Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze - Michael Anderson - (1975) DVD

In the Fabulous Thirties, Doc Savage and his five Amazing Adventurers are sucked into the mystery of Doc's father disappearing in the wilds of South America. The maniacal Captain Seas tries to thwart them at every turn as they travel to the country of Hidalgo to investigate Doc's father's death and uncover a vast horde of Incan gold.

This movie is bizarre. For one thing, it was made it the 70s yet looks like it was made in the 50s, but takes place in the 30s. Got that? For another, it can't decide whether to be a spoof or a drama. There are definite moments of extreme goofiness all through the film (a literally animated twinkle in Doc's eye, for example), but in other parts it seems to take itself seriously.

However, DOC SAVAGE is still enjoyable because it's so laughably ridiculous. Doc and his five-man band of helpers tromp across jungle and mountaintop in search of the secret Doc's father left clues to. Nothing in the movie is really believable (finding a "rare tropical plant" on top of an arid mountain, Doc whipping up a batch of snake anti-venom in his portable test tubes, a man frozen under a layer of gold), but most of it isn't meant to be. At least I don't think it is... like I said, it's hard to tell.

Anyway, if you like bad movies, this one is probably worth your while. The action sequences are quite enjoyable in a silly way, and Doc is such a wannabe stud that he's very amusing to watch. He is totally inept with the love interest, but she doesn't even seem to notice. The stereotypes fly fast and furious, but they are so over-the-top that they can't possibly be taken seriously. Just like the rest of the movie.

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