The Moon Is Not Blue was the 248th overall episode in the M*A*S*H television series, and the eighth of Season 11 of the series, as well. The episode aired on December 13, 1982.
Synopsis[]
In the midst of a massive heat wave, the 4077th is hit with streak of bad luck from placebo pills and bad movies, to a teetotaling General ordering prohibition in camp. But Hawkeye and B.J. see light at the end of the tunnel when they hear about a supposedly racy new movie and decide to pull out as many stops as possible to get it in camp.
Full episode summary[]
Everyone is frustrated by the unrelenting hot weather, and the current mess-tent film Sahara only serves to draw attention to the heat. Hawkeye and B.J. attempt to fix this movie problem at its source - Corporal Bannister, the Special Services movie courier. After a quick chat, Bannister confesses that his superior Major Frankenheimer is in charge of choosing films. Unfortunately, Bannister is a coward, so he can't stand up to a superior; he can't even talk to women without panicking. The doctors are called away to treat incoming casualties before they can question Bannister further.
Later in Post-Op, Margaret tells Hawkeye that the latest shipment of codeine from I-Corps did not arrive, but a shipment of placebo pills had been mistakenly sent in its place. Hawkeye offers to relay the information to Potter who is chatting with one of the patients, Major General Rothaker. The General remarks to the Colonel about how one of the corpsmen smelled of alcohol. He also questions the presence of the Officers Club, and Potter states that drinking is a way to let off steam; Rothaker affirms that he does not imbibe. When asked if the Officers Club is run by authorized Special Services personnel, Potter awkwardly replies it is not, and the abstinent Rothaker, not wanting to smell any more booze on anyone's breath, gives a direct order to Potter to shut down all alcohol consumption in and around the camp. In the midst of the depressing heat wave, Potter has no choice but to close the Officers Club and declare Rosie's off limits to all personnel. The announcement is booed by everyone, including Hawkeye, but B.J. surreptitiously reminds him about the still in the Swamp. When they return, however, the still is gone, and its place they find a note of apology from Potter saying that it's only until after General Rothaker leaves.
With nothing else to do, B.J. absentmindedly begins reading a newspaper and finds a story about a newly released movie called The Moon Is Blue and its supposedly salacious content which caused the movie to be banned in Boston. Ignoring Charles' advice that "Boston would ban Pinocchio", Hawkeye and B.J. decide that getting The Moon Is Blue will be a one-way ticket out of the camp's doldrums. They attempt to pull strings with Corporal Bannister, in exchange for the placebo pills that they claim are to help him control his nerves in advance of a date. He leads them to Major Frankenheimer, who will send on the movie if Hawkeye and B.J. can get hold of a copy on his behalf. When the movie arrives, Frankenheimer goes back on his word and arranges for the movie to be sent to his "A-list" first - generals and other top brass, but Bannister helps them by switching labels on the movie can with State Fair. Unfortunately, a well-meaning Potter asked the tee-totaling General Rothaker to have The Moon Is Blue sent to the camp. So, because of the label switch, the camp ends up watching State Fair instead, much to their disappointment.
Eventually, with Rothaker now gone, the camp is back off the wagon and in the Mess Tent, finally watching The Moon Is Blue, but Hawkeye and B.J. are both outraged by the apparent lack of promised sexually explicit content. Father Mulcahy points out that one of the characters did say 'virgin,' to which Hawkeye exasperatingly replies, "That's because everyone was!"
Research notes/Fun facts[]
- This episode is not the first time that prohibition is declared at the 4077th. In Season 3's "Alcoholics Unanimous", acting commander Frank orders the camp dry and incurs the wrath of Hawkeye and Trapper when he tries to dismantle their gin still.
- This episode presents serious time line problems. The Moon Is Blue first premiered in Chicago on June 22nd 1953 and was only released to distributors on July 8th. Those dates conflict directly with the finale "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen", which takes place over at least three weeks starting with the 4077th's 4th of July party and ends a few days after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27th 1953.
- The reason Hawkeye and B.J. think the film is scandalous is because it was banned in Boston. Winchester tries to warn Hawkeye and B.J. that "Boston would ban Pinocchio," but they refuse to listen. The film was deemed "indecent and obscene" when it was banned in Jersey City, NJ; the film was also banned in other states, including Kansas. Preminger and United Artists appealed unsuccessfully to the Kansas State Supreme Court to reconsider the decision, then went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, who eventually overturned the Kansas ruling by October 1955.
- Coincidentally, Harry Morgan appears in State Fair. He also appears in High Noon, which Frankenheimer says he's holding for another General. The mention of both movies in this episode was a kind nod to star Harry Morgan's movie career.
- In Major Frankenheimer's office, you can see a small chalkboard on the wall behind his desk. On it is a list of units and how many films they have on hand. The first is "4077," meaning the 4077th M*A*S*H. Below is "4063," though this should probably read "8063," as in the 8063rd MASH.
- Hamilton Camp, who plays Major Frankenheimer in this episode, previously appeared as Klinger's delusional tentmate Corporal "Boots" Miller in the Season 6 episode "Major Topper."
Recurring cast/Guest stars[]
- Hamilton Camp as Major Frankenheimer
- Sandy Helberg as Corporal Bannister
- Larry Ward as General Rothaker
- Jeff Maxwell as Igor
- Jan Jorden as Nurse Baker