The upside down effect and the noise of the machine were absolutely nauseating which made this a hard episode to watch. Not to mention the invention made no sense at all. Compared to this I think I'd rather watch the episode with all the stolen bent knives, or the one with Chuck Connors and the mule. When the audio and visuals are both assaulting your senses, and the story is absurd, there is nothing else left but to ask "why did they do this?" This was probably the epitome of the show going downhill. It was 100% a kid's show by this point. Ah, what's the use in criticizing these later episodes - they too were made 50 years ago... how dare I nitpick? Well I'd like to go back in time and have some better episodes than these, that's all. They did not do justice to the great talent and charisma of George Reeves. He deserved better scripts than this.
5 Reviews
It's Lucky His Machine Didn't Turn People Inside-Out
Hitchcoc9 February 2015
Professor Pepperwinkle has invented a machine which affects the brain, making people think that they are upside down. Of course, the problem is what possible use could it be? Of course, a couple of crooks who run a circus/carnival decide that they could use it to create an enormous distraction. While people in a bank are adjusting to what is happening to them, one of them will empty the teller drawers and carry the stuff right out the door. They convince the professor that people would enjoy this as a kind of carnival ride. Since Pepperwinkle loves it that his invention will make people happy, he would be happy to purchase it. Naturally, things go astray when Lois and Jimmy (who else?) show up, just as a bank robbery is being hatched. Not a terrible episode but the visuals were headache inducing.
Topsy or Turvy, whatever's your pleasure; this episode is sure to amuse!
redryan6426 January 2009
KEEPING the subject matter of story lines from going stale, a number of topics seemed to have a sort of regular "Batting Order". In this manner, the SUPERMAN Show's writing team could treat us to multiple presentations in a particular topic; but working on variations to a particular theme. Treatment of subjects such as Superman's Double Identity, Loneliness of Being a Super Hero, 'the Evil Twin', Superman's friends and 'Fun with Kryptonite!' IN reprising the subject of mind control in 'Topsy Turvy', the series could look back to such psychologically oriented episodes as 'The Face and the Voice' (Season 2), 'Great Caesar 's Ghost' (Season 3) and the brutally grim 'The Mind Machine' (Season 1).
LIKE the Season 1's 'The Mind Machine', our subject for today, 'Topsy Turvy' makes use of the inventions of an eccentric genius of a scientist, which falls into the wrong hands; being used for evil instead of the welfare of mankind. Unlike the season one entry, there is plenty of counterbalancing levity to render the story less disturbing to the small fry viewing the proceedings.
WHEREAS 'The Mind Machine villain Lou Cranek (Dan Seymour) misuses the technological marvel to first manipulate victim's will, ultimately destroying him; Topsy Turvy heavy, Carni (Ben Welden) is frightened by the otherwise harmless upside-down machine.
THE STORY manages to mix in a one gang crime wave of robberies in which the modus operandi of the hold-ups makes use of the invention to cause such disorientation of all unsuspecting victims, enabling the gang total control over situation. As in most such stories, the bad guys stumble on the wonder weapon quite by accident.
ALSO much in common with most predecessors, this episode has the services of an eccentric inventor. In this case it's one Professor Pepperwinkle (Phil Tead ), who had become a recurring semi-regular in the series.* The good Professor's handy work falls into the opportunistic, criminally bent hands of crook, Carni (Mr. Welden) and YoYo (CharlesWIlliams). Rounding out the guest cast is Mickey Knox, who plays the pivotal role of the unsuspecting flagpole sitter. His plight is relieved with the arrival of Superman. The inclusion of this scene was a boon to the advancement of the adventure's proceedings.
