Synopsis
Includes:
The Adventures of Superman: Tomb of Zaharan (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Close Shave (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Money to Burn (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Whatever Goes Up (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Mr. Zero (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: The Stolen Elephant (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: The Prince Albert Coat (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: The Phony Alibi (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: The Man Who Made Dreams Come True (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: The Town That Wasn't (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Tin Hero (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Peril in Paris (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: Disappearing Lois (1957)
The Adventures of Superman: All That Glitters (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Superman Silver Mine (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Atomic Captive (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Mysterious Cube (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Big Forget (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Perils of Superman (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Last Knight (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: Three in One (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: Superman's Wife (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Gentle Monster (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: Divide and Conquer (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Magic Secret (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: The Brainy Burro (1958)
The Adventures of Superman: Tomb of Zaharan
A pair of turbaned Middle Eastern diplomats named Abdul (Ted Hecht) and Ali (Jack Reitzen)--the sort of comic-opera characters who finish each other's sentences--are convinced that reporter Lois Lane (Noel Neill) is the reincarnation of the legendary Princess Nephroditis of Baldad. Normally, Lois would be flattered by the attention, but unfortunately tradition dictates that the "Princess" be sealed up in a tomb in order to fulfill an ancient prophecy--and equally unfortunately, Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) is also slated for the same treatment! This episode is a particular favorite of Superman buffs because of the unusually revealing outfits worn by series star Noel Neill--which of course have absolutely no effect on Superman (George Reeves), who is not called the "Man of Steel" for nothing. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Close Shave
Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) accidentally overhears barber Tony Gambini (Richard Benedict) trying to persuade his old friend, gang boss Rick Sable (Rick Vallin), to go straight and surrender to the authorities. But when Sable decides to also turn state's evidence, his criminal cronies decide to bump him off--and also silence Jimmy in the bargain. Needless to say, Superman (George Reeves) races to the rescue just before the final commercial. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Money to Burn
A pair of crooks (Mauritz Hugo, Dale Van Sickel) posing as food service workers show up at the scene of several fires. While one of the crooks cheerfully serves coffee to the firemen, the other dons an asbestos suit and robs the safes in the torched buildings. When the criminals hit the "Daily Planet" building after a fire, editor Perry White (John Hamilton) is accused of arson and insurance fraud! Though Perry himself figures out what's going on, it falls to Superman (George Reeves) to end the caffeine-stained crime wave. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Whatever Goes Up
A chocolate cake mix whipped up by Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson) turns out to be a special "anti-gravity" formula. Maj. Osborn (Tris Coffin) of the US Army convinces Jimmy that his unusual formula could be of great value to his country. Unfortunately, the crooked Mr. Gannis (Milton Frome) intends to steal the mixture in order to commit crimes. Inasmuch as the plot of the episode involves objects that can float through the air with the greatest of ease, who better to rescue Jimmy and the formula from the villain than that caped flyboy Superman (George Reeves). This was the final episode of The Adventures of Superman's fifth season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Mr. Zero
Famed Hollywood "little person" Billy Curtis guests in this episode as Mr. Zero, a diminutive, childlike Martian who has been exiled to earth. The ever-trusting Mr. Zero is led astray by crooked lawyer Georgie Glep (Herburt Vigran), who hopes to use the Martian's special talent--the ability to freeze people in place by touching them--for his own nefarious purposes. Perhaps it goes without saying that Superman (George Reeves) intervenes and sets Zero straight about Glep before the final fade-out. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Stolen Elephant
