30 reviews
This was a cool show! I'm surprised it didn't last longer, I mean this seems like perfect fare for the early '80s, with Indiana Jones and all. I guess it was a big hit with kids, but not so much with adults. It was awesome to me, but then I was only 9 at the time, so what did I know??
I enjoyed the collected DVD compilation. It combined a terrific ensemble cast with an complex story line. Granted there were times when the Corky character would get on my nerves and I could have done with less of him.
My chief impression though is that the series had longer scripts than the episodes had time to film. There are a number of episodes that could have benefited from a longer run time in order to flesh out things that were skimmed over or left poorly explained. Still, given what the 80s were, and compared to the carbon-copy ensemble shows we have now, this was not bad.
Oh, and BTW, Herthh, you should try paying attention when you watch and then your review might not contain so may inaccuracies.
My chief impression though is that the series had longer scripts than the episodes had time to film. There are a number of episodes that could have benefited from a longer run time in order to flesh out things that were skimmed over or left poorly explained. Still, given what the 80s were, and compared to the carbon-copy ensemble shows we have now, this was not bad.
Oh, and BTW, Herthh, you should try paying attention when you watch and then your review might not contain so may inaccuracies.
- jamesroyhold
- May 1, 2019
- Permalink
TotGM came on Flemish (commercial) television in 1989 - 1990. I was 41 years old then, which is somewhat older then many of the other reviewers. I remember it as a perfect combination of adventure, romance and historical background, and with enough suspense to keep every episode very enjoyable. Today, 16 years later (and older), it still remains my favourite TV series and until this day I check regularly whether it would appear in the programming of one or other of the many TV stations which can be received in Flanders. As far as I know this has never been the case ... I am thus, like many of you, eagerly awaiting a release on DVD !
- gilbert-haentjens
- Aug 5, 2006
- Permalink
Contrary to popular consensus, TotGM was not an Indiana Jones knockoff, although the popularity of those movies was probably responsible for Gold Monkey getting its shot on television. No, Gold Monkey was much more in line with many older adventure movies, and creator Donald Bellisario insisted it was inspired mostly by the 1939 movie Only Angels Have Wings.
Regardless of where it came from, though, this was a very enjoyable series. As a boy of 9 at the time it originally aired, I was absolutely enamored with it (so much so, in fact, that my father still calls me "Jake" to this day). Now, as a man of 30, I have managed to find copies of all the episodes, and I find that I still love it. I may love it even more now that I'm older and more able to appreciate the historical references in the show, which is set in the Pacific in 1938. Spies and political intrigues abound in every single episode, and provide the perfect backdrop for an adventure story.
This series is clearly a product of early 80s American television, showing quite a bit of similarity in structure and production values with nearly every other series produced at the time. Gold Monkey, though, was far from formulaic, and very original. How many shows can you name that had an intelligent one-eyed dog that was regarded in every respect as an equal member of the cast?
I will never understand why it didn't last more than a single season, but at least I can enjoy what little there is. "Tales of the Gold Monkey" will always have a special place in my heart and on my video shelf.
Regardless of where it came from, though, this was a very enjoyable series. As a boy of 9 at the time it originally aired, I was absolutely enamored with it (so much so, in fact, that my father still calls me "Jake" to this day). Now, as a man of 30, I have managed to find copies of all the episodes, and I find that I still love it. I may love it even more now that I'm older and more able to appreciate the historical references in the show, which is set in the Pacific in 1938. Spies and political intrigues abound in every single episode, and provide the perfect backdrop for an adventure story.
This series is clearly a product of early 80s American television, showing quite a bit of similarity in structure and production values with nearly every other series produced at the time. Gold Monkey, though, was far from formulaic, and very original. How many shows can you name that had an intelligent one-eyed dog that was regarded in every respect as an equal member of the cast?
I will never understand why it didn't last more than a single season, but at least I can enjoy what little there is. "Tales of the Gold Monkey" will always have a special place in my heart and on my video shelf.
I watched this show way back when it came out but only saw about a half a dozen episodes. Some of these also appeared as reruns a while later, but never the entire series. So I was delighted when the DVD box was announced at last and even paid the folks at Amazon in advance of its release. Now, don't get me wrong kids: this is a TV series by the guys who did Magnum p.i. and Quantum Leap (and J.A.G and N.C.I.S) and it is really a TV series from that Magnum period all the way. Studio sets, stock shots, very familiar character actors and that horny, brassy Mike Post music (again, like Magnum) screaming inappropriately everywhere. But this series is a gas, man! It's fun! It's silly! It's TV! AND it has Jack - undoubtedly the smartest dog in TV history! And Jack talks! Well, sort of. One bark for "no" and two barks for "yes" and he cracks me up in every episode. Rent it, buy it, I don't care. You'll thank me later. (Arf, arf!)
