Customer Reviews

TV's Best Adventures of Superman, volume 1 [VHS]

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Volume 1 on "TV's Best Adventures of Superman" has the first and last episodes of the syndicated television series starring George Reeves that ran from 1952-1957. "Superman on Earth" (Episode #1), written by Richard Fielding, tells the story of how the infant Superman was rocketed from the dying planet Krypton to Earth, where he was raised by a kindly couple, the Kents (renamed Sara and Eben for some reason). When he grows up Clark Kent gets a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet, a great metropolitan newspaper, while Superman makes his first appearance and rescues a man from a dirigible. Then in "All That Glitters" (Episode #104), Superman's friend, Professor Pepperwinkle, has figured out how to transmutate base metal into gold. Of course, crooks force the professor to make lots of gold for them, but it seems the professor has an even bigger secret. He knows how to turn any man into a Superman. This final episode, directed by George Reeves and filmed in color, was written by Robet Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth. Phyllis Coates plays Lois Lane in the pilot while Noel Neill had the role from the second season on, Jack Larson is Jimmy Olson and John Hamilton rules as Perry White. As a very special treat, in between these two episodes is the first Superman cartoon by Dave Fleisher, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1941. The cartoon provides a brief explanation of Superman's origin (this time he is raised at an orphanage), and then we are introduced to what would be the standard format for this cartoons: Lois Lane goes off on an assignment, gets into big time trouble, and is rescued by Superman. Clearly, this first volume is the one to have if you are only going to have one Superman tape in your collection (the "Superman and the Mole Men" two-part episode/movie would be the second).

This is it! That great first episode when Superman comes to Earth. Great fun, good fiction, campy directing. Who could ask for more. There is a cartoon between 2 George Reeves episodes. The cartoon is clever but not nearly as much fun.

This stuff is the basis of the 50'S! Reeves was the #1 hero of his generation. You should see this historical footage.

Acting superb. First episode is B&W. Final epsiode in color. More Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane in final episode with George Reeves (Clark Kent) directing. Cartoon almose real-like.

This is my second post on this site about AOS Season 1. I just noticed something on The Stolen Costume. Yes, the opening sequence to that episode does not go with the episode itself as many of you have already pointed out. But, pay attention, folks: it's a Season Two opening credit sequence, not even a season one spliced into that episode! First, the opening music and camera-through-the-sky does not exist, it practically opens into the titles. Then, the announcer says "The Adventures of Superman!". Remember now, that was not done in Season One, and none of the other episodes do this. Then during the final scene of the opening credits when the flag appears, the announcer does not say "And now, another exciting episode in the Adventures of Superman". Again, the flag without the voiceover was Season 2. You know if somebody actually took the time to write to WB, I'm sure they'd be polite enough to answer.