When Winchester says "Thank you, Max", Klinger replies "Merry Christmas... slight pause... Charles." That slight pause showed Klinger knew that tomorrow military protocol and rank structure would be back in place, but for that one brief moment, they were just two men on equal footing with equal respect. Brilliant portrayal by Jamie Farr.
Had an officer on my first ship that was something like your comment. At sea at night on watch he told us not to call him sir and do it only when other officers were around. He was slack when it came to that but all knew the protocol still applied. So we called him " Lt", " yes Lt" and such. He would tell us at it is the enlisted who ran the navy and the ships and not the officers, the officers just think they run the navy and the ships.
Funny, it just occurred to me that for all his flouting of military convention, Klinger never, as far as I know, addressed any of the officers by their first name. I could be wrong, of course.
The not so secret alchemy of TV and Cinema is the proper combination of excellent writing, and a cast of actors with the talent to bring the script to life plus a director to put it all together. MASH had it all, that is why scenes such as this are so memorable.
i loved the dynamic between these two charles was the rich uptight guy max was the street smart from a poor world. part i find hilarious is maxes extended family could have been so rich from the area they are from it would have made charless family look destitute.
it's Max;'s last words that make htis one of the most memorable scenes in the later years. Charles isn't the completely stuffed shirt, and while max knows it, he letys charles keep his dignity.
They did that in a few episodes. The one where Hawkeyes father was sick. Charles and Hawkeye were talking about their fathers and Charles at the end said, where I have a father, you have a dad.
So true. I'm always moved by his experience in 'Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" and how he summarises it:- "Music was always my escape from the war, now it will always be a reminder of it."
I cry every time at the end. I'm a blubbering idiot with this scene: brilliant acting and writing. No wonder this show has stood the test of time for 50 years.
I cray at this scene. At the scene where he gives the sheet music to the wounded pianist, and the book to the stuttering soldier. Without a doubt he's had some of the best scenes on the show.
I have every episode on dvd. Probably watched each episode 50 times. I'm like you. I still cry when I watch this. Another part that gets me, is when margeret cries about the little dog.
Just the moment of “max” and “Charles”. I honestly adored Winchester, he was such a good character, his first day is such a good episode where he goes in with such pride and arrogance when the wounded arrived and it cuts to the end and he’s just… broken,
He was a man who could (and did grow) and even of he thought some people were lower on the social scale he never actually forgot they were PEOPLE. That's what made him a great character.
I also loved that, unlike Major Burns, Winchester is an equal to Hawkeye and BJ. He's capable of standing toe to toe with them in both the operating room, and in terms of tomfoolery. "Please....Mozart."
Lawrence Linville left as he felt Major Frank Burns had played out all the comedy in the role. Had they treated him afresh instead of leaving his character the same as the movie he could have developed like Charles Winchester did.
Charles was such a wonderfully complex character. There aren't many characters who could transition between a protagonist and antagonist role the way he did.
That “Thank-you Max” is perfection. Classes apart but a mutual understanding and respect. For me this is both of their characters perfect moment. The moment Charles respected Max. I’m watching it on my TV right now. I’m 51 and it still chokes me up when Klinger says “it’s an old family tradition” My favourite episode ever.
I absolutely love this episode. It is one of my favorites. It shows 2 things: 1. Do not make assumptions. 2. Max and Charles both had really big hearts.
@@Schulzffw I don't know. Max made assumptions about Charles and Charles made assumptions about what the old man did with the candy. All human beings make assumptions. Assumptions close our minds to other possibilities. It is how we act on assumptions that make us who we are.
Larry Linville did. He left the show purposely because he felt the character Frank Burns was not developing, maturing, etc. like other characters were. He had a point. Frank’s character stayed the target of jokes, comedy relief, etc. throughout the series and didnt grow into anything else. The only time I remember Frank’s humanity even touched upon was when he murmured, “Goodbye, Margaret,” as she and Donald Penobscott left on their honeymoon. It was one of the few times you could tell that Frank had feelings as well as flaws. The producers liked Frank’s character and offered Linville a contract extension. He turned it down which, considering MASH’s popularity, was gutsy.
@@co94 Larry Gelbart said that unlike the character he portrayed, Linville was a nice guy who never complained despite the increasingly buffoonish direction the writers took with Frank Burns. Mike Farrell warned Linville against leaving the show, pointing to McLean Stevenson's embarrassing failures. Linville could have stayed and gotten paid, but he did what he truly believed was best for him.
Disagree, especially about the “real” part. Frank, with few redeeming qualities, was as fleshed out as he was ever going to be. That’s o.k. because there ARE real people just like him. And Larry Linville played the role to perfection. He was as good as the brilliant David Ogden Stiers playing Winchester. Perfect casting. Two great actors. Two entirely different characters.
@@humphreygruntwhistle3946Linville spoke in an interview on the criticism that the Frank Burns character didn't become more humane. He said, "Who did you want Frank to become? Alan Alda?" Linville added that Frank Burns is everywhere. He's your insurance agent. He's your used car salesman. His character wasn't meant to evolve into a better person. A group of military vets said in an interview that Burns was the most realistic character on the show, as their units were filled with guys like him.
Larry Linville portrayed Major Burns brilliantly, but when he left the show and they added Major Winchester, the show was transformed into a far better version of itself. The way he was seen by all as a pompous bag of gas, yet behind the scenes was deeply generous and caring...
I totally agree. I actually cannot watch the first 5 years of the series anymore. The comedy is so juvenile and predictable. "Frank does something stupid, petty or incompetent. Hawkeye and Trapper (or worse still BJ) outsmart him, mock him and save the day medically." Barf. Charles made the show into adult entertainment. He was by far the most complex character, and he made most of the other characters around him grow. (BJ was irredeemably boring.) The relationship between Charles and Max was very interesting. Better still however was that Hawkeye learned to appreciate Charles' genius, wit, and humanity, while also still being willing to rib him when Charles became a bit too pompous for his own good. The show lasted another 6 years because of Charles.
From what I heard Larry left the show because he was tired of them not letting the character of Frank grow. He felt they had taken the character as far as they could go in that direction and when they wouldn't change that he decided he'd had enough.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 I heard something along those lines. He had fun with the character but wanted to try new roles elsewhere. I also hear he was hilarious in real life and had the cast and crew in stitches.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 I think that the writers had also made Frank into a one-dimensional cartoon character, and that it would have been impossible to credibly take the character in another direction. It became almost a relief that Larry decided to leave, as it meant they could create a more well-rounded, realistic character, more fitting for the direction that the producers wanted to go. IIRC, it was also at this time that Alan Alda was starting to exercise more creative control over the show.
@@bradevans7935 oh I agree. Burns became such a one note joke that there really was nowhere to go with the character without it being implausible. That being said Major Houlihan was something of a one note character as well in the first few seasons and they did manage to turn that around. The same could be said for Klinger as well. I think they just went too far off the deep end with Frank Burns.
