Adventures of Superman (TV Series) The Face and the Voice (1953) User Reviews

One of the best!

[austmedia · 9/10 · 16 January 2018]

Of all the "Superman" episodes, this and "Panic In The Sky" are two that stand out for me.

And Reeves's performance in this one is a delight - effectively playing four roles (Superman, Kent, Boulder, and Boulder as Superman), he's given the chance to deliver some nice comedy bits as Boulder during the elocution lesson scenes (his reciting of "I-look-like-Superman, why-don't-I-sound-like-Superman" is a classic), and even breaks the "fourth wall" by delivering a line directly to the camera (in a nicely pained fashion).

While Reeves certainly had the acting chops to pull off Superman and a manly Clark Kent (far more appealing to me than Chris Reeve's bumbling milk-sop), he also appeared to have a nice feel for comedy. And from a character point, the scenes where a troubled Kent consults a psychiatrist show a vulnerable, uncertain side of the normally lantern-jawed hero.

For those who haven't yet seen this episode, this is a must!

Superman Held Prisoner To Identity Theft And Mind Games!

[redryan64 · 8/10 · 26 June 2007]

Providing Superman with opponents having abilities worthy of the Man of Steel's Super Powers certainly kept the Series Writers on their toes. They could only use the Kryptonite theme so often.

The problem was solved by making use of "psychological warfare"; that is, they played mind games with Superman. The entire human emotional range was employed. Hence we have some of the best stories in the series involving Fear, Loneliness, Love, Ignorance, Happiness, etc.,all coming into play either in a negative sense or as a very positive force.

THE FACE AND THE VOICE can be very conveniently pigeon-holed in the category of "the Evil Twin" plot. The story need not involve a real, biological sibling-and seldom, if ever actually does. As long as there is enough resemblance to cause a case of mistaken identity, it will do nicely.

In the story, the Master-mind Crook, a Mr. Fairchild (Carleton Young) has hired an apparent ex-pug,now thug, 'Boulder' (played by the 'Big Guy' in double role)to impersonate the Man of Steel. Renegade Plastic Surgeon* (I. Stanford Jolley)changes his face to that of a double for Superman. Then the hard part starts.

Using a record of a speech made by Superman,stolen from Perry White's office by henchman, "Scratchy" (George Chandler), Renegade Speech Therapist 'Hamlet'(Percy Helton), works with 'Boulder' on his elocution and his mannerisms, all leading up to the object of this elaborate ruse.

Wearing a Superman Costume and a Bullet Proof Vest underneath, 'Boulder'stages some rather minor robberies. He demands cash from a shop keeper's cash register. The proprietor reluctantly obeying. He later walks into a jewelry store and takes some diamond jewelry and fleeing with a Security Guard's gunshots, one hitting him in the protected back.

After each crime, whatever the proceeds wind up being donated to a charity. The Crooks' motive not being at all apparent to either Superman or the Metropolis Police. The repeated pattern of robbing and donating, repeating same had the Citizenery of Metropolis convinced that it was a mental problem with Superman suffering from a sort of "Robin Hood" Delusion. The object of the meticulously plotted and slowly executed plot(for a half hour episode) is to provide enough false information to make all of Metropolis and even Superman himself, think that he is suffering a mental disorder.

As Kent, Superman remains unshaken, until a photo of 'Boulder' as Superman (taken by 'Scratchy') is published in The Planet, rocking his confidence and belief in himself.

Clark goes to his Doctor (Hayden Rourke**) seeking psychiatric help. But, as he is present with the good Doc, another "Superman" incident occurs and he finds out that he is not loosing his mind.

Superman goes to Police HQ's. Entering into Inspector Henderson's office, he finds Bill fearful and distrustful about his even being there. Then, Henderson gets a phoned in message of an in-progress Robbery being committed by "Superman".Seeing the real Superman right before his eyes, the Inspector immediately understands just what's coming down! The two then proceed to the scene and Superman apprehends the gang along with the Armored Car full of Gold that they had hi-jacked as the big pay off 'Superman'crime.

