Sanford and Son S01E05 A Matter of Life and Breath

Concerned about his father’s smoker’s cough, Lamont brings Fred in for a free tuberculosis screening at the American Lung Association’s Breathmobile. The test results take his breath away.

Storyline

While on his daily rounds, Lamont spots a “Breath Mobile” that is offering free chest X-Rays. Concerned about his father’s chain smoking, he tries to get his old man to get a chest X-Ray, which Fred is reluctant to do. He and Fred both get chest X-Rays and when they get the results in the mail, Fred’s letter comes up clean, but Lamont’s states that his test was “unsatisfactory due to a technical fault”. Taking this as a sign that he has tuberculosis, Lamont panics and decides to check into a sanitarium. Fred become nervous that the condition might be contagious and tries to sanitize the house. Later, Lamont comes home disgusted because the “technical fault” was due to his St. Christopher medal blocking the X-Ray. He also learns that while he was gone, Fred not only read his last will and testament, but also burned his mattresses, sheets and pillow cases

Did you know

Trivia

While Fred does quit smoking after this episode, Redd Foxx, in real life, was a four or five pack a day smoker and never did quit.

Goofs

Despite Fred stating he had smoked 2 packs a day since he was 10 and having a clean bill of health (highly unlikely), he was never shown smoking in any episodes before this one or for the rest of the show’s run.

User reviews

Daddy’s dying, who’s got the will

“A Matter of Life and Breath” finds Lamont anxious to have his longtime smoker father get a free chest X-ray at a passing ‘Breathmobile.’ The receptionist (Lillian Lehman) is young and pretty, inspiring this memorable exchange: “you’re a dirty old man you know that?” “and I’m gonna be one till I’m a dead old man!” Unfortunately, the nurse (Noreen Gammill) is an ‘old ugly white woman!’ It’s quite a surprise when the test results say that Fred is perfectly healthy, while Lamont is the one who needs a second test! Figuring his son is contaminated, Fred deigns to even touch him before it’s time for the examination. Lamont seals his last will and testament in an envelope, but his father is too anxious to wait until his son’s death before reading it.