TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY

Full Name:	Jack Cutter
Nationality:	American
Organization:	None
Occupation	Other - Pilot

Creator:	Donald P. Bellisario
Time Span:	1982 - 1984

ABOUT THE SERIES

Jake Cutter is a soldier of fortune.

The year that his adventures start is 1938. The region his adventures take place in is the South China Sea area.

We learn early on that Cutter, an American, originally came to the Far East to make his fortune. When we encounter him for the first time, he is doing so as the owner-operator of a (largely) one-man freight hauling operation, though he is more prone to look for exciting little sidelines to help make ends meet. He is the sole pilot in his firm but he does have the constant assistance of his best friend, mechanic named Corky, at least when the man is sober and can remember to handle the maintenance.

The plane that Cutter uses for his escapades is a Grumman G-21, 'Goose', which Cutter has named appropriately 'Cutter's Goose'. It is an amphibious flying boat able to seat eight or haul similar weight. Cutter tells us that he traded his 'ivy-league tweeds' for the plane and the affection he shows it is obvious, not just because it is the primary tool of his current trade but also because he so clearly loves flying it.

Cutter's membership in this compendium comes from the escapades that he routinely gets involved in. Some are because of his 'rivalry' with a Japanese princess named Koji who has both a deep affection/desire for Cutter and a bit of a larcenous bent which interferes with Cutter's legitimate trade. Others are the result of the missions handed Cutter's girl friend, Sarah White, a lovely singer at a favorite watering hole of Cutter's, the Monkey Bar. Besides entertaining customers with her enchanting singing voice, White is also a U.S. government undercover agent.

Cutter is a good looking man in his mid-30's with blond hair and a friendly, ever-ready smile to compliment his winning ways. He is often found helping White out on her missions, when his day job's workload permits. He has a constant companion in a one-eyed Jack Russell terrier named, appropriately, Jack. The dog apparently can answer yes/no questions (one bark meaning yes and two for no) but ever since Jake lost his fake eye gambling forcing the dog to wear an eye patch, Jack has had attitude issues.

NOVELLAS AND SHORT STORIES

Number of Stories:	2
First Appearance:	1982
Last Appearance:	1982


1			Air Pirates! Written by Unknown Copyright: 1982 Published in Tales of the Gold Monkey Annual. [plot unknown]

2			Island Of Dead Souls Written by Unknown Copyright: 1982 Published in Tales of the Gold Monkey Annual. [plot unknown]

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	22
First Appearance:	1982
Last Appearance:	1983
Network:	ABC

REGULAR CAST
Stephen Collins	Jake Cutter [ 1 ]
Jeff MacKay	Corky [ 1 ]
Caitlin O'Heaney	Sarah Stickney White [ 1 ]
Ron Moody	Bon Chance Louie [ Pilot ]
Roddy McDowell	Bon Chance Louie [ 1 ]


1	Tales of the Gold Monkey Episode S1-1, first aired 09/22/1982 Director: Ray Austin Writer: Donald P. Bellisario A two-part pilot/initial episode. Jake Cutter gets involved in the search for a legendary statue called the Gold Monkey, said to be of tremendous value because it imparts its owner with exceptional powers. Along on the hunt is Sarah White, an undercover American agent. Also searching for the object is a princess and a team of German soldiers. The statue is believed to be on a South Pacific island with a very active volcano.

2	Shanghaied Episode S1-3, first aired 09/29/1982 Director: Alan J. Levi Writer: Donald P. Bellisario Needing someone to fix part of his ship, a man named Captain Ahab comes to Bora Gora to kidnap Corky. Jake Cutter must shrug off a bout of malaria to find and free him.

3	Black Pearl Episode S1-3, first aired 10/13/1982 Director: Victor Lobl Writers: Dennis Capps, George Geiger, Bob Foster, Paul Savage, Donald P. Bellisario The Nazis are using an island near Bora Gora to construct a super bomb. When Jack Cutter finds part of the device on the body of a native recently escaping from their slave camp, he decides to learn more.

