Superman - The 1948 & 1950 Theatrical Serials Collection

Item arrived promptly and is in excellent condition.

It works great

Superman has always been and will always be my favorite comic book super hero. So the serials "Superman" and "Atom Man Vs. Superman" have always been the hardest Superman adaptations for me to review. From the time that I first learned of their existence (from the back pages of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine) and long after I had started watching George Reeves's TV series I longed to see them. It wasn't until Superman's 50's anniversary and Warner's video release of them that I got a chance to do so. While there is lot good in both serials and no matter how much I wanted to love them I found both were a bit disappointing.Superman released by Columbia Pictures in 1948 was made in the dying days of the serials and can be seen as the format's last great moment. Columbia serials were rarely made with the same quality of a Republic serial or even a Universal ones of the times and Superman is no exception. What it has going for it is its faithfulness to its source material (something Republic never bothered with) and it is presented in a very straight forward manner. There is none of the camp elements that creep-ed into the color episodes of the 50's TV series and all but destroyed the 60's Batman series. It opens with the familiar tale of the destruction of the planet Krypton, the escape of the baby Kal-El, his landing in the farm lands of Smallville, growing up there and ultimately leaving for Metropolis where he becomes Superman (Kirk Alyn). From that point on the serial deals with Superman's battle with the Spider Woman (the very bland Carol Forman) who come across more as a lounge/ B Girl instead of a master criminal and her crime organization over procession of the the all powerful weapon the Reducer Ray. Superman/AKA Clark Kent is aided in his tasks by the comic's familiar supporting cast Lois Lane (Noel Neill who would also go on to play the part from the second season onward of the TV series), Jimmy Olsen (Tommy Bond former Our Gang bully Butch who plays the part as Butch all grown up) and Daily Planet editor Perry White (Pierre Watkins).The often criticized animated flying scenes are a draw back for the serial but after a while you do get use to them. The major problem with the serial is how un-engaging the over all plot and Forman's villain are. Sadly Alyn doesn't do well as Superman either. Its not just that he doesn't seem physically suited to the role he lacks the force and power that Clayton "Bud" Collyer's vocal performance brought to the role of Superman for many years on the radio and the easy going charm of his Clark Kent. Alyn's Superman comes across as an actor trying too hard in the both roles. Surprisingly both Alyn and Forman would reunited in Columbia's last comic adaptation "Blackhawk" where they both performed much better as hero an villian.The whole cast returns in 1950's "Atom Man Vs. Superman which is the better of the 2 serials due to its stronger villain in Luthor (well played by Lyle Talbot). Note: In 1950 Luthor was only known as Luthor; he didn't get the first name Lex until the early sixties. But Atom Man Vs Superman suffers from the cheapness of the production reusing all the animated flights of the first serial and tons of stock footage. There is one great scene where the animated Superman swoops down, picks up a toy truck that Lois Lane is knocked out in and flies it away in front of stock footage of an on coming flood.These two serials can be truly seen as the bridge between the classic animated Superman shorts of the 1940's because of its over use of animation in not the just the flying scenes but in the bullets bouncing off the chest, the crashing through walls, rocket ships and flying saucer moments and the fully live action Superman TV series of the 50's.I purchased this DVD collection even though my VSH tapes are still holding up well more for the superior packaging and the wonderful extras included. Even with the flaws found in the actual serials this is a release that every Superman fan should want to have.

I never realized Lois Lane was such a bitch. Well, if she didn't cause so much trouble there wouldn't be so many cliffhangers. And Jimmy Olsen's stupidity is worth a few more. The cliffhangers keep the action moving along nicely until the end. The beginning of each chapter flows nicely into the next adventure.This is a nice introduction to a live action superman. One thing I have mixed feelings about is the use of animation for some of Superman's action sequences (mostly the flying) but if the kids (the target audience) didn't seem to mind I guess I can handle it. In the end the animation has more vibrant motion than a close up of a guy on a flying board (although the serial Atom Man vs. Superman does use it a little with the upper body). And the dichotomy between Kirk Alyn's Superman and Clark Kent personas make this set-up more acceptable. Alyn brings good humor to the part of Kent. Speaking of Alyn, he is not credited with the part because the studio said, "We couldn't get a man who could play the part so we got the real Superman," to promote the serials. Noel Neill and Tommy Bond bring their own dose of humor to Lane and Olsen. Making this a well-rounded family presentation.The audio and video quality is exceptional, almost like bein in the movie theater. The serials kept me glued to the screen until Superman was victorious.

The media could not be loaded.  Wow what a find what a great thing to put my money towards this series is definitely where its at special footage of one of our most known Superhero's I want give a special thanks for this collectable it keeps loose times feeling full with some popcorn an a great night you cant go wrong with a season like this will always be here for more of its kind and other shows of its relation.

arrived on time intact for home use

Los capitulos estan de lujo, espero que saquen el Bluray, lastima que no hizo mas capitulos Kirk Alyn Recomendadisimo 100 estrellas

Für Fans des Mann aus Stahls ist diese Box ein muss. Die ersten Real Bilder Superman's verkörpert von einen sympathischen Kirk Alyn. Die Box enthält beide Kino Serials. Superman von 1948 und Superman vs Atom-Man von 1950.Bild und Ton sind entsprechend einer fast 70 Jahre alten Serie. Dennoch gutes Bild und Ton. Völlig in Ordnung.Die Serie hatte ein kleines Budget dennoch punktet Superman mit guten Stunts und seinem heute Sehenswerten Retro Look. Die Schauspieler sind sympathisch und Langeweile gibt es hier nicht.Die Box sieht hübsch aus mit Glitzer Papschuber und schönen Bildern auf Disc's und Hülle in der die DVD's hängen. Im Pack selbst sind auch die Episoden-Listen. Als Bonus gibt es einen ca 10 Minütigen Rückblick auf die Serie durch Historiker und sogar mit der dieses Jahr Verstorbenen Lois Lane Darstellerin Noel Neill. Zusätzlich ein Auszug aus Bryan Singers Superman Doku "Look Up in the Sky"Klasse Box, sicherlich aber nur für Superman Liebhaber wirklich eine Lohnenswerte Anschaffung.

Two Superman movie serials and both in pristine condition all the way. Lex looks great as the villain in the second movie serial. The fellow playing Superman in both movie serials is younger than the man chosen to play Superman in the TV series Adventures of Superman. I don't know why. Both do an excellent job in the role of The Man of Steel.

Kirk Alyn the first superman.The Complete Classic Series. Only für Superman Fans.4 DVDs in a bookletUp Up and away .