Adventures of Superman (1952–1958) User Reviews

A good spirit behind the whole thing

[BruceCorneil · 8/10 · 4 May 2003]

The general consensus seems to be that the first season of this all time classic TV show was the best and I would probably agree with that. Although, I'm a dedicated fan of the entire series.The injection of color into the closing stages of the production run gave those final episodes a special quality of their own.

George Reeves was born to play the title role. The previously inconsequential journeyman actor brought the character to life with great conviction, charm and a wonderful enthusiasm which never faltered. Of course, he had some fine support with John Hamilton as Perry White, Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen and Robert Shayne as Inspector Henderson.

As for the portrayal of Lois Lane, it really depends on which approach you preferred. Phyllis Coates created a prickly, no-nonsense big city reporter. Noel Neil was more of your good natured girl next door who was always ready with a cheery word and a polite laugh whenever Clarke Kent or Jimmy made a clumsy attempt at humor (which usually backfired).

So it's all a bit corny when you look back now from our jaded perspective of life in the present day. But, who cares? It's still good, clean fun which is more than you can say for most of the vile, mind numbing garbage that spews forth out of the television these days. And there was a good spirit behind the whole thing ...obey the law, salute the flag, say "please" and "thank you", be kind to your fellow human beings, take in stray cats, brush your teeth (and the cat's teeth) twice a day.

It was a different era and a better world in some ways.

Superman--First 26 episodes were the best!!!

[lrcdmnhd72 · 8/10 · 22 May 2005]

Superman was one of the TV programs that I grew up on in the early 1950's. I believe the first 26 episodes were the best, possibly because I first viewed them in a little town of Algonac, MICHIGAN where, between the ages of seven to ten, I spent three of the best years of my life. I think Phyllis Coates was perfect for the role of Lois Lane. To me, she came across as being very beautiful and very feisty. I had a crush on her then and I still do. I really liked Robert Shayne as Inspector Henderson. John Hamilton as Perry White and Jack Larson as Jimmy Olsen, were also quite good.

My favorite episode is "Czar of the Underworld." I enjoy watching these episodes, especially when I get stressed, as they give me an enjoyable trip down memory lane...

Better than you might remember

[gatsby06 · 7/10 · 3 March 2007]

If you watched these when you were a kid, especially if you did so back in the 50s or 60s, watching the episodes on DVD may surprise you.

The production values of the black and white episodes during the first two years were very good. The resolution of the images was sharp as a tack, and the black and white tonal gradation and lighting was very professional. Yet on the old black and white sets, much of that would have been lost.

On the other hand, they took some cheap shortcuts, such as inserting stock footage that was surprisingly out of date, sometimes it seems from the 30s or even 20s.

In the third season they moved to color, even though according to the commentary, the show was not actually broadcast in color until 1965. (Color broadcasting began in 1954, but most people could not afford the $1,000 color television sets in a time when cars cost about $2,000.) The old black and white episodes are more geared to adults than the later color versions, which go with a more comic book approach. Some BW episodes are more like Perry Mason mysteries, though the quality and type of approach varies all over the place in those early years.

This is also the beginning of television, and the producers were pioneering a new medium, not always quite sure what approach to take, or which would work. There is an obvious influence of the old radio dramas, seen especially in the announced opening. Some of the early episodes seem to follow the format of the old Hardy Boys boy's book series of mysteries, complete with hidden stairways to secret basements, haunted lighthouses, and secret tunnels to boathouses. I wonder if any of the Superman writers had been ghost writers for the Stratemeyer Syndicate, which actually wrote the Hardy Boys books.

The commentaries are fairly interesting, though often redundant, and sometimes inaccurate. The commentator does not appear to be good with numbers. The consensus seems to be that the series began filming in 1951, but began airing in 1952. The commentator says that the show has been broadcast from every presidential administration since Eisenhower, yet Truman was president in 51, 52 and into early 53. He also keeps going on and on about how little boys would have been watching the shows on tiny 8 or 10 inch black and white TVs in 1951. Not if they weren't on the air. And he says Jack Larson was a very young 17 (or did he say 19?) when the series began, yet IMDb shows he was 23.

What would be more telling about those old TVs is that they cut off portions of the image, especially the corners, but also tops and bottoms. So the occasional moment when Superman's springboard is visible today, would not have shown up on anything but professional TV monitors.

The commentator also remarks on how it seems Clark Kent didn't have such a large office. I've got news for you, viewers, I have never seen a newspaper that had offices for reporters. The publisher gets an office, the managing editor gets an office, with windows onto the newsroom, but just about everyone else is in one big room. The writers show a certain amount of insight into newspaper work, many writers having been reporters at some point, but the show obviously didn't want to pay for extras standing around in a newsroom, I presume.

But the best part, in my opinion, of the first year, was Phyllis Coates, who played Lois Lane for one year. She was (is) a fine actress, who seemed to give the show a certain gravitas lacking in later episodes. And she was a babe!

The move to color was a stroke of genius. This enabled them to keep reselling the series many years down the line. And the color holds up quite well.