I love that Charles gets put in his place here, and realises what the children really need. That which sustains them long-term versus that which is short-lived is the true gift. "It is certainly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal."
i think you both are missing the point Charles was not put in his place as his gift came from the heart with 0 expectation of reward what he did not understand was just how hard up the children were and that his gift was not stolen as he feared someone would do for there own monetary gain but instead used to provide what the children really needed.
@@clapepez These were the moments that made us love him. He had all that bluster and pride, but he COULD admit when he was wrong without losing his dignity. And in this case he wasn't even wrong, he just didn't realize his gift was over ambitious. If he had known they needed food more than sweets you bet your butt he would have bought the rice and cabbage himself.
Klinger's split-second pause before he calls Major Winchester "Charles" shows both military respect for the rank with a new found respect for the man himself. Major Charles Winchester is a gentleman of dignity, but, ever much more importantly, a man of character and empathy for people disadvantaged in life.
He epitomizes the concept of "noblesse oblige" - the belief that those who came from wealthy families have a responsibility to help the less fortunate. We could use more of those today.
Two that stand out for me: his expression of envy for Hawkeye’s relationship with his father and his support of the soldier with the stuttering problem. Bedside manner is one of the most underappreciated doctor skills, and Charles had it in spades.
I like the one where they get all their relatives together in the States and Winchester's folks get along famously with Radar's family, to Charles' chagrin.
and to think... I didn't like Winchester when I was watching the show on television...but as I have gotten older, I can see the true depth of his character and kindness. He is my favorite character of all because he is often misunderstood.
I always loved the relationship between Max and Charles. You couldn't find two more different people, but they understood each other better than most in the camp, I think.
David Ogden Stiers was a fabulous actor. In my opinion, his most powerful mash scene was in the "Goodbye Farewell Amen" episode/movie. Towards the very end where they were all having their last meal together, they one by one told everyone else what they were going to do next now that the war was over. When Colonel Potter asked Winchester what his plans were, at the very end of his scene he said, and im paraphrasing here, " for me music was an escape from this miserable experience. (long pause) But now it will serve as a reminder." He said that in such a convincing way that you would swear that he did actually experience being a doctor during the Korean conflict. RIP David.
My very most favorite plot line, and scene in all of M*A*S*H that I happily watched during its initial broadcast. How did Jamie Farr and David Ogden Stiers (RIP) infuse so much heartfelt affection for one another in so short an interaction? Amazing on both of them!
Keye Luke really shined in this episode, in the role of the caretaker/keeper of the orphanage, who would've earned a star in the crown for doing what he did (trading the fancy stuff for a month's worth of food). It was, by far, the most noble...and the right thing to have done (can see Winchester replying with something like "had l known that, l would've had my family ship me double of all that"...)
Keye Luke taught Charles a hard life lesson! Sometimes we overthink situations and enter them with lofty pre-concieved notions which are often so false!
MASH. Such a classic. The humor, tears, rawness, and a slight look into the lives into what it may have been like during a time of war. Life lessons can be learned through the eyes of everyone at MASH! I'm 60 and I still love this show... and yes, I still cry at times.
This makes me cry, I know that sounds silly, but I'm so tired of the meanness in this world that even though this was scripted, it gets me every time. God bless everyone who reads this, and do or say something kind to a stranger today Amen, love from Australia xx 💕💕
I know. I'm not used to such wholesomeness. Especially with the way the country is now, under the heel of the DemocRats. Since 2016 Ghostbusters, there has been nothing in media but _crap_ written by clownish, Kool-Aid-haired diversity hires! And then to go back and see scenes like this, see how much heart entertainment _used_ to have, before it was hijacked by the Commie Fascists to spread their propaganda and gaslighting.
It doesn't sound silly at all. This scene...and episode...reminds us all of our beautiful humanity. I wish there were more people who were brought to tears by scenes like this one.
The character of Winchester was that of a good and decent man. The writers did a great job and David Ogden Stiers did an excellent job in the portrayal. May he rest in peace.
Another example of Charles recognizing when his good intentions were genuinely misplaced and was willing to accept the correction. AND recognized a similar gift ("must remain anonymous ... it's an old family tradition") from someone else.
when David first joined the cast I wasn't that impressed with his character. But after a while and some of the episodes he did he ended up being my favorite character
Charles, despite his pomposity, was a fundamentally decent human being who applauded and admired decency in others. He wasn't a coward like Frank, who hid behind his Napoleon complex, but someone who took life seriously, and expected life to take him seriously. That's why he must have some of the best episodes and easily the best character arc. He wasn't a bad man at all, but he felt nobody else was taking life seriously. But you see him realise how seriously everyone actually is taking it as the show progresses, and you see his admiration for all of them grow as a result. A glorious character.
I consider Charles the be the best character of the series. Switching frank out for Charles is exactly what gave the show new life in the second half of its run.
One of the aspects I really like about this sequence that is often overlooked by discussion about all the other great bits: Klinger's sneakiness and underhandedness is used for good here- he deliberately eavesdrops on Winchester and Choi and not for some nefarious scheme or even for his Section 8 wishes.
He was one of my favorites, he helped people but didnt want anyone to know, like the one piano player that lost his arm, or the soldiers that were killed that played music
I have no idea but one of the things I always loved about the scene between Klinger and Winchester is when Charles turns around, the chair slightly creaks. Maybe it’s my imagination, but so many things went through my head when I heard/hear that creak. The first, primary thought when I first saw it was that it was almost like with that extension of humanity Max gives him, the weight of the world on his shoulders lightens to Charles….even if ever so slightly.
This was one of my favorite episodes, and this part still continues to bring tears to my eyes. I loved Charles, and as much as I liked Frank Burns, David Ogden Stires brought a very strong character to the show that made it more touching. May they both be resting in peace.
They could never have done something like this with Frank Burns. There are times that I miss Frank as the foil of Hawkeye, but Charles was able to show a bit of humanity.
One of the many things overlooked by people when they first watch this series is that replacing certain characters through the years was not always smiled upon, however when we got to know the new characters better, we saw progression. Charles is one of those characters. In the beginning you see him as an arrogant pompous show boat. A man who sneers at those lesser than him, but as we move forward in the series, we see his compassion for those less fortunate, those who are bullied, and those who just need someone to be on the same level of understanding certain situations. He showed us someone far better than Frank Burns, but I must admit that we did need Frank, he showed us someone who is well rounded in ways no others could be. Charles literally brought a depth of understanding that we as an audience were screaming for at certain times. Best example being when the baby was left at the MASH unit. Charles told Hawkeye that he would handle the talking, then literally had to be held back because of his righteous anger at a man who could care less for the safety of the baby. Still to me one other most powerful moments I have ever seen him in for this show. David Ogden Stires was a brilliant actor all around. The voices of Ratcliff in Pocahontas, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and Jamba Jukiba in Lilo and Stitch. He also had other great live action movie parts and television shows appearances. To me, his best one was in Touched by an Angel when he portrayed the devil himself. I highly recommend watching the last two episodes to see what I mean.
The true merit of Charles was his humanity and his humility! The military service opened his mind to a real world that his affluence and upbringing did not "afford" him! He became a far better person for being around others outside of his cast! He learned to be humble! That was a gift to him! Something the stuffy upbringing could never give him!