Circus ringmaster Haley (Thomas Jackson) posts a $10,000 reward for the return of his main attraction, Suzie the Elephant. Meanwhile, the two crooks who stolen Suzie hide the pachyderm in a barn owned by impoverished Mrs. Wilson (Eve McVeigh) and her son Johnny (Gregory Moffat). When the boy stumbles upon Suzie, he is overjoyed, thinking that the elephant is his birthday present! It is up to Superman (George Reeves) to foil the crooks, recover Suzie, and prevent the impressionable Johnny from having his heart broken. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Prince Albert Coat
Grandfather Jackson (Raymond Hatton) has sewn his life savings into the lining of an old coat. His grandson Bobby (Stephen Wooton) unwittingly donates the coat to a flood-relief fund drive. Reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) endeavor to retries the coat back, but a couple of crooks intervene. Superman (George Reeves) must not only save his friends and the coat, but also prevent Metropolis from being engulfed in water after the dam bursts! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Phony Alibi
Phillips Tead makes his second appearance in the role of eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle. This time, the old duffer has created a machine that converts human beings into electric energy so that they can be instantly telephoned to any location in the world. A gang of crooks steal the machine and use it to establish alibis for a series of crimes--and when reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) catch up with the crooks, the gang leader promptly "telephones" the duo to Alaska! Looks like another job for Superman (George Reeves)--or at least a competent telephone repairman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Man Who Made Dreams Come True
Superstitious Sartanian monarch King Leo (Cyril Delevanti) has fallen under the influence of con artist Rutherford Jones (Keith Richards), who claims that he can make the King's dreams come true. Of course, Jones' "miracles" are all phonies, all designed so that the villain can usurp Leo's throne and take over Sartania himself. It is up to Superman (George Reeves) to save the gullible Leo from an untimely demise. John Banner, best known as Sgt. Schultz on Hogan's Heroes, appears unbilled as Leo's aide. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Town That Wasn't
A gang of crooks set up a nonexistent small town in order to collect exorbitant traffic fines and hijack valuable truck shipments. Inevitably, "Daily Planet" reporter Jimmy (Jack Larson) and Lois (Noel Neill) are railroaded into the phony town's "jail" by an equally phony judge (Richard Elliot)--and when Clark (George Reeves) and Henderson (Robert Shayne) investigate the reporters' disappearance, they too are locked up and targeted for extermination. How will Clark be able to transform himself into Superman while trapped in a jail cell with virtually everyone he knows? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Tin Hero
After he accidentally foils a bank robbery, meek bookkeeper Frank Smullins (Carl Ritchie) is invited to join the staff of the "Daily Planet" as a criminologist. Jealous cub reporter Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), frustrated by the ability of the novice Smullins to outscoop him, decides to go after the bank robbers himself. That's right, folks: Jimmy and Smullins both end up in the clutches of the outlaws, necessitating another last-minute rescue by Superman (George Reeves). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Peril in Paris
Season Five of The Adventures of Superman) begins as the title character (played by George Reeves) arrives in Paris to help actress Anna Constantine (Lilyan Chauvin) defect from an Iron Curtain country. It turns out, however, that Anna is the dupe of a smuggling ring which is attempting to escape Europe with a cache of valuable jewels--and before long, Superman has been duped as well. The main attraction of this episode is the presence of series regular Robert Shayne), normarly cast as Metropolis police inspector Bill Henderson, herein adopting an outraaaaaageous French accent in the role of Parisian police inspector Lona! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Disappearing Lois
In order to get an exclusive interview with paroled criminal boss Lank Garrit (Milton Frome), Lois (Noel Neill) stages her own disappearance and sends fellow reporter Clark (George Reeves) off on a wild goose chase. Disguising themselves as domestics, Lois and Jimmy (Jack Larson) manage to infiltrate Garrit's hotel room, only to be kidnapped and slated for a grisly demise. Thinking quickly, Lois sweet-talks Garrit's dumb henchman Lefty (Ben Welden) into freeing herself and Jimmy, only to rather stupidly fall into Garrit's clutches again. Superman will of course come to the rescue, but the real highlight of the episode is the look on ubiquitous character actor Ben Welden's face when Lois flirts with him! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: All That Glitters