The REAL Superman

[zdforme · 17 October 2005]

George Reeves in my heart will always be the First and True SUPERMAN and I am so happy they are FINALLY putting this Great series on DVD! I Only hope they do It Justice ( The American way) and do not cut corners and let us finally see this series UN CUT so those who grew up watching and loving every episode will again be able to relive their childhood in all its splendor! George Reeves as Superman portrayed it not campy as Batman would later emerge doing, but with a message and values that were good and moral and he made you believe there WAS a Superman! When I was about 5 years old, I was hit by a car and bedridden for several months, my mom would tell me everyday sitting on my bed what happened on Superman and at that age gave me the strength to get better and stronger sooner so I could watch the show myself. I will always treasure these episodes though in its later years got to be a bit corny they still me me feel so good inside and now that I am in my fifty's, I can enjoy this series even better on a BIGGER TV and better sound system! Pure Heaven.

Long Live the Adventures of Superman and may all 104 episodes be released soon! ZDFORME

great show from start to finish

[flix_fan · 10/10 · 8 February 2005]

I love all 104 episodes of the Adventures of Superman. This show kept my interest with it's mix of adventure, sci fi, crime, warmth, and comedy. Only one style would have bored me, but Superman had it all and continues to entertain me. The characters were wonderful. It's still a delight to spend time with Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and Inspector Henderson. I also love both Lois Lanes. The first Lois is all business and the second Lois melts my heart with that smile of hers! George Reeves is fantastic in each and every episode. The Adventures of Superman is still a joy for me to behold in 2005. I can always count on any one of the 104 episodes to make me smile. All of them bring joy to my heart and there are very few shows that can entertain me for 104 episodes.

Update with impressions of Seasons 5 & 6

[dadoo4050 · 10/10 · 18 January 2006]

(Initial comments) My son gave me a copy of Season One of "The Adventures of Superman" for Christmas, and I must say it was the best present I've received in a long while. We had such a good time watching favorite episodes. I am a child of the 50's and grew up with Superman while it was still fairly new. My son experienced it on Nick at Nite re-runs, a special time for us both.

Now I have purchased the Season Two set, and the episodes here may be in many ways better than those in the first. A particular favorite is "Panic in the Sky," where our hero has to deflect a meteor as it hurtles towards Earth. Special flying sequences were filmed for this episode that were not used in any other.

A special treat is "Stamp Day for Superman," a special episode that I never saw as a child. While it is a quickie "freebie" made to support the U.S. Treasury Dept., this episode stands up pretty well with the "regular" episodes.

The featurette "First Lady of Metropolis" is a wonderful tribute to Noel Neill, who took over the role of Lois when Phyllis Coates was unable to continue. It is so nice to see Ms. Neill still looking lovely. She still has the "sparkle" in her eyes that made her Lois so enjoyable to watch.

Another favorite episode is "Around the World with Superman." Anyone who is not moved by this story of a blind girl's attempt to re-unite her troubled family just doesn't have a heart.

Thanks to Warners and to my son for helping me capture a sense of my own youth.

(June 20, 2006) I just got my copy of Seasons 3 & 4 of Adventures of Superman. Special features include a piece entitled "Adventures of Superman: The Color Era" and another called "Faster Than a Speeding Bullet: The Special Effects of The Adventures Of Superman."

The former, about the series being filmed in color features interviews with Jack Larsen, Noel Neill, Gary Grossman (author of "Superman: Serial to Cereal") and a television historian whose name escapes me. All pretty much agree that it was a shrewd move of the producers to start filming the show in color, and saving the negatives until color television was common a decade later. In the words of Larsen, "Those guys were pretty smart."

The one about the sfx was mainly a profile and interview with Thol Simonson, along with Larsen and Neill. Both cast members were effusive with praise for Simonson, saying they always felt safe, no matter how risky the effect looked on screen. Something I had not seen before is a diagram of the "pan" apparatus and counterbalance that replaced the wires that had earlier suspended Reeves.

Episodes I have watched so far are "The Wedding of Superman," "The Big Freeze," and "Through the Time Barrier." As has been noted elsewhere, these stories are much less heavily dramatic as the nourish early episodes. However, the light comedy is not really campy, just good-natured. Also, Neill as Lois looks quite fetching in her cave-girl outfit in the time-travel story.

In fact, Ms. Neill still looks quite lovely in the new interview footage. She still has those same sparkling eyes and the lovely smile that gave me that first crush on Lois all those years ago.

(Update: December 3, 2006: Initial impressions of Seasons 5 & 6:)

"Superman's Wife" is not as hokey as many of the other episodes in the final season. Joi Lansing is a knockout, and John Eldredge, as usual, makes one of the more interesting, intelligent villains.

"The Perils of Superman" is pure FUN.

Noel makes for some NICE cheesecake in that proto-Jeannie outfit in "The Tomb of Zaharan." The story was pure cheese, though. (In "Foghorn Leghorn" voice: hey, I made a funny. Cheese--Cheesecake.)

"The Big Forget" contains the greatest tease in the entire series: Clark changing into Supes in full view of all the series regulars!

The final shot of "All That Glitters" is really poignant, considering how things turned out for George.

The featurette about Jack Larsen is a nice little tribute.

A fun time with old friends that I now share with my grandkids. (All warm and fuzzy.)

George Reeves' Superman was a great hero!!