Well, Herthh, you're entitled to your long, senseless and mostly incoherent opinion. It's good to see that you're a fan of the eight copy-cat prime time crime dramas currently ruling the fading major networks.
"Gold Monkey" had a great cast of talented actors who had strong chemistry together. That's why it developed such a strong group of devotees during its short life time. The Kirk, Spock and McCoy characters could have been plunked down into almost any plot and had a hit because of the appealing interaction between them.
If you didn't find the relationships between Jake and Corky and Jake and Sarah appealing then you're just not a 30's kind of guy.
"Gold Monkey" had a great cast of talented actors who had strong chemistry together. That's why it developed such a strong group of devotees during its short life time. The Kirk, Spock and McCoy characters could have been plunked down into almost any plot and had a hit because of the appealing interaction between them.
If you didn't find the relationships between Jake and Corky and Jake and Sarah appealing then you're just not a 30's kind of guy.
Tales of the Gold Monkey. Is a show That sprang up after the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Tales of the Gold monkey and Bring Em back alive were the two shows that tried to copy an Indiana Jones vein. While both shows only stayed for a season they were actually superior to a lot of shows that did stay. Tales of the Gold monkey is the story of Captain Jake Cutter and his friends on a Pacific island in 1938 They must contend with Nazi spies Pirates and just about every other perils the adventure pulp novels could think of. Jake Cutter is a out of work pilot who owns a battered Grumman goose. He travels with Corky a mechanic with a drinking problem. Jack a egotistical one eyed dog. Along the way he ends up working at the monkey bar owned by Bon chance Louie a shady con man with a heart of gold. When the show opens Jake is flying cargo with his beloved plane Cuter's Goose. and he runs into American Spy Sarh . Naturally after a few adventures together they fall in love. And after that the show to it's credit. does not fall into a formula show. it instead becomes a one reel serial adventure movie. here the heroes are heroes the bad guys are bad guys and there are no areas off grey. This show still remains a treasured part of my childhood so much. I bought the series on DVD. and today it's a show even my sons enjoy. That says a lot about a 30 year + show that only lasted a season. Now if they would only release Bring Em Back alive on DVD. Oh well until then I have this show to keep me company.
- bluesman-20
- Jul 18, 2014
- Permalink
I remember seeing this show as a kid, and loved it. My parents were into the Raiders of the Lost Ark movies, and this was just an extension of those 1930's serials.
And when, less than 10 years later, Talespin aired, it brought the memories flooding right back for this show.
Comparisons:
Jake had the Cutter's Goose, a sea plane.
Baloo flew the Sea Duck, also a twin-engine sea plane,
The bar where Jake used to frequent was called Louie's; so was the bar where Baloo frequented.
Wildcat was Baloo's absent-minded mechanic; Corky was Jake's absent-minded mechanic (albeit, Corky suffered from too much drinking, while Wildcat was just absent-minded and something of an idiot savant when it came to repairing things).
Tales of the Gold Monkey was just 10 years too early. It was a great show, a great premise - constantly going on treasure hunts, getting in and out of scrapes with the Japanese and Nazis that were starting to come to power, and of course, the American and German spies going back and forth.
Sure, some of the scenes were re-hashed over and over (scenes of the Goose taking off and landing, or of the Goose flying somewhere over land), but that's to be expected to cut costs. Flying an old air boat like that probably wasn't cheap, and they wanted to keep production costs down...I miss this show. Maybe it's time for a resurrection, as long as it doesn't leave a bad "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" taste in our mouths.
And when, less than 10 years later, Talespin aired, it brought the memories flooding right back for this show.
Comparisons:
Jake had the Cutter's Goose, a sea plane.
Baloo flew the Sea Duck, also a twin-engine sea plane,
The bar where Jake used to frequent was called Louie's; so was the bar where Baloo frequented.
Wildcat was Baloo's absent-minded mechanic; Corky was Jake's absent-minded mechanic (albeit, Corky suffered from too much drinking, while Wildcat was just absent-minded and something of an idiot savant when it came to repairing things).
Tales of the Gold Monkey was just 10 years too early. It was a great show, a great premise - constantly going on treasure hunts, getting in and out of scrapes with the Japanese and Nazis that were starting to come to power, and of course, the American and German spies going back and forth.
Sure, some of the scenes were re-hashed over and over (scenes of the Goose taking off and landing, or of the Goose flying somewhere over land), but that's to be expected to cut costs. Flying an old air boat like that probably wasn't cheap, and they wanted to keep production costs down...I miss this show. Maybe it's time for a resurrection, as long as it doesn't leave a bad "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" taste in our mouths.
