Episode where Col. Potter salutes his deceased friends....
George Hiebert
>
> Hello....I'm hoping that someone will recall the episode where Col. Potter is
> sad and blue throughout the episode, the remaining cast thinks that he is
> gravely ill. Near the conclusion of the episode, Col. Potter lets on that his
> last of his Army buddies has passed away and that he wants the cast members to
> share this special drink that they (Potter and his now dead comrades) saved.
> Potter starts to describe the custom and David Ogden Stiers says the name of
> the custom, and Potter says something like "Bingo, give the man a cigar". My
> question is what is that custom called? It's where a group of friends would
> for instance purchase a terribly expensive brandy or champagne or something
> like that, then pledge that the final one left standing (alive) would drink to
> all the others who had fallen before him. Much thanks for anyone who can
> help.
> Vincent
> Vinc...@aol.com
The word you're looking for is tontine.
Henry R. Christensen
what the name of the law firm that held the liquor was. Much to my chagrin,
I could find the answer in no reference and I did not (and do not) have
access to the episode. So, folks, what was the name of the law firm?
Henry
tho...@spam.ham wrote:
> Vincent writes:
>
> > Hello....I'm hoping that someone will recall the episode where
> > Col. Potter is sad and blue throughout the episode, the remaining
> > cast thinks that he is gravely ill. Near the conclusion of the
> > episode, Col. Potter lets on that his last of his Army buddies has
> > passed away and that he wants the cast members to share this special
> > drink that they (Potter and his now dead comrades) saved. Potter
> > starts to describe the custom and David Ogden Stiers says the name of
> > the custom, and Potter says something like "Bingo, give the man a
> > cigar". My question is what is that custom called?
>
> Potter: Do any of you know what a "tontine" is?
> Winchester: Yes, it's a -- pledge.
> Potter: Give that man a cheroot.
>
> > It's where a group of friends would for instance purchase a terribly
> > expensive brandy or champagne or something like that, then pledge
> > that the final one left standing (alive) would drink to all the
> > others who had fallen before him. Much thanks for anyone who can
> > help.
>
> Potter: I'd like to do the first toast solo....You were the friends
> of my youth....I drink to your memory....Still mighty smooth.
>
> I can still hear the crack in his voice. Magnificent acting on
> Morgan's part. Ranks way up there with the most touching scenes
> in M*A*S*H, and one of the reasons it was such a great show.
--
"Admissions of dishonesty still don't make it right!"
MAD Magazine #61, March 1961
visit http://pw2.netcom.com/~hchris
for original humor, musing, M*A*S*H trivia game
Vincent NC
Hello....I'm hoping that someone will recall the episode where Col. Potter is
sad and blue throughout the episode, the remaining cast thinks that he is
gravely ill. Near the conclusion of the episode, Col. Potter lets on that his
last of his Army buddies has passed away and that he wants the cast members to
share this special drink that they (Potter and his now dead comrades) saved.
Potter starts to describe the custom and David Ogden Stiers says the name of
the custom, and Potter says something like "Bingo, give the man a cigar". My
for instance purchase a terribly expensive brandy or champagne or something
like that, then pledge that the final one left standing (alive) would drink to
all the others who had fallen before him. Much thanks for anyone who can
help.
Vinc...@aol.com
B.Merkley
Hello,
The pact you are talking about is called a "Tontin"
pronounced tawnteen. This is one of the most moving scenes in the
whole series which brings a lump to my throat.
It stands right up there with the OR scene at the end of Henry's
departure.
Bruce Merkley
>Vincent
>Vinc...@aol.com
Vincent NC
Thank you both for the two incredibly quick responses. I haven't seen this
episode in years and years, however my Dad recently offered to purchase a wine
cellar for me, with the proviso that I'd buy a premium first growth wine and
drink it sometime soon after his death. Once again, Thanks to both of you who
replied.
Vincent
Vinc...@aol.com
tho...@spam.ham
> Hello....I'm hoping that someone will recall the episode where
> Col. Potter is sad and blue throughout the episode, the remaining
> cast thinks that he is gravely ill. Near the conclusion of the
> episode, Col. Potter lets on that his last of his Army buddies has
> passed away and that he wants the cast members to share this special
> drink that they (Potter and his now dead comrades) saved. Potter
> starts to describe the custom and David Ogden Stiers says the name of
> the custom, and Potter says something like "Bingo, give the man a
> cigar". My question is what is that custom called?
Potter: Do any of you know what a "tontine" is?
Winchester: Yes, it's a -- pledge.
Potter: Give that man a cheroot.
> It's where a group of friends would for instance purchase a terribly
> expensive brandy or champagne or something like that, then pledge
> that the final one left standing (alive) would drink to all the
> others who had fallen before him. Much thanks for anyone who can
> help.