This 104th and final episode of The Adventures of Superman not only stars George Reeves as the title character, but was directed by Reeves as well. Eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle (Phillips Tead) has created a machine which he claims can produce gold from ordinary metal. And that's not all: Pepperwinkle has also developed a new strain of positive and negative Kryptonite. Whereas negative Kryptonite has the capacity to sap Superman of his strength, positive Kryptonite restores that strength--and also transforms reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) into superpowered superheroes themselves! Unfortunately, once the inevitable villains arrive to steal the gold-manufacturing apparatus, "Super Lois" and "Super Jimmy" literally awaken to the discovery that they're still plain, ordinary mortals. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Superman Silver Mine
Dabbs Greer essays a dual role in this episode as Texas philanthropist Mr. Pebbles and his criminal lookalike Dan Dobey. When Pebbles offers to donate one of his silver mines to the Metropolis Children's Camp Fund in the name of Superman (George Reeves), Dobey kidnaps Pebbles and takes his place, the better to get his mitts on the mine's riches himself. Somehow or other Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) likewise get themselves kidnapped, meaning that Superman's going to have to pull off a triple-header. And speaking of heads, there's a metal plate in Dobey's skull that will play an important role in the episode's climax. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Atomic Captive
Reporters Clark (George Reeves), Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) venture onto a Nevada atomic testing site in hopes of interviewing scientist Dr. Latislav (Raskin Ben-Ari), who has exiled himself from the rest of humanity after being exposed to radioactivity. Meanwhile, a pair of enemy spies are planning to kidnap Latislav and liquidate the reporters. Worse still: The Army has scheduled an atomic blast on the very site when Latislav, the spies and our heroes are squirreled away. Can Superman rescue everyone from annihilation before it is--shudder--too late? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Mysterious Cube
Introduced in the previous episode "Divide and Conquer", Professor LaSerne (Everett Glass) returns in this episode to help Superman (George Reeves) sidestep a legal obstacle. It seems that wanted criminal Paul Barton (Bruce Wendell) has evaded arrest for past crimes by sealing himself in a huge, impenetrable concrete cube until the seven-year statute of limitations has expired. Ordinarily Superman would bust down the cube and nab Barton, but even he is unable to smash down its walls. Fortunately, LaSerne has a solution: Superman can "deconstruct" his molecule structure on the outside of the wall, then reassemble himself inside! There's only one problem: If Superman attempts to go through with his plan, Barton's henchman Jody Malone (Ben Welden) will murder reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) at the very same moment. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Big Forget
Eccentric inventor Professor Pepperwinkle (Phillips Tead) unveils his latest creation: a "forget gas", which wipes out people's memories for fifteen minutes at a time. Simultaneously, reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) place a bet with editor Perry White (John Hamilton) that they can come up with an expose of gangster boss Muggsy Maples (Herburt Vigran) without the help of Superman. Inevitably, the two reporters are kidnapped by Muggsy and tied up in the same room as a ticking time bomb--along with Perry White, fellow reporter Clark Kent (George Reeves), and dear old Pepperwinkle. With no other option, Clark reveals himself to be Superman and rescues his friends--and if you haven't already figured out how he is able to protect his secret identity, then you haven't read the first sentence of this synopsis! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Perils of Superman
Directed by series star George Reeves, this wild-and-woolly spoof of old time movie serials begins when a mysterious masked man (Michael Fox) shows up at the "Daily Planet" to inform Clark (Reeves), Lois (Noel Neill), Jimmy (Jack Larson) and Perry White (John Hamilton) that their days are numbered. The masked figure turns out to be a criminal who has a vendetta against the "Planet" staff, and who has adopted a disguise to whet their curiosity and lure them into an elaborate trap. As the episode hurtles to its climax, Clark is about to be immersed in a vat of boiling acid, Perry has been strapped to a whirring buzz-saw, Jimmy is locked in a car without brakes that is careening down a treacherous mountain road, and Lois is tied to the railroad tracks as a speeding locomotive bears down upon her! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Last Knight