Incredible scenes - Max telling Charles - in effect - that he understood Charles generosity, and Charles' need to honor Winchester Family tradition in remaining anonymous. Add the subsequent heartwarmimg responses, that CONTINUE to bring a tear to my eye 40-plus years after seeing it on CBS the 1st time! I'll always love M*A*S*H!
Charles Winchester III had a couple of story lines that were fantastic for someone who acted like a bombastic snob. He showed compassion to a stutterer whose aptitude test showed he had a higher IQ than he was taught to believe about himself..., and the audience only heard his sister stuttering on the tape at the end of the episode and the beatific smile on Charles' face because he loved his sister so much as well as what she had to say since they also had common interests. Another time Charles helped a concert pianist whose right had was harmed beyond repair in the war, and Charles - whose love for classical music was second to none - found all the classical music he could find for a left-handed player, and Charles nearly wept saying he could play the notes, but he couldn't put the same expression to the music he loved like a classically trained musician could do. For the final season Charles admitted that the music in which he sought refuge would, after the war, forever be tainted by memories of the war. Charles didn't fob things off with humor like the other main characters, but inwardly he was full of compassion once he had all the details, like this Xmas show. His crusty brusqueness and snobbery protected a heart full of compassion.
ABSOLUTELY! In subsequent episodes Major Charles Emerson Winchester III from Boston, Massachusetts tried teaching Classical Music to some captured Chinese Musicians who were "soldiers" and was very compassionate to them but unfortunately they were killed in the back of a Prisoner of War truck being driven away from MASH 4077. Rest In Peace David Ogden Stiers
This is one of my favourite M*A*S*H episodes. It’s a shining example of why I prefer Charles over Frank. While both characters were rich snobs, Charles always had a sliver of humanity in his heart that he tried to keep hidden from the others, but would often slip out on occasions like these.
I was in high school when this episode first aired. And it really touched me. I come from 2 of the oldest and at one time, most prestigious families in the United States. I was taught from an early age that the only TRUE charity is that which is given anonymously. My grandmother always taught us that TRUE Christianity is in giving without recognition. I grew up to be involved in professions where I know wealthy people who are always giving money but expect to be recognized for it. I have also known people where, for years, others made not so kind assumptions about them, myself included. We had a family friend worth millions who was known to be notoriously cheap. She owned a lot of run down houses which she rented to poor people, some of them drug addicts and alcoholics. One day, whilst I was in college, my mother accidentally found out that she was actually feeding their kids in secret. She died with no one ever knowing that. I was at the funeral which was very sparsely attended despite people swarming around her when she was alive as they all wanted something. This episode taught me, as a teenager, to NEVER make assumptions about people, especially wealthy or well to do ones, based on outward appearances. I'm not ashamed to say that today, this scene brings tears to my eyes. Deep down under, Charles was a VERY good man. Its just that he was too educated, high class and snobbish for people to see past all that. There were numerous examples in the series of him helping people. The pianist who lost the use of his one hand, the stuttering soldier, the musicians in the final episode, etc.
But nearly ALL the people he helped had a link of sorts to himself. The musicians and the maimed pianist....the classical music he loved so much. That stuttering soldier? His sister Honoria stuttered badly. His aid always had a reason...family tradition of giving to orphans for example.
@@laurab5750 True; but I don't see anything wrong with that. If one's own personal experiences or connections are what prompts one to help others, so be it. We know his sister stuttered badly. But what we DON'T know is if she was bullied and thought of as 'stupid' because of it like that soldier. Most likely he saw his sister get hurt by others for it and it gave HIM the impetus to feel compassion to help the soldier.
@@Mark-pp7jy Well, Charles did that as well. I DID mention episodes where he did just that. With this episode, he not only purchased the chocolate, but delivered it himself when he could have paid a Korean to do it or even a private in the MASH unit. You also have to bear in mind that there are those who are not in a position to give of themselves. Perhaps they are in poor health. Or in some cases, people don't WANT their help because they simply are not accepted. I of course refer to various organizations who provide various services to people.
@@retroguy9494 Which included putting the bullying CO severely on notice to knock it off. There was also Hawkeye sweating over his dad's surgery at home, giving rise to another of Charles's stand-out lines: "Where I have a father, you have a dad".
Dang it! Brings tears to my Eyes EVERY TIME I SEE THIS! Only God know what is truly in the Heart of Man. This episode always shows me that! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Charles is surprisingly empathic and insightful in ways that his pride and pompous nature hide very easily. He knows when he's wrong and can apologize sincerely for it. Half the reason I think he has this ability is because of his little sister, whom he often mentions but we don't really know about. The episode showing that she has a stutter disability really puts Charles in perspective.
"It is sadly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal" I feel like there are a lot of people in our world who could learn from that.
Major Charles Winchester III, Major Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan", and Cpl. Max Klinger... three of my favorite characters from my alltime favorite TV show. What I admired about Winchester (perfectly played by David Ogden Stiers) was that, yes, he started out as a pompous blue-blood, but when someone wronged another member of the 4077th, or did something he considered morally reprehensible, Winchester would move heaven and earth to right that wrong...and he was never too ashamed to show his humility when he himself acted wrongly. That moment with Max and Charles is one of my favorites. Ultimately, Charles became "one of the gang". Thank you for sharing this video.
I'm in my early 30's and this show was on every summer of my childhood. To this day, MASH remains my favorite memories growing up. To the whole cast and crew, thank you for this wonderful masterpiece.
What I love so much about this show was moments like this. When they used their first names, not ranks or nicknames or last names, but first names. You knew that they were acknowledging the love they had for each other. Even with all the bickering or joking about each other, underneath it all, they really did care for each other and at moments like this, needed each other to be "people" and not just "co-workers in the military". Which is why Klinger's pause before saying "Charles" meant so much. He was acknowledging the man, his views on "giving" (Which were that they were done WITHOUT the need for publicly acknowledging it) and that sometimes while what may seem to be only "on the surface" can actually be much deeper and honest than you would expect.
The candy would have brought joy to the children for a few moments, but on the black market it was worth enough rice and cabbage to feed them for a month.
This is one of my favorite MASH episodes of all time. It was towards the end of the series, and they were all so powerful. It's one of the few times you hear Klinger call Charles.... Charles. Always put some lump in my throat! Peace from California!
Absolutely one of my all time favorite scenes from this classic tv show! I learned that Max and Charles were characters with tremendous amounts of depth and humanity.
These scenes with Charles were great, but I also liked Hawkeye, BJ, and Margret trying to make that badly wounded soldier live past midnight. In the end, they're unable to do it, but Hawkeye moves the hands on the O.R. clock and they falsify the record.
@@timkumpost6036 I never really cared for this storyline. The family lost a member in war. The sacrifice will always hurt -- regardless of the time of death.
@@smwca123 Agreed. No one should remember the holidays as the time of a wartime casualty. But grief is not limited to the anniversary date, but arise around the anniversary time period. The holiday season will be tarnished until the pain subsidies. Wartime casualties continue to be a greater failure of mankind.