[lotsafun · 10/10 · 30 August 2005]

George Reeves' Superman was a tremendous heroic figure to many of us as children. It's unfortunate that some previous reviewers have made remarks about Reeves' appearance which indicate that they just don't get it. The fact that Reeves' Superman seems more mature than others who have played the same role only helps the appeal of his type of Superman. Many heroes of classic TV and movie serials may not have "the look" of their modern incarnations, but there's more to a hero than just looks and fashion. The great myths tell us that small boys can be slayers of giants, the elderly can be wielders of magic, and a poor battered carpenter can be the savior of the world. It's not all about looks. It's much deeper than that. It's about HEART. It's about BRAVERY. It's about TRUTH and JUSTICE! Reeves' Superman is a symbol of all these things. I appreciate everything that made (and still makes) George Reeves' Superman a great hero.

I can still dream big because of the Adventures of Superman

[Ed-Shullivan · 10/10 · 19 February 2021]

Thank goodness the producers had enough common sense to put this adventure TV series on right after school had ended and in time for dinner . The bonus was when this 1952 TV series went into TV syndication reruns in the 1960's and it continued showing every day after school. Boy I hated it if I ever missed the series opening monologue, now commonly known as The Superman March went as follows: "The Adventures gf Superman! Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!" Truly a new adventure for any pre-teen which I and my two (2) brothers and two (2) sisters were. We were all quiet for that half hour each evening giving mom and dad sufficient time to prepare dinner and speak without any of their five children chattering incessantly.

Even some seventy (70) years later I as a senior citizen still retain some of the original story lines in my old memory bank and Superman's iconic red and blue head to toe Superman suit and especially his red cape and yellow belt is emblazoned in my mind of what the image of a true super hero was during the 1960's.

What is especially remarkable that the television media was still in it's infancy and the first few seasons of the Adventures of Superman were filmed in black and white as color did not transition into TV land until years later, and most families like our own were unable to afford a color TV until the 1970's when prices and quality improved.. The producers nailed it so early in the history of television with an adventure series that every young boy and girl could only dream of becoming, a "super hero".

I give this series a perfect 10 out of 10 IMDB rating. The series is iconic and I am proud to say that I own the complete series on DVD. One day the producers will release it in 4K high definition quality I am sure of it.

"Faster than a speeding bullet......more powerful than a Locomotive"

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 20 June 2006]

Seeing Superman as a kid I was pretty enthralled by it as most kids were. I mean, unless he got near some kryptonite there wasn't nothing he couldn't do.

But the show has had incredible power in syndication and I don't think it can be attributed to just nostalgia.

The first year of black and white episodes with Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane were done very seriously. But when they were done in color starting in 1954 and coincidentally enough with Noel Neill as the new Lois Lane, they became what would be described as camp. Like Batman was in the sixties only not advertised as such.

Some of the episodes were strictly comedy. The one where Jimmy Olsen runs afoul of gunslinger Myron Healey out west, the one where that hayseed Sylvester J. Superman played by Chuck Connors delivers a pie to the serviceman stationed in the Arctic only to be chased by Ben Welden up there. Funny to this day.

Of course some of the production values from the fifties were laughable. Superman is constantly flying out from that same storage room at the Daily Planet no matter where his location is. Or in that episode that took place in the UK, where they show people using the left handed drive in cars.

I saw another reviewer mentions that all John Hamilton did as Perry White was yell, but they calmed him down later on. Hamilton was very funny as the blustery editor of the Daily Planet. He had a lot of responsibility keeping his circulation because people were getting their news from television. But John Hamilton had some real health issues in his last years. That's why you always see him at his desk with minimal dialog later on. His lines were taped right to the desk. He died in fact before George Reeves did.

Today Jack Larson and Noel Neill are big hits at nostalgia conventions. I suspect George Reeves had he lived would have been as well. Possibly the biggest tragedy of his career was the featured role he had in From Here to Eternity. A lot of his performance was left on the cutting room floor. He mght have been able to do both Superman and other roles had he gotten acclaim from a major film like that.

The production values were from hunger, but the characters and their images live on.

The Best Episodes of the Great First 'Noir' Season!

[Chance2000esl · 8/10 · 20 February 2009]

The first season was originally broadcast in the evenings, not in the afternoons for children. 1952 was not that far away from the 'film noir' style of film making from the 1940s that we love, even though much of it was developed in low budget films to save on costs.

What does this have to do with "The Adventures of Superman"? Most of the episodes of the first season are suggestively, or deliberately noir: darkly lit stories peppered with deviant characters and low life villains with dire situations for our heroes to be trapped in. Others have commented on how the series degenerated into silliness later on, but here in the first season we have well photographed, written and acted and often suspenseful episodes.

For me, the best episodes of the first season are: 'Superman on Earth', the noirish 'The Haunted Lighthouse', 'The Monkey Mystery' (many of these early episodes actually were mysteries), 'Night of Terror' with the feisty Phyllis Coates, the great science fictional 'The Mind Machine', 'Rescue' with Phyllis Coates in a kind of 'Ace in the Hole' (1951) episode, 'The Secret of Superman', 'The Stolen Costume', the two ultra-noirish episodes 'Mystery in Wax' (with a great performance by Myra McKinney) and 'The Evil Three' and finally 'Crime Wave'.

What is noteworthy about this first year is the demonstrated craft of the lead actors in taking their roles seriously. Of course, they had no idea of how actors in their far future would play the same and other comic book characters and be respected and lauded for their efforts --in the year 2009 Heath Ledger was nominated for an Academy Award for playing DC's 'The Joker,' and Christopher Reeve played Superman in four successful films that also featured Marlon Brando, Gene Hackett, Susanna York, Terence Stamp, Jackie Cooper, Robert Vaughn and Richard Pryor among many stars.

