Adventures of Superman (TV Series) The Big Freeze (1956) User Reviews

The Story Has A Greeat Mix

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 16 August 2006]

The opening scene sets the comedic tone for this one as a thug "Little John" (show regular Richard Reeves) swats a fly off a picture on the wall and smashes the glass. It turns out there is no fly. "I was just practicin' for when it's summer again," explains the big dope to his boss "Duke Taylor" (George E. Stone).

Duke is going to rig the upcoming elections "so I can run this town." Little John answers, "Yeah, but Superman don't like it if you fix the elections." So, the plan is to get Superman out of the way. Enter another eccentric scientist (the only kind ever shown on the program) who has an invention on how to kill Superman. "Dr. Watts" (Rolfe Sedan) has invented a freezing room that, if they can Superman to go it in, will freeze all of his powers for up to a week.

Of course, Superman is coerced into going in, does get "neutralized" and now the elections look lost. However, a number of things happen and this winds up being one of the more entertaining of the Superman episodes with a good mixture of adventure, comedy and drama.

Superman gets cold feet...and hands, back, legs, head, neck, etc. (And here Schultz thought it was one of those chain of Ice Cream Parlors!)

[redryan64 · 7/10 · 23 January 2009]

STRIKING a balance between the inherent violence that a crime drama automatically brings to the table and the perceived acceptable levels of such graphic portrayals on the screen has long been a problem to many of an action/adventure film or series television episode. The spectre of the ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN's first season was still very much in evidence; when the production had gotten some bad reviews about the content as being too Noir and hence, too fast for the Kiddie Trade.

BUT the production team, formerly headed up by the SUPERMAN Radio Show's Producer, Robert Maxwell had been restructured under the Executive Editor of the Superman-DC Comics line, Whitney Ellsworth. The resulting 2nd season had trimmed the raw, graphic violence down to some less intense levels. This gave birth to some of their best half-hour adventures; while keeping it very much in the spirit of the feature's origin in the Comics.

BY the fourth season, the format was strictly on Automatic Pilot. A story would more likely be one that amused and gave you a few laughs than it would be filled with that pulse-pounding, spine-tingling, manno y manno physical action.

OUR STORY today, 'The Big Freeze' brought together all the elements of a successful Superman TV episode. The first being a colorful gang of crooks, who have some 'new' brainstorm on how to defeat the Man of Steel. Add to that some kookie, eccentric outsider who can be easily duped by these denizens of the Metropolis Underworld. The inclusion of some impending event or catastrophe fills out the scenario.

The story of our cold wave does not refer to anything that we might learn about on The Weather Channel; but rather to the method to be used by the crooks in the story to attempt put Superman out of commission while their thugs swing the Metropolis Mayoral Election to their Crony Candidate. This guy promises to be "Syndicated Crime Friendly", being a latter day Boss Tweed.

ENTER the person of the eccentric, kindly and somewhat scatter-brained Inventor (Mad Scientist, if you will) with an invention which may have applications of a less than honourable application. You guessed it, Schultz! This evil use will surely be turned on Superman, in order to render him impotent in stopping the would be ward healers from stealing City Hall from the good Citizens of Metropolis.

IN this instance, a technologically advanced contraption generates a wave of extreme cold, something along the lines of the principal of "Absolute Zero"; being a state in matter in which all molecular movement is stopped. Superman gets all frozed up and evething looks not too good, goddammitt! But, the Man of Steel figures out an antidote for this Super Frigidity that cures him instantly.

ONE important point in the story is that Superman continually emphasizes that although he is endowed with all of those "….powers and abilities far beyond those of Mortal Men", it is still up to the Citizens of Metropolis to be eternally vigilant in keeping their Government clean.

'THE Big Freeze', like most SUPERMAN Episodes, makes use of an excellent line up of veteran Character Actors who are adept at filling the roles of Crooks, even the cartoony variety of hoodlum in these cinematic comic book stories. We have George E. Stone (Duke Taylor, leader), Richard Reeves (Little Jack, muscle henchman & comic relief) and Comedy Veteran of the Silents, Rolfe Sedan (the kindly but wacky scientist-inventor.).

