The Pumaman (1980) L'uomo puma (original title)

Director:

Alberto De Martino

Writers:

Luigi Angelo (screenplay)
Alberto De Martino (story)
(more)

Release Date:

14 February 1980 (Italy)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Low-budget superhero flick about a young man given a mystical medallion by a South American shaman,...

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Flying | Mask | Falling From Height | Aztec Indian

Cast

Walter George Alton	...	Prof. Tony Farms / Puma Man
Donald Pleasence	...	Kobras (as Donald Pleasance)
Miguel Ángel Fuentes	...	Vadinho (as Miguel Angel Fuentes)
Sydne Rome	...	Jane Dobson
Silvano Tranquilli	...	Dobson
Benito Stefanelli	...	Rankin - Kobras' Lieutenant
Guido Lollobrigida	...	Mustachioed Henchman
Peter Cellier	...	Museum Curator
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Sir George Bradley (as Jeffrey Coppleston)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Omero Capanna	...	Kobras Man (uncredited)
Giovanni Cianfriglia	...	Thug (uncredited)
Edward Mannix	...	Rankin (voice: English version) (uncredited)
Nello Pazzafini	...	Hitman (uncredited)
Angelo Ragusa	...	Thug (uncredited)
Franco Ukmar	...	Kobras Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Alberto De Martino

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Luigi Angelo		screenplay
Alberto De Martino		story
Massimo De Rita		screenplay

Original Music by
Renato Serio

Cinematography by
Mario Vulpiani

Film Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Antonio Visone

Costume Design by
Mario Giorsi

Makeup Department
Sergio Gennari	....	key hair stylist
Stefano Trani	....	chief makeup

Production Management
Giuseppe Auriemma	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Claudio Marson	....	second assistant director
Joe Pollini	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Roberto Alberghini	....	sound engineer
Michael Billingsley	....	sound editor
Fernando Caso	....	special sound effects
Gianni D'Amico	....	sound mixing engineer
Alvaro Gramigna	....	special sound effects
Mario Morigi	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Mauro Grilli	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mario Bernardo	....	special optical effects
Ermando Biamonte	....	traveling mattes

Camera and Electrical Department
Emilio Lari	....	set photographer
Maurizio Maggi	....	camera operator
Filippo Neroni	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Luciana Mancini	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Giancarlo Tiburzi	....	assistant editor
Pietro Tomassi	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Renato Serio	....	conductor

Other crew
Gioia Donati	....	script girl
Georgio Ferrari	....	spaceship realizer
Otello Tomassini	....	production accountant

Production Companies

• ADM Films Department--DEANTIR

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Cinema Shares International Distribution (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Parade Video (video)
• Prism Entertainment Corporation (video)
• Videocast (198?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Rocchetti e Carboni  wigs
• SAT Cinecostumi  costumes
• Studio 4  titles and opticals
• WEST Edizioni Musicali  music edition

Also Known As:

"L'uomo puma" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:T | West Germany:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London, England, UK

Company:

ADM Films Department--DEANTIR

Trivia:

Star Donald Pleasence once cited this as the worst film he had ever been in.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The "stone" wall of Kobras' lair gives very noticeably when Puma Man throws two goons into it.

Quotes:

Kobras:I always perfer to strike first.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sky High (2005)

You will believe a puma can fly....

Puma Man - who is he? Why is he here? Where did he come from? Why is he a manic-depressive?

All of these questions - or at least most - can be answered by watching "L'uomo puma" (or "Puma Man", as I know it). Made (solely) to cash in on the "Superman" craze, this comes in at just barely more tolerable than "The Indian Superman" (never seen that one? Check out "Stomp Tokyo").

Seems Aztec priest Vadinho ("an onion?") is throwing guys out of high-rise windows all over London to see which one is a super hero. Well, if there's no better way to find out.... Then he comes upon college professor Tony Farms (Alton, whom you probably haven't seen since those old "dry look" commercials), who survives a three-story fall quite nicely. Vadinho then bestows a magic belt on him that grants Tony the heroic powers of a puma.

Okay...stop there. Comparison time. Tony jumps, pumas jump. Tony claws things, pumas claw things. Tony flies, pumas.... Aah, there, SEE? Of course, if a puma was going through the air, it would probably flail its limbs all around and have its butt up the air, too.

Anyway, Tony's first assignment: stop the evil Kobras (Pleasance!!) from taking over the world by staring at people through an aluminum foil mask and controlling their minds with papier-mache mock-ups of their heads (poor representations, too), and while wearing leather S&M suits or silver nehru jackets. Oh Donald, what were you thinking? "Paycheck", no doubt.

Everything here suggests the film-makers were trying to attain the lofty heights of "Superman"; but this group doesn't even get close to "Super Mario Brothers" territory.

Love the disco soundtrack, though, as well as the special FX (no more special than back projection technology) and that perplexed look Donald Pleasance has on his face throughout the film. Maybe he was expecting Steve McQueen to drop by and help him escape?

At any rate, MST3K is the safest, least harmful way to witness the disaster that is "Puma Man". For certain, Mike and the robots supply the best dialogue (favorite - "Couldn't control me bladder - sorry, mate!")

Three stars for "L'uomo puma" (for sheer joy in its stupidity), and ten stars for the MST3K version.

Catch it, just to see what puts the "poo" in "Puma Man".