Talk:M*A*S*H (film)

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An editor has been attempting to add an extensive sentence about the use of "fuck" in non-mainstream films. As this is an article about a mainstream film, and the entire point is that the use of "fuck" in M*A*S*H was the first occasions of its use in a mainstream film, I have been reverting. However, as the information is interesting, if not directly relevant, I have converted it to a footnote.

This is, after all, not an article about the language of films in general, or one about non-mainstream films, or one about the use of "fuck" in general society, but an article about one specific film and its use of the word as a first-time incident in a specific medium. Beyond My Ken (talk) 01:55, 28 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I find the evidence above curious. Other than the stylize poster using some small asterisks, all other usage is after the fact. The military didn't use them, the novel didn't use them, the title screen doesn't use them, Altman's movie doesn't use them anywhere. Had the Wiki page been created that way initially, at what point would people have said, "You know, it was publicized this way, and people confuse it with the TV show, so let's make them match."? NjtoTX (talk) 20:15, 5 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The article says "With help from Radar, the Swampmen sneak a microphone into a tent where the couple are making love and broadcast their passion over the camp's PA system, embarrassing them badly and earning Houlihan the nickname "Hot Lips."

Ok, it's 2023 now. Do people still say "making love" when it really should be something like "having sex"? "making love" is a euphemism for "having sex" of even "fucking" that seems archaic and perhaps even Victorian. Why not change it to "having sex"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.233.56.35 (talk) 18:26, 4 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it would make more sense to say "having sex," and it is Wikipedia's policy in general to avoid euphemisms (see

be bold and just go in and change the text. Also please remember to sign talk page comments with four tildes like this "~~~~". Happy editing. Ronsaur (talk) 22:36, 4 August 2023 (UTC)[reply

]

 Done Beyond My Ken (talk) 23:47, 4 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Copied from archive as this discussion comes up often.

There seems to be a misconception that Margaret's last name is O'Houlihan in the film. Henry twice calls her O'Houlihan and the General also does this twice. I'm not sure whether it's an oversight or a gag, but these are the only occurrences. In every other instance she's referred to as Houlihan. The screenplay refers to her as Houlihan, and in the film when she signs her and Frank's report to the General, she reads her name as Margaret J. Houlihan. I didn't change the article; I'm afraid everyone will freak out. I would like to change this article and the Margaret Houlihan article, if everyone agrees. Donnie Love 02:09, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Book calls her Houlihan as well. Changed to "Houlihan" here and elsewhere this good-intentioned error has been introduced. Sir Rhosis 01:34, 23 April 2007 (UTC) Once again reverted the error of "O'Houlihan," this time with a hidden note for people to please look here before reverting. Once again, from the top: book calls her Houlihan, screenplay calls her Houlihan, and most references in the film (one by the character, herself, see first note in this discussion) are to "Houlihan." Sir Rhosis (talk) 01:18, 26 May 2008 (UTC) The name in the film is O'Houlihan. There's a sign on her tent that spells it so. Everyone calls her "O'Houlihan". What more proof do we need?

Incorrect. Not everyone in the film calls her "O'Houlihan." She refers to herself as "Houlihan" at least once (see the first post in this section).. When I have time, I will sit down and go through the film, minute by minute to catalog the times she is called both names. What do the credits say? Perhaps there is a case to be made that she was referred to in daialogue (and the sign, as you mentioned) by both names, and the article should reflect that.Sir Rhosis (talk) 21:32, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

Follow-up. In the film, the character is referred to by both names, three times each. Character and time index as follows:

• Colonel Blake calls her O'Houlihan at the 29:00 mark and at 1:34:39.
• General Hammond calls her O'Houlihan at the 1:31:20 mark.
• She refers to herself as Houlihan at the 38:56 mark.
• Hawkeye calls her Houlihan at the 1:09:40 mark.
• Trapper John calls her Houlihan at the 1:32:25 mark.

So, if there was an intent (which we can't prove) to change the character's name to O'Houlihan, they did not succeed. So the question is now, how to address this in the article. Leave her name as Houlihan and insert a parenthetical saying something like "Also called O'Houlihan by some characters," or place a note in the References stating this? Sir Rhosis (talk) 01:30, 13 March 2018 (UTC)

According to the film script, the character's name is Margaret Houlihan:

39 EXT. LANDING AREA OUTSIDE 4077TH MASH - MORNING There is a small welcoming party on hand, headed by Henry himself, to greet the passenger arriving in the helicopter. When it lands the door is opened and HOT LIPS (as she will soon be known) gets out smartly, which is the way she does everything. Her official name is Major Margaret Houlihan and she is tallish, willowish, blondish, fortyish, prettyish. She and Henry exchange salutes and then shake hands. The others in the greeting party are out of the habit of saluting, and have to be reminded by a stern look from their Commanding Officer. As Henry and Hot Lips, followed by the others, head for the hospital entrance, Lieutenant Dish appears with the enlisted man behind her. She gets into the helicopter and he lifts her bags in after her. A moment later the chopper is airborne again.[2] In addition, none of the characters call her O'Houlihan in the script so the three occasions it happened in the film are likely flubs by the actors. Nixon Now (talk) 17:33, 19 March 2018 (UTC)