ONE incident portrayed in the early part of the episode has the petty crook, Carni (Ben Welden, again) first unwittingly encounters the power of Pepperwinkle's gadget being tested. Being totally surprised and caught off guard as he enters the room where the upside down inversion is going down (or would it be going up?); Carni loudly exclaims: "HEY, RUBE!" REFERRING to any dictionary of English Language Slang will serve one well who may not be familiar with this highly esoteric jargon used in the story; being peculiarly given a highly limited, narrow meaning in a particular field. In this case, the name "Carni" is obviously shortened from Carnival. Although it is sometimes also spelled as "Carney" (as in Art Carney), the exclamatory use of "Hey Rube" is a universally used as a call for help in all carnivals, circus midways, rodeos and county fairs. Inclusion of this as a means of tracking down the bad guys is the same sort of clues culled from real life that were used in some of the best comic book stories; particularly in classic BATMAN stories that were penned by that series' principal writer, Bill Finger.
AFTER all these seasons on the air, the Superman show had undergone quite a metamorphosis. After a controversial, violent first season of film noir episodes, the series had been gradually dumming down to a truly kid's show. One could count on an installment in the last couple of years to be much more amusing than violent in its depiction of the action. 'Topsy Turvy' sure fills that bill! WITH an overabundance of "Topsy" and too little "Turvy", Schultz, I think it should be given a SS Rating. (That's two Superman 'S' Emblems.
NOTE * Right around this same period, the Superman Comics stories had introduced a comic relief eccentric inventor called Professor Potter; who was very much like Peperwinkle of the TV Series. It always was puzzling as to why that Potter moniker wasn't carried to the TV Tube.
POODLE SCHNITZ!! .
LIKE the Season 1's 'The Mind Machine', our subject for today, 'Topsy Turvy' makes use of the inventions of an eccentric genius of a scientist, which falls into the wrong hands; being used for evil instead of the welfare of mankind. Unlike the season one entry, there is plenty of counterbalancing levity to render the story less disturbing to the small fry viewing the proceedings.
WHEREAS 'The Mind Machine villain Lou Cranek (Dan Seymour) misuses the technological marvel to first manipulate victim's will, ultimately destroying him; Topsy Turvy heavy, Carni (Ben Welden) is frightened by the otherwise harmless upside-down machine.
THE STORY manages to mix in a one gang crime wave of robberies in which the modus operandi of the hold-ups makes use of the invention to cause such disorientation of all unsuspecting victims, enabling the gang total control over situation. As in most such stories, the bad guys stumble on the wonder weapon quite by accident.
ALSO much in common with most predecessors, this episode has the services of an eccentric inventor. In this case it's one Professor Pepperwinkle (Phil Tead ), who had become a recurring semi-regular in the series.* The good Professor's handy work falls into the opportunistic, criminally bent hands of crook, Carni (Mr. Welden) and YoYo (CharlesWIlliams). Rounding out the guest cast is Mickey Knox, who plays the pivotal role of the unsuspecting flagpole sitter. His plight is relieved with the arrival of Superman. The inclusion of this scene was a boon to the advancement of the adventure's proceedings.
ONE incident portrayed in the early part of the episode has the petty crook, Carni (Ben Welden, again) first unwittingly encounters the power of Pepperwinkle's gadget being tested. Being totally surprised and caught off guard as he enters the room where the upside down inversion is going down (or would it be going up?); Carni loudly exclaims: "HEY, RUBE!" REFERRING to any dictionary of English Language Slang will serve one well who may not be familiar with this highly esoteric jargon used in the story; being peculiarly given a highly limited, narrow meaning in a particular field. In this case, the name "Carni" is obviously shortened from Carnival. Although it is sometimes also spelled as "Carney" (as in Art Carney), the exclamatory use of "Hey Rube" is a universally used as a call for help in all carnivals, circus midways, rodeos and county fairs. Inclusion of this as a means of tracking down the bad guys is the same sort of clues culled from real life that were used in some of the best comic book stories; particularly in classic BATMAN stories that were penned by that series' principal writer, Bill Finger.
AFTER all these seasons on the air, the Superman show had undergone quite a metamorphosis. After a controversial, violent first season of film noir episodes, the series had been gradually dumming down to a truly kid's show. One could count on an installment in the last couple of years to be much more amusing than violent in its depiction of the action. 'Topsy Turvy' sure fills that bill! WITH an overabundance of "Topsy" and too little "Turvy", Schultz, I think it should be given a SS Rating. (That's two Superman 'S' Emblems.
