Adventures of Superman (TV Series) The Whistling Bird (1954) User Reviews

Licking Stamps and Spy Ring in 1950's America

[redryan64 · 6/10 · 2 November 2014]

WITH THIS ENTRY to the SUPERMAN Series, we see another characterization of a benevolent but eccentric scientist/inventor. The subject seemed to be a favourite with the Whitney Ellsworth production team. The sub-genre would seemed to have justified the creation of a semi-regular character in a recurring role.*

AS USUAL THE casting went to Mr. Sterling Holloway; whose characterizations, regardless of name from one episode to the other, seemed to be identical.

AS FOR THE plot, it would fall into classification that Mr. Walt Disney used to describe the actions in his cartoon shorts with Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy and even Pluto. He referred to it as "The Plausible Impossible." It was an examination of how a certain sort of logic goes into making even the most outrageous happenings at least acceptable.

NOW MIND YOU that we're not referring to the character of Superman; but rather to the coincidental and accidental blending of chemicals, intended for a tasty stamp glue and coming up with a highly potent explosive. Actually, it's not so far fetched and a fine example of the Law of Unintended Consequences.

ADDED TO THIS we have the intervention of some crooks and the entry of Foreign Espionage into the brew.

WELL NOW, THAT puts Eccentric Scientist, Organized Crime, International Spies and Superman in the same half our episode. Now, my dear Schultz, that is a tough combination to beat!

A Sterling Performance

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 6 February 2015]

Sterling Holloway who previously appeared with his super-computer Mr. Kelso, now has a bird, Skyler. He uses the bird as the depository for a formula. He has been working on a substance that gives flavor to postage stamps: roast beef, liver and onions, lamb stew, etc. Strangely, when the stamp is pounded on, it explodes with incredible force. When Clark realizes this, he decides it needs to be reported to the government. Of course, who should appear but some spies who now want the formula, but, of course, the bird has part of it in his bird brain. The sequence of events leads to the bad guys kidnapping Jimmy and the professor's niece. The bird only responds to a bell, but these guys don't know this and threatens to kill the kids if he doesn't comply. We all know what will ultimately happen. But the whole thing is so weird. First of all, the formula that the bird knows, is three or four chemicals you could get off a store shelf. Secondly, perhaps a piece paper hidden somewhere to back up the bird wouldn't be a bad idea. I know the ultra-eccentric Holloway would be expected to do things in this insane way, but it's quite a stretch. I did like the stuff about an exploding postage stamp, and this is entertaining.