The Tooth Shall Set You Free

Episode aired Feb 8, 1982
TV-PG
25m

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

536

YOUR RATING

Comedy Drama War

While Winchester fearfully avoids getting his agonizing toothache treated, the other surgeons discover a racist commander is sending his African-American soldiers disproportionally into dang... Read allWhile Winchester fearfully avoids getting his agonizing toothache treated, the other surgeons discover a racist commander is sending his African-American soldiers disproportionally into dangerous duty.While Winchester fearfully avoids getting his agonizing toothache treated, the other surgeons discover a racist commander is sending his African-American soldiers disproportionally into dangerous duty.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

536

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Harry S. Truman signed executive order 9981 in 1948 integrating the armed forces. Most commanders ignored the order and the Korean Conflict was the last war in which the military continued to be segregated.

Goofs
MacDonald Avenue in Brooklyn is not in Flatbush.

Quotes
Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce: [Winchester groans like a cow] Beej, don't forget, in the morning, it's your turn to milk Charles.

Connections
References Gone with the Wind (1939)

User reviews4

Review

Featured review

8/10

A View of Racism

This probably wouldn't have played well in the fifties. I'm sure racism was rampant at that time. World War II helped with that, segregating units. In this episode, a major has a high rate of casualties, particularly among his black soldiers. After they are wounded, he does what he can to get them sent home. A young soldier played by a baby faced Laurence Fishburn makes it known what is going on. Upon investigation his version of things is true. It's up to the boys to figure out a way to deal with this jerk. Meanwhile, Charles, who is amazingly frightened of dentists, finds himself with a horrific toothache. He does everything to avoid seeing a dentist until all forces begin to move in on him. This is a pretty well done offering with that sharp edge.