"Radar's Report" was the 27th episode of ''
M*A*S*H
''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker (auth ...
'', and third of season two. The episode aired on September 29, 1973.
Overview
October 17, 1951: This episode is told as a
voice-over
Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non-diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations. ...
of
Radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
reading a report as he is typing it. Comically, it includes where he puts punctuation and how he spaces the report. In each scene of the episode, the viewer hears the actual scene as well as the report that Radar is making.
An enemy prisoner who is being treated in the
OR grabs a scalpel and attacks a nurse, Lt. Erika Johnson (
Joan Van Ark
Joan Van Ark (born June 16, 1943) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Valene Ewing on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing.'' A life member of The Actors Studio, she made her Broadway debut in 1966 in ''Barefoot in th ...
), and inadvertently splashes foreign matter into the wound of a patient of
Trapper's before being subdued by
Hawkeye. When Trapper's patient subsequently dies, Trapper is furious at the enemy soldier and stands over his bed menacingly, as if he is going to sabotage his care. However, Hawkeye talks him down from acting.
Hawkeye, meanwhile, has fallen head over heels in love with Erika. Although he is temporarily deterred by seeing a wedding ring on her hand, he is happy to discover that the ring is merely a shield against unwanted advances. Hawkeye is prepared to propose to the nurse, but she is not interested in a long-term relationship and is shipped out to Tokyo. During the crucial conversation, in which she reveals to Hawkeye that they can't have the kind of relationship that he desires, the PA system plays "
As Time Goes By", and Hawkeye says, "Not their song," thinking of the implicit parallel to Rick and Ilsa in ''
Casablanca''.
After
Frank mistakes
Klinger for
Margaret
Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian.
Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular through ...
, the two majors decide to get rid of Klinger. They convince
Lt. Col. Blake to have Klinger undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Dr. Milton Freedman (
Allan Arbus
Allan Franklin Arbus (February 15, 1918 – April 19, 2013) was an American actor and photographer. He was the former husband of photographer Diane Arbus. He is known for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Sidney Freedman on the CBS television series ...
), an Army psychiatrist, interviews Klinger, and tells him that although he believes Klinger to be
sane, he is willing to grant him a
Section 8 discharge if he will sign a report confirming that he is a
transvestite
Transvestism is the practice of dressing in a manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional, or ceremonial reasons. The term is considered outdated in Western ...
and a homosexual (a report which Freedman notes will follow him into civilian life). Insisting that he is neither ("I'm just crazy!"), Klinger refuses to sign, and Freedman files a report saying that Klinger is sane.
Production
This was the first episode to feature Allan Arbus as Army psychiatrist Dr. Freedman. In this episode, he is called "Milton Freedman"; in later episodes, the character is renamed "
Sidney Freedman".
References
External links
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{{M*A*S*H episodes
M*A*S*H (season 2) episodes
1973 American television episodes
Television episodes directed by Jackie Cooper