ALL of the regulars in the cast are present except Inspector Henderson (Robert Shayne), who is never mentioned. One would certainly think that The Metropolis P.D. would have SOME involvement in such a serious a situation as a criminal take over of an Election, which is not in Minnesota or Chicago.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

Good episode except...

[wkozak221 · 9/10 · 28 September 2020]

I like this episode. It is a good one. It have comedy and drama at the same time. The cast and story are good. However I few problems with this episode is: 1. Can you really freeze Superman? 2. Why doesn't Clark lock the using Lois's office. 3. I don't think he has enough make-up for his face, hands, arms, etc. 3. How does he color his hair? 4. How come the make up doesn't run, etc.?

Voted one of the best of the series.

[oscar-35 · 6 August 2014]

*Spoiler/plot- Adventures of Superman, 1952. The Big Freeze. aired 3/3/56. Dishonest Metropolis politician and his enforcer Little Jack hire a crooked scientist, Dr. Watts to stop Superman just before an important municipal election. The politician lures the Man of Steel into a locked lead-lined room with lies that Lois & Jimmy are held there. The trio's room machine (made by the scientist) make the room temperature 2000 degrees below zero (way below absolute Zero temperature). Thus completely white and "frozen", Superman not only loses his super powers but also the color in his skin. Clark Kent must put on woman's makeup (Lois Lane) to keep up his secret identity while at the Planet building. Superman's only hope to return to normal is to expose himself to extreme heat at the Metroplois steel making blast furnaces. He recovers and makes things right for the election 'stunted' turnout.

*Special Stars- George Reeves, John Hamilton. Jack Larson. Noel Neill, Bill Kennedy (VO). Robert Shayne.

*Theme- Good can overcome evil.

*Trivia/location/goofs- B & W. Superman's flying and jumping file footage was taken in Los Angeles. It commonly uses the skyline of 1950's downtown with the tall city hall building. When Superman puts on the make-up, he is not shown to do his hands. The enforcer role is played by another actor with the last name of 'Reeves'. No family relation to George Reeves.

*Emotion- Always a bit of fun and entertainment from a "baby-boomer" kiddie's TV life. Takes one back to those carefree days. The episode still holds up and is voted one of the best of the series. It has been included is many of "the Best" of publicly offered TV Superman VHS & DVD series.

*Based on- Superman comic book series.

What happen to the yellow costume Mr. Reeves wore?

[lenaj-14512 · 10/10 · 7 September 2015]

I love that episode but I always wondered who bought the "frozen" suit. I know it is an collector item. I wish I had the money to buy it but I don't so I hope whoever has it is taking good care of it. I can't swear but I think it is one of a kind. The science in freezing Superman appeared to be a bit flawed. At the time of the episode no one really knew the temperature of the solar system. I guess the writers took poetic license when the script was written. I would truly appreciate any one's comment if I have made a mistake. Is it possible for one to get a copy of an original script. I love to write and I would be very grateful if someone has the access.

I want my 50,000. I want my fifty!

[thejcowboy22 · 6/10 · 23 May 2017]

