Adventures of Superman

Other (ended 1958)
EDIT

Show Summary

  • Ended
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 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."moreless
8.2
out of 10
Avg Rating: Great
495 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate Now!
  • They don't make shows like this anymore...though I wish they did...

    10
    "Perfect"
    If some TV network ever makes a new "Superman" series, they should do it in the same old-school style as "The Adventures of Superman". This series pre-dated "Star Trek" and "Batman" by a decade by being shot in color and showed viewers the many technical splendors (i.e. special effects) that can be done on a shoestring budget. Lois, Jimmy, Perry and Inspector Henderson were all memorable supporting cast members, a trait that would carry over to the 1990s "Lois & Clark" series (only Inspector Henderson would not appear in that installment). The same could not be said for the villains, which is probably just as well.moreless
  • It's a bird, it's plane...you know the rest!

    9.2
    "Superb"
    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.moreless
  • 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.moreless

    7.7
    "Good"
    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.commoreless
  • Perry White's pearls of wisdom

    8.5
    "Great"
    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".moreless
  • No amount of Kryptonite can destroy this series!

    9.0
    "Superb"
    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!moreless
WRITE A REVIEW
More
Less

More Info About This Show

Categories

Action & Adventure, Animation

Themes

Classics, Teen