I have to admit right now that I didn't watch this show too much when it first aired, but I did catch an episode every now and then. And the thing that strikes me the most are the memorable characters.
Riding off of Lucas's and Spielberg's reinvention of Hollywood by reintroducing classic serial film making for the masses, Donald Belisario brings us a tale of an Indy Jones aviator flying the south seas in his Grumman "Goose" flying boat. With him are Jack, his canine companion missing one eye, his overweight mechanic with lots of good intentions, a French bar owner of Planet of the Apes fame, and of course a spy in the form of a femme fatal as she keeps tabs on the Japanese fleet for Uncle Sam.
The stories are outlandish. The characters over the top. The situation is right out of a 1930's Saturday matinée as we follow the adventures and misadventures of Jake and Jack and their friends.
It's not a very well shot series. It comes out of the industrial TV age of the 60s, 70s and 80s, where TV productions were cranked out like Golden Era Hollywood feature films. That is to say this thing was essentially mass produced with a lot of other TV. The stage and sets were predominantly pre-lit, so that all you had to do was setup the props and roll camera.
It's not the best TV show around, but if you find yourself liking the characters and situation, then that's all the producers can really expect. The show, had a bit more money been pumped into it, then there would've been money enough to stage and shoot proper flying sequences a- la "Baa-Baa Black Sheep" a fear years before. Ditto with the action sequences. There's a lot of slight of hand with editing going on, but the shots and sequences get their point across, even if those same action sequences are a bit stilted.
A proper production would have gone the extra mile as per Lucas's TV series from the 1990's; "The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones". Lucas's series lasted three full seasons with magnificent production values; battle sequences, chases, gunfights, equestrian theatrics, stunts on trains, and incredible flying sequences. Had Belisario gotten more financing for his show, then "Tales of the Gold Monkey" would have ranked up there as a high-ranking knock off of Lucas's and Spielberg's recreation and homage to afternoon serials of the 30s and 40s.
Otherwise, and I hate to say this, but will state so with the best intentions, this show is a mediocre TV series. It's even campy by borrowing from other genres, and incorporating concepts from films. Still, for all that, it is entertaining. But, like I say, had Golden Monkey been filmed on location, with extra money for real flight and proper action sequences, this production could have really shined beyond its current status. Still, it's likable for what it is. Again, still, for all that, the wit injected into the script breath life into the characters, and that makes this show worth watching.
A good TV program from an unheralded age of television. Campy, silly, moderately budgeted, but still endearing for all that.
Give it a chance.
Riding off of Lucas's and Spielberg's reinvention of Hollywood by reintroducing classic serial film making for the masses, Donald Belisario brings us a tale of an Indy Jones aviator flying the south seas in his Grumman "Goose" flying boat. With him are Jack, his canine companion missing one eye, his overweight mechanic with lots of good intentions, a French bar owner of Planet of the Apes fame, and of course a spy in the form of a femme fatal as she keeps tabs on the Japanese fleet for Uncle Sam.
The stories are outlandish. The characters over the top. The situation is right out of a 1930's Saturday matinée as we follow the adventures and misadventures of Jake and Jack and their friends.
It's not a very well shot series. It comes out of the industrial TV age of the 60s, 70s and 80s, where TV productions were cranked out like Golden Era Hollywood feature films. That is to say this thing was essentially mass produced with a lot of other TV. The stage and sets were predominantly pre-lit, so that all you had to do was setup the props and roll camera.
It's not the best TV show around, but if you find yourself liking the characters and situation, then that's all the producers can really expect. The show, had a bit more money been pumped into it, then there would've been money enough to stage and shoot proper flying sequences a- la "Baa-Baa Black Sheep" a fear years before. Ditto with the action sequences. There's a lot of slight of hand with editing going on, but the shots and sequences get their point across, even if those same action sequences are a bit stilted.
A proper production would have gone the extra mile as per Lucas's TV series from the 1990's; "The Chronicles of Young Indiana Jones". Lucas's series lasted three full seasons with magnificent production values; battle sequences, chases, gunfights, equestrian theatrics, stunts on trains, and incredible flying sequences. Had Belisario gotten more financing for his show, then "Tales of the Gold Monkey" would have ranked up there as a high-ranking knock off of Lucas's and Spielberg's recreation and homage to afternoon serials of the 30s and 40s.
Otherwise, and I hate to say this, but will state so with the best intentions, this show is a mediocre TV series. It's even campy by borrowing from other genres, and incorporating concepts from films. Still, for all that, it is entertaining. But, like I say, had Golden Monkey been filmed on location, with extra money for real flight and proper action sequences, this production could have really shined beyond its current status. Still, it's likable for what it is. Again, still, for all that, the wit injected into the script breath life into the characters, and that makes this show worth watching.
A good TV program from an unheralded age of television. Campy, silly, moderately budgeted, but still endearing for all that.
Give it a chance.