Doc Savage: Man of Bronze 1975
 Scans and Text by CG Welch additional comments by Mark Koldys Doc Savage The Man of Bronze A Film by George Pal 1975 I'm getting sentimental in my old age. I mention this because I have softened my stance on the 1975 film, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. I know. You remember my rant about this George Pal release. I talked about Pal missing the subtle aspects of the series. Well, after reading the 1946 Doc adventures and a gentle re-reading of chapters of the early adventures I have a confession: subtlety was in short supply in 1933. I recently watched the film to capture new scans for this website. I still can't take Michael Miller as Monk. His voice is squeaky like "chalk on a blackboard" not like "a nail pulled out of a board." Now, that's a subtle difference I'll admit, but an important one. And the kiss…where did they get the idea we wanted Doc to have a libido? The man was screwed up enough. Let's leave sex out of it. (A common newsgroup opinion is that Doc was gay anyway. Personally I believe he was a follower of Tantra) I also can't agree with Mike Resnick that Sousa's music was a "master stroke." I believe the music budget was short-changed. We needed something heroic and subtle. (There's that damn word again and no, they are not mutually exclusive.) Ok, what did I like? God forbid I say this in public, but here goes…Ron Ely. Use some contacts to get the eye color correct and he was Doc Savage (at least in 1975). What else? Pal found the chance to throw in a bunch of the traits of the Fabulous Five. Renny pounded a door, Johnny uttered a preponderance of $5 dollar words, Ham was ever crisp in his suits, and Long Tom used a laser disguised as a cigarette lighter. The less we say about Monk the better. Let's see. The special effects were good for the day. The snakes moved well…except I wonder how often a super hero really uses a fan to drive away the evil spirits? 
In any case, pick up the video and give Doc and the crew another chance. Fast-forward when Doc calls Mona a "brick" and ignore Doc standing on the running boards of the Cord in the rain and skip the part where Don Pedro sleeps in a giant crib and squint when Pal tells us when style of fighting Capt. Seas is using and…OK. Maybe I haven't softened that much... The Cast of Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze 
Ron Ely Doc Savage Chris tells me that in addition to playing Tarzan and Doc Savage that Ron played an "older Superboy" in an episode of the series Superboy. Is this a Super Hero Hat Trick? I think this film almost did in his movie career. A couple of more films the next year and in 1977 a German produced movie about slave-trade in the 19th century called Slavers in which he was second-billed. There was the TV series Sea Hunt in 1987, and a Renegade episode are all I can find for Ely after Doc. Of course, there was that Miss America farce in the 80s. He does have a career writing novels now though. And the man has fans. I received an angry email from one because I hadn't interviewed Ely. Anyone looking for a class project? 
Paul Gleason Major Thomas J. "Long Tom" Roberts He has had probably the most active career of the Doc Savage cast. High points in his career include Die Hard (as Dwayne T. Robinson) and The Breakfast Club (as the principal, Richard Vernon), Trading Places, and as writer/director for Summer Heat. I don't think he looked quite ill enough to be Long Tom. 
Bill Lucking Colonel John "Renny" Renwick Another recognizable face...you're just not quite sure where you've seen him. His credit highlights since Doc Savage include Stripes and 10. Unfortunately he was in the worst film of 1980, The Ninth Configuration. He did get to put his fist through a door though! 
Michael Miller Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett "Monk" Mayfair His specialty since Doc has been to play a reporter (Chaplin, The Preppie Murder, and The Hearst and Davies Affair). Mark notes his career started in 1943's "The Iron Major," a Pat O'Brian film about football coach Frank Cavanaugh. My sources say his career started in 1944 as "Boy in Park" in Practically Yours and the last credit I could find was in 1993. I still don't see Patricia Savage falling for this guy... 
Eldon Quick William Harper "Johnny" Littlejohn For me, Eldon Quick fit Johnny. If you watch close you get to see him use that Spock-like nerve pinch in the battle on Captian Seas' ship. I found only a couple of films in the 80's for him, but was pleased to find he was in one of the best movies of the 60's, In the Heat of the Night. I'll have to check that film out again to find him. Mark noticed Quick played "Charlie Hawthrone." 