- mygenerationpodcast
- Oct 26, 2013
- Permalink
I was a young 22 just out of active duty after serving 4 yrs in the United States Navy when this show first appeared, this was an awesome program, love the 30s time, the way people dressed, talked, behaved...it was a better time (without having to get into the nuances of today)... the south pacific, that specific area and post WW2)...the writing acting, costumes...beyond words, my family would record it for me,(when you could) on super8, while I was on reserve duty...it was good, you could watch the show and enjoy the exploits of the cast, (fast forward thru the commercials) it was very disappointing to see it get canceled even though it received recognition, ABC made a mistake, as the networks often do
Knowing now who wrote this show, it makes more sense to me that I sometimes felt like there should have been more information given. He's an excellent writer and was then too. Maybe he was thinking of too much and couldn't cram in all the details. Regardless, I would love to watch the entire season again. We loved it.
My husband and I loved this show! We never missed it. We were in our late 20's and expecting our first child. Of course, we were thinking of names for the baby constantly. At one point, one of us said that we liked the name "Jake." And that is the name of our first-born, not Jacob, but Jake. We didn't know anyone named Jake at the time, but my husbands boss was expecting their third baby when we had Jake. When my husband called and told him the name, boss said, "No way. That's the name we picked for ours if it's a boy." They named him Jake anyway, boss left the company shortly after and we never ran into them again.
My husband and I loved this show! We never missed it. We were in our late 20's and expecting our first child. Of course, we were thinking of names for the baby constantly. At one point, one of us said that we liked the name "Jake." And that is the name of our first-born, not Jacob, but Jake. We didn't know anyone named Jake at the time, but my husbands boss was expecting their third baby when we had Jake. When my husband called and told him the name, boss said, "No way. That's the name we picked for ours if it's a boy." They named him Jake anyway, boss left the company shortly after and we never ran into them again.
- cathyfromkaty
- Jul 7, 2024
- Permalink
I remember watching this show and loving it. Couldn't remember a single episode....so when I got a chance to re-watch the entire series, I was hesitant to destroy my fond memories and see how possibly cheap and bad the show actually was. Well it does have some bad acting, not from Stephen Collins, he is perfectly cast as a likable hero, but rather from some supporting and guest cast members. Some of the plots are pretty ludicrous and cheesy.... but damn, it's fun to watch! I have to say they did a great job at producing a high action & adventure show on a TV budget. Obviously some of the special effects don't stand up by today's standard but this was produced more than 30 years ago so you can easily over look it and find it amusing rather than be critical of it.
The one thing I was surprised by was the high body count that this supposed light hearted fun & adventure Indiana Jones TV show rip off actually contains...whether heroes or villains, they drop like fly's on this show.
Stephan Collins and "Jack" the one eyed patch wearing, beer drinking, English language understanding dog, both steal the show. It is a shame it only lasted one season but at least we have that much. This one does not disappoint!
- joker-scar
- Sep 16, 2018
- Permalink
It's 1938 in the South Pacific. Jake Cutter (Stephen Collins) is a former Flying Tigers pilot flying his seaplane Cutter's Goose with his one-eyed dog Jack. With drunken mechanic Corky (Jeff MacKay), he operates out of the French island Bora Gora run by the supportive Bon Chance Louie (Roddy McDowall) who owns the Monkey Bar and Hotel. One day, he comes to the defense of performer Sarah Stickney White (Caitlin O'Heaney) who turns out to be an American secret agent. The Nazis are chasing the legendary Gold Monkey which is made of a heat-resistant alloy, guarded by deadly apes, and located on a volcanic island. They recruit half-Irish Japanese Princess Koji (Marta DuBois) and her samurai henchman Todo (John Fujioka). The second episode ends with Jake finding a small brass monkey which becomes the icon of the show. The actual giant golden monkey is never found and believed to be a myth. There is also Reverend Willie Tenboom (John Calvin) who is not actually a man of God and in reality a Nazi operative with murky motives.
Following the success of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', ABC brings this 30s style action adventure to network TV. The pilot is solid with some odd camp and plenty of action adventure. It's a lower-level sillier version of Raiders. It's more like a cheaper 'Temple of Doom'. The Gold Monkey serves as a great McGuffin. The rest of the season suffers without that McGuffin. It becomes a story of the week. Some of it works but plenty do not. The show needs an objective to drive it. It's not actually a procedural and there is nothing connecting the stories from week to week. Stephen Collins is great back in the day. Caitlin O'Heaney looks like a younger Lesley Ann Warren. The most fun is Jack who always has the best bit like losing his glass eye in a card game. The gang is a fun group. This show starts with a fun old style action adventure movie and then tries to milk stories out of the situation for the rest of the season. It lasted one season and no more.
