On Friday evening, August 8, at 11 pm, PulpFest 2025 and Doc Con XXI will be the place to see Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Produced by George Pal and directed by Michael Anderson, the film turns fifty in 2025, just in time for the return of Doc Con.
Selecting Ron Ely for the title role, George Pal hoped to make a killing with the Doc Savage film franchise. “After the first one is successful, we’ll make another one, and then we’ll sell the series to television. By that time, every network will fight for it. At least, that’s my conviction.”
However, according to Hollywood scuttlebutt, the executives at Warner felt that a serious take on a decades-old pulp hero wouldn’t fly with movie audiences of the 1970s. Instead, they insisted on a camp approach, similar to television’s Batman. It was an epic misreading of their audience.
The movie-going public had changed since the demise of Batman in 1968. So when Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze was released in 1975, not only were fans of the hero disgusted with Warner’s treatment of the hero, but the general public was likewise turned off.
Pal wound up with a film that “demonstrates none of the charm or thrills of classics like The War of the Worlds (1953) or The Time Machine (1960). (Doc) Savage is hampered by budget woes, weak acting, a sluggish script, and some painfully forced attempts at camp.”
Years later, a fan using the name slark set out to redeem George Pal. In 2007, slark released Doc Salvaged, The Fan Edit of Bronze. It was intended, to give George Pal “. . . a swan song without a cheesy male chorus.”
Are you a Doc Savage fan, or a George Pal fan, or a hero/superhero fan, or just a movie fan who saw the 1975 “Doc Savage” film and came away disappointed? Well, Have No Fear — “The Doc” is Here! He put his nose to the grindstone for two months and now is pleased to announce that this movie has finally gotten the re-edit it has needed for over thirty years!
Slark released a second fanedit in 2011, “seeking to bring dignity to a beloved character, and his many fans!” Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze — Detarnished! won the “Fanedit of the Year” award. You can read more about it by clicking here and here.
We hope you’ll join us on Saturday afternoon, August 9, at 2:30 pm for a showing of the “fan cut” of the George Pal’s 1975 film, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze, starring Ron Ely in the title role.
The general public is welcome to attend our afternoon programming events free of charge. To learn more about our programming, please click the 2025 Schedule button at the top of this page.
For those who also want to enjoy our dealers’ room, you can join PulpFest by clicking the register button at the top of this page. Remember, in addition to your membership in PulpFest 2025, you’ll also be a member of Doc Con XXI, ERBFest 2025, and Farmercon XX. That’s four conventions for one price! You can’t beat that deal.
Don’t forget to book a room. Due to cancellations, our host hotel, the beautiful DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry has a few rooms left at the convention rate. Click here to make your reservation. You can also reserve a room at our host hotel by calling 1-724-776-6900 or 855-610-8733. To receive the special convention rate of $136 plus tax per night, you must mention that you are a PulpFest attendee or use the code CDT91R. To get the convention rate, you must book your room by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, July 15.
You can click here for nearby hotels if the rooms at the DoubleTree are no longer available.
If you’re looking for a roommate, write to Jack Cullers at his email address below.
If you’re interested in selling at PulpFest, our dealers’ room is full. However, we are adding a limited number of tables in the pre-function hallway outside of the dealers’ room. These tables will cost $125 each and will be guarded by security overnight. If you are interested, please write to Jack Cullers at jack@pulpfest.com to sign up for a spot. Any attendees who are interested in providing security services, please write to Jack Cullers at his email address above.
Visit the PulpFest YouTube Channel to catch the Doc Savage Trailer.
While you’re there, please be sure to subscribe.
Our featured image is excerpted from Walter Baumhofer’s cover art for Doc Savage Magazine for March 1933, the first issue of the Street & Smith hero pulp.
Our lead image was adapted by William Lampkin from Roger Kastel’s original art for the movie poster used to market George Pal’s Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Kastel’s art was also used for the cover of the first issue of the movie tie-in magazine released in June 1975 by Marvel Comics’ Curtis Magazines. The first of eight black-and-white magazines issued on the film’s coattails, each number featured an original graphic story by Doug Moench, John Buscema, and Tony DeZuniga.
Our final image is “The Code of Doc Savage,” a card awarded to members of the Doc Savage Club. For a couple of coupons clipped out of your Doc Savage pulps, you could become a member of the club. It was sponsored by Street & Smith.
Don’t be left in the lurch with a badly worn shirt. Click the link in our top menu and order a PulpFest t-shirt. They’re available in a variety of sizes in black or royal blue with the PulpFest logo across the chest. They’ll also be available for sale at PulpFest 2025.
