The Pumaman
Encyclopedia
The Pumaman was an Italian-produced English-language movie about a superhero
of the same name, released in 1980. It was mocked in a 1998 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
.
) has found a golden Aztec
mask with which he plans to use to control the minds of world leaders, starting with the Dutch ambassador's beautiful blond daughter Jane Dobson (Sydne Rome
) who had translated the instructions on it for him. However, he fears the interference of the Pumaman, a legendary "man-god" sired by aliens and the protector of the mask whom he believes to be living in nearby London.
After somehow learning that the Pumaman is an American male living in London, Kobras' henchmen begin to test people matching these criteria by throwing them from high windows as only the Pumaman will be able to survive such a fall. Not only is Kobras looking for the Pumaman but so is a large, muscular and mysterious Indian
named Vadinho (Miguel Angel Fuentes).
The Pumaman turns out to be mild-mannered young professor Tony Farms (Walter George Alton), an American paleontologist working at the British Museum who is thankfully gotten to first by Vadinho who turns out to be a mystic Aztec priest who knew Tony's physician
father and confirms the initially unbelieving Tony’s status as the latest in a long line of Pumamen by defenestration
, a three story fall that he, unlike Kobras' victims, easily survives thanks to his natural cat-like agility. Vadinho then gives Tony a magical golden belt that when worn gives him a poncho-caped sweatshirt and slacks
-style superhero costume and further powers.
The Pumaman's superpowers include:
Pumaman ultimately defeats Kobras by making the helicopter in which the evil doctor is attempting to flee crash. Tony then decides to marry the no longer brainwashed Jane and start work on a new generation of Pumamen while Vadinho returns with the mask to his hidden temple in the Andes
in an alien spacecraft.
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
of the same name, released in 1980. It was mocked in a 1998 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
.
Plot
The villainous Dr. Kobras (Donald PleasenceDonald Pleasence
Sir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
) has found a golden Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
mask with which he plans to use to control the minds of world leaders, starting with the Dutch ambassador's beautiful blond daughter Jane Dobson (Sydne Rome
Sydne Rome
Sydne Rome is a United States-born, Italy-based film actress. Her first name is often misspelled Sydney or Sidney....
) who had translated the instructions on it for him. However, he fears the interference of the Pumaman, a legendary "man-god" sired by aliens and the protector of the mask whom he believes to be living in nearby London.
After somehow learning that the Pumaman is an American male living in London, Kobras' henchmen begin to test people matching these criteria by throwing them from high windows as only the Pumaman will be able to survive such a fall. Not only is Kobras looking for the Pumaman but so is a large, muscular and mysterious Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
named Vadinho (Miguel Angel Fuentes).
The Pumaman turns out to be mild-mannered young professor Tony Farms (Walter George Alton), an American paleontologist working at the British Museum who is thankfully gotten to first by Vadinho who turns out to be a mystic Aztec priest who knew Tony's physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
father and confirms the initially unbelieving Tony’s status as the latest in a long line of Pumamen by defenestration
Defenestration
Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window.The term "defenestration" was coined around the time of an incident in Prague Castle in the year 1618. The word comes from the Latin de- and fenestra...
, a three story fall that he, unlike Kobras' victims, easily survives thanks to his natural cat-like agility. Vadinho then gives Tony a magical golden belt that when worn gives him a poncho-caped sweatshirt and slacks
Slacks
Slacks is a colloquial term referring to trousers. However, it could also refer to:*Donovan Slacks, leader of a militant fishermen's uprising in 1920s Britain*Slacks Creek, Queensland, a suburb of Logan City , Queensland , Australia ....
-style superhero costume and further powers.
The Pumaman's superpowers include:
- The ability to fly. Tony's flight is described by characters as superhuman, leaping like a pumaPuma (genus)Puma is a genus in Felidae that contains the cougar and the jaguarundi, and may also include several poorly known Old World fossil representatives .-Species:*Puma concolor – CougarPuma pardoides Puma is a genus in Felidae that contains the cougar (also known as the puma, among other names)...
, but aside from some fight scenes involving a hidden trampolineTrampolineA trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over a steel frame using many coiled springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes....
, it is usually depicted through special effects as somewhat traditional, if rather clumsy, superhero flight. - Seeing in the dark.
- The ability to sense imminent danger.
- TeleportingTeleportationTeleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
himself to any location with which he is familiar via walking through walls. - Feigning death by temporarily stopping his heartbeat for ten minutes.
- Super strength and the ability to use his hands like claws to tear through metal and brick.
Pumaman ultimately defeats Kobras by making the helicopter in which the evil doctor is attempting to flee crash. Tony then decides to marry the no longer brainwashed Jane and start work on a new generation of Pumamen while Vadinho returns with the mask to his hidden temple in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
in an alien spacecraft.