Yuku free message boards
Username or E-mail:
Password:
Forgot
Password?
Sign Up
Grab the Yuku app
Search:
Classic Horror Film Board
>
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
>
George Pal's DOC SAVAGE
0 Points
Search this Topic:
Remove this ad
«Prev
1
2
3
Next»
Jump
Add Reply
Forum Jump
Welcome to the CHFB
Forum Guidelines
CHFB TURNS 20!
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Universal Horrors
The Universal Monsters Blu-Ray Collection
Golden Age Horror
Kong - 8th Wonder of the World
Silent Horror
Poverty Row
The World of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mystery
Thrills and Chills
'50s Horror and Sci-Fi
'60s Horror and Sci-Fi
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
Hammer Horror
The Psycho Ward
Foreign Horror
Japanese Giants
Horror and Sci-Fi of Recent Decades
Current Films
Second Takes on Films of the 2000s
Independent Films and Documentaries
Coming Soon
TV Terrors
Classic Horror on DVD, Blu-Ray and Streaming
Stream and Stream Again
Horror Film Books and Magazines
Horror by Candlelight
Horror Comics and Fantasy Art
Monster Toys and Collectibles
Classic Horror Movie Memorabilia
Horror Music
Old Time Radio and Audio Horror
Classic Horror Online
CHFB Member Reviews
Our Favorite Horror Hosts
Classic Disney Scares
Horror Film Stars
Men Behind the Monsters
Monster Kid Memories
General Horror and Sci-Fi
Horror Tech
Movie of the Day
Off Topic Discussions
Classic Horror News and Events
Birthdays and Holidays
DVR / TiVo Alert
Final Farewells
Classic Horror Polls
Classic Horror Classifieds
Monster Kids Helping Monster Kids
<< Previous Topic
Next Topic >>
Re: George Pal's DOC SAVAGE
Author
Comment
Unregistered(d)
DOC Notes
#1
[-]
Jan 16 06 12:06 AM
Reply
Quote
More
My Recent Posts
George Pals enthusiasm for Doc Savage was almost too prescient too soon: five years after the Doc movie flopped, INDIANA JONES (perhaps the ultimate Doc ripoff) took theatres by storm, proving the audience WAS actually there. The myriad problems with the Doc film frequently outweigh its good points, namely, the casting of Ron Ely and the near-pitch-perfect New York sequences. In fact, it was the opening New York sequences (including the chase and Docs slide down the elevator cable) that Pal used as a show-reel, with justifiable pride. Unfortunately, once they climb aboard that plane, they seem to fly into another movie entirely, and the mood never recovers UNTIL the team returns to New York for the wrap-up. The plotline for the film contained bits and pieces from the debut novel, MAN OF BRONZE, furniture from THE THOUSAND-HEADED MAN, and the Green Death from er, THE GREEN DEATH.
Joe Morhaim wrote a completed script for ARCHENEMY OF EVIL that was basically the plot of DEATH IN SILVER, with more fidelity to the source novel.
The more recent Doc script the one that was supposed to star Schwarzenegger held not a whiff of the classic Doc, being overrun with giant Nazi robots (derived from those SUPERMAN-inspired flying, bank robbing machines). The multiple irony was that (1) Superman got some of his chops from Doc (including the Fortress of Solitude and his secret identity name) and (2) the script was essentially beholden to a post-INDIANA JONES cinema mindset, meaning that it was clearly and baldly intended to advantage the Indiana Jones / Stephen Somers MUMMY tone which would not exist had not the ingredients been derived from Doc Savage in the first place.
Dwayne Johnson The Rock would make a great Doc Savage. Just imagine him with his hair buzz-cut and dyed bronze (the lighter the shade, the more hed resemble Shell Scott!). Unlike Schwarzenegger, who fits to a T Philip Jose Farmers description of the James Bama Doc as a fifty-year-old ex-Mr. Universe down on his luck, Johnson has the right proportion of muscle, acting chops, self-deprecating humor, and stunt ability to make a movie Doc credible.
For those who are interested, after Ron Ely retired from game shows he wrote two not-very-bad detective novels, basically featuring a roman-a-clef version of himself, re-cast as a coffee-drinking ex-alcoholic, NIGHT SHADOWS and EAST BEACH. He would be perfect, right now, to play Docs dad, which would be appropriate casting indeed.
It might interest oldmanster to know that the Indian in the film was played by William Katt (yep, THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO) in a lot of body makeup.
<< Previous Topic
Next Topic >>
Add Reply
Forum Jump
Welcome to the CHFB
Forum Guidelines
CHFB TURNS 20!
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Universal Horrors
The Universal Monsters Blu-Ray Collection
Golden Age Horror
Kong - 8th Wonder of the World
Silent Horror
Poverty Row
The World of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mystery
Thrills and Chills
'50s Horror and Sci-Fi
'60s Horror and Sci-Fi
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
Hammer Horror
The Psycho Ward
Foreign Horror
Japanese Giants
Horror and Sci-Fi of Recent Decades
Current Films
Second Takes on Films of the 2000s
Independent Films and Documentaries
Coming Soon
TV Terrors
Classic Horror on DVD, Blu-Ray and Streaming
Stream and Stream Again
Horror Film Books and Magazines
Horror by Candlelight
Horror Comics and Fantasy Art
Monster Toys and Collectibles
Classic Horror Movie Memorabilia
Horror Music
Old Time Radio and Audio Horror
Classic Horror Online
CHFB Member Reviews
Our Favorite Horror Hosts
Classic Disney Scares
Horror Film Stars
Men Behind the Monsters
Monster Kid Memories
General Horror and Sci-Fi
Horror Tech
Movie of the Day
Off Topic Discussions
Classic Horror News and Events
Birthdays and Holidays
DVR / TiVo Alert
Final Farewells
Classic Horror Polls
Classic Horror Classifieds
Monster Kids Helping Monster Kids
Share This
Email to Friend
del.icio.us
Digg it
Facebook
Blogger
Yahoo MyWeb
«Prev
1
2
3
Next»
Jump
Classic Horror Film Board
>
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
>
George Pal's DOC SAVAGE
Click to subscribe by RSS
Click to receive E-mail notifications of replies