Superman and the Mole-Men (1951)

Director:

Lee Sholem

Writer:

Robert Maxwell (original screenplay)

Release Date:

23 November 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Now.....ON THE SCREEN!

Plot:

When underground beings explore the surface world from a deep oil well and inadvertantly cause a panic, only Superman can prevent a tragedy.

Plot Keywords:

Oil | Oil Well | Underground | Reporter | Small Town

Cast

George Reeves	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Phyllis Coates	...	Lois Lane
Jeff Corey	...	Luke Benson
Walter Reed	...	Bill Corrigan
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Pop Shannon
Stanley Andrews	...	The Sheriff
Ray Walker	...	John Craig
Hal K. Dawson	...	Chuck Weber
Phil Warren	...	Deputy Jim
Frank Reicher	...	Hospital Superintendent
Beverly Washburn	...	Child

Also Known As:

Superman and the Strange People

Runtime:

58 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Lippert Pictures

Trivia:

Included as a special feature in Warner Home Video's 2005 DVD release of the TV series "Adventures of Superman - The Complete First Season".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the Mole Men are atop the dam, they are in a small rectangular area of the screen in a different shade of black than the night sky around them, revealing that they were just "superimposed" into the shot.

Quotes:

Superman: You're not going to shoot those little creatures. In the first place, they haven't done you any harm. In the second place, they may be radioactive.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Superman" (1988)

Sometimes the originals are always the best.

Superman and his supporting cast of characters have been portrayed on the silver screen, the small screen and the stage by a number of actors and actresses. However somehow no one can play the man of steel and the Daily Planets star female reporter Lois Lane quite like George Reeves and Phyllis Coates. Certainly no one can portray Superman's alter ego Clark Kent like Reeves did. This film has probably been seen by many as the two part "Unknown People" episode on the classic TV series but if you haven't seen the feature film of this story do so. Coates gives a great performance as Lois Lane and seems to come the closest of any actress who has portrayed this character to being the Lois that was depicted in the comics. (When she called Clark Kent a Pantywaist she meant it!) During one scene Clark almost gives away his true identity when he advises terrified townsfolk about the subterranean visitors "Go to your homes lock your doors and windows let me handle this". He then bolts away and Lois turns to the Oil well boss and exclaims "He always does that, gets himself into a jam and then runs away" Classic Lois Lane! While the effects by today's standards seem antiquated and the Mole Men/Unknown People aren't as scary as alien characters that frequent TV shows today they aren't to be missed.