The Mechanical Monsters (1941)

Superman battles a criminal mastermind and his robot army.

Director:

Dave Fleischer

Writers:

Joe Shuster (comic strip created by: Superman), Jerry Siegel (comic strip created by: Superman) (as Jerome Siegel)

Stars:

Bud Collyer, Joan Alexander, Jackson Beck

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Joan Alexander	...	Lois Lane (voice) (uncredited)
Jackson Beck	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bud Collyer	...	Clark Kent / Superman / Scientist (voice) (uncredited)

Storyline

As the headline on the Daily Planet tells the public: "Mechanical Monster loots bank!" In fact, a scientist has an army of these flying robots able to steal anything in sight. Police are set up everywhere to guard an exhibition of rare jewels, but it's no use. When a robot crashes into the building, it steals all the precious stones in sight, while the policemen's bullets harm it no more than flies. Clark and Lois are at the exhibit. While Clark phones in the story from a booth, Lois stows away in the robot's compartment. Clark sees that Lois has gone missing and decides to change into Superman there in the phone booth. Superman follows the monster, while his X-ray vision allows him to spot Lois inside. His attempt to get Lois out fails. The robot knocks him onto some power lines, losing the jewelry and (nearly) Lois in the process. The robot returns to the scientist's hideout with Lois, but no jewelry. She refuses to tell the scientist where it is. He retaliates by tying her up and ...

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Plot Keywords:

robot | platform | jewelry | jewels | mechanical monster | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los monstruos mecánicos

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fleischer Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

11 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This cartoon is the first Superman story in which Clark Kent changes into his Superman costume inside a phone booth.

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Goofs

When Superman "Interferes" with the flying robot, the mad scientist presses a button which causes the robot to jettison the cargo. Therefore, he should not seem so surprised when it arrives empty-handed and demand of Lois Lane what she's done with the gems.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Voices: Up in the sky, look! It's a bird. It's a plane. It's Superman!
Narrator: Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, this amazing stranger from the planet Krypton, The Man of Steel: Superman! Empowered with X-ray vision, possessing remarkable physical strength, Superman fights a never-ending battle for truth and justice, disguised as a mild-mannered newspaper reporter, Clark Kent.

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Connections

Followed by The Bulleteers (1942)

User Reviews

"Take One Step and She's Doomed!"

I love the Fleischer Superman cartoons. The animation is smooth and fluid with vivid colors. The distinct art-deco style, vintage science fiction imagery, and use of noirish shadows gave them a look unlike any other cartoons. The music and voice work is superb. They're fun, accessible, enduring animation classics.

This second cartoon in the Superman series is about an inventor who has built giant robots to commit robberies. The robots can fly like planes and opens banks like tin cans. Did I mention they are also SUPER FRICKING COOL!!! Pardon me geeking out but these robots are just awesome to watch. Anyway, back to the plot: Lois gets into trouble (naturally) and finds herself captured by the inventor. This, my friends, looks like a job for Superman if there ever was one. Supes must tangle with electrical wires, giant robots, and molten metal to save the day. Look at this cartoon! I mean, really, as you watch just take it all in and savor it. The rich details, the creativity, the vibrancy...it's just beautiful.