The first season has well done ensemble acting. The episodes featured different pairings of the four leads. You get Clark and Jimmy in 'The Haunted Lighthouse,' Perry and Jimmy in 'The Evil Three,' and other episodes featuring Clark, Lois and Jimmy, or Clark and Perry, Clark and Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Perry, and even Clark and Inspector Henderson. Although Noel Neill was fine in the two 'Superman' serials, Phyllis Coates is strong and feisty in this, her only year. Kudos to 'method' actor (and James Dean's friend) Jack Larson as Jimmy--an adult playing a teenager with such lines as "Jeepers!" "Golly! (he says it "Gah-lee"), "Gleeps!" and "Gosh, Mr. Kent!"

24 first season episodes in all, actually 26. The others were the two-part 'The Unknown People,' which was actually a short 1951 theatrical film, 'Superman and the Mole People,' which just features Lois and Clark. In it, George Reeves plays Clark Kent as not mild mannered, but a tough, two fisted fighter of small town prejudice directed against those who are different (in this case, mole men from inside the Earth). Clark even assists in a surgery to save a mole man's life! Reeves continues to play Clark as smart and tough throughout the series. (The feautre film is also highly recommended.)

A thoroughly enjoyable first year of a television series. I'll give it an 8.

Classic TV

[Gerardrobertson61 · 6/10 · 15 February 2018]

I have been watching the original Superman series, Season 1-4, and although it was on TV 10 years before I was born, I do have vague memories of watching it as a kid in the 60's.

I really need to put into the context that it was made in, 1950's TV. Looking at it now, it is really quite funny. You can see Superman in certain episodes jumping onto the springboard, the gangsters are stereo typed as 1930's gangsters, even the episode The Last Warrior, there is the line "how" for when Jimmy meets an Indian, and the Indian Chief has gone to the "happy hunting ground".

But taking it all into consideration the series it self is enjoyable to watch. Clark Kent occasionally smiling straight at the camera and saying lines to indicate that only him and the audience know he is Superman, almost like he is sharing his secret directly with you. If you a Superman fan, then it's worth taking a look at these episodes, they are more realistic than the way Batman was portrayed in the late 60's, and the villains are more in lined with the Golden Age of Comics.

a wonderful series

[comicbook-guy · 10/10 · 7 June 2006]

This program fueled my youthful imagination and made me happy with it's warmth and it's continual positive spirit. The more kid friendly episodes were favorites of mine and they still are. I'm still a kid at heart and I still adore the series. Perils of Superman is my favorite episode and there are too many other favorites to mention here. I can't agree with the critics who take a purely "adult" or "logical" view of this program. Wearing glasses as a disguise was the biggest lapse of logic, but so what? That sort of thing didn't matter to me when I was young. I also didn't mind the different Lois Lanes. How can you not adore 'em both? The Adventures of Superman never failed to uplift me and make me happy. It's heart was always in the right place. It's positive spirit never faltered. It always radiated good will, fun, and decency. There will always be a special place in my heart for the Adventures of Superman. I'm thrilled that every episode is being released on DVD.

Low Budget but High Fun !!!

[mikelmike77 · 6/10 · 26 November 2010]

The Adventyres of Superman was a lot of fun for boys and girls of the 50s and 60s for sure .Although the acting was second rate , the special effects non- existent , and the writing terrible , it didn't have to be great , just great fun and that it was !!! George Reeves as Superman was good although there really was that much real acting involved in his part as Superman . For me Perry White always going off on Jimmy Olsen was very funny and one of the few parts of the show that you could count on to be funny and regularly present each episode . The shots of Reeves doing a super stunt were really 10th rate at best , I assume the budget was 100 dollars per episode if that , the quality was very low but I still love watching this fun , nostalgic series .

So phony and yet entertaining

[BakerOne-78451 · 3/10 · 20 June 2020]

As a kid watching this show back in the fifties, I would bug my dad so many times when things made no sense at all. It must have drove him nuts to hear me complain every so often. I did like the show and watched it every time I could and there wasn't much on TV back in the fifties.

Today, I still laugh when Clark Kent always says, "Now wait just a minute" Do the writers always have to make him say that silly line in almost every episode ?

The special effects were terrible even back in those days and if a kid could spot them it must have been really obvious.

Adventures of Superman, had been like a drug for me. I couldn't stop watching and I knew they are corny shows. I did like Phyllis Coates better than Noel Neill and she was just hotter and a better, believable reporter.

The early, first black and white episodes were the best by far. You can see more effort was put into writing and acting and story lines. When they switched over to color things started to change and the whole program became a farce.

Groundbreaking Series a TV Classic...

[cariart · 16 January 2004]

"The Adventures of Superman" was, in the 1950s, the ultimate adventure show for kids, a series that transcended low budgets, often laughably bad scripts, and a torturous shooting schedule each season to become a genuine 'TV Classic'. Next to "I Love Lucy", the series is, perhaps, the most frequently rerun of any show of that decade; in shooting several seasons in color, it was a major trend setter (particularly as there were VERY few color televisions at the time); as a show that was syndicated, and not owned by a network (Kellogg's Cereal sponsored and financed the program) it paved the way for all the syndicated programs that followed. It's place in television history cannot be denied, and it's story is complete with drama, success, and tragedy, and a hero whose life and strange death still fuels controversy, to this day.

