Superman (1948)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet
Thomas Carr

Writers:

George H. Plympton (adaptation) &
Joseph F. Poland (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

5 January 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Based on the SUPERMAN adventure feature appearing in SUPERMAN and ACTION COMICS magazines, in daily and Sunday newspapers coast-to-coast and on the SUPERMAN radio program broadcast over the Mutual Network (original poster)

Plot:

Superman comes to Earth as a child and grows up to be his home's first superhero with his first major challenge being to oppose The Spider Lady. |

Plot Keywords:

Superman | Superhero | Telephone | Orphan | Laboratory

Cast

Kirk Alyn	...	Superman / Clark Kent (as Superman)
Noel Neill	...	Lois Lane
Tommy Bond	...	Jimmy Olsen
Carol Forman	...	'Spider Lady'
George Meeker	...	Henchman Driller
Jack Ingram	...	Henchman Anton
Pierre Watkin	...	Perry White
Terry Frost	...	Henchman Brock
Charles King	...	Henchman Conrad [Chs. 6-15]
Charles Quigley	...	Dr. Hackett [Chs. 6-15]
Herbert Rawlinson	...	Dr. Arnold Graham [Chs. 3, 9-11, 13-15]
Forrest Taylor	...	Prof. Arnold Leeds [Chs. 3-4]
Stephen Carr	...	Morgan [Chs. 3-4]
Rusty Wescoatt	...	Henchman Elton [Chs. 7-15]

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Superman (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

244 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Jack Ingram took the credit for all of Superman's stunts even though he was taken off production after he broke a leg jumping off a building. Kirk Alyn then had to do the rest of Ingram's stunts himself.

Goofs:

Continuity: In Chapter 11, when a gangster discovers Jimmy hiding in a crate in the back of a truck, he calls his partner back and both men shoot into the crate. But in the recap in Chapter 12, he does not call his partner back, and he alone shoots into the crate.

Quotes:

Ro-Zon, leader of Krypton [Ch. 1]: [after vote to remain on Krypton] The counsel has spoken, Jor-El.
Jor-El, father of Superman [Ch. 1]: Not spoken, Ro-Zon. It has pronounced the death sentence for all Krypton.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman (2006) (V)

This looks like a job for...............!

This is a great serial. What people tend to forget when watching it today, is that it was made in 1948 and was aimed at the Saturday matinee crowd.

The special effects, to be sure, are primitive by today's standards, but take a closer look. Remember this was 1948. The opening sequence and Superman's flying effects were achieved through some excellent animation.

Don't forget that Superman IS a comic book character. The transition from live action to animation in the flying sequences, is performed seamlessly and realistically. I thought that this was pretty innovative for its' time.

Kirk Alyn was born to play Superman. He gives a realistic and credible performance as both Superman and Clark Kent. The diminutive Noel Neill makes an excellent Lois Lane, girl reporter, Timmy Bond (Formerly "Butch" of the Our Gang comedies) is good as Jimmy Olsen and veteran Pierre Watkin is suitably cranky as Perry White.

Carol Forman brings a cold and icy sexiness to the role of the Spider Lady, Superman's chief nemesis. Serial veterans Charles Quigley, Charles King, Terry Frost and Rusty Wescoatt round out the cast in various villain roles.