I always thought Charles was the better foil. Frank was snively and self-centered, no dignity. Charles was a pompous ass that was honest and a straight shooter. He didn't THINK he was better than everyone he KNEW he was better than everyone. But he wouldn't betray his family name by being anything but honest and respectable.
He was actually the most experienced and most skilled surgeon of the team. His only weakness , which he overcame quickly, was the need for assembly line patch up surgery when wounded came in by the truckload.
@@yummyyum36719 He referred to it as 'skill destroying meatball surgery'. IIRC after his first day in the OR, he felt humiliated because he was so much slower then the others, Hawkeye replied "we're not any better then you, its just by sheer repetition, that we've gotten fast'.
@@raymondweaver8526 And Margaret, for whom Charles stood up more than once: against his ex-CO and the slimy Congressional aide who accused her of being a Communist sympathizer. In both cases he helped orchestrate her accuser's comeuppance. He also orchestrated Flagg's downfall.
@@smwca123 When Charles wanted his book of poems back from Margaret, and Margaret then used her father's influence to get Charles the position of Chief of Surgery. Charles felt like a complete horse's hind quarters and gave Margaret the other books in the set.
I was born in ‘80. This show was almost off the air by the time I watched television. Discovered it about 15 years ago. LOVE it. My favorite show of all time. Comedy & Heart. Too many favorite episodes to list
Winchester was one of my favorite characters on MASH. This show was brilliant and no wonder it survives the test of time. New generations get to experience all the wonderful stories, cast members and heart felt love they have for each other during such a hard point in time during a war.
To this day it is still one of the absolute best M.A.S.H. scenes to my mind. Between the two actors you can see they put real heart into it and that every word Max and Charles spoke they MEANT. Another is when Hawkeye is giving Millie's eulogy and he found out that she was in love with him her diary said something like "All I can think about is Hawkeye" she then goes to take a walk to clear her head and is killed in the minefield.
The last scene is my most favorite scene from M*A*S*H!!! And I believe it is so touching because it is just truthful... You can see Jamie Farr's face and eyes - it is all there... just shines from him without words... So beautifull!!!:)
From all the episodes of MASH I remember this one and couple of the others. It is amazing how Charles, which is supposed to be a bad guy replacing a buffoon made this show truly great.
It's the one that always made me cry. Between "It is certainly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal." and "We can make it so Christmas isn't the day Daddy died." I'm just a mess
I had a young co worker that needed a place to to stay , we would get off work and he'd hurry off to party and play with the younger croud , i just wanted to get home and watch MASH , he didn't get it ! So one day he sat and watched a couple of back to back episodes ! After that he was hooked ! And it made it better for me to have someone to watch it with ! Awesome show !
I think I will weep like a baby each time I see this just like the first time. M.A.S.H. was and remains a masterpiece expression of what we are capable of at our best. I need more of this in my life.
@@rubenperez7580 No problemo. But listen, how do you edit a comment? Sometimes I write something and see I misspelt something, but have no clue how to go back in to the comment and change it. How did you do that?
Mash never fails to break me. It brings me back to me and my dad, a Korea and vietnam war vet, watching the show together. Nothing helped me connect to him better then sharing this, and listening to him explain how things were. He loved mash. Respected the doctors, and found joy in the humor. Ill never forget.
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When Winchester says "Thank you, Max", Klinger replies "Merry Christmas... slight pause... Charles." That slight pause showed Klinger knew that tomorrow military protocol and rank structure would be back in place, but for that one brief moment, they were just two men on equal footing with equal respect. Brilliant portrayal by Jamie Farr.
Had an officer on my first ship that was something like your comment. At sea at night on watch he told us not to call him sir and do it only when other officers were around. He was slack when it came to that but all knew the protocol still applied. So we called him " Lt", " yes Lt" and such. He would tell us at it is the enlisted who ran the navy and the ships and not the officers, the officers just think they run the navy and the ships.
Funny, it just occurred to me that for all his flouting of military convention, Klinger never, as far as I know, addressed any of the officers by their first name. I could be wrong, of course.
@@nolanboles8492 Yes, Klinger wanted out of the Army, but he never neglected his duties or let the MASH unit down.
The not so secret alchemy of TV and Cinema is the proper combination of excellent writing, and a cast of actors with the talent to bring the script to life plus a director to put it all together. MASH had it all, that is why scenes such as this are so memorable.
@@stanistevens Yes, he hated the army, but he took his hospital work and saving lives, very seriously.
I love the "thank you Max" at the end. It's what made Charles such a great character.
i loved the dynamic between these two charles was the rich uptight guy max was the street smart from a poor world. part i find hilarious is maxes extended family could have been so rich from the area they are from it would have made charless family look destitute.
Truly touches my heart.
I have always loved this scene
Winchester was my favorite .
it's Max;'s last words that make htis one of the most memorable scenes in the later years. Charles isn't the completely stuffed shirt, and while max knows it, he letys charles keep his dignity.
The episodes that humanize Charles are all done brilliantly
Especially the episode where we learn his sister has a stutter
They did that in a few episodes. The one where Hawkeyes father was sick. Charles and Hawkeye were talking about their fathers and Charles at the end said, where I have a father, you have a dad.
@@Skipper.17 that’s an amazing episode
So true. I'm always moved by his experience in 'Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" and how he summarises it:- "Music was always my escape from the war, now it will always be a reminder of it."
@@USSCYT Loved that episode!
I cry every time at the end. I'm a blubbering idiot with this scene: brilliant acting and writing. No wonder this show has stood the test of time for 50 years.
And may it live on for at least another fifty !!
@@clandau1618 I think it will.
50 years? Do you know how old that makes me?
I cray at this scene. At the scene where he gives the sheet music to the wounded pianist, and the book to the stuttering soldier. Without a doubt he's had some of the best scenes on the show.
I have every episode on dvd. Probably watched each episode 50 times. I'm like you. I still cry when I watch this. Another part that gets me, is when margeret cries about the little dog.
Just the moment of “max” and “Charles”.
I honestly adored Winchester, he was such a good character, his first day is such a good episode where he goes in with such pride and arrogance when the wounded arrived and it cuts to the end and he’s just… broken,
He was a man who could (and did grow) and even of he thought some people were lower on the social scale he never actually forgot they were PEOPLE. That's what made him a great character.
I also loved that, unlike Major Burns, Winchester is an equal to Hawkeye and BJ. He's capable of standing toe to toe with them in both the operating room, and in terms of tomfoolery. "Please....Mozart."
@@mousepariah3884 he was the epitome of "I might be an asshole but I am not a piece of shit"
Lawrence Linville left as he felt Major Frank Burns had played out all the comedy in the role. Had they treated him afresh instead of leaving his character the same as the movie he could have developed like Charles Winchester did.
Charles was such a wonderfully complex character. There aren't many characters who could transition between a protagonist and antagonist role the way he did.
