"M*A*S*H" For Want of a Boot (1974)

Director:

Don Weis

Writer:

Sheldon Keller (writer)

TV Series:

"M*A*S*H" (1972)

Original Air Date:

12 January 1974 (Season 2, Episode 17)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

After months of waiting, Hawkeye finds that it may take more than a requisition form to get a new pair of boots. |

Plot Keywords:

Nurse | Colonel | Doctor | Korean War | Captain

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce
Wayne Rogers	...	Captain John McIntyre
McLean Stevenson	...	Lt. Colonel Henry Blake
Loretta Swit	...	Major Margaret Houlihan
Larry Linville	...	Major Franklin Marion Burns
Gary Burghoff	...	Corporal Walter Eugene O'Reilly
Michael Lerner	...	Captain Futterman
Johnny Haymer	...	Sgt. Zelmo Zale
Jamie Farr	...	Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger
Patricia Stevens	...	Nurse Mitchell
Sheila Lauritsen	...	Nurse Sheila
Susanne Zenor	...	Nurse Murphy (as Suzanne Zenor)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The title is from an ancient proverb: "For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail."

Quotes:

Margaret: [Offering Hawkeye and Trapper a deal that would stop her from sending a scathing report about Henry Blake to General Mitchell] Today is Frank's birthday.
Hawkeye: Yeah yeah...
Margaret: I think a surprise party in the mess tent tonight, with a big cake and at least twenty people, and presents... might just stop my report.
Army Capt. "Trapper John" McIntyre: It's a deal!
Hawkeye: It is not! I have just run out of hypocrisy! My dignity tank is getting dangerously low! You expect me to drag twenty screaming people to a party for Frank Burns and paint smiles on their faces? And presents? Half this camp spends its time sticking pins in little Frank Burns dolls! I will debase myself just so far for a pair of boots! Ha! Party for Frank Burns?
[...]

Amusingly Special!!

The opening scene of "For Want Of A Boot" consisted of Captain Pierce wanting a new pair of boots. Captains Pierce and McIntyre have a discussion in "The Swamp" to find out whom would supply Them new boots. In the opening clip of this episode, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake was going on report for being a farcical administrator at the 4077th ... specifically for not doing his job in relation to the nursing duties. The two of them would venture into Major Houlihan's tent to reconsider sending the report to General Mitchell ... if they gave in to a surprise birthday party for Major Burns in the mess tent.

The trek for finding new boots would begin immediately. Sergant Zale wanted his gums taken care of in Dr. Futterman's tent after his vacation. Dr. Futterman wanted to obtain a three-day pass to Tokyo. Corporal Klinger wanted Majors Burns and Houlihan to sign his Section Eight papers to obtain a discharge from the Army. Nurse Murphy wanted Corporal O'Reilly in her tent to plug in the hair dryer. Everything was in place ... or so it seem!!

At the birthday party, Majors Burns and Houilhan would obviously balk at signing Corporal Klinger's discharge papers. Nurse Murphy acted disappointed and shocked at Corporal O'Reilly's (lack of) appearance in her tent at the assigned time. Major Houlihan would then send her report to General Mitchell for Lieutenant Colonel Blake's court martial. Blake would rip Dr. Futterman's three-day pass to Tokyo. And finally, the snowball effect would (obviously) bite Dr. Futterman and Sergeant Zale in the rear ... for which Captain Pierce would not obtain his boots. A 16 out of 10!! Tons of spontaneity and wit!! Enjoy!! A++!! The zaniest M*A*S*H episode ever during its eleven-year run ... especially from the 1973-1974 Television Season.