4	Legends Are Forever Episode S1-4, first aired 10/20/1982 Director: Virgil Vogel Writers: Milt Rosen, Milt Rosen, Reuben Leder, Donald P. Bellisario An old friend convinces Jake Cutter to help him transport much needed supplies to a malaria-stricken African tribe. The friend has, of course, other motives in play.

5	Escape from Death Island Episode S1-5, first aired 10/27/1982 Director: James Frawley Writers: Peter Elliot, Stephen Katz Jake and Corky transport an Englishman to visit his son, an inmate in an island prison colony. When they learn how mistreated he is, they decide to break him out but a very nasty warden is not going to make that easy.

6	Trunk from the Past Episode S1-6, first aired 11/03/1982 Director: Christian I. Nyby II Writers: John Pashdag, Brady Westwater Many years before, Sarah White's father, an archaeologist, died looking for the lost tome of Pharaoh Ka. Now a trunk with all his research arrives on Bora Gora along with White's ex-fiance who believes the tome was actually on a nearby island.

7	Once a Tiger... Episode S1-7, first aired 11/17/1982 Director: Winrich Kolbe Writers: L. Ford Neale, John Huff Jake joins in the hunt for a crashed plane, the cargo of which include military equipment the Japanese are also on the hunt for.

8	Honor Thy Brother Episode S1-8, first aired 11/24/1982 Director: Mike Vejar Writers: Jeff Ray, Danny Lee Cole, Bill Driskill, George Geiger Jake Cutter is trying to get back the fake eye of his dog as well as get Corky out of an accidental marriage to a native woman, all while avoiding getting killed by a Japanese pilot out for revenge over the death of the man's brother.

9	The Lady and the Tiger Episode S1-9, first aired 12/08/1982 Director: Virgil Vogel Writer: Donald P. Bellisario When his plane malfunctions, Jake Cutter makes an emergency landing on an island controlled by the Japanese. He is sheltered by an Amish woman and her young son. The boy is obsessed with hunting down a tiger.

10	The Late Sarah White Episode S1-10, first aired 12/22/1982 Director: Harvey S. Laidman Writers: Maryanne Kasica, Michael Scheff, Donald P. Bellisario, George Geiger When Jake Cutter receives a telegram reporting the death of Sarah White in the Philippines, he and Corky head there to learn the truth. Cutter is certain she is still alive.

11	The Sultan of Swat Episode S1-11, first aired 01/05/1983 Director: Virgil Vogel Writer: David Brown A baseball playing idol of Jake Cutter's youth, Gamble Rogers, visits the island of Bora Gora en route an exhibition game in China. When a young native girl is found raped and murdered in his bedroom, Rogers is the only suspect.

12	Ape Boy Episode S1-12, first aired 01/12/1983 Director: Winrich Kolbe Writers: Eric Lerner, Bill Driskill, Andrew Schneider Jake, Sarah and Corky have to make a temporary landing on an island due to a bad storm. While on the ground, they come across a boy who has been raised by apes. They soon learn he is being hunted by an Englishman aided by Princess Koji.

13	God Save the Queen Episode S1-13, first aired 01/19/1983 Director: Virgil Vogel Writer: George Geiger After Jake Cutter flies a British lord to join a stranded luxury liner, he finds out the man has planted bombs on the vessel and will destroy it if one of the passengers, the Duke of Windsor, does not over the royal jewels.

14	High Stakes Lady Episode S1-14, first aired 01/26/1983 Director: James Frawley Writers: Lance Madrid III, Bill Driskill Jake Cutter is hired to fly a woman to Tagataya to take part in a high-stakes poker game. He does not know she is also a spy holding film showing secret Japanese plans, which they are anxious to get back.

15	Force of Habit Episode S1-15, first aired 02/02/1983 Director: Harvey S. Laidman Writers: Tom Greene, William Schmidt Two nuns are on board a ship that pulls into Bora Gora, heading to a village in China with needed vaccines. One is a former girl friend of Cutter and he is highly suspicious of her claims. Things get complicated when the ship with the medicine is stolen.

16	Cooked Goose Episode S1-16, first aired 03/04/1983 Director: Donald A. Baer Writer: Jay Huguely An old friend of Jake Cutter hires him to fly he and his wife to a secluded island for their honeymoon. When Cutter returns to pick them up, he finds the man badly beaten and the wife missing, apparently snatched by mercenaries working for Princess Koji.

