When I first watched this film, I wasn't expecting much. I've heard it dumped on, critiqued, and panned from all sides. Boy, was I surprised! The movie is a real treat, and one of the last really entertaining movies to come out of Hollywood.
Fans of the pulp character Doc Savage tend to hate this movie, but really, it is a faithful adaptation of the character. I understand George Pal, the producer and screenwriter, was a huge fan of the Savage pulp novels, and his love really, REALLY shines through. He loves the characters so much that he doesn't hesitate to poke fun at them occasionally, but at the same time he maintains the audience's interest in the goings on.
The plot deals with Doc Savage (Ron Ely) and his Fabulous Five, comprised of Monk, a chemist, Ham, a lawyer, Rennie, an engineer, Johnny, an archelogist, and Long Tom, an electrican, journeying to South America to investigate the death of Doc's father, Professor Savage, who supposedly died of a rare tropical disease. The Professor's death was actually caused by the villainous Captain Seas (Paul Wexler), a sophistacated, villainous globe-trotter and explorer. Seas's reason for getting rid of Doc's father is....but that would be telling. Watch and find out.
This movie is fast-paced, funny, adventurous, and action-packed. Ron Ely is perfectly cast as Doc, complete with the blonde hair, massive physique, and all the litte gestures and mannerisms that go with the character of Savage. He even wears Doc's trademark white shirt and tan pants. The Fabolous Five are all well cast, too, with Darrel Zwerling standing out as the suave Ham. The interplay between Ham and Monk and the general interaction between all the team members really livens up the picture, just as it does the books.
Paul Wexler is also good as the villainous Captain Seas. He doesn't overact or chew the scenery in the slightest, and comes off as a strong bad guy. The atmosphere, both in New York at the beginning and later on in the South Amercian jungles, is well-handled, and the "Green Death" the hideous weapon with which the baddies dispose of their enemies, is really scary, thanks to Pal's special effects. I get the shivers just thinking about it.
The action highlights are many, but my favorite was the fight on the yacht midway, with Doc and his buddies battling Seas's henchmen in a great rough and tumble. The climactic fight between Doc and Seas is also good (and quite funny at the same time).
The John Phillip Sousa theme is rousing, humorous, and hummable. It lingers in the memory for a long time. I agree with another commentator that the use of the music was a master stroke.
The film really isn't campy, most of the humor derived from laughs WITH the characters, rather than at them. It's been compared to the Adam West BATMAN show, but in terms of villains, memorable characters, action, and atmosphere, it leaves BATMAN at the starting post. The script occasionally pokes fun at Doc's arsenal of gadgets and the greedy secondary villain (who sleeps in a giant cradle) but like the original Star Trek show, a little self-deprecating humor is needed to remind us that the fantastic goings-on are all in fun.
In conclusion, this is a really nifty movie, and a fitting finale to George Pal's career (it was his last picture). It's a labor of love and a job well done by all concerned.
Long live the Man of Bronze!
Fans of the pulp character Doc Savage tend to hate this movie, but really, it is a faithful adaptation of the character. I understand George Pal, the producer and screenwriter, was a huge fan of the Savage pulp novels, and his love really, REALLY shines through. He loves the characters so much that he doesn't hesitate to poke fun at them occasionally, but at the same time he maintains the audience's interest in the goings on.
The plot deals with Doc Savage (Ron Ely) and his Fabulous Five, comprised of Monk, a chemist, Ham, a lawyer, Rennie, an engineer, Johnny, an archelogist, and Long Tom, an electrican, journeying to South America to investigate the death of Doc's father, Professor Savage, who supposedly died of a rare tropical disease. The Professor's death was actually caused by the villainous Captain Seas (Paul Wexler), a sophistacated, villainous globe-trotter and explorer. Seas's reason for getting rid of Doc's father is....but that would be telling. Watch and find out.
This movie is fast-paced, funny, adventurous, and action-packed. Ron Ely is perfectly cast as Doc, complete with the blonde hair, massive physique, and all the litte gestures and mannerisms that go with the character of Savage. He even wears Doc's trademark white shirt and tan pants. The Fabolous Five are all well cast, too, with Darrel Zwerling standing out as the suave Ham. The interplay between Ham and Monk and the general interaction between all the team members really livens up the picture, just as it does the books.
Paul Wexler is also good as the villainous Captain Seas. He doesn't overact or chew the scenery in the slightest, and comes off as a strong bad guy. The atmosphere, both in New York at the beginning and later on in the South Amercian jungles, is well-handled, and the "Green Death" the hideous weapon with which the baddies dispose of their enemies, is really scary, thanks to Pal's special effects. I get the shivers just thinking about it.
The action highlights are many, but my favorite was the fight on the yacht midway, with Doc and his buddies battling Seas's henchmen in a great rough and tumble. The climactic fight between Doc and Seas is also good (and quite funny at the same time).
The John Phillip Sousa theme is rousing, humorous, and hummable. It lingers in the memory for a long time. I agree with another commentator that the use of the music was a master stroke.
The film really isn't campy, most of the humor derived from laughs WITH the characters, rather than at them. It's been compared to the Adam West BATMAN show, but in terms of villains, memorable characters, action, and atmosphere, it leaves BATMAN at the starting post. The script occasionally pokes fun at Doc's arsenal of gadgets and the greedy secondary villain (who sleeps in a giant cradle) but like the original Star Trek show, a little self-deprecating humor is needed to remind us that the fantastic goings-on are all in fun.
In conclusion, this is a really nifty movie, and a fitting finale to George Pal's career (it was his last picture). It's a labor of love and a job well done by all concerned.
Long live the Man of Bronze!