Superman, DC Comics' high-flying hero, had already achieved success on radio, in animated short films, and in two movie serials, when a low-budget feature film, SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN, paved the way for the television series. The film replaced serial star Kirk Alyn with brawnier, square-jawed George Reeves, a youthful 37-year old whose promising film career had been derailed by WWII. He was joined by Phyllis Coates, replacing the serials' Noel Neill as ace reporter Lois Lane, and the pair made the transition to television, joined by 19-year old Jack Larson, as photographer/cub reporter Jimmy Olsen, and veteran character actor John Hamilton as editor Perry White. Helmed initially by veteran producer Robert Maxwell, the series utilized the same 'assembly line' formula of the movie serials, shooting multiple episodes at one time (which was why the cast always wore the same outfits), relying on action-heavy scripts heavy with Gothic atmosphere, and creating 'master' FX shots that were reused constantly, keeping the budget within acceptable limits. (While the 'flying' shots have been the object of humor over the years, the use of wires and a 'flying pan' in front of a rear projection provided the most realistic 'look' yet achieved, and the technique would still be in practice when SUPERMAN RETURNS was filmed, 55 years later.) Reeves' 'Man of Steel' was a street brawler, unafraid to duke it out with villains, and his 'Clark Kent' was every bit as no-nonsense as his 'Superman'. The program was actually quite adult, for a comic book adaptation, and the first season episodes are considered the best of the series.

When Phyllis Coates left the show, in 1953 (believing it would not be renewed, she signed for other film work), Noel Neill returned, softening the character of Lois Lane, but participating in some of the series' greatest episodes, including the most popular episode ever filmed, "Panic in the Sky", where Superman attacks an asteroid 'head-on', resulting in amnesia and near doom for Earth. By now, the 'wired' take-offs of Superman were replaced by vaulting off a springboard (after Reeves had barely escaped serious injury after dropping over ten feet when the 'liftoff' wires broke).

When Whitney Ellsworth took over production duties for the series, pressure from Kellogg's (due to the show's tremendous popularity, and investigations into the detrimental effect of violence on children) to tone down the mayhem resulted in episodes becoming increasingly silly and far-fetched. As this coincided with the series' move to color, the marked difference is clearly evident. The color episodes (particularly in the last two seasons) are, by-in-large, held in far less regard than the black and white ones.

By the series' final season, George Reeves would look chubby, and far older than his 43 years, Noel Neill would sport flaming red hair, and the episodes, shot on a very tight budget, were nearly unwatchable (other than the series' finale, "The Trials of Superman", directed by Reeves, where the cast are all placed in "Perils of Pauline"-style catastrophes).

While Larson and Neill would move on to other projects, and John Hamilton soon passed away, George Reeves found himself type-cast as Superman, with his career considered to be at a standstill. The assumption that depression resulted in his committing suicide in 1959, at 45, has, however, been the subject of debate for over 40 years. It turns out that Kellogg's was prepared to finance a new season of "Superman", that Reeves had several upcoming directing opportunities, he was about to be married, and that on the night of his death, he was in excellent spirits. There is a growing belief that his 'suicide' was actually murder, by a 'hit man' hired by either by his ex-girlfriend, or her jealous husband. While the truth may never be known, the news of his death devastated a generation of children, who truly believed he WAS Superman.

While Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh may be the definitive "Men of Steel" for their generations, and Dean Cain and Tom Welling have their fans, George Reeves, and "The Adventures of Superman", carry on a legacy that will never fade away. Each year introduces new fans to the series, and reminds us baby boomers of how fortunate we were to be there, at the beginning.

Best. Superman. Ever.

[flapdoodle64 · 10/10 · 8 January 2008]

'The Adventures of Superman' (TAS) was made under difficult circumstances: almost no time, almost no money, and no CGI. Yet three things make TAS a timeless classic:

1) The recurring cast members were all superb, especially George Reeves as Superman. Reeves played the part with just the right combination of intelligence, righteousness, manliness, and, when necessary, gentleness. A WWII vet and former boxer, Reeves had a physical presence that implied strength and power. Reeves never played Clark Kent as a sissy or klutz, and within the framework of the show this approach worked well. Reeves is to Superman as Errol Flynn is to Robin Hood, as Sean Connery is to 007. 2) Tight, disciplined stories. Every episode has some kind of hook early on, and each one has some element of suspense to keep you involved. 3) Good to excellent directing and cinematography. Every episode is at least competently done, and some work marvelously.

There is a widespread concensus among fans that the 1st two seasons of TAS are the best, due to their being less whimsical than the remaining 4 seasons, and due to their being shot in crisp black and white, which lends a film noir aspect, making these shows seem somehow more realistic than the color episodes.

There is considerable debate as to whether the 1st season or the 2nd season is actually the best. In season 1, Lois Lane was played by Phyllis Coates, a good actress who somehow got stuck doing exclusively B movies. Her Lois is a little edgier and tougher than then Noel Niell, who played Lois in the rest of the 6 seasons, as well as playing Lois in the 2 Columbia pictures movie serials. Fans who prefer Phyllis Coates' Lois will give an edge to Season 1.

