CONTINUING to make use of Hollywood's standard types of movies, the producers of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN opted to bring on board a venture into the world of the paranormal; also called parapsychology. In short, it is an old fashioned Ghost Story. Having viewed this many, many times, ever since its premiere showing in November of 1953; the episode remains both fresh and familiar. Hey, this old bastard (yours truly) was 7 years old then!
THE story is pretty common stuff. Clark Kent (Mr. Reeves) and Master James Olsen arrive in Merry Old England where they are to check out a local story about a legend of a haunting. The Great Magician, Brockhurst, who had died years earlier had claimed that his Ghostly Visage would return to haunt his old enemies and Sir Arthur McRedy (Collin Campbell), an old Brit Pal of Perry White's, is nearly killed by losing control of his auto when he supposedly saw a vision of Brockhurst in the night sky.
SUPERMAN manages to save him and Kent, Olsen and the Man of Steel manage to investigate and solve the mystery.
'A GHOST FOR Scotland YARD' marked a decidedly obvious change of pace for the SUPERMAN Series. First off, right from the episode's start, the audience is prepared for something a little difference. Whatever the title had been, as long as it referred to the Spirit World and to its British Isles venue, it would suffice.
THIS was a good move on the part of the folks over at National Comics/D.C. on multi fronts. First of all, it makes perfect sense to portray the World's Mightiest Mortal in some other countries besides the U.S.A. Also, the Comics Publishers various titles were sold in the United Kingdom and were said to be very popular. This is an excellent example of the quote from Mr. George Bernard Shaw, who said: "The British and the Americans are two peoples who are separated by a common language."
THE episode makes use of only Kent/Superman and Jimmy Olsen out of the series' regulars. This is the first adventure to do so ever since the first season's 'The Haunted Lighthouse', (remember-"HELP! HELP-I'm D-R-O-W-N-I-N-G!!!!"). The scarcity of other players, Lois Lane (Noel Neill), Perry White (John Hamilton) and Inspector William Henderson (Robert Shayne) all remained back in Metropolis.
AS a means to "Bulk-Up" the installment and add some measure of British Authenticity, the Producer Whitney Ellsworth, added several veteran British Actors from the Anglo-American Enclave in Hollywood. We have Colin Campbell (Sir Arthur McRedy), Norma Varden (as Mabel McRedy), Patrick Ahern (as Inspector Farrington of Scotland Yard-a sort of 'Road Show' Lastrade!), and Evelyn Halpern (as Betty).
IN a finely conceived and neatly carried out gag, the part of a News Stand Vender was played by veteran of the English Music Hall and the Silent Movies, Comic Actor Clyde Cook. His presence both insured that both another authentically British Actor was on deck; but also one who would make the most of even a small bit. In this case, as Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen are leaving their hotel, the Newsman, Mr. Cook calls them back, handing Olsen some publication; which turns out to be a copy of the latest issue of SUPERMAN Comics! (Some other DC Publications are visible on the newstand, such as BATMAN; who would be getting his big chance about a dozen years later!)
POODLE SCHNITZ!!
THE story is pretty common stuff. Clark Kent (Mr. Reeves) and Master James Olsen arrive in Merry Old England where they are to check out a local story about a legend of a haunting. The Great Magician, Brockhurst, who had died years earlier had claimed that his Ghostly Visage would return to haunt his old enemies and Sir Arthur McRedy (Collin Campbell), an old Brit Pal of Perry White's, is nearly killed by losing control of his auto when he supposedly saw a vision of Brockhurst in the night sky.
SUPERMAN manages to save him and Kent, Olsen and the Man of Steel manage to investigate and solve the mystery.
'A GHOST FOR Scotland YARD' marked a decidedly obvious change of pace for the SUPERMAN Series. First off, right from the episode's start, the audience is prepared for something a little difference. Whatever the title had been, as long as it referred to the Spirit World and to its British Isles venue, it would suffice.
THIS was a good move on the part of the folks over at National Comics/D.C. on multi fronts. First of all, it makes perfect sense to portray the World's Mightiest Mortal in some other countries besides the U.S.A. Also, the Comics Publishers various titles were sold in the United Kingdom and were said to be very popular. This is an excellent example of the quote from Mr. George Bernard Shaw, who said: "The British and the Americans are two peoples who are separated by a common language."
THE episode makes use of only Kent/Superman and Jimmy Olsen out of the series' regulars. This is the first adventure to do so ever since the first season's 'The Haunted Lighthouse', (remember-"HELP! HELP-I'm D-R-O-W-N-I-N-G!!!!"). The scarcity of other players, Lois Lane (Noel Neill), Perry White (John Hamilton) and Inspector William Henderson (Robert Shayne) all remained back in Metropolis.
AS a means to "Bulk-Up" the installment and add some measure of British Authenticity, the Producer Whitney Ellsworth, added several veteran British Actors from the Anglo-American Enclave in Hollywood. We have Colin Campbell (Sir Arthur McRedy), Norma Varden (as Mabel McRedy), Patrick Ahern (as Inspector Farrington of Scotland Yard-a sort of 'Road Show' Lastrade!), and Evelyn Halpern (as Betty).
IN a finely conceived and neatly carried out gag, the part of a News Stand Vender was played by veteran of the English Music Hall and the Silent Movies, Comic Actor Clyde Cook. His presence both insured that both another authentically British Actor was on deck; but also one who would make the most of even a small bit. In this case, as Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen are leaving their hotel, the Newsman, Mr. Cook calls them back, handing Olsen some publication; which turns out to be a copy of the latest issue of SUPERMAN Comics! (Some other DC Publications are visible on the newstand, such as BATMAN; who would be getting his big chance about a dozen years later!)
POODLE SCHNITZ!!
