Superman (1948)

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.

Directors:

Spencer Gordon Bennet (as Spencer Bennet), Thomas Carr

Writers:

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

Stars:

Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill, Tommy Bond

Cast

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

Storyline

Jor-El (Nelson Leigh), a scientist on the planet Krypton rockets his infant son to Earth just before Krypton explodes. The boy is found on Earth by a farmer, Eben Kent (Ed Cassidy) and his wife, Martha (Virginia Carroll) and they name him Clark Kent (Kirk Alyn). When Clark grows up, his foster father asks him to use his amazing super powers only for good. The mild-mannered Clark gets a job on the Daily Planet as a reporter, and soon, as his alter-ego Superman (Kirk Alyn'), and soon tangles with The Spider Lady (Carol Forman), who considers herself Queen of the Underworld. Meanwhile, a fragment from the planet Krypton reaches earth and falls in her possession. It is the only substance that can render Superman helpless.

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Plot Keywords:

scientist | superhero | metropolis the city | 1940s | mother son relationship | 

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Taglines:

THE ONE AND ONLY 'SUPERMAN'...Rocketing To REAL LIFE In A Mighty SUPER-SERIAL! (original poster)

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 July 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Superman

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$350,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$1,000,000, 31 December 1948

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

244 min (15 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Mason Alan Dinehart.

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Goofs

In Chapter Nine, Lois Lane arrives at the airport. Her shadow is visible on the rear-projection screen on which the image of the airport is projected.

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Quotes

Jimmy Olsen: [unaware of approaching derailment] This train is really goin'. The engineer must be late for dinner.
Lois Lane: The way he's traveling he hasn't eaten all week!
[looks out window]

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Alternate Versions

Opening chapter credits removed from the video release.

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Connections

Version of Superman: Unbound (2013)

User Reviews

Good start for live action Superman

If you've read any reviews of this first set of serials, most of them say the same thing. Superman turns into a cartoon (which I found fun!), the acting is wonderful, and the adventure is a real good yarn.

The problem is the Spider Lady. Not an interesting character, and she doesn't really give Superman enough challenges. The same 2 thugs seem to be beat up and nearly caught in every episode, and the plot really gets sluggish between episodes 9 through 13, and then picks up at 14 to a quick finish at episode 15.

The best are the first few--krypton, Jor-El, the Kents, Superman first meets Kryptonite, early use of his vision, 'up up and away,' etc.--and the last 2 episodes.

The 2nd serial set is superior, but this is still great fun to look at from time to time.