A deeper difference is that Season 1's stories are a little more hard-boiled, with more guns being fired and more people getting shot and/or killed. The decision to tone-down the violence probably had something to do with the fact that the Kelloggs cereal company had assumed sponsorship of the program, and due to the Senator Estes Kefauver crusade against violence in comic books.

Violence is a major element in the best Season 1 episode, 'The Stolen Costume.' This episode also provides the most ambivalent portrayal of Superman in the entire series. 'The Stolen Costume' is one of the two greatest episodes in the whole series, the other being 'Panic in the Sky' from Season 2.

Many episodes in Season 1 and Season 2 are almost as great. Even the weakest episodes of TAS are infinitely better than the 2006 film 'Superman Returns,' which cost all the money in the world and took 3 fricken years to make.

While many fans give the edge to Season 1, I have a slight preference to Season 2, although I've no complaints with Season 1. Season 2 still had the occasional death (of a villain, mind you, and never by Superman's hand!) but also introduced more science fictional elements and stories began to explore the question of Superman's invulnerability. In at least 3 episodes of Season 2, Superman is in some way weakened, injured, or otherwise taken out of action as a major plot point.

Also of note, Season 2 features the TV debut of Noel Niell as Lois Lane. Ms. Niell's portrayal of Lois is softer than Phyllis Coates', and perhaps somewhat more stereotypically female. Many fans of the show debate the 2 Lois' merits, but I will not, finding many appealing qualities to them both. Moreover, to think of them reminds of how woefully inadequate Kate Bosworth was in 'Superman Returns.'

Seasons 3-6 were filmed in color, and the current DVD collections have good prints of them. They are not quite as good as the first 2 seasons, but still tightly plotted and the cast never lets you down. There are, to be sure, many light-hearted or silly episodes. But seeing them now, I appreciate them more than I did as a kid. Bottom Line: Seasons 3-6 are still worth your while, and still stand head and shoulders above 'Superman Returns.'

Exuberent, Exciting, High-Flying Entertainment For All Ages

[DrezenMedia · 10/10 · 10 August 2006]

This is one of the most entertaining television programs I've ever seen, and also one of the best. My father was born two days before the show first aired (9/19/1952, my dad was born 9/17), and watched it all through his boyhood in between collecting the comics and listening to the re-runs of the radio show. He called me upstairs about a year ago to see an episode, of all things, the pilot, and I sat down with him and treated myself to a page out of history. Although the show was filmed on a shoe-string budget and a rather tight schedule, it is important to see how the show's level of storytelling is firmly responsible for it's success.

George Reeves IS Superman. The Best. His Clark Kent is straight out of the comics both past and present, and it's interesting to see how much he added to both characters, especially with his sharp tenor voice, and razor-sharp smile. Phyllis Coates IS Lois Lane. She's sharp, she's impulsive, she's unbelievably sexy, and it's a shame she didn't return for the second season. Noel Neill is a milder version of Lois which is mirrored by the Fleischer's version. She's sneaky, she's smart, and she always gets her story. Being that she played Lois in both of the Kirk Alyn serials of 1948 & 1950 (which I have yet to see thanks to Warner Bros. marketing scams) she knows what she's doing, but I don't think her Lois really comes out until the 3rd season. From there on in, she's solid. Who could ask for a better Jimmy Olsen than the one played by Jack Larson? If anyone can, they better keep it to themselves! Larson is perfect in the role and shows that he did his research of both the character and how an office boy's days usually run. It's also cool to hear his reminiscences of his tenure on the show on the DVDs. John Hamilton plays Perry White the way any newspaper editor ought to be played; with vim and verve and razor sharp toughness. His reporters would not dare miss a deadline in this case! My favorite supporting cast member however has got to be Inspector Bill Henderson as played by Robert Shayne. WHAT A VOICE! Here's a cop that really knows his stuff and keeps a stiff upper lip in the most confusing of circumstances, such as in the episodes "The Mystery of The Broken Statues", "Blackmail", "Clark Kent, Outlaw", just to name a few. Every actor that plays a policeman of some kind should look to Robert Shayne for inspiration because of the way he portrays Inspector Henderson.

Those of you who have yet to treat yourselves to this miracle of entertainment, DO SO NOW! It's still in print and available, so grab a set and enjoy. I know I did! I have the first four seasons to prove it, and can't wait for the last two. HURRY UP WARNER BROS.!!!

A blast from the past

[schappe1 · 8/10 · 13 February 2007]

I made my reacquaintence with this icon of my youth, (I was born in 1953 and saw it on reruns), when I purchased the second season DVD in a local store. It was interesting seeing the old show after several decades. I watched the first two Christopher Reeve films but not much after that. I was into more "adult" stuff but it's interesting what value you can find in the things you watched as a kid.

I found the old show nearly as entertaining as I did in the old days. The positive lessons were rather muted by the comic nature of the villains. One episode was memorable in this regard, however- the only one with a death in it in the second season. Two clowns are dressed in the same costume – one is an imposter who has stolen some money from a telethon. They are having a fight on top of a roof. Which is which? One of the clowns gets the better of the other and pushes him off the roof. But he loses his balance as well. Superman can't catch both at once. He makes a choice and catches the "good" clown. The other, dying, wants to know how he knew. Because the good clown, even in his anger, would not have pushed his rival off the roof. Good stuff.

