Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Perry White's Scoop (1954) User Reviews

Follow Money Trail in Bizarre Opening Killing

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 8 January 2015]

IN THIS, THE second season of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, there was a concerted effort to fully exploit each of the characters to the fullest. This resulted in the fine overall quality of that years output. Furthermore, it is the humanity of the five regulars that really flowers during this period.

THE STORY OPENS up with a most bizarre killing right in front of the Daily Planet building. A man in a deep sea diving suit is gunned down. There is no rhyme nor reason to any of this. A dying declaration by the victim of this crime is told directly to Editor White at the Hospital's ER. Perry takes charge of the Planet's covering of the story.

BEING PERHAPS A THROWBACK to the first season's very brutal and sometimes graphic violence, the episode is also a top example of Superman's role as crime-fighter and is highly regarded as a mystery in its own right.

WITH OUR RECENT viewing of this installment, we realized that what made the series so memorable is the bold representation of humanity at its best. This was clearly evident in the on screen persona of Lois (Noel Neill & Phyllis Coates), Mr. White (John Hamilton), Jimmy (Jack Larson), Inspector Henderson (Robert Shayne) and especially Kent/Superman (Mr. George Reeves, himself).

Did They Really Need That Diving Suit?

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 4 February 2015]

A man wearing a deep sea diving suit is gunned down in front of the Daily Planet Building. As he lies in the infirmary, he mutters his last word to Perry White. It is Quincy. Perry, who has had enough of the sloppy work of his own reporters decides to get into the act himself and relive his exploits as a reporter. He also thinks that the only reason the others are successful is because Superman always intervenes. He, Clark, and Lois do some leg work and begin to suspect that water has something to do with the murder. At one point, Superman dresses in a diving suit, and once again, a crook fires at the suit, but is apprehended by our guy. Meanwhile two sets of bad men (one a woman) begin to jockey for position. There is a secret and it has to do with a water tank. When the Planet people get involved, things get pretty sticky. When you find out why the water tank is important, it makes you wonder why a "deep sea" diving outfit was necessary.

Terrific story, hilarious gaffdenouement

[djfone · 8/10 · 11 April 2024]

This is one of the best-written episodes, as only a true journalist like Perry White is able to link a murder victim's last word --- Quincy --- to the bizarre diving suit he was killed in, to a water source with a Quincy phone exchange. You 'll just have to explain to the grandkids what a phone exchange was.

And, while "Quincy" isn't exactly "Rosebud"....work with me here, OK pal?

The fulcrum on which this seesaw rocks is a railroad freight car loaded with a cash counterfeiter's print stock....but getting there is an adventure. Try not to think logically about the plot, since it's unlikely real crooks will band a lone goldfish with a rail car number, drop it into a rooftop tank, then send a gunman after a guy wearing a diver's suit a d helmet at midday in downtown Metropolis.

Or, hey......maybe they would. I don't judge.

Once Perry, Jimmy, and Clark zero in on a water tank atop a fitness club's roof as a byzantine clue, the series' notoriously low budget kicks in. When they're on the roof, take note of the cityscape backdrop. It's a matte painting that was clearly folded in storage for a long time because not only is a high-rise across the city bending, but you can actually see a horizontal crease across the backdrop.

Train aficionados will love the denouement in a rail yard, climaxing as John Mellencamp might describe a burning.....like paper in fire.