when they mock his acting ambitions and would-be movie narration, it comes off as a bit much.

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