Following the success of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', ABC brings this 30s style action adventure to network TV. The pilot is solid with some odd camp and plenty of action adventure. It's a lower-level sillier version of Raiders. It's more like a cheaper 'Temple of Doom'. The Gold Monkey serves as a great McGuffin. The rest of the season suffers without that McGuffin. It becomes a story of the week. Some of it works but plenty do not. The show needs an objective to drive it. It's not actually a procedural and there is nothing connecting the stories from week to week. Stephen Collins is great back in the day. Caitlin O'Heaney looks like a younger Lesley Ann Warren. The most fun is Jack who always has the best bit like losing his glass eye in a card game. The gang is a fun group. This show starts with a fun old style action adventure movie and then tries to milk stories out of the situation for the rest of the season. It lasted one season and no more.
- SnoopyStyle
- Feb 12, 2017
- Permalink
I remember watching this show as a 10 year old. It was my favorite show. I was crushed when it got cancelled after only 1 season. I couldn't believe such a great show got cancelled while lousy Knight Rider ran on. How could a kid not like the adventure, the exotic locales, the Cutter's Goose? I looked for the show a few years ago online and couldn't find anything. I recently found a site doing a Google search. I purchase the DVD collection for old time sake, trying to relive the past. I figured it would never live up to my childhood memories.
So far I've gone through about 8 episodes and wow!!! I find myself enjoying it as much as ever. Who would have thought that after more than 20 years.
The casting as top notch, not like today where a pretty face is all that is required. Jake, Corky, Sara, Louie, Princess Koji, Jack and the Reverend were perfect. The chemistry between them is flawless. You can't help but like all the characters. The story lines are very 80's, simplistic but very enjoyable. The show has a subtle sense of humor I probably didn't appreciate as a youngster.
Give me a beaten old seaplane over Kitt any day of the week.
Drinks at the Monkey Bar are on me :)
So far I've gone through about 8 episodes and wow!!! I find myself enjoying it as much as ever. Who would have thought that after more than 20 years.
The casting as top notch, not like today where a pretty face is all that is required. Jake, Corky, Sara, Louie, Princess Koji, Jack and the Reverend were perfect. The chemistry between them is flawless. You can't help but like all the characters. The story lines are very 80's, simplistic but very enjoyable. The show has a subtle sense of humor I probably didn't appreciate as a youngster.
Give me a beaten old seaplane over Kitt any day of the week.
Drinks at the Monkey Bar are on me :)
- mailrefuge
- Aug 5, 2005
- Permalink
The series did make the BIG mistake of Jake being a former "Flying Tiger", four years before the Flying Tigers existed, but lets let that go. In the pilot episode you had a former fighter pilot (Jake), his troubled mechanic, an interesting and quirky dog, exotic south seas locale, and a bar on a south seas island run by a Frenchman with a checkered past. Enter an American secret agent, Nazis after a fabled treasure and an island with a reputation so evil that no one will go near it (and it is where the treasure is). The end of the pilot was stunning.
The rest of the series, however, the writing seemed to meander and the series quickly lost focus. New characters were introduced, but the writers weren't sure where to go with the story. As this was early 80's TV, the series was allowed to run it's full season, then was quickly cancelled.
I was sorry to see it go. American TV series seem to do things on the cheap (the original Star Trek series had a stuntman under a thrift store rug as the villain in one episode) and so no real plans were made to advance the series. As Jake flew deliveries and passengers to other islands, if Bellasario productions actually had access to an island, instead of a studio set, the series could have gone somewhere and done some interesting things, but alas, it was not to be.
. . . was an absolutely fantastic show. I was only twelve when it aired, and given my age it holds the same place in my heart that movies like "Indiana Jones" hold (and yes, I know the former did not derive from the latter). It was fantastic in the true sense of the word. At the same time, it was light-hearted and fun and adventurous. I have ever since wanted to visit Boragora, and was disappointed to find that the place didn't exist.
I searched for hours on-line looking for the name of this show. For whatever reason, the image of it popped into my head a few months back, and I could not for the life of me remember it. Hours on-line cured that.
For all you Gold Monkey fans out there, you can now purchase the season on DVD.
I searched for hours on-line looking for the name of this show. For whatever reason, the image of it popped into my head a few months back, and I could not for the life of me remember it. Hours on-line cured that.
