Tales Of The Gold Monkey

[Steve Long]

One or two people have recommended to me an early 80s TV series set in 1938, Tales Of The Gold Monkey. Unfortunately it only seems to be available in bootleg DVD form from www.goldmonkey.com as far as I can tell from a simple search. Before I search harder I thought I'd ask for further input on whether (a) it's fun to watch, and (b) it's good Pulp stuff. ;)

[Doc Democracy]

One or two people have recommended to me an early 80s TV series set in 1938, Tales Of The Gold Monkey. Unfortunately it only seems to be available in bootleg DVD form from www.goldmonkey.com as far as I can tell from a simple search. Before I search harder I thought I'd ask for further input on whether (a) it's fun to watch, and (b) it's good Pulp stuff. ;)

I have only vague recollections of content but I know that I enjoyed it - for what that is worth.

I don't think it would be essential viewing but it would probably be good core stuff.

[tkdguy]

I loved that show! It would definitely be a great pulp campaign.

[Yesman]

Yes! and Yes! very good show.

[Lord Liaden]

My own memories of the series are hazy - never really got into it - but IIRC it revolved around the adventures of a somewhat seedy private pilot with a seaplane (Stephen Collins) in South Asia, playing "reluctant hero" at the prompting of a female British government agent. IMO it was trying to capitalize on the success of the Indiana Jones franchise with a similar formula: action, exotic locales, period villains (pirates, Nazis etc.) and love/hate tensions between the two leads.

[MisterBaldy]

Yes...It was a good show. A little bit "toungue-in-cheek", but good all the same! ;)

[Wolfjack]

Call me Mr. Grumpy. As I recall, the show is to Raiders of The Lost Ark as Baa Baa Black Sheep was to The Longest Day. I don't mind corniness, but I've never been a big camp fan. Never got into it much, I think you'd be better off listening to old radio broadcasts of the Shadow for real pulpy goodness.

[Sketchpad]

One or two people have recommended to me an early 80s TV series set in 1938, Tales Of The Gold Monkey. Unfortunately it only seems to be available in bootleg DVD form from www.goldmonkey.com as far as I can tell from a simple search. Before I search harder I thought I'd ask for further input on whether (a) it's fun to watch, and (b) it's good Pulp stuff. ;)

It was a fun show .. a bit campy at times ... but a lot of fun. IMHO, it almost seems to be some of the inspiration to the Disney cartoon Tailspin :) As far as pulpy, it does jump on the Indy franchise wagon a bit, as the local is very Pulpy :) I highly recommend this show ... in fact, I'm thinking of getting the bootlegs eventually myself ;)

[Dr. Anomaly]

I have fond memories of that show, but since it's been so many years since I've seen it I can't swear how much of that fond memory might be the rosy glow of nostalgia.

I seem to remember the pilot had a small dog (named "Jack"?) who often seemed smarter than he was, and was used as a plot device or maguffin.

[st barbara]

Yes and Yes ! I have a copy (got from the site that you mentioned I think). Quality is not perfect but still watchable !

[AlHazred]

Reading through the website, I wonder if this is on the docket for a reunion movie or "reimagining". It's from the right time period.

[Greatwyrm]

I seem to remember the pilot had a small dog (named "Jack"?) who often seemed smarter than he was, and was used as a plot device or maguffin.

Yep, One Eye'd Jack. Little dog that (usually) wore an eyepatch. Apparently he had a false eye, but it was valuable -- an opal or something. It was always getting lost or stolen.

[tkdguy]

Jack could also respond by barking once for "no" and twice for "yes."

[FenrisUlf]

I remember it being fun, especially some of the long-term bad guys, like the Nazi spy pretending to be a priest (who kept screwing around with the local island women) and the half-Japanese/half-Irish Imperial princess who defined the phrase 'Dragon Lady'. (Is it just me, or did she spend half her time onscreen in hot tubs?) Her samurai bodyguard was a lot of fun too, especially when he gave the needle to the German agent.

Not a great show, but good.

[st barbara]

To "Greatwyrm" The "opal eye" was used as a stake in a game of poker at least once !

[Darren Watts]

FWIW, Diane used to watch it and enjoyed it, though mostly because she thought Collins was cute. Never saw it myself. dw

[Yesman]

Jack could also respond by barking once for "no" and twice for "yes."

..but Jake could never remember which number of barks meant what... which I believe had something to do with the 'eye' being lost...

[Worldmaker]

To "Greatwyrm" The "opal eye" was used as a stake in a game of poker at least once !