That “Thank-you Max” is perfection. Classes apart but a mutual understanding and respect. For me this is both of their characters perfect moment. The moment Charles respected Max. I’m watching it on my TV right now. I’m 51 and it still chokes me up when Klinger says “it’s an old family tradition” My favourite episode ever.
I absolutely love this episode. It is one of my favorites. It shows 2 things:
1. Do not make assumptions.
2. Max and Charles both had really big hearts.
But to be honest, would anyone of us NOT take this assumption?
@@Schulzffw I don't know. Max made assumptions about Charles and Charles made assumptions about what the old man did with the candy. All human beings make assumptions. Assumptions close our minds to other possibilities. It is how we act on assumptions that make us who we are.
And 3 that Max and Charles while not equal financially were equal as human beings!
@@christopherkerns639 "...for one brief shining moment".
Who knew that Charles would become a much more fleshed out, real character than Frank Burns ever was. Great writing.
Larry Linville did. He left the show purposely because he felt the character Frank Burns was not developing, maturing, etc. like other characters were. He had a point. Frank’s character stayed the target of jokes, comedy relief, etc. throughout the series and didnt grow into anything else. The only time I remember Frank’s humanity even touched upon was when he murmured, “Goodbye, Margaret,” as she and Donald Penobscott left on their honeymoon. It was one of the few times you could tell that Frank had feelings as well as flaws. The producers liked Frank’s character and offered Linville a contract extension. He turned it down which, considering MASH’s popularity, was gutsy.
@@co94 Larry Gelbart said that unlike the character he portrayed, Linville was a nice guy who never complained despite the increasingly buffoonish direction the writers took with Frank Burns. Mike Farrell warned Linville against leaving the show, pointing to McLean Stevenson's embarrassing failures. Linville could have stayed and gotten paid, but he did what he truly believed was best for him.
Disagree, especially about the “real” part. Frank, with few redeeming qualities, was as fleshed out as he was ever going to be. That’s o.k. because there ARE real people just like him. And Larry Linville played the role to perfection. He was as good as the brilliant David Ogden Stiers playing Winchester. Perfect casting. Two great actors. Two entirely different characters.
@@humphreygruntwhistle3946Linville spoke in an interview on the criticism that the Frank Burns character didn't become more humane. He said, "Who did you want Frank to become? Alan Alda?" Linville added that Frank Burns is everywhere. He's your insurance agent. He's your used car salesman. His character wasn't meant to evolve into a better person. A group of military vets said in an interview that Burns was the most realistic character on the show, as their units were filled with guys like him.
@@davidsamuels9557 If only Mike Farrell had left.
Larry Linville portrayed Major Burns brilliantly, but when he left the show and they added Major Winchester, the show was transformed into a far better version of itself. The way he was seen by all as a pompous bag of gas, yet behind the scenes was deeply generous and caring...
I totally agree. I actually cannot watch the first 5 years of the series anymore. The comedy is so juvenile and predictable. "Frank does something stupid, petty or incompetent. Hawkeye and Trapper (or worse still BJ) outsmart him, mock him and save the day medically." Barf.
Charles made the show into adult entertainment. He was by far the most complex character, and he made most of the other characters around him grow. (BJ was irredeemably boring.)
The relationship between Charles and Max was very interesting. Better still however was that Hawkeye learned to appreciate Charles' genius, wit, and humanity, while also still being willing to rib him when Charles became a bit too pompous for his own good.
The show lasted another 6 years because of Charles.
From what I heard Larry left the show because he was tired of them not letting the character of Frank grow. He felt they had taken the character as far as they could go in that direction and when they wouldn't change that he decided he'd had enough.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 I heard something along those lines. He had fun with the character but wanted to try new roles elsewhere. I also hear he was hilarious in real life and had the cast and crew in stitches.
@@ashleighelizabeth5916 I think that the writers had also made Frank into a one-dimensional cartoon character, and that it would have been impossible to credibly take the character in another direction. It became almost a relief that Larry decided to leave, as it meant they could create a more well-rounded, realistic character, more fitting for the direction that the producers wanted to go. IIRC, it was also at this time that Alan Alda was starting to exercise more creative control over the show.
@@bradevans7935 oh I agree. Burns became such a one note joke that there really was nowhere to go with the character without it being implausible. That being said Major Houlihan was something of a one note character as well in the first few seasons and they did manage to turn that around. The same could be said for Klinger as well. I think they just went too far off the deep end with Frank Burns.
I love that Charles gets put in his place here, and realises what the children really need. That which sustains them long-term versus that which is short-lived is the true gift. "It is certainly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal."
I love that Charles realizes which how true and important it is to feed the children what is nourishing for them instead of giving them momentary Joy!
i think you both are missing the point Charles was not put in his place as his gift came from the heart with 0 expectation of reward what he did not understand was just how hard up the children were and that his gift was not stolen as he feared someone would do for there own monetary gain but instead used to provide what the children really needed.
@@hardwirecars Well said.
@@clapepez These were the moments that made us love him. He had all that bluster and pride, but he COULD admit when he was wrong without losing his dignity.
And in this case he wasn't even wrong, he just didn't realize his gift was over ambitious. If he had known they needed food more than sweets you bet your butt he would have bought the rice and cabbage himself.
@@mousepariah3884 yea, I always got the feeling he was misunderstood
In my opinion the series improved when Charles arrived.
Totally
Charles was a wonderful character. He was real. Beautifully played.
Yet, it was kept a secret just between two comrades in arms, Max and Charles.
Klinger's split-second pause before he calls Major Winchester "Charles" shows both military respect for the rank with a new found respect for the man himself.
Major Charles Winchester is a gentleman of dignity, but, ever much more importantly, a man of character and empathy for people disadvantaged in life.
It is inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal... beautiful.
He epitomizes the concept of "noblesse oblige" - the belief that those who came from wealthy families have a responsibility to help the less fortunate. We could use more of those today.
this and when Charles gets his red beanie he wore as a child from Radar (that he wore in many episodes) are some of the best moments of the show.
And the fall leaf from the child pen pal
@@michaeljensen4638 "Fall in New England."
Two that stand out for me: his expression of envy for Hawkeye’s relationship with his father and his support of the soldier with the stuttering problem.
Bedside manner is one of the most underappreciated doctor skills, and Charles had it in spades.
I like the one where they get all their relatives together in the States and Winchester's folks get along famously with Radar's family, to Charles' chagrin.
and to think... I didn't like Winchester when I was watching the show on television...but as I have gotten older, I can see the true depth of his character and kindness. He is my favorite character of all because he is often misunderstood.
I identified With him
I had exactly the same reaction. Didn't like Winchester at the time. But now his scenes are the ones I watch.
I've also grown to appreciate him more as I got older.
This is my favorite scene from the entire series. I love it when Winchester says, " Thank you Max. "
I always loved the relationship between Max and Charles. You couldn't find two more different people, but they understood each other better than most in the camp, I think.
Charles was such a complex character. Brilliantly written and masterfully brought to life.
Definitely shows that underneath Major Winchester's snobby attitude lies a heart of gold
40+ years later and the humanity of this show is still exemplary.
My goodness... this show is over 40 years old.