Darrell Zwerling Brigadier General Theodore Marley "Ham" Brooks Though I would like to have seen the guy who played "Higgens" on Magnum, PI as Ham, I though Darrell Zwerling played him ok. He was in a couple of films I really liked, Chinatown and Grease. (OK, I was kidding about Grease, but Zwerling was in another Travolta movie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.) His last role that I found was in Joe vs. the Volcano. Mark found him in 1991's "Rush Week," a murder-on-the-campus exploitation thriller." 
Pamela Hensley.... MonaHey, she was in 240-Robert, Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century, and Rooster. Not to mention three films in 1975 alone. 
Paul Wexler.... Captain SeasDoc Savage was his last film. He died in 1979. (July 1999: There is a Paul Wexler listed as an additional voice in 101 Dalmatians! Anyone have a clue if this is the same guy?)June 2003: From Alan Wexler, his son, "Regarding my father, Paul Wexler, he took part in seven roles for 101 Dalmations. 101 Dalmations was done by filming actual actors and then converting into animation. He acted the roles of the hero, Jasper, and the policeman. Regarding Voices, I only remember him as the horse. Others, I don't recollect." 
Michael Berryman.... Coroner
Berryman was in a slightly more famous film in 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. And I'm sure you saw him in Spy Hard as the Bus Patron with the Oxygen Mask. 
Rand Bridges .... Frenchman
Films in 1974 to 1976 and then ???? 
Jorge Cervera Jr. .... Col. Ramirez
Voted the actor whose name is most likely to make you think of Tequila. Played "Jorge" in The Big Fix. 
Bob Corso .... Don Rubio Gorro
No films from 1976 to 1990 and then made his comeback as the Ferris Wheel Operator in Fear Nina Diamante .... Maid #1 Her next film was A Million to Juan (1994) as the Nosey Neighbor. Chuy Franco .... Cheelok Career started in 1970 and then culminated with Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 
Janice Heiden .... Adriana
In Sexual Student (1976) (aka The Student Body) (aka Student Body Associates) she played "Chicago". I really hope she wasn't a Method Actress. Robyn Hilton .... Karen Started films in Video Vixens (1972) and was absent after Doc Savage until she played Maid Marian in 1985's Malibu Express. Did you notice these two are in the Salvation Army with Seas at the end of the film? 
Victor Millan .... King Chaac
A career that started in 1952's Thunderbirds through Giant and last seen in Scarface. Hey, all his best films had one word titles! Alberto Morin .... Jose Over 40 roles in films starting with Beau sabreur in 1928 and 60 years later as part of the Senile Brigade in The Milagro Beanfield War. Carlos Rivas .... Kulkan Another actor who disappeared from American films for many years. Nothing after Doc Savage until his role as Sad Girl's Dad in Mi Vida Loca (1993) 
Federico Roberto .... El Presidente
Another Chinatown alumnus. He was also part of the Senile Brigade. 
Dar Robinson .... Native
Dar was better known as a superb stuntman. His role as Native in Doc Savage was the beginning of a movie acting career that spanned 12 years. He specialized in roles with one name: Jimmy, Larry, Holt, Mike, and Rolf in films too obscure to mention. He stretched as A.T.A.C. Man in Nighthawks Jette Seear .... Girl #1 Also appeared in the 1979 romantic comedy, "A Perfect Couple." Grace Stafford ... Little Lady If you're wondering who she was...remember the Scout helping the lady across the street? I didn't either. Could this be the same actress who starred in 1935's Dr. Socrates? Mark notes that Ms Stafford was the voice of Woddy Woodpecker and the wife of Walter Lantz, who annimated Woody. There was a good friendship between Pal and Lantz given their shared ethnic heritage, and just about all of Pal's later films include some kind of tribute or in-joke reflecting on Walter Lanz or Woody. Robert Tessier .... Dutchman A 24 year career. Died in 1990 after completing his last two films: Fists of Steel and Fertilize the Blaspheming Bombshell. Scott Walker .... Borden The last actor listed but not the least. Started his career in High Plains Drifter, but his career almost was ended when he was type cast after playing The Frog Killer in 1979's The Muppet Movie. Made his comeback playing a less prestigious role as an attorney in The Ref (1994). These lucky few count Doc Savage as their only film. Diana Alton .... Cook Meme Chen .... Girl #3 Diana Corte .... Girl #2 Toni Telo .... Maid #2 Produced by George Pal