And I seem to remember a long-running thread through several episodes where Stephen Collins was constantly apologizing to the dog and swearing he'd win it back... just give him time!

[Supreme Serpent]

From what I remember, very fun show. Pulp setting, seaplane, I loved it watching it as a kid. Quality level about the same level as Buck Rogers or Wizards and Warriors - campy but fun.

[Bastion]

Agree with most of the assessments so far. A good show, just don't take it too seriously (it didn't). Had that 80's Action-comedy, Stephen Cannel (sp?) feel to it. You know, Hardcastle and McCormack, Riptide, Simon & Simon, Magnum P.I.esque. For good or bad, it almost collapsed under the weight of its pulp-era stereotypes. The reluctant hero(who was supposed to be an ex-Flyning Tigers pilot), the almost-human pet, the fish-out-of-water love interest, the kind-hearted mechanic that played the hero's conscience, the local bar owner who was an unashamadely direct ripoff of Claude Raines Capt. Renault from Casablanca, the dragon lady antagonist. It would make a very good tongue-in-cheek pulp game source.

[FenrisUlf]

And I seem to remember a long-running thread through several episodes where Stephen Collins was constantly apologizing to the dog and swearing he'd win it back... just give him time!

And every time he did he promptly lost it again, the yutz.

And am I remembering wrong, or was there an episode where they found a lost civilization of Egyptians (in the Pacific?) who made the dog a god? I seem to recall some guy running around in a full Anubis mask.

[Savinien]

Nope. I think you're right. That was the 'Lost Lands' episode. It had to happen, it was a Pulp Show!!

[Gary Miles]

Agree with most of the assessments so far. A good show, just don't take it too seriously (it didn't). Had that 80's Action-comedy, Stephen Cannel (sp?) feel to it. You know, Hardcastle and McCormack, Riptide, Simon & Simon, Magnum P.I.esque. For good or bad, it almost collapsed under the weight of its pulp-era stereotypes. The reluctant hero(who was supposed to be an ex-Flyning Tigers pilot), the almost-human pet, the fish-out-of-water love interest, the kind-hearted mechanic that played the hero's conscience, the local bar owner who was an unashamadely direct ripoff of Claude Raines Capt. Renault from Casablanca, the dragon lady antagonist. It would make a very good tongue-in-cheek pulp game source.

Actually, it was produced and created by Donald Bellisario (Magnum PI, Quantum Leap, JAG, NCIS, etc). It's one of my favorite '80s shows. Check out www.goldmonkey.com.

Gary

[SCUBA Hero]

"Shop The Monkey!" would make a great username!

[Cold Steel]

They were pretty clueless for not knowing that the priest with the german accent was a Nazi spy.

[Cougar]

They were pretty clueless for not knowing that the priest with the german accent was a Nazi spy.

Ah, but his cover was that he was Dutch. Guess the accents were supposed to be close enough to cover it.

PDS

[keithcurtis]

I just thought he was creepy for taking all those "confessions" from beautiful native girls.
Nazi spy? Why did they ever believe the guy was a minister?

Keith "Loved the show" Curtis

[Prometheus]

I just thought he was creepy for taking all those "confessions" from beautiful native girls.
Nazi spy? Why did they ever believe the guy was a minister?

C'mon, that was probably the most effective part of his cover.

[Fazhoul]

One or two people have recommended to me an early 80s TV series set in 1938, Tales Of The Gold Monkey. Unfortunately it only seems to be available in bootleg DVD form from www.goldmonkey.com as far as I can tell from a simple search. Before I search harder I thought I'd ask for further input on whether (a) it's fun to watch, and (b) it's good Pulp stuff. ;)
From what I can remember of the show the answer is yes to both questions. I'm going to have to look into getting those DVD's.

[tkdguy]

According to the website, everyone knew he was a German spy; they just played along with him.

[Midas]

And besides, he wasn't very fanatic about being a Nazi spy. He was basically just a horndog who had found a ready source of willing women. He reluctantly did "spy stuff" for fear of being recalled, IIRC.

Yes, it was a great show, and would make a good pulp campaign. The first ep (and where the series got its name) had the protagonists racing a band of nazies looking for a super metal that was immune to heat damage. They fought past giant oranutangs, braved lava flows, and found only a small plain brass monkey idol (which was kept as a suveneer). The Germans left in disgust...

Then the closing credits showed the golden orangutans sitting in their active vocano home, idly brushing off flecks of hot magma...

Midas ;)