Potter: I'd like to do the first toast solo....You were the friends
MrQuixote
When we were shooting the PBS special "Making M*A*S*H" in the eighth season, we
were fortunate enough to be on Stage 9 for the "tontine" scene of the episode
titled "Old Soldiers." (We devote about five minutes of the documentary to
it.) If I recall correctly, they shot for six hours on just the scene in
Potter's tent. And whatever method of acting Harry Morgan uses, it was very
apparent that there was something going on inside him as he "made the first
toast, solo". There was no doubt that something special was happening that
day. Everyone could feel it. (Admittedly, I'm a sucker for that little catch
in the throat that Harry does. As he and Stiers used to say to each other,
"Dat's Ecting!!" Obviously everyone knew that it was going to be an emotional
scene, so it appeared that the cast made a point of clowning around to cut the
tension before cameras rolled.
They were rehearsing the toast where all would "clink" their glasses....the
first time they did it Jamie took a sip of the prop cognac, and says,
"Jesus..shitty." And he tosses the glass on Potter's cot.
Next rehearsal, Harry, in character, asks, "Does anyone know what a tontine
is?" Alda, Stiers, Farrell and Farr start waving their hands in the air like
schoolkids with the right answer, shouting "I know, I know, etc." Stiers
finally wins out, saying, "It's a new gum."
Anyway, when they got to the first take on the master shot (the wide shot
showing all of them--and take a look at how precisely the director positioned
them so you can always see ALL of them), Harry got to the line about making the
"first toast, solo." He went on, "to Grusky, who died in WWI"-- and Harry lost
it. Teared up. Mike Farrell stepped forward and put his arms around Harry and
held him for a moment. It was quite special...and quite real. And was I
thankful we were rolling when it all happened.
The episode was written by Dennis Koenig and directed by Charlie Dubin. And
for his work in that season, Harry won the best supporting actor in a comedy
Emmy. Don't know if "Old Soldiers" was the episode they submitted for judging.
Michael Hirsh
Rule #1:
Nothing's real till a check clears the bank.
Jan Willem Hoepman
brought the tears in my eyes
It's one of the best episodes I know. It's very nice to read Mr.
Quixote's inside information on who these shots were taken. Thank you
for that.
Dukette89
I don't know the name of the law firm. In one line he just refers to them as a
bunch of legal eagles.
Maybe we could do tontine with a bottle of grape Nehi? The last one surfing
the net wins.
Mary in Pgh
Buck Rojerz
arrived in the mail bag.
Gotta watch the show to see.
Buck
PAUL GADZIKOWSKI
: I don't know the name of the law firm. In one line he just refers to them as a
: bunch of legal eagles.
I don't remember their names either, nor do I have a reference that
has'em, but they do come up in the dialog, as the address on the package
Potter recieves.
I remember that episode because Hawkeye and the gang were all certain that
Potter himself was sick; I knew that wasn't it, because that's what they
suspected, but I was scared it was Mildred.
--
http://members.iglou.com/scarfman - DOCTOR WHO, STAR
Paul Gadzikowski TREK (including T*R*E*K) and BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
fanfiction - Bedivere's Round Table - Cartoons - Archy
scar...@iglou.com the Cockroach - Mostly text-only easy-to-download files
- NEW: UNDER SIEGE Chapter 2; revised BUFFY summer
stories
If Ann Landers jumped off a cliff, would you?
George Hiebert
PBS and I totally remember that scene you speak of. Nice work my friend.
You know I haven't seen it since that time. Is it available somehow?
Phineas J. Whoopee
kick out of "Beatem, Cheatem, Slither & Slander"..................
Henry R. Christensen
Me thinks you've maybe had one too many nose pulls, eye pokes, or saws
dragged across you heads. nyuk nyuk nyuk
Henry
Amrap1 wrote:
> >I know it probably wasn't the name of the firm, but I've always gotten a
> >kick out of "Beatem, Cheatem, Slither & Slander"..................
> >
> >
>
> I think it was Duey, Cheatem and Howe!
> StickyFingers
Amrap1
Phineas J. Whoopee
STEP BY STEP..............
(two finger Poke)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AHHHHHHHHH! I
CAN'T SEE! I CAN'T SEE!!
Whatsamatta? Whatsamatta?
I got my eyes closed! Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!!
Ramji
The name is Smith, Smith & Brown, Attorneys at Law.
PAUL GADZIKOWSKI wrote in message <361d5...@news.iglou.com>...
>Dukette89 (duke...@aol.com) wrote:
>: I don't know the name of the law firm. In one line he just refers to
them as a
>: bunch of legal eagles.
>
>I don't remember their names either, nor do I have a reference that
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