Doc Savage was Pal's last produced film. It had been the his first since 1968. The last film he directed was The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao (name the star for fame and fortune!). DS was also the only film he co-wrote. Any clues to the poor showing of Doc Savage here? Directed by Michael Anderson His career as a director started in 1949 and incudes Around the World in 80 Days (1956), 1984 (1956), All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960), Logan's Run (1976), and last directed Captains Courageous for TV in 1996. Written by: Joe Morhaim (My source said he co-wrote only one other film, 1981's Ma Femme S'appelle Reviens) While Mark's source said he also co-wrote "Eqypt by Three," a 1953 drama showcasing three different tales about life arount the Nile River. He also co-wrote "The Happy Road," a 1957 Grace/Kelly comedy/drama with a Maurice Chevalier theme song. and George Pal (Enough said.) Based upon the novel by Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) (Wait, we know that name!) Cinematography by Fred J. Koenekamp Over 70 films, with 66 as Cinematographer. Started as a camera assistant for 1957's Raintree County and was cinematographer for Patton (1970), Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) (busy year), Billy Jack (1971), Rage (1972), and four films in 1975. Maybe he was tired when he got to Doc Savage? His last listed credit was for Flight of the Intruder (1990) The Doc Savage March: Music by John Philip Sousa Adapted by Frank De Vol (Don't judge DeVol just by Doc Savage. He also composed music for Hush..Hush Sweet Charlotte (1964), Cat Ballou (1965) and Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang (1982). (His last listed film.) Lyrics by Don Black You can also blame him for composing the music for The Bitch (1979), a starring vehicle for Joan Collins. Costume Design by Patrick Cummings Doc Savage was his first film as Costume Designer. Took what he learned tearing Doc's shirts to make costume's for 1981's Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story. Film Editing by Thomas J. McCarthy A.C.E. Evidently Doc Savage was the last film he edited. He did make a bit of a come back as the Head Gardener in Mannequin (1987) Other crew Jane Feinberg (casting) Mike Fenton (casting) Over 110 movies cast for the two of them. Fenton first casting job was the film American Graffiti (1973). Feinberg started her career with Young Frankenstein (1974). Highlights for both include casting Chinatown (1974), Godfather, Part II (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Blade Runner (1982), Aliens (1986). Fenton also cast Beaches (1988), Blown Away (1994), and Dante's Peak (1997). Gae Griffith (assistant to the producer) Fred Harpman (art director) Don Harris (music editor) Howard A. Anderson Co. (special photographic effects) Sass Bedig (special effects) Robert MacDonald (special effects) Lately working in casting. Marvin March (set decorator) Harlan Riggs (sound) Only credited film was Doc Savage. Monte Westmore (make-up) A "Monty" Westmore is also credited to Doc Savage and was last credited for makeup on The Shawshank Redemption (1994) E. Darrell Hallenbeck (unit production manager) Jack W. Aldworth (1st assistant director) Bruce Satterlee (2nd assistant director) Was Con Morrison in Stella Dallas (1937) Albert Sheppard (2nd assistant director) William Neel (assistant film editor) Toni Eppers (stunt co-ordinator) Don Vargas (wardrobe) Filmed with Panavision Equipment Color by Technicolor Filmed at The Burbank Studios, Burbank California A quick note about the production company, Warner Brothers. They had seven films that appeared in 1975. In addition to Doc Savage they produced The Ultimate Warrior, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold, Night Moves (with Gene Hackman), Let's Do it Again (with Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby), Lisztomania (with Roger Daltry), and The Drowning Pool (with Paul Newman). Is it any wonder they put all their hopes on Doc Savage? 
Pal planned his own sequel if The Man of Bronze was a success. Of course, it wasn't and Doc Savage: The Bleeding Sun was never made. We have the novelization of the film here at the Hidalgo Trading Company --The Bleeding Sun.
Chris Wike had a movie page up for awhile and decided to remove it. Thanks for donating the original screen shots, Chris! If you're looking for those I'm sure you can find them on some of the other Doc Savage sites. We went to the new screen shots in July 1999. |
