M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H (1972)

15 mistakes in 5 O'Clock Charlie - chronological order

(28 votes)

5 O'Clock Charlie - S2-E2

Other mistake: During this episode, Trapper and Hawkeye keep switching Frank's pistol with other things. When Frank's training his South Korean platoon, Trapper, Hawkeye, and Radar show up all decked out, and while Hawkeye's telling Frank that using the anti-aircraft gun on the compound will draw enemy planes, etc., there's a pistol in Frank's holster. When Frank turns around, we see that Trapper's right arm is bent over his fly swatter the entire time until he steps away from Frank, and when Frank draws from the holster what he believes is the pistol, he pulls out a plunger, and although it's funny, Trapper never actually had the opportunity to switch the pistol with the plunger, nor did Hawkeye or Radar.

Super Grover

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Suggested correction: While that is true by the Army's standards, it is entirely in character for Hawkeye not to give a flying you-know-what about the state of his insignia.

Doc

True, but even he knew that correcting it sooner rather than later would be wise. But, as always, I bow to your knowledge.

Movie Nut

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Suggested correction: Electric clocks do not necessarily lack a ticking sound. Depending on their construction, they may or may not have it. Older clocks are actually more likely to produce some sort of audible ticking sound, because the precise motor speed regulation required to build a clock with sweep seconds is much more difficult than producing an oscillator that outputs precisely one pulse every second (even if the clock in question does not have the actual second hand, that would still be true).

Doc

I bow to your observation and stand corrected. Thank you.

Movie Nut

5 O'Clock Charlie - S2-E2

Factual error: General Clayton is wearing ribbons on his regular fatigues. This is incorrect as the ribbons would only be displayed on the dress uniforms. Only the officer's rank would be on the fatigues.

Movie Nut

Sometimes You Hear the Bullet - S1-E17

Henry Blake: All I know is what they taught me at command school. There are certain rules about a war, and rule number one is that young men die. And rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one.

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Abyssinia, Henry - S3-E24

Trivia: There were no American planes shot down over the Sea of Japan during the Korean conflict. It is rumoured that producer/director Larry Gelbart knew that, but wrote Henry Blake's death scene as he was very unhappy with the way Mclean Stevenson had left the show, and was determined to make it clear that there was no way he would be coming back.

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Dear Dad - S1-E12

Question: A number of times it is mentioned that the outfit is unarmed, yet several times, Frank has a rifle, or a pistol, and once Klinger had a grenade, and the guards and Klinger, while on sentry duty, has a rifle. Was this standard, or is this a mistake?

Answer: Even an Army field hospital would have SOME weapons for self-defense if the enemy attacked. What's meant is that it's not a combat outfit, and therefore wouldn't have enough weapons to actually attack anyone. (It's also mentioned a few times that the Officer of the Watch is supposed to carry a pistol at all times, but Hawkeye refuses to do it when he's in charge and Colonels Blake and Potter don't enforce the rule).

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: The Geneva Convention allows even doctors to carry a sidearm to be used in their self defense or the defense of their patients, however it is rare to do so.

stiiggy

Answer: As an old medical unit staffer, my experience is that med units have combat units assigned to defend them. Usually it was marines.

Answer: My old doctor (now deceased) served in Korea during the War. He was required to carry a sidearm anytime he was not in the hospital.

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