Professor Pepperwinkle learns how to make gold from base metal. Crooks force the professor to do it, but the professor has another secret: how to turn any man into Superman.
Announcer: "The Adventures of Superman" Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! Voices: "Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" Announcer: "Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from … More another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way." "And now, another episode in the exciting Adventures of Superman."
Announcer: "The Adventures of Superman" Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! Voices: "Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" Announcer: "Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from … More another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way." "And now, another episode in the exciting Adventures of Superman."
Announcer: "The Adventures of Superman" Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! Voices: "Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" Announcer: "Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from … More another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way." "And now, another episode in the exciting Adventures of Superman."
Announcer: "The Adventures of Superman" Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound! Voices: "Look up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!" Announcer: "Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from … More another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way." "And now, another episode in the exciting Adventures of Superman."
Perry White's pearls of wisdom hide show
I grew up with the "Adventures of Superman" but it was only in my early adulthood did I come to appreciate the non-PC and sexist remarks by Perry Whyte, usually in reference to Lois.
For example. In one scene, Lois is ordered to take an impromptu flight across the country to some interesting location for a news report, and in her rush, she exclaims "but I haven't a thing to wear!", to which Perry states "What woman ever did!".
In another episode, Lois is making some interesting remarks about something I forgot in front of all the boys, which bemuses and befuddles the younger men. Perry's response is:
"My boy when a woman has nothing to say, she speaks in riddles....just to keep every one in a state of confusion".
It's a bird, it's plane...you know the rest! hide show
I was born in 1983, so I did not grow up watching this TV series. That does not change the fact on how great the series is. George Reeves shines in this series as Clark Kent/Superman. The real star of the series, however, is Jack Larson. He completely owns the screen as Jimmy Olsen, especially later in the series. The best thing about "Adventures of Superman" is that it never gets tired or boring the longer it went. The last episode was just a fun as the first. Every Superman fan owes their fandom to this TV series, which made Superman more popular than he was as just a comic book.
Jeepers Superman, have you seen Mr Kent. This is a show that represents the innocence of the early days of TV. I was an avid viewer and grew up with Superman Comic books. For a child of the time it was never a dissapointment. hide show
Superman was one of those shows I couldn't wait to see as a kid, TV was in it's infancy and things were still dependent on trickery and good acting, a bit camp but it did the job. George Reeves was an excellent Superman and never did injustice to the legacy of the comic, a true to life comic book Hero and intelligent actor. His demise was very unfortunate and spoke to the drawbacks of type casting for talented actors. Unfortunately this era of TV was a wasteland and most shows were hype and pap, but Superman was deffinetly a breath of naive fresh air.
No amount of Kryptonite can destroy this series! hide show
Back in the days when there were no color TV's, no cell phones, no microwaves ovens, no computers (hey! how did we survive without all that???), there actually was a television show with believable plots (in a science-fictiony way!), good (if hammy!) acting, and, just a tad violent (bullets shown bouncing off Superman's chest), and even a bit frightening ("Superman and the Mole Men"), but was a wonderful, family-friendly, show!
Though there were some scares over very few kids in bedsheets-turned-capes, allegedly leaping off balconies, thinking they were Superman, the majority of us knew what was real and what wasn't. I guess we 50's kids were smarter than today's kids who imitate, to disastrous effect, the faux-wrestlers on today's TV. George Reeves, a smoker, was so concerned about the character he protrayed, that he never smoked in front of children or fans! That's class!
On a personal note, one of my uncles bore a striking resemblance to George (Superman) Reeves, and, being just a kid, back then, I considered it my duty never to reveal his secret identity! (still haven't!)
Given a choice between our modern technology and sociological environment, with its ultra-violent, gross, potty-mouthed, near-pornographic, TV shows, parading as entertainment for the masses, as opposed to returning to a simpler, more serene time of black and white TV's and enjoying good television programs with the family, I'd pick the latter every time!
Take me away, Superman!
You will again be amazed at how simple the production is, and yet how extremely effective it is. The color is great, and the special effects work well for the most part. hide show
George Reeves does a great job as Superman, but it was his confident Clark Kent that shows the range of this talented and underappreciated thespian. Reeves, who often looks more muscular in his classic suits than in his Superman garb, plays Kent with far more confidence and humor than recent incarnations, and it works.
Jack Larson sets the bar high as Jimmy Olsen, and no actor to date has come close to it since. His child-like innocence, subtle humor, and energy are an acting lesson in each appearance. He steals scenes one after another. The rest of the cast, including Noel Neill as Lois Lane, also establish the institution that is Superman with excellent performances, which other actors have and should continue to strive towards.
If there is any weakness here, it is the stories. Even geared towards children, these stories can be considered weak. Often the plots make little sense and the guests appear to be trying to figure them out. There are a few gems in the set, but for the most parts, it is the acting of our leads and the special effects that are the highlights here.
For a complete review; check our maskedmoviesnobs.com
TheNthDr
Editor
MacDeacon
Retired
BetaPlusGood
char2renee
jr196301
