The Pumaman

Lore & Background

The Pumaman was produced in the late 1970s, following the success of science fiction blockbusters like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Wars, and Superman. Director Alberto De Martino acknowledged that the film was based on the trend of the moment, but noted that Italian filmmakers were not taken seriously in the special effects genre. The flying effects were particularly problematic: a camera purchased in Germany for the purpose was not properly used by technicians, and the flying shots were completed in just two days using a blue screen. De Martino was unhappy with the script and attempted to add humor to salvage the film.

The plot involves an American paleontologist, Tony Farms, who is revealed to be the modern-day Pumaman, a man-god with supernatural powers descended from aliens who visited Earth thousands of years ago. He must stop the villainous Dr. Kobras from using a mind-control mask to take over world leaders. The film features a mysterious Aztec named Vadinho who guides Tony in developing his powers, including flight achieved through a magical golden belt.

Reader's Guide

The Pumaman is primarily remembered as one of the worst superhero movies ever made, a reputation cemented by its appearance on Mystery Science Theater 3000. The episode aired on April 4, 1998, on the Sci-Fi Channel and has been listed among the series' essential episodes by some critics, though others rank it lower due to slow sections. The film's notoriously poor flying sequences, achieved by rear projection and wires, are frequently cited as laughable. Director De Martino himself called it 'the only pic I did wrong in my whole career' and noted it was a flop in Italy, though it recovered its minimum guarantee abroad. The film's legacy is largely tied to its MST3K treatment, which introduced it to a wider audience and cemented its status as a cult curiosity. Shout! Factory included the original film and an interview with star Walter G. Alton as bonus features on a DVD box set released in 2014.

Did You Know?

• The flying effects were shot in just two days using a blue screen because technicians could not properly use a camera purchased in Germany.
• Director Alberto De Martino called The Pumaman 'the only pic I did wrong in my whole career.'
• The film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 in a season 9 episode that first aired on April 4, 1998.
• MST3K writer Paul Chaplin noted that Vadinho, not the Pumaman, seemed to be the real hero of the movie.