Shark Bytes

mike-
The show originated as "World Safari" in near movie length specials, later in regular weekly slots repackaged as "Adventure Bound" (I think. Having to go back a few decades for this) Not sure how much of the series airing in the US is the original "World Safari", and how much may be "new footage", but the original films/shows are killer material. "World Safari" appears to be available (3 x volumes), in limited numbers, on DVD, at least in Australia. The compatability factor may have to be checked for US viewing though. If no good for US systems, at least one can use the DVD identity to pursue possible US release. If the links don't work, and/or are "chopped", copy, paste full address (edit if "chopped") to search.

WORLD SAFARI-1
http://www.oztion.com.au/vshops/item.aspx?itemid=3023031&shopid=66

WORLD SAFARI-1
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/231640

WORLD SAFARI-2
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/231641

WORLD SAFARI-2
http://www.payless.com.au/index.php?/p/product/367

WORLD SAFARI-3
http://www.chicdvd.com.au/p/357884/alby-mangels-world-safari-volume-3.html

"Alby Mangels World Safari-2" is definitely the best one, with some of the more memorable adventures, including the Andean fiasco. This show, along with "Ask The Leyland Brothers" has something of a cult following, amongst unintentional-comedy aficionados, and spawned excellent satires in Australia, like "Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures".

http://www.xwiredonline.com/Coight.htm

anyone know where you can see this show in america? or better yet, buy the series on dvd perhaps?

Lordy... "Adventure Bound". What a blast from the past. This show could never jump the shark, as it was far too over-the-top to be anything but a masochistic indulgence. This show evolved from film screenings at local rural, Australian, outdoor cinemas, into TV specials that rated quite well, during the 1970's. The attraction was not the "safaris", the wildlife, or the exotic locales. It was Alby's narcissism and affectations. It was pure comedy, from start to finish. Alby channeled Hemingway through Weismuller, and his ego ensured every scene that called for him to strut in his skimpy white speedos (which was pretty much all of them), delivered faux heroics that were legendary. Alby was a notorious chiseller. He would audition and con, one young aspiring-model, after another, into following him to some 3rd world latrine (or outback snake hole), with a promise of impending stardom. This produced great TV drama. The show was almost entirely dubbed, post production. The safari would start off ok, but the long-suffering model would obviously be furious with him, for something. Alby would dub enthusiastic narration, and phoney dialogue, that appeared to be in stark contrast to the obviously tense conversation taking place. This was not helped by Alby's "touching" fetish. He would strike manly poses before the models, and wind up pawing them, during some convenient setup, with lizards, or billabong swing, etc. Alby would declare in the voice over that he and the model would be "bonding", during their adventures, and even get other actressess to voice the model. The verbal exchange on the soundtracks did not match those on location, if the body language, and facial expressions, of the models were any indication. The girly sidekicks hated him, the film crew hated him. He would often neglect to pay them wages, a %age, or even their expenses, which resulted in lawsuits. One crew, possibly even a model, if memory serves, were seriously injured in a 4xwheel drive accident in the Andes. Alby left them for dead, and without money. They ended up suing.Many of the locals he met, on his adventures, appeared to loathe him also. For example, Alby would intone that a villager elder bade him farewell, with some formal tradition, in a scene. But the footage showed what looked more like- "get the hell out of here you obnoxious git, and quit hitting on the girls, you pervert!". Alby would rock into some 1xhorse outback, or african community, and announce that he was a "community friend, and some sort of legend" (like a god)... but the bewildered expression, on the faces of the villagers revealed that they had not a clue, who this insane person was, who embraced them. So many memories, so many side splitting episodes. Alby was the ultimate adventurer-poseur-huckster. Alby was the show. If Ed Wood jnr had done an adventure film series, this would have been the result. Not to be missed, if you ever get the chance. It gets more hilarious, with repeated viewings, as you pick up nuances, and detail, missed on first viewing.

Hello my friend I have been a huge fan of yours growing up. I completely admire your life style and wish that one day I can follow in your foot steps you have always been a roll model for me and I wish the best for you and your family.
Thank You

This was a great show and Mangel's charisma does not hurt. He picked some exciting places and I only wished he was still filming.

The Alby Mangels story is one that's been told many times: The lad born in humble circumstances (in this case to poor Dutch immigrants in Australia) whose talents, ambitions and charisma greatly exceed his station. It's the story of the immigrant and of the self-made millionaire, but old Alby puts a new twist on the formula. In his early 20s, working a dead-end job and without prospects, he literally sat down his pick and shovel one dreary day, wandered off with only a hand-held film camera for company, and set off the see the world. Along the way, he picked up an odd menagerie of fellow adventurers, dogs and some righteous babes. The only mystery is why, in his travels, Alby insisted on swinging through every third world hell-hole imaginable. I would have worked in a five-star hotel in Paris or Tokyo, just to mix things up a little bit. This series, from start to finish, actually covers something like a 25-year span of time (Alby turned 50 a couple of years back) and though some scenes seem almost pathetically staged, the show is every working stiff's fantasy brought to life. Alby, in his own crude way, is quite eloquent on everything from world politics to poverty to the environment.

Well, actually this show do not jump the shark. I just have a comment for the idiot who doesn't like Alby. You are jealous that's all...maybe you were looking for some attention, you little freak

Where did they find this guy and who pays for him to prance about the world in a speedo? Alby now looks like a snow yeti on crack. He's had some classic misadventures such as lions eating his camels, getting smashed by the ocean to a bloody heap and blowing up his own boat. His Ho of the week is interesting to look at but otherwise the show is a snooze fest.

This is an excellent show!!! Although Alby's aging made parts of the show admittedly less appealing (those little speedos), the content is what made this show so great (and nephew Rick was a big perk in later Alby episodes!).