In this opening episode of the sixth and final season of The Adventures of Superman), reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) are assigned to cover the opening of a museum exhibit. Alas, within minutes the two newshounds are kidnapped by a trio of elderly men in armor, members of the Society for the Preservation of Knighthood and Dragons. It turns out that most of the members of this organization are harmless save for "Sir Arthur" (Marshall Bradford), who intends to bump off his fellow knights in order to collect on a tontine-like insurance policy. Disguising himself as one of the knights, Superman--armor and all--flies to the rescue of Lois and Jimmy, but this time even he may not be able to save the day. This was the series' first episode to debut on the ABC network, rather than in syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Three in One
This episode was apparently inspired by the vintage Lon Chaney Sr. movie vehicle The Unholy Three. A trio of circus performers--magician Harmon the Great (Sid Tomack), "human fly" Pallini (Rick Vallin) and strong man Atlas (Buddy Baer)--combine their talents in order to commit a string of robberies. The logic behind this scheme is that the crimes will appear to have been impossible to pull off by any single person. . .except Superman (George Reeves). Reluctantly taking the Man of Steel into custody, Inspector Henderson (Robert Shayne) "accidentally" allows him to escape so that he can solve the case and round up the real perpetrators. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Superman's Wife
Curvaceous cult actress Joi Lansing appears in this episode as policewoman Helen O'Hara, who upon meeting Superman (George Reeves) evidently exudes such an attraction that the Man of Steel instantly proposes marriage! This of course is all part of a scheme to bring elusive criminal mastermind Mr. X (John Eldredge) out in the open to attempt the kidnapping of "Mrs. Superman"--whereupon the police will slap the cuffs on the villain. Unfortunately, Mr. X not only manages to abduct Helen and bind her to a bundle of sputtering explosives, but he also seals Perry (John Hamilton), Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) in a leaky diving bell some 250 feet beneath the sea--and though he may be able to bend steel in his bare hands and change the course of mighty rivers, no way can Superman be in two places at once! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Gentle Monster
Having invented a "forget gas" in the previous episode, eccentric scientist Professor Pepperwinkle (Phillips Tead) is back with a new creation, a robot named Mr. MacTavish. Unfortunately, the main power source for the robot is Kryptonite, which of course is lethal to the otherwise invulnerable Superman (George Reeves). A clever crook named Duke (John Vivyan) decides to capitalize on Superman's weakness by kidnapping Lois Lane (Noel Neill) and luring the Man of Steel into a sealed room where the likewise "abducted" Mr. McTavish is waiting to wreak his unwitting havoc. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: Divide and Conquer
Arriving in a banana republic on a goodwill mission, Perry (John White), Clark (George Reeves) and Lois (Noel Neill) land smack-dab in the middle of an assassination attempt aimed at President Bateo (Donald Lawton). Quickly transforming into Superman, Clark manages to neutralize an exploding bomb, only to be promptly arrested when scheming Vice President Oberon (Robert Tafur) cites an obscure ordinance. To prevent Bateo from losing face in front of his people, Superman agrees to be placed behind bars, even though his absence leaves the President at the mercy of the villains. Enter eccentric Professor La Serne (Everett Glass), who has developed a theory whereby Superman can literally be in two places at once by dividing his molecule structure. Alas, once Superman has split himself in two, he dare not fuse back into a single body, lest "both" of him perish! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Magic Secret
Superman (George Reeves) takes to the airwaves--the radio airwaves, that is--to declare war against gangster boss D.W. Griswald (Freeman Lusk). In retaliation, Griwald teams up with sinister scientist Prof. Von Brunner (George Selk), who has developed a process to extract Kryptonite from the earth and convert it into a deadly light beam (If you need reminding, Kryptonite is the only known element that can render Superman helpless). Kidnapping Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) to lure Superman into a trap, the crooks manage to gain the upper hand--until the Man of Steel decides to resort to a magic trick he'd learned from amateur illusionist (and "Daily Planet" editor) Perry White (John Hamilton). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Adventures of Superman: The Brainy Burro
In the first of three Adventures of Superman episodes directed by series star George Reeves, reporters Lois (Noel Neill) and Jimmy (Jack Larson) are enjoying a working vacation in a tranquil Mexican village. When Lois sends back a dispatch to the "Daily Planet" about a local burro named Carmelita who apparently has the ability to read minds, Clark Kent (George Reeves) is ordered South of the Border to investigate. It's a darn good thing that Clark and Superman are one and the same, especially when a pair of crooks (Mauritz Hugo, Ken Mayer) hijack the burro to help them rob and bank, and then leave the helpless Lois and Jimmy in one of the series' inevitable "death traps." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
