VHS : Superman & Mole Men

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Still Great With Great Appeal
Being 24 years old, I'm not a part of the baby boomer generation. I didn't see this film when it was brand new, but I am a fan of Superman. George Reeves plays the part of Clark Kent perfect, especially looking really good as Superman. The real stars of this movie are the little people who played the mole men. They never say anything in the movie, but a lot of expression is used and it is easy to feel sorry for them when they are treated wrong.

The story starts off a little slow, but eventually gains a lot of momentum and stays that way to the end. I was sucked in to the story, when the mole man is stuck in the burning house, inside I was screaming "Where are you Superman?! Help this guy out!" It is that good and you don't have to be from the previous generation to enjoy the film. It can be enjoyed by anyone, just as long as you are ready to have fun. The only reason I gave it four stars is because the beginning is kind of slow, other than that-up, up and away!!

Rating:

- For fans of Superman and Science Fiction/Adventure
Before "Superman" of TV became more and more a "kid's show", and before it even became a series, there was this movie with Reeves and Coates.
This story, of a drilling site discovery just outside the small town of Silby, is so solid that it warrants a movie remake with all the technology and big names available.
Interestingly enough, with Phyllis Coates as Lois, there would be very little period adjustment for her character. Before "Women's Lib" and "Feminism" in all fields including entertainment, Coates delivered a very strong portrayal, of a no-nonsense, actually somewhat embittered reporter not willing to let her associate Clark do all the heavy lifting: she refuses to hang back at the hotel while Clark investigates the suspicious site in the middle of the night. Of course, this character got "sweetened" for the series later shown in color. The early, black-and-white Lois fit the "smart and sexy" image of today. She could not be "in love" with Superman in the way Noel Neill (though "smart and sexy" in her own apprpoach) was later in the '50s; the idea is just hinted at in the '51 enterprise.
Amazon reviewers have pointed out the lesser soundtrack used on the original film, but I found it effective. I'm sure we all agree that the cinematography and special effects are excellent.
Interesting to watch George Reeves in this early take. Fans of the TV series will note a drop in energy level by the mid-'50s. Perhaps Reeves though this Super-hero thing wouldn't affect his progress. (About two years later he was edited out of "From Here To Eternity", apparently because of the kid-show identification, and one must surmise this took plenty of wind from his artistic sails).
Footnote: It's been said that Elvis Presley enjoyed the TV show and I can contemplate Elvis mentally referencing Reeves' acting when he hit the soundstage.

Rating:

- That's more than your deserve!
Nice movie with extra footage not on the TV re-broadcast. It also contains a different music soundtrack, but that's OK. No offence to Noel Neill, but Phyllis Coates is my favorite Lois Lane. I wish the Phyllis Coates episodes came out on DVD. They are much more serious and contain lots of suspense. Don't worry about the no show of Jimmy Olsen, he isn't missed. This is a classic film all Superman fans must have in their collection.

Rating:

- Witness horror, witness, suspence, it's all here!
An outstanding film, the guy that wrote the review at the movies home page is all wrong on his review. This movie is the first ever Superman movie but not the first to wear the tights and sour the sky a man named Kirk Allen played him in two serials right before the movie was made but by far George does a better job(He actually with out a doubt looks like the Superman at that time) after the movie was made it wasn't long after that the TV show was made. Anyway The film starts out in an old western town home the deepest man drilled hole ever. Now with that title the news papers have to have their scoop on the story so they send the best that anyone has to offer Ms. Lois Lane and her partner the clumsy Mr. Clark Kent. When they arrive they find out that the world can't get it's scoop on the hole for it's been shut down, and things look very suspisus. Lois and Clark stay at the towns hotel for the night and are going to leave in the morning. At the hotel Clark has the earge to check out the hole site, he insist that Lois stays there but she goes along with him. When they arrive at the site they see that Pop an old mine worker lies dead in his shack. Lois calls it heart attack but Clark thinks that it might be something far worse then just a simple hear attack. He want's to take a look around the shed and tells Lois to call a doctor. He leaves and while Lois is on the phone she sees something out of this world! Two creators that have giant heads and small bodies covered with fur peak through the window to observe Lois. She screams!
Clark hears this and rushes back into the shack to see Lois dazed she wont tell him what happened until the shack is filled with doctors, police, and the sites director. She tells them the story but no one really believes her except Clark. When everyone leaves except The director and Clark just to make sure everything is in peace, Clark confronts the director. He says he knows that he's hiding something for he discovered hidden tools. The director spills out a story that even Clark Kent mild manner reporter of the Daily Planet wouldn't dare to print. It appears when the drill reached the deepest any drill had gone before, the soil was tested and it had parts of radium in it. The director with fear that the men might get a decease closes the site. Clark and the director both think that these creators came from that hole and could posses radium in their skin, so they must go to the town and worn the people. But when they reach town word had been spread that aliens have come to Earth and have killed so a mob had formed and they want blood. Clark tells them that these beings came from the center of the Earth and mean them no harm and tells them that they must stop their raid but he doesn't convince them, the mob goes into a rampage when a scream is heard in a near by house. Clark goes into the back of the hotel and rips open his shirt and turns into the man of steal and flys off towards the house(Now unlike the serial he does fly there is no animation involved) Superman arrives infront of the house to stop the mob. He stops most of them but it's leader and a few others with some hounds go off into the outskirts of town to kill the mole men. On top of a bridge the two mole men crossing when a spot light hits their faces, fear strikes their eyes. The men are about to fire their guns at them but superman jumps infront of them and stops the bullet with his chest. He tells the mob that they are radio active and if they fall into the water they'll contaminate the water supplies of the town. One of the mob members tries to take down Superman but with one punch Superman Stops him, but with that one punch the man with the gun fires his gun at the one of the mole men and hits him right in the chest, the furry little critter starts to fall off the bridge!!! Now if you want the conclusion of this buy the movie it's great any Superman fan won't be disappointed and if your a fan of science fiction you'll love it too. I only wish this movie was on DVD it really needs to be.

Rating:

- George Reeves : The "Real" Superman
For "Baby Boomers" there really is only one Superman and his name was George Reeves....this Video is of historical value both because it is the very first Superman Feature Film and it is the
first time George Reeves put on the familiar Suit of Blue, Red and Yellow...[although it was actually Grey and Chocolate]The people of the town are admonished by the Man of Tomorrow for acting like Nazi Storm Troopers and as in all good films there is a moral lesson this one being that tolerance is part of The United States Moral Fiber....as always George Reeves stands for, "Truth, Justice and The American Way!" Buy this to share with your Children or your Grandchildren they will Thank You! I know mine did!!!

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