M*A*S*H (TV Series) The Light That Failed (1977) User Reviews

Abigail Porterfield and The Rooster Crowed at Midnight

[safenoe · 8/10 · 24 September 2020]

When I saw this episode all those years ago, I really thought Abigail Porterfield was a real-life author. But that was before Google! Now we know.

Enid Kent (Nurse Bigelow) conspicuously has a few lines in this episode. We see her often in the background, but she doesn't have many lines. In this episode she's part of the inner crowd discussion on whodunit in Abigail's book (the last page is missing). In a way, Nurse Bigelow fills in for Radar, who doesn't appear in this episode.

Philip Baker Hall (who was incredible as President Nixon in Secret Honor seven years later) plays a supply sergeant.

Winchester becomes more human in this episode, where his infallibility is questioned when his lack of attention results in a patient being close to death. No way could this have happened with Frank Burns. That's why I prefer the Hawkeye/BJ/Potter/Winchester quartet.

The Rooster Crowed at Midnight

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 29 March 2015]

Supplies are running low. They keep receiving things designed for hot weather when it is freezing. Not only that, they are running out of light bulbs. There are three plot elements here. The first is the lack of proper materials to do the job that is already hard. The second is the arrival of a classic mystery novel, "The Rooster Crows at Midnight" by an elderly British author. So desperate are they to have some entertainment, the book is dismantled and chapters sent to various readers. Unfortunately, when they get to the part where the detective announces the identity of the murderer, the page is missing. This leads to mass speculation. The third is the carelessness of Winchester when he thoughtlessly gives an injection to a soldier and almost kills him. He, of course, only thinks of himself, making excuses and trying to soothe his conscience. This is a really good episode, one every English teacher should show its classes.

The Rooster Crowed

[dianes-570-565705 · 8/10 · 20 March 2024]

My favorite episodes tend to be the ones where Charles is forced to grow up. This is one of those. David Ogden Stiers played Charles so brilliantly that I suspect the writers were forced to makes Charles human. After suffering through Frank Burns and Hot Lips, it's a pleasure to have Charles and Margaret. Both characters are fully fleshed out adults by the end of the season.

As a mystery fan, the subplot of the steamy, clearly chaotic, book is hilarious. It sounds like pure trash, but anything that relieves the boredom and brings the company together is to be prized.

A good solid 8/10 for me.

plagiarism

[jaspar-84243 · 10/10 · 16 November 2016]

hi just watching the episode the light that failed in series 6 of the wonderful series m.a.s.h.

alas though there is an episode of Hanncocks half hour, from the 1950's called ' the missing page ', and the scenes in mash with all the cast involved in trying to solve the murders,is pure plagiarism.

the Hancock episode by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, can be accessed on you tube, and the similarities, are far too closely matched for the MASH episode, not to have been copied directly..

i have checked ' the light that failed ' episode and cannot find a reference to either Galton or Simpson named anywhere on both start and ending credits...

just watching the Hancock episode folks, should lead you to the same conclusion as myself, that it is in large parts Plagiarism.

i love em and they both still make me laugh so no damage done.

.by the way there is also a Hancock episode called ' the set that failed ' but that is surely coincidental ?..one up to Galton and Simpson guvnor what!

stay safe

Jimmmy

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