Tales of the Gold Monkey

• Created by Donald P. Bellisario
• Based/inspired (supposedly) on the film Only Angels Have Wings
• September 22, 1982 to June 1, 1983
• ABC

Main Cast

• Jake Cutter-Stephen Collins
• Corky-Jeff MacKay
• Sarah Stickney White-Caitlin O’Heaney
• Princess Koji-Marta DuBois
• Reverend Willie Tenboom-John Calvin
• Todo-John Fujioka
• Jack-Leo the Dog
• “Bon Chance” Louie-Roddy McDowall
• Gushie-Les Jankey

These are the adventures of a 1930s bush pilot and his friends.

My sweet spot for fun television starts to end in the 80s. Not that great television shows are no longer made, but fun adventure shows meant to entertain are VERY rare these days. Tales of the Gold Monkey is a fun early 80s show that was officially inspired by an older film called Only Angels Have Wings but one that certainly owes a debt of gratitude for its time on television to the popularity of Raiders of the Lost Ark. If it hadn’t been for that movie and its impact on pop culture this show would never have gotten made. Not that it shouldn’t have, but in comparison to a police procedural or a detective show or an innocuous comedy it was much more of a gamble.

The show gets its title from a fabled golden statue sought in the pilot episode for its purported heat resistant properties. That episode also introduces other recurring elements like Nazis in the South Seas before WWII and the main cast of characters. Aside from a casting change, the personalities and actors were pretty much set here as well without any huge changes.

The gold monkey of the title is vaguely referenced throughout the rest of the series with the brass version that they THOUGHT was the one of the stories seen a few times. At home we often referred to this as Jake Cutter (the main characters name). That might’ve been a better title than Tales of the Gold Monkey.

For me, one strike against this is that the golden monkey of the title was not a common element throughout the series. There were plenty of instances of searching out valuable treasure as well as the interactions with Nazis, and so forth, but the gold monkey was not a significant part of the show. Having said that it’s a great title. It has a note of high-flying action and adventure and an old school adventure serial feel even if you don’t know what the gold monkey actually is.

We are used to a binge model of television these days. Most shows now are crafted to be consumed in a small number of sittings. Tales of the Gold Monkey came out well before today, yet I found it can be easily binged despite not being crafted as such with a connected storyline. Each episode goes down smoothly and because of its fun nature you want the next one.

This was just an adventure of the week. One story and they moved on to the next. While the past may occasionally have informed an episode or a character action in an episode, you didn’t need to watch what came before in order to understand things. This was before serializing television was common. I would certainly like it to have been more about finding the golden monkey or something connecting to that, but as I said, the golden monkey didn’t factor too much into things.

The hero of the story is Jake Cutter (Stephen Collins before he was revealed to be a steaming turd) who is a former Flying Tiger that runs a charter service in the Pacific from the fictional island of Bora Gora. Along with his friend Corky (Jeff McKay) who has a questionable memory due to heavy drinking.

Adventures often intersect with a spy-playing-singer-as-a-cover named Sarah Stickney White (Caitlin O’Heaney) working at the local bar called the Monkey Bar owned by “Bon Chance” Louie (played by Ron Moody in the pilot and Roddy McDowall in the series) who also serves as the French magistrate of the island. Moody was okay but you could never really go wrong when you cast Roddy McDowall in anything. While actor Moody gave him a little bit more of a serious weight, Roddy McDowall made Louie a little more playful and with a hint of mystery. Never dangerous but with more than met the eye.

I do wish that the character of Sarah had been given a little more to do per episode. I just wanted her to get more directly involved in the action. Maybe use her position to figure out information on the guest villain or bring her along on the main story. She would generally make a few calls that helped Jake out but she didn’t do as much as I think she should have given that she was a spy. She was too often a glorified secretary.

Stephen Collins may be a big pile of crap, but as Jake Cutter he’s charming and affable, and a rogue with a heart of gold. He’s more in line with Han Solo than with Indiana Jones. He’s got his share of issues, but nothing that makes him dour or with a chip on his shoulder. I could even see shades of Cary Grant in a less serious part.

He had a dog named Jack whose false eye was lost in a card game by Jake. He was as much of a character as anyone and never let Jake forget the loss of the eye and guilted him into trying to get it back. He was more Lassie than owned pet.

Our recurring villains (if you can call them that) are Princess Koji (Marta DuBois) and ‘Reverend’ Willie Tenboom (John Calvin). Tenboom is actually a German agent sent to the island. He regularly ‘blesses’ the island women in private prayer. He shows some respect and maybe even admiration for Cutter later in the series who regularly thwarts his side. Princess Koji, like many exotic princesses of the time, lusted for the hero yet seeks to counter whatever good he does.

The cast was absolutely great! They interacted well and kept a fun tone for the series. These were all likeable characters. Even Tenboom as he was framed more like a guy doing his job rather than a committed Nazi. I am not even sure they touched on how evil Nazis were but rather 30s Germany stepped in for the USSR which was he evil nation in many shows of the time.

Tales of the Gold Monkey was reportedly well received back in its day. Not a ratings juggernaut but well received. The strike against it for the network was the high production values per episode. And it certainly shows. They went all in as much as they could to make this feel like 1938. This was well produced. At least for the time. From the sets to the costuming it was all perfect, but then again the 1930s weren’t nearly as long ago then as they are now so I’m wondering how many closets of relatives were simply raided rather than go out and shop.

This was appointment television in my house growing up for its one season. And it’s one of those shows that despite being one season has managed to have a minor bit of residence in popular culture. For example, one season of Archer drew its inspiration directly from this. For an obscure show that’s impressive

This was fun and exciting and just enjoyable. It was a snack and not a substantive meal. This was meant to give you a thrill and a smile and feel good. These were not all terrible people but rather genuinely good people and their good deeds made even the bad people want to do good sometimes. You liked them.

You can find bits and pieces on YouTube and I’m not sure about streaming, but Tales of the Gold Monkey is most definitely available on physical media. However you check it out I suggest you do. It’s a bit of a throwback, but a very good throwback that will not disappoint.