This episode is brilliantly touching.
a lot of MASH was like that.
David Ogden Stiers was a fabulous actor. In my opinion, his most powerful mash scene was in the "Goodbye Farewell Amen" episode/movie. Towards the very end where they were all having their last meal together, they one by one told everyone else what they were going to do next now that the war was over. When Colonel Potter asked Winchester what his plans were, at the very end of his scene he said, and im paraphrasing here, " for me music was an escape from this miserable experience. (long pause) But now it will serve as a reminder." He said that in such a convincing way that you would swear that he did actually experience being a doctor during the Korean conflict. RIP David.
He also had an epiphany when he told Potter that hoped he could run Boston General Hospital half as good as Colonel Potter ran the 4077th.
My very most favorite plot line, and scene in all of M*A*S*H that I happily watched during its initial broadcast. How did Jamie Farr and David Ogden Stiers (RIP) infuse so much heartfelt affection for one another in so short an interaction? Amazing on both of them!
Merry Christmas.... Charles...
Very talented actors who understand presence.
Keye Luke really shined in this episode, in the role of the caretaker/keeper of the orphanage, who would've earned a star in the crown for doing what he did (trading the fancy stuff for a month's worth of food). It was, by far, the most noble...and the right thing to have done (can see Winchester replying with something like "had l known that, l would've had my family ship me double of all that"...)
Keye Luke taught Charles a hard life lesson! Sometimes we overthink situations and enter them with lofty pre-concieved notions which are often so false!
Major Winchester's snobby attitude was just a front to what is a really good man.
MASH. Such a classic. The humor, tears, rawness, and a slight look into the lives into what it may have been like during a time of war. Life lessons can be learned through the eyes of everyone at MASH! I'm 60 and I still love this show... and yes, I still cry at times.
This makes me cry, I know that sounds silly, but I'm so tired of the meanness in this world that even though this was scripted, it gets me every time. God bless everyone who reads this, and do or say something kind to a stranger today Amen, love from Australia xx 💕💕
Not silly at all, I am right there with you.
I know. I'm not used to such wholesomeness. Especially with the way the country is now, under the heel of the DemocRats.
Since 2016 Ghostbusters, there has been nothing in media but _crap_ written by clownish, Kool-Aid-haired diversity hires! And then to go back and see scenes like this, see how much heart entertainment _used_ to have, before it was hijacked by the Commie Fascists to spread their propaganda and gaslighting.
Love from the American Midwest to you
It doesn't sound silly at all. This scene...and episode...reminds us all of our beautiful humanity. I wish there were more people who were brought to tears by scenes like this one.
The character of Winchester was that of a good and decent man. The writers did a great job and David Ogden Stiers did an excellent job in the portrayal. May he rest in peace.
Rewatching M*A*S*H from the beginning and getting close to Charles' arrival and I cannot wait. He brings an extra layer of depth to the show.
I agree. I do love the Blake/Trapper seasons, but Charles is one of my most favorite characters out of all of them.
I'm the exact opposite. Frank Burns made the show.
Nerts to you!
Another example of Charles recognizing when his good intentions were genuinely misplaced and was willing to accept the correction. AND recognized a similar gift ("must remain anonymous ... it's an old family tradition") from someone else.
Max did it to show Charles that someone knew and cared for his noble gesture.
I really enjoyed watching Winchesters character evolve in the last few seasons. He ended up becoming my favorite character on the show.
when David first joined the cast I wasn't that impressed with his character. But after a while and some of the episodes he did he ended up being my favorite character
Charles, despite his pomposity, was a fundamentally decent human being who applauded and admired decency in others.
He wasn't a coward like Frank, who hid behind his Napoleon complex, but someone who took life seriously, and expected life to take him seriously. That's why he must have some of the best episodes and easily the best character arc. He wasn't a bad man at all, but he felt nobody else was taking life seriously. But you see him realise how seriously everyone actually is taking it as the show progresses, and you see his admiration for all of them grow as a result.
A glorious character.
I consider Charles the be the best character of the series. Switching frank out for Charles is exactly what gave the show new life in the second half of its run.
One of the aspects I really like about this sequence that is often overlooked by discussion about all the other great bits: Klinger's sneakiness and underhandedness is used for good here- he deliberately eavesdrops on Winchester and Choi and not for some nefarious scheme or even for his Section 8 wishes.
The entire role of his sneakiness changed completely once Klinger became company clerk.
@Rob Which eventually got him promoted to Sergeant, the Klinger milestone for which I always was happiest for him.
I always loved this episode!
Especially for that moment between Charles and Max.
😇❤
For a war that lasted 3 years, a show based on it got 11.
Every single episode was like this, virtually perfect.
And each of the distinct eras was good in its own way.
If you fought a war for just one night a week, it'd last 11 years!
What made moments like this great are moments like this existed despite war and suffering. Made you feel closer to home if just for a fleeting moment.
After 40+ years, how can this show still make me weep?
He was one of my favorites, he helped people but didnt want anyone to know, like the one piano player that lost his arm, or the soldiers that were killed that played music
They weren't soldiers, they were musicians.
I have no idea but one of the things I always loved about the scene between Klinger and Winchester is when Charles turns around, the chair slightly creaks.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but so many things went through my head when I heard/hear that creak. The first, primary thought when I first saw it was that it was almost like with that extension of humanity Max gives him, the weight of the world on his shoulders lightens to Charles….even if ever so slightly.
very well written and expressed. THANK YOU!
This was one of my favorite episodes, and this part still continues to bring tears to my eyes. I loved Charles, and as much as I liked Frank Burns, David Ogden Stires brought a very strong character to the show that made it more touching. May they both be resting in peace.
always called him Klinger ........... now Max; endearing and respectful
Major Charles Emerson Winchester the thirds FINEST HOUR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Still makes me cry all these years later !
Yes, each Christmastime I am reminded of this Episode and my time spent overseas!
They could never have done something like this with Frank Burns. There are times that I miss Frank as the foil of Hawkeye, but Charles was able to show a bit of humanity.
One of the most touching moments of MASH. This showed that Charles was a really nice person.
One of the many things overlooked by people when they first watch this series is that replacing certain characters through the years was not always smiled upon, however when we got to know the new characters better, we saw progression.
Charles is one of those characters. In the beginning you see him as an arrogant pompous show boat. A man who sneers at those lesser than him, but as we move forward in the series, we see his compassion for those less fortunate, those who are bullied, and those who just need someone to be on the same level of understanding certain situations. He showed us someone far better than Frank Burns, but I must admit that we did need Frank, he showed us someone who is well rounded in ways no others could be.
Charles literally brought a depth of understanding that we as an audience were screaming for at certain times. Best example being when the baby was left at the MASH unit. Charles told Hawkeye that he would handle the talking, then literally had to be held back because of his righteous anger at a man who could care less for the safety of the baby. Still to me one other most powerful moments I have ever seen him in for this show.
David Ogden Stires was a brilliant actor all around. The voices of Ratcliff in Pocahontas, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and Jamba Jukiba in Lilo and Stitch. He also had other great live action movie parts and television shows appearances. To me, his best one was in Touched by an Angel when he portrayed the devil himself. I highly recommend watching the last two episodes to see what I mean.
