Having spent some time at his secret “Fortress of Solitude” getaway at the Arctic Circle, Clark “Doc” Savage Jr. (Ron Ely) returns to New York City to learn about the death of his father. Waiting for him in New York are his trusted band of friends, Major Thomas J. Roberts AKA Long Tom (Paul Gleason), an electrical wizard, Colonel John “Renny” Renwick (William Lucking), an engineer who builds skyscrapers and dams, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett “Monk” Mayfair (Michael Miller), the world’s greatest chemist, Professor William Harper “Johnny” Littlejohn (Eldon Quick), a geologist and archeologist, and Brigadier General Thomas Marley “Ham” Brooks (Darrell Zwerling), attorney and legal genius.
Doc learns that his father’s mysterious death occurred in a small town in South America called Hidalgo. His death was assumed to be from some tropical disease. Papers, sent before his father’s death, arrived. Doc decides to put the envelope containing the papers in the safe for the time being. While putting the papers away a South American native tries to assassinate Doc from his perch on a nearby building. Doc tries to chase the would-be assassin, but the man ends up falling to his death.
When he returns to his apartment, Doc finds that the safe was broken into and the papers destroyed. Doc decides that he must go to South America to find out what really happened to his father and to try to find out what was in the now destroyed papers.
In Hidalgo, Doc meets a smuggler, Captain Seas (Paul Wexler). The captain tries to kill Doc and his friends, but they manage to escape. Doc finds out that the papers sent to him were about a land deed his father secured, before his death, from a mysterious Mayan tribe that reportedly disappeared 500 years ago. Don Rubio Gorro (Bob Corso), from the local land office tells Doc that their copies of the grant have also disappeared.
Don Gorro’s assistant, Mona Flores (Pamela Hensley) offers to take Doc and his “Fabulous Five” friends to her village where they can get information on how to find the illusive Quetzamal tribe. Doc and the Fabulous Five make their way through hazardous terrain until they find the long-lost tribe and the reason so many people are trying to kill Doc Savage.
“Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze” was released in 1975 and was directed by Michael Anderson. It is an American fantasy crime action and superhero comedy film. The film is based on the comic book character Doc Savage and is also based on the 1933 novel “The Man of Bronze” by Kenneth Robeson. Robeson was the pen name for Lester Dent. The action spectacle was produced by George Pal. Additional films were planned; however, a poor showing at the box office quashed any other films. The movie’s narration was done by an uncredited Paul Frees.
The movie is purposely campy which makes it a little on the stupid side. There are a lot of Art Deco influences in the sets which not only place it firmly in the 30’s but also add some nice visuals to the already period film. All of this adds a nice comic book style to the movie. It may be silly, but that’s the point.
The Doc Savage Creed: 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.