Adventures of Superman: Through the Time Barrier
Episode score
7.1
Good
Through the Time Barrier
- 53.
- Season: 3
- Episode: 1
- First Aired: 4/23/1955
Professor Twiddle invents a time machine which takes Jimmy, Lois, Clark and a thug back 50,000 years. Add a recap »
- Writers:
- David Chantler
- Director:
- Harry Gerstad
- Stars:
- Jack Larson (Jimmy Olson)
- Noel Neill (Lois Lane (9-18-53))
- John Hamilton (Perry White)
- Phil Tead (Professor J.J. Pepperwinkle (4-21-56))
- George Reeves (Clark Kent/Superman)
- Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane)
- Robert Shayne (Inspector Bill Henderson)
- Guest Star:
- Florence Lake (Cavelady)
- Jim Hyland (Turk Jackson)
- Sterling Holloway (Professor Twiddle)
- Ed Hinton (Caveman)
- After the second season wrapped, George Reeves actually quit the show over money. He also didn't want to get typecast into the part especially after the dismal reaction to his role in "From Here To Eternity". When Reeves appeared in a scene with Burt Lancaster, the crowd was reported to have shouted, "Hey, there's Superman!". Producers were aghast at this and virtually cut Reeves part out of the film save for a couple of key scenes.
The producers convinced Reeves that they would commit to another four seasons of Superman and that all episodes would be shot in color. Reeves accepted assuming they would shoot 26 episodes per season just as they had done previously. Unfortunately for Reeves, with the cost of shooting in color as well as his pay increase, only 13 episodes were shot each season thereby allowing the sponsor to pay half of what Reeves thought he was going to get and repeating those four seasons of 13 episodes continuously. edit »
- This is based on the comics story "The Challenge of Stoneman!" in ACTION No. 201, February 1955 -- accounting for the curious scene here where Turk draws an "S" on his fur caveman outfit and proclaims himself "Stoneman"! edit »
- Due to the tremendous cost of shooting in color, many of George Reeves' fantastic take-offs and landings were trimmed to only a few stock shots. Reeves was also fitted with a new blockier padded costume which made movement a little more difficult. If you notice in all the color episodes, when Reeves actually takes off (when they shoot it for the episode and not a stock shot), it's usually a slight springboard leap off camera left or camera right. In the few instances when he does leap over the camera, when it is part of the show and not a stock shot, the camera is set at foot level. There would be no need for a springboard as Reeves would run as close to the camera as possible and do a little jump so all you really see is two red boots leap over the camera. By season six, even those leaps were far and few between as the 43 year old Reeves opted to just step out of frame rather than "leap" into the air. edit »
- This is the first color episode. edit »
- PROF. TWIDDLE: Even science can backfire. (talking about his invention) edit »
- There is currently no allusions. Add allusions!
Through the Time Barrier
The Bottom Line: "Average"03/11/07 08:21pm | report abuseIt was interesting ...Continue »
Show Score
8.0
good
- Show Statistics
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421 Votes
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