The true merit of Charles was his humanity and his humility! The military service opened his mind to a real world that his affluence and upbringing did not "afford" him! He became a far better person for being around others outside of his cast! He learned to be humble! That was a gift to him! Something the stuffy upbringing could never give him!
ABSOLUTELY! Rest In Peace David Ogden Stiers as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III of Boston, Massachusetts
Incredible scenes - Max telling Charles - in effect - that he understood Charles generosity, and Charles' need to honor Winchester Family tradition in remaining anonymous.
Add the subsequent heartwarmimg responses, that CONTINUE to bring a tear to my eye 40-plus years after seeing it on CBS the 1st time! I'll always love M*A*S*H!
I loved anytime Charles was a decent human being....this was one of my favorite episodes.
Charles Winchester III had a couple of story lines that were fantastic for someone who acted like a bombastic snob. He showed compassion to a stutterer whose aptitude test showed he had a higher IQ than he was taught to believe about himself..., and the audience only heard his sister stuttering on the tape at the end of the episode and the beatific smile on Charles' face because he loved his sister so much as well as what she had to say since they also had common interests.
Another time Charles helped a concert pianist whose right had was harmed beyond repair in the war, and Charles - whose love for classical music was second to none - found all the classical music he could find for a left-handed player, and Charles nearly wept saying he could play the notes, but he couldn't put the same expression to the music he loved like a classically trained musician could do.
For the final season Charles admitted that the music in which he sought refuge would, after the war, forever be tainted by memories of the war.
Charles didn't fob things off with humor like the other main characters, but inwardly he was full of compassion once he had all the details, like this Xmas show. His crusty brusqueness and snobbery protected a heart full of compassion.
The stuttering Private Palmer had the added problem of a bullying CO to whom Charles promptly read the riot act.
I liked how they mellowed Charles as time went on and he became close friends with them.
ABSOLUTELY! In subsequent episodes Major Charles Emerson Winchester III from Boston, Massachusetts tried teaching Classical Music to some captured Chinese Musicians who were "soldiers" and was very compassionate to them but unfortunately they were killed in the back of a Prisoner of War truck being driven away from MASH 4077. Rest In Peace David Ogden Stiers
This show had so many touching moments, and the ones where Charles was involved were just golden. RIP David Ogden Stiers
Seen many times & again, it gave me chills. Mash had.more heart than any show, ever.
One of my favorites. My favorite Charles episode.
Yes. And the one where Honoria sends him her 'voice-mail' and we learn she is a stutterer.
the episode where he works with the pianist solder who loses use of his hand.
@@JPF941
What... *"solder"?* Does the guy play the piano and is a welder?
@@donarthiazi2443 Proof that spell-check is no substitute for a good proof-reading.
Charles was a very complex character, he had a very good heart
This is one of my favourite M*A*S*H episodes. It’s a shining example of why I prefer Charles over Frank. While both characters were rich snobs, Charles always had a sliver of humanity in his heart that he tried to keep hidden from the others, but would often slip out on occasions like these.
To quote Peggy Hill, “There’s something in my eye. But I’m also crying.”
Winchester tried to do something nice for the orphan children not realizing that they lack decent food to eat and then realized his mistake.
My favorite scene from the entire series. I cannot watch it and not get misty eyed.
There were a lot of good scenes from this episode. This clip is another scene where Charles shows his humanity.
I was in high school when this episode first aired. And it really touched me. I come from 2 of the oldest and at one time, most prestigious families in the United States. I was taught from an early age that the only TRUE charity is that which is given anonymously. My grandmother always taught us that TRUE Christianity is in giving without recognition. I grew up to be involved in professions where I know wealthy people who are always giving money but expect to be recognized for it.
I have also known people where, for years, others made not so kind assumptions about them, myself included. We had a family friend worth millions who was known to be notoriously cheap. She owned a lot of run down houses which she rented to poor people, some of them drug addicts and alcoholics. One day, whilst I was in college, my mother accidentally found out that she was actually feeding their kids in secret. She died with no one ever knowing that. I was at the funeral which was very sparsely attended despite people swarming around her when she was alive as they all wanted something.
This episode taught me, as a teenager, to NEVER make assumptions about people, especially wealthy or well to do ones, based on outward appearances. I'm not ashamed to say that today, this scene brings tears to my eyes. Deep down under, Charles was a VERY good man. Its just that he was too educated, high class and snobbish for people to see past all that. There were numerous examples in the series of him helping people. The pianist who lost the use of his one hand, the stuttering soldier, the musicians in the final episode, etc.
But nearly ALL the people he helped had a link of sorts to himself. The musicians and the maimed pianist....the classical music he loved so much. That stuttering soldier? His sister Honoria stuttered badly. His aid always had a reason...family tradition of giving to orphans for example.
@@laurab5750 True; but I don't see anything wrong with that. If one's own personal experiences or connections are what prompts one to help others, so be it.
We know his sister stuttered badly. But what we DON'T know is if she was bullied and thought of as 'stupid' because of it like that soldier. Most likely he saw his sister get hurt by others for it and it gave HIM the impetus to feel compassion to help the soldier.
True philanthropy is about giving of ourselves. Peace!
@@Mark-pp7jy Well, Charles did that as well. I DID mention episodes where he did just that. With this episode, he not only purchased the chocolate, but delivered it himself when he could have paid a Korean to do it or even a private in the MASH unit.
You also have to bear in mind that there are those who are not in a position to give of themselves. Perhaps they are in poor health. Or in some cases, people don't WANT their help because they simply are not accepted. I of course refer to various organizations who provide various services to people.
@@retroguy9494 Which included putting the bullying CO severely on notice to knock it off. There was also Hawkeye sweating over his dad's surgery at home, giving rise to another of Charles's stand-out lines: "Where I have a father, you have a dad".
Dang it! Brings tears to my Eyes EVERY TIME I SEE THIS! Only God know what is truly in the Heart of Man. This episode always shows me that! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Charles is surprisingly empathic and insightful in ways that his pride and pompous nature hide very easily. He knows when he's wrong and can apologize sincerely for it. Half the reason I think he has this ability is because of his little sister, whom he often mentions but we don't really know about. The episode showing that she has a stutter disability really puts Charles in perspective.
"It is sadly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal"
I feel like there are a lot of people in our world who could learn from that.
Major Charles Winchester III, Major Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan", and Cpl. Max Klinger... three of my favorite characters from my alltime favorite TV show. What I admired about Winchester (perfectly played by David Ogden Stiers) was that, yes, he started out as a pompous blue-blood, but when someone wronged another member of the 4077th, or did something he considered morally reprehensible, Winchester would move heaven and earth to right that wrong...and he was never too ashamed to show his humility when he himself acted wrongly. That moment with Max and Charles is one of my favorites. Ultimately, Charles became "one of the gang". Thank you for sharing this video.
As in "Run for the Money", when Charles told off the bullying Captain who was tormenting the stuttering soldier.