17	Last Chance Louie Episode S1-17, first aired 03/11/1983 Director: James Fargo Writers: Bob Shayne, Tom Greene, George Geiger When a stranger walks into Louie's bar, Louie is stunned to see it is a man from his past, a deserter from his WWI days responsible for the deaths of many of Louie's fellow soldiers. Louie had long since promised to kill him if he ever saw him again - then the man is murdered that night and Louie found on the scene.

18	Naka Jima Kill Episode S1-18, first aired 03/18/1983 Director: Jack Whitman Writers: Thom Thomas, Andrew Schneider, Tom Greene The Japanese Defense Minister is fleeing an assassination attempt as he lands on an island near Bora Gora. His would-be killer is pursuing him and is a master of disguise. Jake Cutter agrees to help find out who the would-be killer is.

19	Boragora or Bust Episode S1-19, first aired 03/25/1983 Director: Ivan Dixon Writers: George Geiger, Tom Greene The finding of platinum on Bora Gora turns the island into a boom town and makes the discovering miner a rich man. Unfortunately, an American visiting the island is out to steal the claim from the older man who had spent the past four decades looking for it.

20	A Distant Shout of Thunder Episode S1-20, first aired 04/08/1983 Director: James Fargo Writers: Tom Greene, George Geiger Sarah White accidentally removes a sacred statuette from a burial site on Bora Gora. Now a native man is determined to punish her with death to get the idol back.

21	Mourning Becomes Matuka Episode S1-21, first aired 06/01/1983 Director: David Jones Writers: Jay Huguely, Tom Greene, George Geiger Long-time rival Princess Koji learns that someone attending her upcoming birthday party is out to kill her. The only one she can trust after her dear friend Todo is wounded is Jake Cutter so she persuades him to be her bodyguard.

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:	12
First Appearance:	1982
Last Appearance:	1984

Note: The pages of the comics were found on the excellent fan site Tales of the Gold Monkey mentioned in the Links section below. Go to that site for a whole lot more interesting tidbits on the series.


1			Goddess Of Gunagara Published by Grandreams Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1982 Published in Tales of the Gold Monkey Annual. [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

2			A Rocket For The Reich Published by Grandreams Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1982 Published in Tales of the Gold Monkey Annual. [plot unknown] Click here to read the story.

3			'The Silk Dress Sea Monster Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1983 Published in TV Comic #1656 - 1661, Sep. 16 - Oct. 21, 1983, 6 issues of 2 pages each for 12 pages. Rough weather causes trouble for the Goose causing Jake Cutter and Corky to jettison cargo of champagne meant for Louie. Also in the lot was a silk dress for Sarah and she is angry enough to insist that they fly back to the area of the toss to look for it. That island has interesting hazards for them including tribesmen not wanting strangers and a sea monster protecting what turns out to be a German submarine base. Click here to read the story.

4			'The Hurricane In Enemy Territory Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1983 Published in TV Comic #1662 - 1668, Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, 1983, 7 issues of 2 pages each for 14 pages. An old friend of Sarah visits asking for help from Jake Cutter to take him to a place to collect "something of great historical interest". Unfortunately, it is inside Japanese controlled territory where they are more like to "collect a bullet each". And there is a matter of the hurricane heading their way. Click here to read the story.

5			'The I Am Not A Goddess Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1983 Published in TV Comic #1669 - 1675, Dec. 16 - Jan. 27, 1984, 7 issues of 2 pages each for 14 pages. Curiosity is what got Jake Cutter, Corky, and Sarah into trouble. Interested enough in what was happening on the island of Mamba-Goona to do a fly-over got then shot at by a gun-boat and forced to land. Then natives with very sharp knives and anger storm the plane. That is when they see that Sarah resembles the god idol they worship. Click here to read the story.

6			'The Seeing Ghosts Again Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 Published in TV Comic #1676 - 1681, Feb. 3 - Mar. 9, 1984, 6 issues of 2 pages each for 12 pages. Jake Cutter's close friend and fellow 'Flying Tiger' pilot, Red, died one year ago. Cutter saw him go down after a run-in with Japanese Zeros. So why is Red's Ghost prowling around the Goose late at night and who is flying a plane that looks just like the one Red crashed in. Click here to read the story.

