Bullet Points: The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck

I am a sucker for action adventure movies on set and filmed in a far off location. And if there is a charismatic swashbuckling lead in a seies of films all the better. I’m talking about Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in any of his movies or Michael Douglas as Jack Colton in any of his movies. One such movie and character that seems like there would be a series of films is David Keith as Tennessee Buck. The character of Tennessee Buck can compete with any of the adventurous leads but was only in one film with the misleading title The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck. I just so happen to have some Bullet Points for a film that will leave you wanting more, while still showing you everything, so join me on a rip roaring adventure to The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck.

• The Honeymooners – Vacationing newlyweds, Kent and Barbara Manchester, are making their way done a river deeps in the jungles of Borneo. Kent (Brant von Hoffman, Police Academy) is a proud member of an adventurers club and is on a mission to bag a rare tiger. Barbara (Kathy Shower, Cyber-C.H.I.C.) is the trophy wife who is more adept at dealing with the sales at Barney’s than any wild animals. Wolfgang Meyer (Sydney Lassick) is the man who gets everything done in the jungle village and has a guide all picked out for the Manchesters… that is until the guide gets killed trampled to death by an elephant. The murderous pachyderm almost takes out Barbara but is saved by the roguish Buck.

• The Not Volunteer – The audience is first introduced to Tennessee Buck (David Keith, Raw Justice) as he is passed out on a boat with his loyal native guide Sinaga. When Buck and Sinaga make it back to the village, The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck has one heck of an entertaining over the top fight between Buck and a jealous and very large native. Buck comes out on top and let’s just say to the victor goes the spoils. After saving Barbara from the elephant, Kent is convinced that Buck should be the one to guide his hunt. Buck, going against the motto of his eponymous state, does not volunteer for the position but is convinced for a hefty paycheck… and lots of alcohol.

• Welcome to the Jungle – The jungles of Borneo are a beautiful location, but not very hospitable. Buck has had a long experience traversing the jungles, and especially with the headhunting cannibal tribe that inhabits the land. Once Buck tells the Manchesters about the headhunters it is only a matter of time until the traveling party are introduced and captured by the cannibals. Years ago Buck helped out the tribe’s chief and was given a very special and important amulet that is said to protect him and he cannot be killed while wearing. The chief’s son is not impressed with Buck and especially the weak Kent, but the tall blonde Barbara is like nothing he has ever seen before.

• Cold Shower – The chief’s son, with his eye on Barbara, decides to let Kent go. Of course, he only lets Kent go so he can be hunted down in a tribal most dangerous game. Now with Barbara to himself, the chief’s son has the tribe prepare her for him. What does that entail? It involves The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck veering away from the action movie genre as we see an extended scene of Barbara being rubbed down with oil in the altogether by some of the female cannibals. While Barabara might have enjoyed the massage, she probably didn’t enjoy what the chief’s son did after.

You may think that The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck is not that much fun with all the bad things happening and with our main characters in a dire situation. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will tell you that Buck manages to get free from his captors with Barbara in tow in a heart pounding chase sequence with jungle booby traps. David Keith makes Buck a lovable loser, who runs on alcohol, a very engaging character. Kathy Shower may have only got the role for one reason, but she is believable as a fish out of water. The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck will leave you wanting to see the original adventures or further further adventures, but we only got one film. You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you  need… some The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck Bonus Bullet Points.

• Double Duty – David Keith not only starred in The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck, but he was also the director. One of two directed films on his C.V.
• True Action – There is no explanation for Buck’s Tennessee name, but there is some Tennessee gear in the movie, and David Keith is a Tennessee native and graduate of the University of Tennessee.
• Alcoholic Anatomy– “The way to a man’s heart is through his liver.”
• Teardrop of India – The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck was filmed on location in Sri Lanka and it serves as a gorgeous exotic backdrop to the action.
• Wild Kingdom – I love the wildlife in The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck with the selection of beasties including elephants, cobras, lizards, monkeys, leopards and snakes.
• If You Ever… – wanted to see David Keith dance around a fire with a topless native girl then The Further Adventures of Tennessee Buck is for you.
• Best Meta Quote – “She’s mine. Find your own playmate.” Makes sense once you know Kathy Shower was a Playboy Playmate.