"Thank you Max", just gave me chills.
Winchester was such a brilliant character.
I'm in my early 30's and this show was on every summer of my childhood. To this day, MASH remains my favorite memories growing up. To the whole cast and crew, thank you for this wonderful masterpiece.
All these years later and it makes me cry EVERY time I see it 😢 😭!!!
RIP David ~ 🙏 and 👏👏👏
I love this episode I have watched it a hundred times and could watch it a hundred more. It makes you tear up everytime.
What I love so much about this show was moments like this. When they used their first names, not ranks or nicknames or last names, but first names. You knew that they were acknowledging the love they had for each other. Even with all the bickering or joking about each other, underneath it all, they really did care for each other and at moments like this, needed each other to be "people" and not just "co-workers in the military".
Which is why Klinger's pause before saying "Charles" meant so much. He was acknowledging the man, his views on "giving" (Which were that they were done WITHOUT the need for publicly acknowledging it) and that sometimes while what may seem to be only "on the surface" can actually be much deeper and honest than you would expect.
This episode hit me hard. Charles is my favorite mash char.
This is why MASH was such an excellent show.
The candy would have brought joy to the children for a few moments, but on the black market it was worth enough rice and cabbage to feed them for a month.
This is one of my favorite MASH episodes of all time. It was towards the end of the series, and they were all so powerful. It's one of the few times you hear Klinger call Charles.... Charles.
Always put some lump in my throat!
Peace from California!
Winchester was my favorite character from the entire series.
Absolutely one of my all time favorite scenes from this classic tv show! I learned that Max and Charles were characters with tremendous amounts of depth and humanity.
These scenes with Charles were great, but I also liked Hawkeye, BJ, and Margret trying to make that badly wounded soldier live past midnight. In the end, they're unable to do it, but Hawkeye moves the hands on the O.R. clock and they falsify the record.
@@timkumpost6036 I never really cared for this storyline. The family lost a member in war. The sacrifice will always hurt -- regardless of the time of death.
@@darrelldoxtdator5237 "A family's wreath should be green, not black".
@@smwca123 Agreed. No one should remember the holidays as the time of a wartime casualty. But grief is not limited to the anniversary date, but arise around the anniversary time period. The holiday season will be tarnished until the pain subsidies. Wartime casualties continue to be a greater failure of mankind.
I always thought Charles was the better foil. Frank was snively and self-centered, no dignity. Charles was a pompous ass that was honest and a straight shooter. He didn't THINK he was better than everyone he KNEW he was better than everyone. But he wouldn't betray his family name by being anything but honest and respectable.
He was actually the most experienced and most skilled surgeon of the team. His only weakness , which he overcame quickly, was the need for assembly line patch up surgery when wounded came in by the truckload.
@@yummyyum36719 He referred to it as 'skill destroying meatball surgery'. IIRC after his first day in the OR, he felt humiliated because he was so much slower then the others, Hawkeye replied "we're not any better then you, its just by sheer repetition, that we've gotten fast'.
@@christopherharmon2433 Yup...I remember the episode very well.
Winchester was on the show less than the full run but probably had the most character development and growth.
Between him and Radar
@@raymondweaver8526 And Margaret, for whom Charles stood up more than once: against his ex-CO and the slimy Congressional aide who accused her of being a Communist sympathizer. In both cases he helped orchestrate her accuser's comeuppance. He also orchestrated Flagg's downfall.
@@smwca123 When Charles wanted his book of poems back from Margaret, and Margaret then used her father's influence to get Charles the position of Chief of Surgery. Charles felt like a complete horse's hind quarters and gave Margaret the other books in the set.
I've seen this scene many times and it always makes me see the tenderness in Charles' heart.
I left a comment. but to finish it sorry my cat posted it for me. Thank you for a wonderful reminder of a most endearing show.
I was born in ‘80. This show was almost off the air by the time I watched television. Discovered it about 15 years ago. LOVE it. My favorite show of all time. Comedy & Heart. Too many favorite episodes to list
My favorite character and my favorite episode. Gets me teary-eyed every time.
Winchester was one of my favorite characters on MASH. This show was brilliant and no wonder it survives the test of time. New generations get to experience all the wonderful stories, cast members and heart felt love they have for each other during such a hard point in time during a war.
To this day it is still one of the absolute best M.A.S.H. scenes to my mind. Between the two actors you can see they put real heart into it and that every word Max and Charles spoke they MEANT. Another is when Hawkeye is giving Millie's eulogy and he found out that she was in love with him her diary said something like "All I can think about is Hawkeye" she then goes to take a walk to clear her head and is killed in the minefield.
The last scene is my most favorite scene from M*A*S*H!!! And I believe it is so touching because it is just truthful... You can see Jamie Farr's face and eyes - it is all there... just shines from him without words... So beautifull!!!:)
Such a touching moment between Max and Charles ❤️
He was a pompous, arrogant insufferable pain, but once in a he allowed himself to show his heart buried deep down like The Grinch.
One of my favorite episodes in all tv series ever.
From all the episodes of MASH I remember this one and couple of the others. It is amazing how Charles, which is supposed to be a bad guy replacing a buffoon made this show truly great.
It's the one that always made me cry. Between "It is certainly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal." and "We can make it so Christmas isn't the day Daddy died." I'm just a mess
This is why I like Charles, he has his parts where he’s like Frank Burns but than there’s the scenes where he is a very nice guy, and I like that
I had a young co worker that needed a place to to stay , we would get off work and he'd hurry off to party and play with the younger croud , i just wanted to get home and watch MASH , he didn't get it ! So one day he sat and watched a couple of back to back episodes ! After that he was hooked ! And it made it better for me to have someone to watch it with ! Awesome show !
This was the best written show to ever air
Charles was my favourite character.
I think I will weep like a baby each time I see this just like the first time. M.A.S.H. was and remains a masterpiece expression of what we are capable of at our best. I need more of this in my life.
weep
@@joehamlet7576 Thank you
@@rubenperez7580 No problemo. But listen, how do you edit a comment? Sometimes I write something and see I misspelt something, but have no clue how to go back in to the comment and change it. How did you do that?
@@joehamlet7576
I think you tap the dots on the right and "Edit" pops up, then you tap it.
I can do it out of habit, so I'm not good explaining it.
@@paulzammataro7185 Makes sense, though. I will try it next time I have the need. Thanks!
Can you recall when Television was pleasant? This brings back fond memories.
My favourite episode of the entire series. I make a point to watch it every Christmas.
yes. as do I and try to give to those less fortunate through the GIVING TREE!
@@jephrokimbo9050 me too I get someone a gift from that
That scene never fails to draw a tear. Even after seeing it countless times. Just brilliant all around.
Mash never fails to break me. It brings me back to me and my dad, a Korea and vietnam war vet, watching the show together. Nothing helped me connect to him better then sharing this, and listening to him explain how things were. He loved mash. Respected the doctors, and found joy in the humor. Ill never forget.
Of the thousands of best scenes in MASH, this in one of the best.
My favorite episode of Mash. I talk about this episode every Christmas