"Tales of the Gold Monkey" (1982) TV series 1982-1983

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

The adventures of a 1930's Pacific Islands bush pilot and his companions.

Plot Keywords:

Pacific | Bush Pilot | 1930s | Aviation

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Stephen Collins	...	Jake Cutter (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jeff MacKay	...	Corky (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Marta DuBois	...	Princess Koji / ... (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Calvin	...	Reverend Willie Tenboom (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
John Fujioka	...	Todo (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Leo the Dog	...	Jack (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Caitlin O'Heaney	...	Sarah Stickney White (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Roddy McDowall	...	Bon Chance Louie (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Les Jankey	...	Gushie the Waiter / ... (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ahmed Kalane	...	Bartender / ... (11 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Directed by
Virgil W. Vogel		(4 episodes, 1982-1983)
James Frawley		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Winrich Kolbe		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Harvey S. Laidman		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ray Austin		(2 episodes, 1982)
James Fargo		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Writing credits
Donald P. Bellisario		(22 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Geiger		(8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Greene		(6 episodes, 1983)
William Driskill		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jay Huguely		(2 episodes, 1983)
Andrew Schneider		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Produced by
Donald P. Bellisario	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Donald A. Baer	....	producer (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
J. Rickley Dumm	....	co-producer (18 episodes, 1982-1983)
Leon Ortiz-Gil	....	associate producer (18 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Greene	....	co-producer / producer (10 episodes, 1982-1983)
Rick Weaver	....	co-producer (4 episodes, 1982)
John G. Stephens	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Original Music by
Frank Denson		(20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Pete Carpenter		(2 episodes, 1982)
Mike Post		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Cinematography by
Jack Whitman		(18 episodes, 1982-1983)
Fred J. Koenekamp		(2 episodes, 1982)
Duke Callaghan		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Film Editing by
Mario Di Gregorio		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bill Luciano		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Greg Wong		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Leon Ortiz-Gil		(3 episodes, 1982)
Michael Berman		(2 episodes, 1982)
Robert L. Kimble		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Production Design by
John W. Corso		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Art Direction by
William H. Tuntke		(20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Frank Grieco Jr.		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Set Decoration by
Richard B. Goddard		(19 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert George Freer		(3 episodes, 1982)

Series Costume Design by
Jean-Pierre Dorléac		(20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Al Lehman		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Makeup Department
Dorothy Andre	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1982)
Albert Jeyte	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1982)
Michael McCracken	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Production Management
Mitchell L. Gamson	....	unit production manager (11 episodes, 1983)
Gilles de Turenne	....	unit production manager (9 episodes, 1982)
Bill Carroll	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1982)
Joseph M. Ellis	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ryan Gordon	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Nick Marck	....	first assistant director (9 episodes, 1982-1983)
Richard T. Schor	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Anthony Brand	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1982)
Paul Cajero	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1982)
Jim Gardner	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1982)
David Jones	....	second unit director (2 episodes, 1982)
Norman Stevens	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1983)

Series Sound Department
John K. Kean	....	sound (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sam F. Shaw	....	sound effects editor (14 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sam Gemette	....	sound effects editor (5 episodes, 1983)
Jerry Jacobson	....	adr editor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Special Effects by
Johnny Borgese	....	special effects supervisor (22 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Visual Effects by
Syd Dutton	....	matte artist (17 episodes, 1982-1983)
Dennis Glouner	....	matte photography (17 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Stunts
Louie Elias	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Casting Department
Mark Malis	....	casting (21 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Chase	....	costume supervisor (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Denita Del Signore	....	costume supervisor (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Music Department
Mike Post	....	composer: theme music (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Pete Carpenter	....	composer: theme music (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Donald Woods	....	music editor (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Morrie McNaughton	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Other crew
Carol Gillson	....	assistant to the executive producer / assistant to executive producer (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Geiger	....	executive script consultant (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
J. David Jones	....	aerial coordinator (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Carl Miller Lewis	....	animal supervisor (13 episodes, 1982-1983)
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal supervisor / animal supervision (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael Hamilton	....	production consultant (2 episodes, 1982)
Harriet Margulies	....	assistant to director (1 episode, 1982)

Series Thanks
Lawrence Doheny	....	dedicated to the memory of (1 episode, 1982)

Production Companies

• Belisarius Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
• Fabulous Films (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Fabulous Films (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Studios USA Television

Special Effects

• David Stipes Productions (visual effects)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (22 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Park Lake, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

Roddy McDowall took over the part of saloonkeeper Bon Chance Louis from Ron Moody, who played the role in the TV movie, "Tales of the Gold Monkey: Tales of the Gold Monkey: Part 1 (#1.1)" (1982).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The series takes place in 1938 with some flashbacks to 1937 and 1936, and repeated references are made to the fact that Jake flew with the American Volunteer Group or "Flying Tigers" prior to his adventures in the show. The only problem is that the AVG did not see its first combat action until December 20th 1941 (that's three years after the events in the series are supposed to have taken place). We also see at least one flashback of Jake as a Tiger, fighting Japanese "Zeros". The Mitsubishi A6M. or "Zero" never fought against the AVG. Japan sent 15 Zeros to China in 1939, before the Tigers existed, two were shot down and the remaining 13 were recalled prior to that attack on Pearl Harbour, two weeks before the AVG saw its first combat action. The AVG only fought Ki-27 "Nates" and Ki-43 "Oscars". They shot down 290 of them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja I (#4.22)" (1992)

They don't make them like this anymore

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.