Hollywood has rehashed, refurbished and rebooted everything for a few years now and it looks like that’s the way it will be for a few to come. We don’t see a lot of originality coming out of Tinsel Town. I know we are going to have 3 or 4 CBM’s every summer for a few years to come. I’m very excited about this but I still think we need something to fill in the gap of those adventure movies. Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider are fine examples of the action/adventure genre. What I want is something that is a fun to watch as Raiders of The Lost Ark and as dramatic as The Dark Knight and have some witty and clever comedy thrown in like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. If I took all my favorite characters from those movies and added a bit of nostalgia, Doc Savage is what you would have. Some of you may not be familiar with Doc Savage, if not you should be. I look at Doc as a combination of Indiana Jones, Reed Richards, Abraham Lincoln, Sherlock Holmes and Superman, since he had a Fortress of Solitude before that alien guy.
He has been around since the 1930’s. Doc appeared in American pulp magazines and was created by publisher Henry W. Ralston and editor John L. Nanovic from Street and Smith Publications, who were trying to capitalize on another pulp hero creation, The Shadow. The main writer for this hero was Lester Dent. Doc has appeared on radio, comic books and had a 1975 feature film starring Ron Ely (Tarzan).
In 1999, Arnold Schwarzenegger was attached to a Doc Savage movie but he decided on running for governor of California. Shane Black, director of Iron Man 3, was rumored to direct a new film for Sony Pictures. I don’t know where the movie sets at this time.
I really want to see this brought to the big screen. I think the time is right for this old pulp hero franchise to start. I would make this a true adventure movie with twist and turns, close calls and edge of your seat excitement taking place in famous locations throughout the world. Doc Savage would be a special effect extravaganza that would put Avatar and 2012 to shame.
Doc Savage's real name is Clark Savage, Jr. He is a man of many talents. He is a physician, surgeon, scientist, adventurer, inventor, explorer, researcher, and a musician. Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices. A team of scientists assembled by his father deliberately trained his mind and body to near-superhuman abilities almost from birth, giving him great strength and endurance, a photographic memory, a mastery of the martial arts, and vast knowledge of the sciences.
If that doesn’t sound like a superhero then I don’t know what does! Actually it sounds like several superheroes to me.
"He rights wrongs and punishes evildoers." Doc's character and world-view is displayed in his oath, which goes as follow:
Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it. Let me think of the right and lend all my assistance to those who need it, with no regard for anything but justice. Let me take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let me be considerate of my country, of my fellow citizens and my associates in everything I say and do. Let me do right to all, and wrong no man.
If that wasn’t enough, Doc had a group of specialists that were handpicked by Doc’s father, to serve and aid him on his adventures. His “Fabulous Five” are all highly accomplished individuals in selected fields of endeavor.
Starring
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett "Monk" Mayfair, an industrial chemist.
Damien Lewis
Monk got his nickname when his uncle....wait that's me. This Monk got his nickname from his simian build, notably his long arms, and his covering of red hair. He is in a constant state of "friendly feuding" with "Ham" Brooks. This began when his friend taught him some French words to say to an officer and Monk repeated them, not knowing they were a string of insults. The result was a lengthy stay in the guardhouse. Lewis is a very fine actor and has a distinctive serious look. He had a believable role in Dreamcatcher as "Jonesy", a man possessed by an alien.
Brigadier General Theodore Marley "Ham" Brooks, an accomplished attorney.
Tom Hollander
Ham was considered one of the best-dressed men in the world, and as part of his attire, carried a sword cane whose blade is dipped in a fast-acting anesthetic. His nickname was acquired when Monk, in retaliation for his guardhouse incarceration, framed Brooks on a charge of stealing hams from the commissary. In the only case which Ham ever lost, he was convicted of stealing the hams. Hollander is my favorite pick in this cast. He stood out in the Pirates of the Caribbean and Hanna.
Colonel John "Renny" Renwick, a construction engineer.
Ron Perlman
Renny was a giant of a man, with "fists like buckets of gristle and bone." His favorite pastime was knocking the panels out of heavy wooden doors. He always wore a look of depression, which deepened the happier he grew. Another character that fits the bill from the creators description. Perlman has that hard nose attitude and nasty disposition.
Major Thomas J. "Long Tom" Roberts, an electrical engineer.
Jeff Daniels
"Long Tom" got his nickname from using an antiquated cannon of that nickname in the successful defense of a French village in World War I. Long Tom was a sickly-looking character, but fought like a wildcat. Daniels will provide some comedic relief and he looks just like the original creators describe Long Tom.
William Harper "Johnny" Littlejohn, an archaeologist and geologist.
John Hannah
Johnny had an impressive vocabulary, never using a small word when a big one could suffice. ("I'll be superamalgamated!" was a favorite expression). Johnny wore eyeglasses with a magnifying lens over his left eye in early adventures, that eye having been damaged in World War I. Doc later performed corrective surgery that restored Johnny's sight in that eye, but Johnny retained the magnifier as a monocle for use both as a magnifying glass and as a memento. Hannah stole the show in The Mummy trilogy and was very manipulative in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, proving he is an accomplished actor.
And Introducing
Patricia "Pat" Savage
Jessica Stam
Doc's cousin, who has Doc's bronze skin, golden eyes, and bronze hair, also was along for many of the adventures, despite Doc's best efforts to keep her away from danger. Jessica Stam has a sultry and devious face. This model turned actress would be perfect and she would look great interacting with the rest of the cast. I wanted a very deadly beauty for this role as well as an unknown. Her role is a small but significant role, a perfect spot to start a career.
John Sunlight
Jonathon Hyde
Russian born super criminal mastermind is the only villain who has ever had a second chance at destroying the man of bronze. Hyde is an old pro at portraying villains, you may remember him best as Van Pelt in Jumanji.
Doc has a strict code against taking a human life. He performs “corrective” brain surgery on his enemies, curing them of their destructive and evil impulses. Sound familiar? I’m glad Batman doesn’t know about this.
And
Doc Savage
1975-Ron Ely
2013-Chris Hemsworth
Thanks to his performance in Thor he has the build for Doc Savage, but I really feel he is better suited for this role, his voice has a strong and assertive quality. He was very believable as Captain Kirk’s father in his brief appearance in JJ Abrams’ STAR TREK.
Doc Savage would definitely make enough money at the box office for at least a trilogy. I can only hope. I'd have him go up against giant spiders, vengeful ghost and cyborg soldiers all in the same move. Of course. just like the pulp comics, there would be a scientific explantions to debunk any supernatural reasons for these monstrosities.
I hope you enjoyed my take on The Man of Bronze. Thank You.
Coming next Sinbad: The Sailor of The Seven Seas
*information provided by wikipedia and internationalhero and CBMTrolls.Thanks for the html tips Thorverine and ecksmanfan.