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I Hate a Mystery: Directed by Hy Averback. With Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit. Hawkeye finds himself investigating a rash of petty thefts in the camp.
- (772)
- Comedy, Drama, War
- Hy Averback
- 1972-11-26
- Overview
- Synopsis
- Research notes/Fun facts
- Guest stars/Recurring cast
was the tenth episode of the first season of the TV series M*A*S*H. Written by Hal Dressner and directed by Hy Averback, the episode originally aired on CBS-TV on November 26, 1972 and was shown again on June 10, 1973, during the network's Daytime TV summer sweeps period.
A rash of thefts breaks out in the camp. Missing pieces include Frank's silver picture frame, Margaret's hair brushes, a fishing reel Henry was going to give Nurse Leslie, Hawkeye's swizzle stick, and Trapper's watch. The camp is searched, and everything is found in Hawkeye's locker, leaving the other MASH personnel suspicious of, and worse, disappointed in Hawkeye. Radar takes to following him everywhere, watching his every move, and even Trapper stops talking to him.
Hawkeye manages to let it be known to the camp where the recovered items have been stored (they have been locked in Col. Blake's desk). When the items disappear yet again, Hawkeye summons certain members of the MASH personnel to the mess tent in the middle of the night in order to reveal the identity of the criminal. After parodying countless detective stories by revealing possible motives others might have to frame him (jealousy, resentment, etc.), he tells the assembled staff that he has treated the items with a chemical which, when it comes into contact with a human being, turns that person's fingernails blue.
When Ho-Jon hides his hands, Hawkeye knows he has found the criminal. (The chemical treatment story was merely a bluff.) Ho-Jon is not punished, however, as he has stolen the items only to raise money to bribe border guards to bring his family from the north to the south.
In the epilogue, we see Frank and Margaret discussing the Bible with Father Mulcahy in the Mess Tent. Mulcahy says that after Jesus returned from the Garden, he found three of the apostles were missing. All eyes turn to Hawkeye, who say, "Well, don't look at me, I didn't take them!"
•This episode derives its title from the popular adventure radio serial (1939-44) and subsequent film (1945) I Love A Mystery.
•Ho-Jon attends Hawkeye's late-night meeting even though his name isn't called.
•This is the only time we see Hawkeye smoke.
•Lt. Bannerman and Radar enter the mess tent as their names are being called. (Of course with Radar, this is typical.)
•First appearance of Radar's teddy bear. It was neither seen in the film, nor mentioned in the novel.
•Father Mulcahy's Bible story is inaccurate.
•Timothy Brown as Spearchucker
•Patrick Adiarte as Ho-Jon
•William Christopher as Father Mulcahy
•Bonnie Jones as Lt. Bannerman
•Linda Meiklejohn as Leslie
•Odessa Cleveland as Ginger
"M*A*S*H" I Hate a Mystery (TV Episode 1972) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Jan 26, 2015 · Episode Spotlight: I Hate a Mystery. Every Monday, I spotlight a random episode of M*A*S*H, providing a brief review and asking readers to offer their thoughts. Capsule Summary: Hawkeye is blamed for a rash of thefts at the 4077th and is forced to uncover the real culprit.
Nov 26, 2022 · “I Hate a Mystery” aired for the first time on Sunday, November 26th, 1972 on CBS. Here’s the capsule summary from my Episode Spotlight for the episode: Hawkeye is blamed for a rash of thefts at the 4077th and is forced to uncover the real culprit.
Join me today along this five year long mission as I review the Season 1 Episode 10: I Hate a Mystery. ...more. I love the television show M*A*S*H, so I thought it would be fun if I...
- 5 min
- 148
- JonBerry555
Mystery Episode: There have recently been a series of thefts around camp. The missing items are found in Hawkeye Pierce's locker, forcing him to find the real thief in order to clear his name. He has a PA announcement made that the items are in a specific location, and the real thief steals them again.
