"Adventures of Superman" Crime Wave (1953)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Thomas Carr

Writers:

Whitney Ellsworth (teleplay)
Ben Peter Freeman (screenplay)

TV Series:

"Adventures of Superman" (1952)

Original Air Date:

27 February 1953 (Season 1, Episode 24)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

As a massive crime wave unfolds, Superman vows to put top mobsters behind bars. His ultimate target is the mysterious "No. 1 man." The top criminal devises a trap for the Man of Steel. |

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Superhero | Lois Lane | Clark Kent | Cult TV

Cast

George Reeves	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Phyllis Coates	...	Lois Lane
Jack Larson	...	Jimmy Olsen
John Hamilton	...	Perry White
Robert Shayne	...	Inspector Henderson
John Eldredge	...	Walter Canby
Philip Van Zandt	...	Nick Marone (as Phil Van Zandt)
Al Eben	...	Big Ed Bullock
Joseph Mell	...	The Professor (as Joe Mell)
Barbra Fuller	...	Sally (as Barbara Fuller)
Bobby Barber	...	Tony the Masseur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rudolph Anders	...	Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
Griff Barnett	...	Old Man in Montage (archive footage)
Jack Daly	...	Witness in Montage (archive footage)
Paul Fix	...	Gangster in Montage (archive footage)
Russell Johnson	...	Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
Joe Kirk	...	Gangster in Montage (archive footage)
Paul Marion	...	Victim in Montage (archive footage)
Dan Seymour	...	Gangster in Montage (archive footage)
Helen Wallace	...	Woman on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
Pierre Watkin	...	Man on Phone in Montage (archive footage)
Ben Welden	...	Gangster in Montage (archive footage)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Trivia:

Although this episode does not mark her final appearance, it does contain the final scene Phyllis Coates made for the series as Lois Lane. It is also one the final episodes filmed for Season One.

Gads! What Have We Here? A "Cheater" Episode? Yes, But This One Delivered The Goods!

The Great City of Metropolis finds itself in the clutches of a bad Crime Rate, growing worse all the time. In answer to the situation, a special meeting is convened at the offices of The Daily Planet. Attending are Inspector Henderson representing The Metropolis Police Depaertment, members of a Concerned Citizens' Committee, the Staffers of The Planet and lastly, appearing as if on queue, Superman.

The DC Production crew must have hailed this episode as a chance to take a little breather. It makes use of a high amount of both stock footage and filmed scenes from previous Superman Episodes. We are privy to the great plan of the meeting, a plan which calls for Superman and the Police Department to make a concerted effort to round up and bring to trial the top 10 Hoods. Their names are written on a blackboard and, like a count down, they are apprehended in an ascending order, from the bottom (#10) working 'up' to number 1. Then, there is an Unknown Mr. Big, the Boss of The Underworld's Organized Crime Syndicate.

All is not well, though. There are those among the Joint-Committee, who do not believe that there is such an Overlord of Crime. Among the non-believers is Committee Head, Attornet at Law, Mr. Walter Camby (John Eldridge).

Well, Superman and the Metropolis Cops eventually catch up with and capture him. In the biggest application of Cliché since the invention of "....the Butler did it!",the identity of Mr. Big turned out to be......! No, I can;t tell ya! See the episode.

If you think by the criticisms enumerated in this little write-up, that this writer did not like this episode, well, it just isn't true.

The half-hour story is filled with action;what with Superman running and Superman flying and Superman punching thugs! Above all, Superman is given the chance to have more on screen time. Or, as 7 year old Johnny Ryan said in 1953, "...he got to be Superman more, instead of just Clark Kent."

And, horrors! We almost forgot the excellent use of the incidental music to back up and amplify the great crazy-quilt of action taking place. As in most all episodes, the orchestral accompaniment was outstanding!