For all you Gold Monkey fans out there, you can now purchase the season on DVD.
- dmeyer6858
- May 30, 2005
- Permalink
I noticed when looking up this show, that most of the reviewers were just kids when this show was out. I was about 30 when this came out, & granted I may have just been a big kid, but I liked this show quite a lot.
The broad natures of the characters was a nice use of clichés to set up a pretty cool little world. Evil Nazies, great side kick, beautiful babe, comic dog & iron jawed hero. I was always surprised when it went off after one season. Seemed like it had a nice world with lots of angles left to explore.
Eh, well, lots of shows I've liked were one season wonders. I guess I'm not a good demographic model for advertisers.
I'm looking forward to getting the DVD. The Web has been a wonderful thing for finding rare gems like this.
The broad natures of the characters was a nice use of clichés to set up a pretty cool little world. Evil Nazies, great side kick, beautiful babe, comic dog & iron jawed hero. I was always surprised when it went off after one season. Seemed like it had a nice world with lots of angles left to explore.
Eh, well, lots of shows I've liked were one season wonders. I guess I'm not a good demographic model for advertisers.
I'm looking forward to getting the DVD. The Web has been a wonderful thing for finding rare gems like this.
"Tales of the Gold Monkey" was a fun romp of a show. Rather than being a rip-off of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," it was a show inspired by classic movies, such as "Only Angels Have Wings," with a great cast including Stephen Collins, Caitlin O'Heaney, Jeff MacKay, and the late Roddy McDowell. Running only one season, the show never made it into syndication, although the USA Network ran it in the late 80's.
Yep I saw it when I was living abroad but never when I was in the United States strangely enough.
I was in my late teens I loved it, so did my family. I would love to see it again but for all the internet searches I have done over the years this is the first time I have ever got a reply to a search for it.
I would like to find out who has the tapes and see if they are going to release them on DVD. It is set in a very nostalgic era and I think it would go down well today even though it was a TV series.
If you find anywhere broadcasting it please let me know.
I was in my late teens I loved it, so did my family. I would love to see it again but for all the internet searches I have done over the years this is the first time I have ever got a reply to a search for it.
I would like to find out who has the tapes and see if they are going to release them on DVD. It is set in a very nostalgic era and I think it would go down well today even though it was a TV series.
If you find anywhere broadcasting it please let me know.
A great programme that I remember watching in the early 80's on British TV. It was shown in England in about 1982 (I was 12, my brother 16). We both loved it, but it was only on for one series and then vanished into thin air. I would love to see this again!
Reminiscent of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but with a classier, darker feel to the stories. The characters were less one dimensional, but still appealed to the kid in me. I always loved the flying "boat plane"!
Reminiscent of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but with a classier, darker feel to the stories. The characters were less one dimensional, but still appealed to the kid in me. I always loved the flying "boat plane"!
I was just a kid when this show was on TV, but I still remember it with a warm feeling. I was a real adventure show, with a lot of cool stories. I doubt that I would worship it if I saw it again, but it would be a great trip of nostalgia. Plus it can´t be all bad.
- mrviolence
- Jul 8, 2000
- Permalink
I just happened to think of this show one night as I was on the web, and so I decided to look it up. I was SIX years old when this show aired on TV, but I still remember it, ever so hazily. Like the other commentees - I too was captured by it in my youth and would love to see it again. Strange it is that we all seem to have looked it up at about the same time, '98-'99.
This morning I woke up with the title in my head. Obviously some of you have too.
This was the show to tune into when my friends and I were in third grade. The next day's lessons were always secondary to the discussions of Jake, the Goose, and all the adventures contained within the world of the show.
I too was initially surprised that it only lasted one season, but I quickly remembered tuning in to it's normal time slot the following fall (I believe it was Tuesdays at 8?) and being disappointed. So sad. The show was awesome. Our little eight and nine year old minds were just overdriven by the by it.
This was the show to tune into when my friends and I were in third grade. The next day's lessons were always secondary to the discussions of Jake, the Goose, and all the adventures contained within the world of the show.
I too was initially surprised that it only lasted one season, but I quickly remembered tuning in to it's normal time slot the following fall (I believe it was Tuesdays at 8?) and being disappointed. So sad. The show was awesome. Our little eight and nine year old minds were just overdriven by the by it.
- jasonsiques
- Jul 8, 2005
- Permalink
Good & picturesque TV series. i saw some episodes in french channel "serrie club"and it vanished! Can I see it on US channels?I am still a fan of war series like Black sheer squad.with R.Conrad & Hoagan Heroes. where to find info. & posters on the web? Your website is wonderful & I found there unvaluable infos of any kind please apologize for my english!