7			'The Pirates Took Our Treasure Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 Published in TV Comic #1682 - 1688, Mar. 16 - Apr. 27, 1984, 7 issues of 2 pages each for 14 pages. Doing any kind of favor for Bon Chance Louie is always with risks. Never more so than when Cutter agrees to haul a chest full of jewelry and valuable trinkets to the country of Vietnam. Especially when the boat is met by pirates with nasty looking weapons in their hands. Click here to read the story.

8			'The Search For Smokey McTaggart Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 Published in TV Comic #1689 - 1694, May 4 - Jun. 8, 1984, 6 issues of 2 pages each for 12 pages. Jake Cutter is used to hauling cargo onboard the Goose, not using the Goose to look for a ship hauling Bon Chance Louie's cargo but that is what he is doing in this adventure. That is just the start of a strange case when spies go looking for spies. Click here to read the story.

9			'The Not Just Cheap Cigars Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 Published in TV Comic #1695 - 1697, Jun. 15 - Jun. 29, 1984, 3 issues of 2 pages each for 6 pages. Having irritated Bon Chance Louie, Jake Cutter wants to make amends so he agrees to fly to the island of Kalawi to pick up a supply of cheap cigars for the bar owner and magistrate. Of course, he and Sarah should have known Louie has something else going on the side. This will involve Princess Koji and some very unhappy Japanese out to kill her. Click here to read the story.

10			'The Gods Need A Sacrifice Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 Published in TV Comic Holiday Special 1984, 4 pages. When a typhoon and a cranky Goose force Jake Cutter to make an emergency landing on an unnamed island, he and Sarah discover that the natives want to make a sacrifice to their weather god and they have a man already staked out, literally. Click here to read the story.

11			'The Running From The Wrong Agents Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 1st of 2 graphic adventures published in TV Comic Annual 1985, 4 pages. After loading the crate they were hired to transport into the Goose, Jake Cutter and Corky are surprised to see two men with guns chasing after them in a speed boat. Getting away seemed like a good idea but things are not always what they seem. Click here to read the story.

12			'The Return of the Conquistadors Adventure' Published by Polystyle Publications Ltd. Contributors: Unknown (writer and artist) Copyright: 1984 2nd of 2 graphic adventures published in TV Comic Annual 1985, 6 pages. A Japanese aircraft "pussyfooting along without lights" almost collides with the Goose over the island of Kiva. Oddly that is the very island that Sarah insists Cutter fly back to when he arrives home because a package she was expecting in her real job of American agent has not shown up. On that small isle back in the 16th century Conquistadors landed and caused trouble. Some of them apparently are still around. Click here to read the story.

DIGESTS AND MAGAZINES

Number of Digests:	1
First Appearance:	1982
Last Appearance:	1982


1			Tales of the Gold Monkey Annual Written by Unknown Copyright: 1982 Published by Grandreams Ltd. of London.According to the Gold Monkey fansite, "Action, adventure, international intrigue, and exotic ambiance combine in 'Tales of the Gold Monkey' the delightful hour-long series of drama, suspense, and fun-filled entertainment." It contains bio pieces on three of the stars as well as photos of the fourth and the Goose. It also has two graphics stories: Goddess of Gunagara A Rocket for the Reich and two text stories: Air Pirates Island of Dead Souls

MY COMMENTS

I have always been a huge fan of adventure stories, being entertained by them while safely and comfortably sitting in my easy chair safe from the myriad dangers the characters routinely encountered. This held true very much so four decades ago when I was a fan of this television series. I watched every episode and even VCR'ed them to watch again.

I liked the rakish attitude of Jake Cutter. I found immensely appealing the girl-next-door Sarah White, especially after we learned she was secretly a SPY!! And what red-blooded male would not be enchanted, and a little spooked, by Princess Koji? I especially liked the far too few scenes with the bar owner, Louie, played brilliantly as always by Roddy McDowell.

So when I decided it was time to add this series to the compendium, I had a blast re-watching some of the episodes. They might not stand up as well as I remembered them, but they were still fun.

GRADE

My Grade: B

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