NOTE * Right around this same period, the Superman Comics stories had introduced a comic relief eccentric inventor called Professor Potter; who was very much like Peperwinkle of the TV Series. It always was puzzling as to why that Potter moniker wasn't carried to the TV Tube.
POODLE SCHNITZ!! .
Carni, Yo-Yo & Professor Pepperwinkle!
ccthemovieman-117 August 2006
You know it's going to be a wild story when you see Professor Pepperwinkle in the episode! In this one, the good professor has invented a machine that makes everyone in the vicinity feel as if they are standing upside down. He gives a demonstration in Clark Kent's office and he, Jimmy and Lois all are convinced, along with a thug "Carni" who just happened to enter the room at the night. The crook is played by the actor who was the bad guy in probably more Superman shows than anyone else - Ben Welden.
Ben is actually the star of this episode, having more lines (and some good ones) than anyone else.
Anway, "Carni" goes back to tell his crooked partner "Yo-Yo" at the carnival where they work. (The names of crooks on this show were always hilariously stupid.) Carni then contacts the professor with an offer for his machine, and a demonstration for his pal. Pepperwinkle comes over and shows them and remarks that he also has remote controls for it, too. Carni convinces the naive prof that they will use the machine at all six carnivals in town to make people happy.....strictly for amusement. All along their plan is to use them to rob banks and place remotes along the getaway route so everyone will be so confused they won't be able to catch them. Carni will rob the banks while Yo-Yo and the professor will stay in the carnival and work the machine.
The plan works until Kent and Inspector Henderson figure things out after the robbery. Of course, Lois and Jimmy butt in and are captured, held at gunpoint by Yo Yo. That's par for the course. What would a show be without at least one of those two being held hostage?
This was a very entertaining episode, one of the better ones of the fourth season.
Ben is actually the star of this episode, having more lines (and some good ones) than anyone else.
Anway, "Carni" goes back to tell his crooked partner "Yo-Yo" at the carnival where they work. (The names of crooks on this show were always hilariously stupid.) Carni then contacts the professor with an offer for his machine, and a demonstration for his pal. Pepperwinkle comes over and shows them and remarks that he also has remote controls for it, too. Carni convinces the naive prof that they will use the machine at all six carnivals in town to make people happy.....strictly for amusement. All along their plan is to use them to rob banks and place remotes along the getaway route so everyone will be so confused they won't be able to catch them. Carni will rob the banks while Yo-Yo and the professor will stay in the carnival and work the machine.
The plan works until Kent and Inspector Henderson figure things out after the robbery. Of course, Lois and Jimmy butt in and are captured, held at gunpoint by Yo Yo. That's par for the course. What would a show be without at least one of those two being held hostage?
This was a very entertaining episode, one of the better ones of the fourth season.
Stupid and silly enough to be good for a laugh
sssuperman-dot-com18 August 2015
Some movies and shows rely on special effects to make an impact, and this is one of them. In this case, the special effect in question is turning a camera upside down.
Really.
The entire episode is supposed to be carried by that "special effect".
And guess what? It's stupid enough to almost work! ...Almost.
Most of the appeal of this episode comes from laughing at the silliness of the premise. I mean, there's nothing particularly objectionable about it, but it wasn't really engaging enough to keep my interest. I think I sometimes wandered out of the room when it was playing. But at least I got a chuckle out of the "hilarious lameness" factor.
Really.
The entire episode is supposed to be carried by that "special effect".
And guess what? It's stupid enough to almost work! ...Almost.
Most of the appeal of this episode comes from laughing at the silliness of the premise. I mean, there's nothing particularly objectionable about it, but it wasn't really engaging enough to keep my interest. I think I sometimes wandered out of the room when it was playing. But at least I got a chuckle out of the "hilarious lameness" factor.
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