Adventures of Superman / Superman TV Show (original) (raw)
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CLASSIC TV ON DVD:
The Adventures of Superman Name one TV show from the 1950s that is genuinely funny and thrilling - and that can be enjoyed in modern times. Only one series comes to mind - The Adventures of Superman. Every bit as classic as Lucy or The Honeymooners with a stellar cast and fun storylines, The Adventures of Superman stands alone as a classic TV icon.
The color and clarity on these DVDs is nothing short of amazing. If you haven't seen this program on DVD like this, it's like watching it for the first time. Sterling!
This collection represents the last two seasons (26 episodes) of the series; the emphasis was on humor and the whole thing works very well - for kids and for the kid in you. As an extra there's a tribute to Jack Larson with Larson and Noel Neill and noted Superman historians interviewed.The colorful fold-out packaging is first rate. A terrific bargain, this one makes a great gift, no question.
Superman - The 1948 & 1950 Theatrical Serials Collection Fans of the Adventures of Superman TV program will want to add this collection to the set - these serials shared a lot of the same production personel and features Noel Neill playing Lois Lane. (Horror movie heavyweight Lyle Talbot appears as Luthor and Jimmy Olsen is played by Tommy Bond who played "Butch" in the Our Gang comedies.)
These two 15 chapter thrillers were produced at the tale end of the movie serial era - the production values are better than some of the earlier but more popular serials. Keep in mind that the Superman character was a mere 10 years old at this point, this was the first live-action Superman the public had seen.
I'd wanted to see these for a long time - while the storylines aren't as crisp as the TV series that followed (shooting for The Adventures of Superman began days after Atom Man vs. Superman wrapped) this DVD collection is a fascinating look at a gone-by era.
As an extra you get a mini-documentary "Saturdays with Superman" - a look back at the making of these movies. It's a slick colorful package and a major bargain at $19 (that's less than half suggested retail price!) if you order online now.
Get this one for the Superman fan - or for grandpa for Christmas!
DC's legendary comic book characters have been around since the late-1930s and have proved popular on television for more than fifty years now - starting with The Adventures of Superman in 1953 and continuing to this day with Smallville on the WB network.
The Adventures of Superman; The Complete Second Season is a delight to behold.
If you haven't watched these episodes in their fully restored black-and-white glory then you won't believe your eyes (and you haven't seen the restored versions unless you bought the Columbia House releases - and then you would have paid $25 for four episodes).
The first season of The Adventures of Superman was a pristine example of one of the few truly film noir television shows shot during what is considered the genre's classic period. For the second batch (26 episodes), the series took a more lighthearted approach while retaining just enough dark undertones and eerie music cues to make it fascinating.
The Adventures of Superman,The Complete Second Season has charm to spare with timeless performances from an outstanding cast; besides the beloved regular cast (Noel Neill took the role of Lois Lane in season two), the best B-movie actors Hollywood had to offer were employed as the mad scientists, mob bosses, gun molls and everyday thugs Superman ran up against. It's a testament to the quality of these programs that it remains one of the only TV dramas of the 1950s that can be fully enjoyed today. Sure, the special effects are crude and the plots transparent but the production harkens back to a much simpler time; for instance, the scenes of Los Angeles in the early-fifties that fill in for Metropolis are priceless.
Thanks to reruns on local stations for three decades and a run on TV Land in the eighties and nineties, four generations of kids have grown up watching The Adventures of Superman; it defines American television at its best in the same way I love Lucy or Gunsmoke do.
Classic episodes in this second season collection include Panic in the Sky (Jerry Seinfeld's favorite episode), The Defeat of Superman (introducing Kryptonite), The Machine That Could Plot Crimes (Mr. Kelso), and so many more memorable scenarios.
The Adventures of Superman, The Complete Second Season comes with sumptuous extras - you get two episodes with commentary by Noel Neill and Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen), there's also a filmed tribute to Noel Neill and a promotional short shown in schools during the fifties, Stamp Day for Superman.
This DVD set comes wrapped in a colorful, foldout package; loads of fun for the entire family whether you have young kids or not.
Reviews by Billy Ingram, as seen on VH1, Trio and Bravo.
******
The Adventures of Superman on DVD
Tagline: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!
Plot Outline: The Man of Steel fights crime with help from his friends at the Daily Planet.
Plot Synopsis: "Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!" Mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet is really the greatest superhero of them all who "fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way!"
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN SEASON ONE: It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! The legendary Man of Steel, last survivor of the doomed planet Krypton lives on earth, assuming the secret identity of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. But with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman. This is the first Superman TV series! Originally aired in the 1950's, it featured George Reeves as Superman and enjoyed tremendous success during its broadcast. The TV series premise was established a year before its broadcast via the theatrical release of "Superman and The Mole Men" in 1951.
Episodes: DVD 1 1. Superman on Earth 2. The Haunted Lighthouse 3. The Case of the Talkative Dummy 4. The Mystery of the Broken Statues 5. The Monkey Mystery 6. A Night of Terror DVD 2 7. The Birthday Letter 8. The Mind Machine 9. Rescue 10. The Secret of Superman 11. No Holds Barred 12. The Deserted Village DVD 3 13. The Stolen Costume 14. Treasure of the Incas 15. Double Trouble 16. Mystery in Wax 17. The Runaway Robot 18. Drums of Death DVD 4 19. The Evil Three 20. Riddle of the Chinese Jade 21. The Human Bomb 22. Czar of the Underworld 23. The Ghost Wolf 24. Crime Wave DVD 5 25. Unknown People part 1 26. Unknown People part 2
Number of discs: 5 Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005 Run Time: 662 minutes
Plot Keywords: Super Power | Character Name In Title | Clark Kent | DC Comics | Based On Comic | Superhero | Superman | Journalism | Newspaper | Reporter | Cult TV
The Adventures of Superman
Superman - The 1948 & 1950 Theatrical Serials Collection
The Adventures of Superman, The Complete Second Season
The first season of The Adventures of Superman was a pristine example of one of the few truly film noir television shows shot during what is considered the genre's classic period. For the second batch (26 episodes), the series took a more lighthearted approach while retaining just enough dark undertones and eerie music cues to make it fascinating. 
**
The Adventures of Superman on DVD
**
PLAYBOY AFTER DARK