Due to the budget, the effects are limited but they work for the most part. The science fiction angle is limited to a few episodes. It's mostly Superman vs. Damon Runyon gangsters. The two great villains of the comic books, Lex Luthor and Brainiac, never make an appearance. The comic aspect is entertaining, particularly when Clark Kent is assailed by the crew of a ship and has no chance to change into his costume and can't give himself away by winning the fight: he addresses the audience and says "Where is Superman when you need him?" I also like the episode where he has to keep swallowing an unstable explosive and having it blow up inside of him. He finally says "Not again!" George Reeves may or may not have been the best Superman but he was certainly the best Clark Kent. Kent here is not a nerdy beginner but an ace reporter who has earned everyone's respect. Reeve's comic talents and natural charm come to the fore and yet he can be an authoritative hero when the occasion demands. All the top heroes of the shows designed to appeal to children in those days had this combination of strength and gentleness in their manner- William Boyd, Clayton Moore, Kirby Grant, etc. What's really amazing is that it's well known that Reeves was ambivalent at best about playing this role- Jack Larson says in a commentary that he'd often storm off the set and stay in his dressing room for hours. But there isn't a hint of that in any scene.

One difference between the movies and the TV show is that the movies are about Superman- he's the identity character. We follow him from birth through childhood to the Fortess of Solitude to Metropolis where he's starting a career as a journalist. Lois Lane is already an accomplished professional who is dismissive of Clark but who idolizes Superman. Can he get Lois to love him- both of them? On the TV show, it seems to me the identity characters are Lois and Jimmy. They have more scenes than Clark and Superman. They create the action, because both are trying to prove they can "make it" in their profession. Clark and Superman are there to rescue them Most of Reeves' lines as Clark are exposition- figuring out what's going on. His Superman sequences are action scenes with minimal dialog. I think the series is really about Lois and Jimmy, who know Clark Kent and Superman, in the way that the Sherlock Holmes stories are really the story of Dr. John Watson and his adventures with his great friend.

A Good-hearted family show

[MiketheWhistle · 10/10 · 7 July 2018]

Despite being 60 years old, still a good family show.I remember watching this as a child 40 years ago often with my Father along with The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, Land of the Lost, etc.Violence was minimal;themes were how good triumphs;few where anyone dies;provides many laughs.There are certainly numerous new cartoons and shows that attempt to take the place of these timeless classics, but none ever do it as well.

"Look! Up In The Sky!"

[strong-122-478885 · 7/10 · 25 September 2013]

"It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...(heck, you know the rest)!"

Bullets just bounce off him. Criminal masterminds can't outfox him. And even the deadly, destructive gizmos dreamed up by mad scientists can't blast him into smithereens.

With powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, Superman had the super-strength and super-endurance to defeat all of his many determined foes.

This highly-enjoyable, low-budget, action-packed, TV series from the fabulous 1950s is great fun for all ages. This was a show that was very representative of its time in American culture.

Containing surprisingly little gunfire (except at Superman) and a significantly toned-down approach to its violence (where Superman often resorted to banging the criminals' heads together), this lighthearted and often whimsical superhero show featured villains who were clearly caricatures of themselves, playing their parts in a very tongue-in-cheek fashion.

Featuring an excellent cast, The Adventures Of Superman was impressively headlined by actor George Reeves, as the Man of Steel. With his athletic build, square-jawed good looks and likable screen persona, Reeves was, undoubtedly, an ideal choice to play the ultimate superhero of the 20th Century.

As essential viewing for anyone interested in 1950's pop culture and the very beginnings of TV superheroes, The Adventures Of Superman is sure to please one and all with its fast-paced, half-hour episodes that come at you (faster than a speeding bullet) in living color (starting with the show's second seasons).

A Great show in the beginning, but after that...

[Scott351w2001 · 9/10 · 28 March 2006]

Having just watched many of the series episodes again on DVD and video, I can honestly say that this show went through so many changes during its six year run, that its hard to believe that its the same show. Unlike most TV shows that get better as they go on, this was an exception. The "Adventures of Superman", which was first filmed in 1951, and shown in 1953, was an absolutely perfect show in its first season. Aiming for a family audience, and using the dark and moody tone of the radio series, the first season episodes featured a great looking George Reeves as a no-nonsense avenging angel, who would show up in the nick of time to round up the bad guys. In these episodes, the bad guys were actually menacing and sometimes died. The scripts were great (especially those of Ben Peter Freeman) as was the acting and dialogue. Mention should also be made of the great background music for the first season episodes, which added immeasurably to the mood of the episode.(Watch the original "Superman and the Mole-men", and then watch the Unknown People", and you'll see what I mean) Each of these episodes resembled a mini film noir movie. Most notably, too, was the performance of Phyllis Coates as a no-nonsense Lois Lane, who would stop at nothing to get her story(check out "Rescue")

