Jake Cutter (Stephen Collins) was a handsome cargo pilot and soldier of fortune who flew a Grumman Goose seaplane in the Marivella Islands in the South Pacific in the 1930s.
Spies and schemers of many nationalities were found throughout the islands, especially in the languid port of Bora Gora, the location of the elegant Monkey Bar that was run by Bon Chance Louie (Roddy McDowall), a dapper and devilish Frenchman.
From this romantic setting, Jake set out on a new adventure each week, rescuing kidnapped travellers, recovering stolen booty, and foiling the German and Japanese spies who infested the area.
Jake had two sidekicks, his loyal but frequently inebriated mechanic, Corky (Jeff MacKay), and a one-eyed terrier named Jack (who never would forgive Jake for gambling away his jewelled glass eye).
Sarah White (Caitlin O’Heaney) was the willowy, contrary American singer at the bar whose attraction to Jake kept getting in the way of her real purpose – she was an American agent keeping an eye on things in the islands.
Others in the colourful cast were Rev. Willie Tenboom (John Calvin), a pompous Dutch minister who was really a German spy; Princess Koji (Marta DuBois), a beautiful Dragon Lady who maintained a large fleet of trading ships at Matuka in the Japanese sector of the island chain; and Todo (John Fujioka), the fierce Samurai commander of the princess’s private army.
The series seemed inspired by the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, although the series creator and producer, Don Bellisario, maintained that he took his idea not from Raiders but from the 1938 film Only Angels Have Wings.
Jake Cutter
Stephen Collins
Corky
Jeff MacKay
Princess Koji
Marta DuBois
Reverend Willie Tenboom
John Calvin
Todo
John Fujioka
Sarah Stickney White
Caitlin O’Heaney
Bon Chance Louie
Roddy McDowall
Jack
Leo the Dog