In a fade out scene, 'Boulder' agrees to a reversal of his previous surgery in order to get his old face back. Jimmy Olsen and Clark Kent are present to agree and close the story.

THE FACE AND THE VOICE was a very enjoyable episode, with a good deal of fun sprinkled in with the action. The guest cast of Carleton Young, George Chandler, Percy Helton and I.Stanford Jolley were all well used and added a certain plausibility to the story. And as for George Reeves playing the Double, no, the TRIPLE Roles of Superman/Clark Kent/'Boulder' gave him a chance to let his hair down and have some fun by hamming it up, as the story called for.

* We really feel sorry for you Plastic Surgeons out there. It seems that you guys always get the bad rep in our TV & Movies. You guys are always "renegade" and outside the law. Why, your profession's treatment in film is even worse than that the Vietnam Vets got for so long!

** Hayden Rourke playing a Phychiatrist, 11 years before I DREAM OF JEANNIE (1965). Could this have been type-casting?

Wow! Where Did They Get a Guy Who Looked Just Like George Reeves?

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 2 February 2015]

George Reeves plays a double role. He plays a thug who is about to have plastic surgery to make him look just like Superman. He also gets voice lessons to sell the whole package. Once there, he does robberies and then gives the proceeds to charity. Superman's credibility is suffering. What the crooks are doing is making people trust that his motives are good so they can set up a really big robbery, a two million dollar payoff from an armored car. Clark, who can be a bit neurotic at times, wonders whether he is committing these crimes in his sleep. Anyway, we all await the ultimate confrontation between the two Supermans. It was kind of fun to see George stretch himself a bit.

Super performance by George Reeves

[morrisonhimself · 10/10 · 17 April 2022]

Anyone who questions whether George Reeves was a good actor need only watch this episode: He does an excellent job playing an entirely different character.

It's a pretty inventive plot, cleverly presented, well acted and directed, and the kind of well-done story that could have kept "The Adventures of Superman" on TV for decades.

It's one, in fact, I remember having seen many years ago in its early years of syndication, and one well worth seeing again.

Best of Season 2!!!

[ralsalongi · 27 April 2006]

This is by far one of the best eps of season 2!!! This plot involves a criminal who gets plastic surgury to look exactly like Superman. He then goes robbing and stealing everywhere around the city.

Clark Kent thinks he's crazy and even goes to see a psychiatrist. Superman ends up capturing the fake guy and his aids in the end.

Great episode with a great villain.

Look for Hayden Rorke(of I dream of Jeanie) in a small (uncrdeditted) roll as a psychiatrist. Ironicly, he'd go on to play a psychiatrist in Jeanie as well!!!

George Reaves also plays a duel roll in this one; he plays the hood who mascarades as himself. Great fun!!!

Intriguing concept well executed

[djfone · 8/10 · 6 April 2024]

This episode gives George Reeves a chance to use a Bronx accent as a thug being surgically and vocally enhanced to impersonate Superman.

The swelling backing music is a main character here, providing emotion and depth to several scenes.

Note during the grocery store robbery the appearance at the far right bottom of the screen of Sugar Frosted Flakes and Sugar Smacks...two Kellogg's brands; a bit of product placement by the series sponsor.

Funny how Hayden Roark from "I Dream of Jeannie" fame has a brief role as Clark's psychologist friend.

Kind of a bizarre climax, with Carleton Young telling the real Superman, believing it's Boulder, "And here's one for that new face!" while he shoots the gas tank at the rear of the laundry service vehicle he's using as a getaway car. Young then performs one of the strangest "The REAL one! No!!" faints/face plants I've ever seen. Even Superman casts him an odd glance.

And, of course, Superman's stunt double (as Boulder) who runs away from the truck looks nothing like George Reeves, but that was hard to tell back when the show aired on fuzzy-signal, rabbit-ears antenna TVs.