Noel Neil may have brought some good qualities to the role later on, but Coates was the best Lois, including those who played her in the Superman movies. By the second season, the episodes were toned down, but there were still some great episodes like "The Clown who Cried", "The Face and the Voice", and "A Ghost for Scotland Yard" Reeves still looked great in these episodes, and the scripts were still solid enough to offset the sub-par acting of Noel Neil. The color episodes of seasons 3-6 were a whole different story. Unless you consider that the change to color was an "improvement", everything about the series got worse. The scripts were awful(with a few exceptions,like "Test of a warrior", and "Great Caesars Ghost") and as a result, Reeves lost much of his enthusiasm for the role (who could blame him?) Reeves also had put on weight, and looked somewhat bloated in these episodes. The special effects in these episodes were minimal...the same shot of Reeves flying was shown over and over (unlike in the B&Ws when flying shots were done for individual episodes) The bad guys were no longer menacing and there was the introduction of characters such as "Professor Pepperwinkle"...an unbelievably annoying character, who contributed to the feel that these episodes were cartoonish in nature. There were also many plot holes in these episodes, like in "Perils of Superman", which featured a group of cyborg-like crooks in lead masks. Why couldn't Superman just have ripped the lead masks off their heads? The reason given in the episode was that the masks were "locked on", and only the leader had the key (WHAT?????) Then there was the episode "The Big Freeze" in which Superman's powers were zapped by a contraption that froze him. Excuse me, but I thought the ONLY element Superman was vulnerable to was kryptonite.Watching the episode "Mr. Zero",(a low point for the whole series) it was hard to believe I was watching the same show that had produced such great episodes as "A Night of Terror", and "The Stolen Costume". Anyway, a truly great series for the first season, a very good series in the second, and a so-so to an awful show after that.

Lois in the sky with blinders

[robertpball · 7/10 · 4 September 2009]

It's always amazed me that Lois Lane, a woman who prided herself on being intelligent and observant, could work next to this guy for as long as she is supposed to have WITHOUT noticing that he is Superman. I realize that was always part of the continuity of both the comic and TV/Movie plot line, but still.... At least Batman covered most of his face!

Even with that glaring - to me - discrepancy, I thoroughly enjoyed the TV series when I watched it as a kid, back in the prehistoric Fifties. I remember being a little disappointed that he wasn't fighting super villains as he did in the comic books, but at least he was flying. It would have been nice if the series had lasted long enough so that they could have added Supergirl when she came along.

Classic 50's Television

[bd18packer · 10/10 · 17 January 2007]

It started the same way, every time...

"Faster than a speeding bullet!

More powerful than a locomotive!

Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!

Superman!

Strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men!

Superman!

Who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper,fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!"

Does it get any better than this?

I think not.

ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN {Season 1} (Various, 1951-3) (TV) ***

[Bunuel1976 · 7/10 · 19 May 2007]

I had caught a few episodes of this popular show on Italian TV as a kid and, therefore, leapt at the chance of watching this seminal first series via Warners' R2 DVD. It's naïve (Clark Kent needing to go into an alley - which happens to be the same one, no matter where he happens to be at the time! - to turn into Superman, his coming through windows feet first, and the exact same flying sequences duplicated from one episode to the next) but undeniably great fun.

During the course of the series, we get some intriguing borderline horror/sci-fi ideas - while black-and-white allowed for plenty of low-budget (and often studio-bound) atmosphere; apparently, the following series jettisoned the relative violence of the first (several violent deaths occur throughout and, amazingly, Superman himself isn't above 'killing' two blackmailers who accidentally uncovered his identity, or manipulate a villain into an ambush meant for him!) and the show was gradually turned into pure kiddie fare! Thankfully, here, Clark Kent isn't the klutz depicted in both the Max Fleischer animated series of the 1940s (which I rented on DVD to go along with this set) and the Christopher Reeve films of the 1970s and 80s - with Clark and Lois Lane's banter being reminiscent, at times, of screwball comedies.

Unfortunately, however, the special effects are extremely dated and Superman is very rarely called upon to showcase his extraordinary powers - most often, he just beats the villains up like any normal person would! Still, Reeves is a credible no-nonsense Superman, Phyllis Coates an attractive and tough Lois Lane, Jack Larson a geeky but likable Jimmy Olsen and John Hamilton an amusingly irascible Perry White. Supporting casts featured a few character actors familiar from Hollywood films of the time, who were often allowed to let rip with the villainy (especially in episodes such as THE EVIL THREE and MYSTERY IN WAX).

The last entry proper, CRIME WAVE, was basically a summation of the entire first series: Superman cleans up town from the underworld scourge in a number of rapid-fire montages culled from the highlights of several of the earlier episodes. THE UNKNOWN PEOPLE PARTS I & II, which officially closed the first season, are actually a two-part TV reduction of the 1951 film SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN (which, basically, had served as a pilot for the series)! The Audio Commentaries are, obviously, fan-boyish tracks by an expert on the subject who, at least, doesn't refrain from giving away technical blunders or illogical plot developments.

TV ICON!

[yenlo · 10 February 2000]

It was a different time and different era when this now legendary program was first televised. Yes some of the episodes toward the end of the series are on the hokey and corny side. However this show is a part of television history. The opening credits with the great theme music always set the mood. My favorite was the two part ` The Unknown People' episode. Although I always thought Noel Neill was a cuter and sexier Lois Lane Phyllis Coates played the part to a T. Jack Larsons Jimmy Olsen idolized Clark Kent as a father figure like the character did in the comics. John Hamilton was superb as the gruff but understanding Perry White. Robert Shayne as Inspector Henderson who never solved a case by himself but did it matter? Then George Reeves. Other actors donned the costume through the years but George Reeves was and always will be Superman, and when you think about it that's not too shabby.