Second grade memories. Election day was approaching . Lyndon Johnson running against Barry Goldwater. One of my classmates comes to school wearing a Goldwater pin on his sweater. The reaction was vitriol by the majority of students. Teased and ridiculed for not choosing the populous candidate Johnson, the boy was wondering what he did wrong until my teacher stepped in and gave a lecture about the right to choose your candidate. Innovative and definitely different, this episode is up there as one of my favorites. Corruption hits Metropolis on Election Day. No it's not the Russians or counter intelligence that sways the voters but the mob run by well dressed double breasted,Duke Taylor (George E. Stone)and his uncouthly, blundering, husky Little Jack (Richard Reeves) No relation to George our Man Of Steel. Our catalyst in all this is the wacky Doctor Watts (Rolph Sedan). Elderly and with a weird rhythm to his sentences as he repeats all his lines by accentuating a certain word. I.E. The title of this review. Anyway I was amazed how Superman not only has superpowers but is so knowledgeable about applying Makeup.Editor Perry White remarks to Clark Kent after his facial application. "Kent You seem to have a bit of a tan!" Let's backup for you outsiders who have never watched the episode before. Doctor Watts constructed a lead box that is filled with tons of compressed Freon gas. Extreme cold which the Doctor believes will take away Superman's powers for a price of 50,000 dollars which is a lot of cabbage.Duke Taylor calls Clark Kent to inform him that Lois Lane and Jimmie Olsen have been kidnapped. Taylor give a specific location and Superman rushed to the scene. Opens the lead box and become a shade of white from head to toe. Our caped crusader tries to fly but can't. Sorry sight for Superman fans.Then Superman changes into his Clark Kent outfit which asks one of the great mysteries of the series. Where does Superman keep his Clark Clothes while being Superman? No one notices a frosty looking man walking into the Daily Planet building (Clark's employer.) Clark goes into Lois Lanes Office and Applies rogue, mascara for the hair and a nice shade of Lipstick. Don't forget to brush your Eye lashes Clark. Anyway as always, things work out as Clark gets a nice commission check from Mary Kay cosmetics. No just kidding! The Mobsters re neg on there cash offer to the naive Doctor Watts which brings him to the Daily Planet as he tells a concerned Clark Kent that Superman will regain his powers by entering ac blast furnace or it might kill him. I give this episode 6 out of 10 electoral votes. Oh by the way, vote for Buckley!

Superman as Popsicle

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 9 February 2015]

First of all, how can the whole election situation rest on such a delicate balance. Thugs at polling places, beating up voters or threatening them, so that the person selected by the mob can take over. Jump to a professor who has a love for "cabbage" to develop a machine that can lower the temperature to -2000 degrees (way below absolute zero) so he can freeze Superman, thereby keeping him from protecting the ballot boxes. They must at least have had a high school science teacher to bounce things off when it came to the laws of physics. The professor is an eccentric little guy who talks very much like Yoda from Star Wars. Anyway, Superman is frozen (sort of). Actually, he turns white and his powers are stripped. Then, as Clark Kent, he uses Lois's makeup to look normal. Can you imagine? The mistake the bad guys make is they get cheap (after all their efforts) and decide to do the Pied Piper thing, where they refuse to pay after the job is complete. This episode really stretches the imagination. Of course, we look at it through modern eyes and as Americans. Other countries might say, "Of course, the elections are rigged and there are guys with machine guns outside the polling place." But the utter lack of oversight here is amazing. Not one of the best efforts.

Another absurd premise

[suze-4 · 5/10 · 4 October 2006]

This is probably more implausible than any of the other outrageous scripts in this season. First of all, if Superman is frozen solid and chalky white, putting on Lois Lane's makeup (all over his face, neck, hands and hair!) would not make Clark look that natural. There would have to be some plausible reason why it would fool them. But this could only happen in a cartoon or a comic book. I just felt sorry for all of them having to act in this terrible story. This is not the real Superman series - the first two seasons are. Having said that, I still enjoyed the action and the danger. It's just that there is such a lack of subtlety or craftsmanship in these later episodes.

Left me cold.

[cardboardmems · 2/10 · 17 November 2017]

A pretty dumb episode about a corrupt politician, who's backed by a gang who, through intimidation tactics, try to get the citizens of Metropolis to vote for their candidate.

The plot in and of itself isn't bad, but I hate episodes where Superman can be rendered powerless by something other than Kryptonite. They should have remained faithful to the comic book by adhering to this.

Superman is lured into a trap in which he is flash frozen, and all his strength is gone. There is a ridiculous scene where Clark Kent(who of course, is also frozen a ghostly white color); goes into Lois Lane's office, and finds some makeup. In five seconds, he is a makeup expert, and applies rouge and other products, and in a couple minutes, you'd never now anything was amiss.

John Hamilton, as Perry White, does make a funny comment about how Kent looks like he has a tan.

One saving grace that this episode does have is when Clark says something so absurd, he might as well admit he's Superman. Superman is told by the professor who invented the freeze room, which trapped our hero; that an intense heat might reverse the effect. Superman walks into a blast furnace, and it works. He's Superman again.

When the election returns are coming in, it looks as if the crooked guy will win, but Supe's hits the polling places, and intimidates the intimidating.

At the end, Lois Lane says to Clark, "Do you think Superman's really better, Clark?" To which Clark responds, "Never felt better in my life!"