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The Adventures of Superman had to be one of the most popular television shows of the 1950's. As a young boy I certainly remember being glued to the old B&W TV every week for the next episode. This DVD collection of 5 discs has all 26 episodes of the first season, with additional features including the theatrical release of Superman and the Mole Men (minus Jimmy Olson!), and original Kellogg's cereal commercials. This is a fun series to watch, not just for nostalgia, but also with a more observing eye! Why is it that no matter what town or city Clark Kent is in, he always runs into the same alley to change into his Superman costume? Likewise, whether he's in Perry White's office, Lois Lane's office, or his own office, he always runs into the same closet to change? It's fun to observe other "errors" - in episode 10 he's wearing a pinkie ring while in bed, it later disappears. Of course, during the flying sequences he's obviously being supported on a flat board under his costume. And was that the only suit he owned??? I guess the one disappointment of the series is that Superman was generally battling petty gangsters. What ever happened to such comic book villains as Lex Luthor and Mr. Mxyzptlk? The first season was filmed in 1951, but not released until 1952 once a sponsor was found. This season co-starred Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane, later replaced by Noel Neill. Lois is probably the first "independent" woman in a TV series - if you think of all the other TV series at the time women were almost always stay-at-home wives. And, of course, while she had her suspicions that Clark and Superman were on in the same, she never quite pieced it together. Adventures of Superman is currently being shown on MeTV, but this DVD set offers the opportunity to see the episodes in order, without commercials. Great for binge-watching! There are three more DVD sets in the series, can't wait to get them also! Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
They packaged it well, and I've enjoyed watching the first season, but I wish I had bought this when it was less expensive. I've always wanted to have this in my library, and I waited too long.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This multi disk set is truly a collector's dream for fans of either or both Superman comics and early TV programs. The commentary alone offers an eye-opening look behind the scenes of how 1950's post MacCarthy TV was produced. The stories themselves are all "mini-film noir" period pieces set against the backdrop of a fictional Metropolis (New York City) and reflect the paranoid times that spawned them. One particular story depicts an escaped "Communist" scientist entrusting his daughter to bring his world saving "formula" to the President of the United States and to give it to no one else. And even Superman can't do anything but wait for the police to come up with clues in many of the 27 minute films. The "Mind Control Device" episode is well worth the look aas it sternly opposes anyone's efforts to control the mind of another. Even Superman is not opposed to taking a cheap shot to protect his identity as he clobbers the innocent pilot of a plane he (as Clark Kent) is flying in trying to ferret out the villians. All in all the stories are fun and done with a certain amount of flair that modern TV is sorely lacking. While todays programs (with the notable exception of LOST and 24) hit their audience over the head with obvious clues or just outright tell us the plot with a "spoon feed them" mentality these old TV programs didn't "dumb it down". Rather they made you use that powerful tool called intelligence to suss out the story along with the lead characters. I shall certainly be looking forward to many more offerings from the 1950s and so should you. TV was still in it's infancy and hadn't been stricken with Altzheimers yet. Sam Hawley "Just my nickle"Read full review
The legendary Man of Steel assumes the secret identity of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis Daily Planet. And with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, he battles for truth and justice as Superman. The first ever Superman TV series! Originally aired in the 1950's, it features 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. Actors: George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Jeff Corey, Walter Reed, J. Farrell MacDonald Directors: Lee Sholem Format: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Subtitled, NTSC Language: English Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 5 Studio: Warner Home Video DVD Release Date: October 18, 2005 Run Time: 662 minutes DVD Features: Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 1.0) 26 episodes on five discs The 1951 feature-length film Superman and the Mole MenRead full review
This program was produced, back in 1951, with such mindful attention to good story telling, wonderful actors (that had NO idea what legends they'd become) who helped turn Superman into the pop icon he is today. This particular season was different from later seasons that were "watered down" for the growing childrens audience. But the first season escaped the censors radar and proved to be a timeless classic collection of edgey, exciting, diverse and imaginative stories. George Reeves, in the title role, is to this day considered "The ultimate Superman" for bringing his own grace and charm to the character of both Clark Kent & Superman. You don't have to be a fan of Superman or super-heroes to appreciate the art that is The Adventures of Superman, season one.Read full review
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