Tales of the Gold Monkey: Part 1

I never forgot this TV show, I actually looked forward to it every week. So I recently ordered the 6 DVD set off eBay (with supposedly all the episodes 22 in it). Considering I was in my 30's when it came out, I'll see if it measures up to my memories? And maybe post another review after I watch it again 40 some years later. Currently 74 but I guess there's still some kid in me.

I have watched the episodes many times and considered them excellent, shame they are getting old now and need replacing. Hopefully the series will be available on tape or preferably on DVD. Then people to young to see them at the original airing can see the show!!

Raids 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' in nearly every way imaginable, from the time period and search for a mysterious artifact (the titular Gold Monkey) to the two-fisted, leather jacket wearing hero battling Nazi bad guys. It's not like Indy is exactly %100 original, but coming right on the heels of 'ROTLA', 'Tales' does seem like it's definitely raiding Raiders.

Stephen Collins (yeah, I know, me too) is reasonably effective as Wannabe Jones, and a few "Oh, yeah. Him/her!" types round out the cast. The script features the occasional bit of wit, and the production values are above average. The show only ran for one season, but it has developed a bit of a cult following over the years (current IMDb rating is a more than respectable 8.2). The components for a reasonably fun bit of weekly escapism are here in this pilot episode, though I don't quite see it as being a, well, lost treasure.

I remember my buddy Mike in particular hooked me and my buddies onto this series. And of course we were all instantly hooked. What's not to love about an adventure series with a flying plan, a dog with an eye-patch, and a bunch of evil Nazis. Did I mention the beautiful women and the sly Frenchman? Mike already had a fixation with planes and this set him off as a fan of those old flying boats (or was it floating plane?) This was a great movie at a great time. Computer games were a wonderous and exciting things (Defender and and Battlezone were at the local pub we had the occasional Saturday night dinner at.) Indiana Jones was thrilling us. Our local town cinema was even running the 20's (30s?) version of Buck Rogers on Saturday afternoons as a preview to the feature movie.

This TV series was a classic example of the innocence of those times and the adventures we dreamed about.

I remember being a kid, waiting for summer to be over to watch this show. Hey, the commerical made this show another Raiders of the Lost Ark. In the end, this was another cheap telivision rip off. Maybe, the build up was too much. I found the stories too long, and draged out. The action too tvish. The lead actor was no Harrison Ford. Maybe, if I watched this show as a adult I would like it better, but I only watch a couple of them, and half the movie. My friend Marco liked it, but I found the series to be a big disapointment. In the end, the show did not last that long either. 3 out of 10 Is it even on in reruns. I can not believe I even rememberd it. I guess it was because it was such a bad memory.