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.
Plot
Everyone is frustrated by the unrelenting hot weather, and Hawkeye and B.J. are bored with the movies the unit is sent. After reading about a newly released movie The Moon Is Blue and its supposedly salacious content in a hometown newspaper, they decide it's the movie they NEED to see. They attempt to pull strings with the delivery driver, Corporal Bannister, in exchange for pills (placebos sent to the hospital in error) 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 against his word and schedules the movie to be sent to his "A-list" first - generals and other top brass. Bannister helps them by switching labels on the movie can with State Fair, only to have State Fair end up at the camp.
Some weeks later, The Moon Is Blue arrives at the camp and is screened to a full house. Hawkeye and B.J. are disappointed by its lack of promised sexually explicit content. Father Mulcahy points out that "One of the characters did say 'virgin,'" to which Hawkeye replies, exasperated, "That's because everyone was!"
Notes
- The movie was released in the USA on July 8, 1953, only nineteen days before the armistice was signed. The episode plot suggests the action took place over a considerably longer time, and there is no mention of the end of the war being in sight.
- The reason Hawkeye and B.J. think it's scandalous is because it was banned in Boston. Winchester tries to warn Hawkeye and B.J. that Boston would ban Pinocchio, but they don't listen.
- During the scene where Hawkeye and B.J. have a word with the man in charge of distributing films to various outfits, 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," thought this should read "8063," as in the 8063rd M*A*S*H.
Research notes/ Fun facts
- Hamilton Camp who plays Major Frankenheimer in this episode previously appeared as Klinger's dilutional tentmate Corporal "Boots" Miller in the Season 6 episode Major Topper
- In Major Frankenheimer's office a chalkboard can be see listing all the groups resaving films including the 4077th MASH along with the 2nd and 24th infantry divisions. However the 8063rd MASH is incorrectly written as the 4063rd.
Recurring cast/Guest stars
- Hamilton Camp as Major Frankenheimer
- Sandy Helberg as Corporal Bannister
- Larry Ward as General Rothaker
- Jeff Maxwell as Private Igor Straminsky
- Jan Jorden as Nurse Baker