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"Great Caesar's Ghost!" Superman has lept to DVD, courtesy of the fine folks at Warner Brothers.
What a package this is too. While the Columbia House collectors editions contained selected episodes, this one gives you not only the first season (26 episodes), but also the full length feature films, "Superman and the Mole Men". The classic George Reeves photograph adorns the cover, and the eye catching interior design makes this a superior collectible.
The special features include a documentary, "Adventures of Superman, From Inkwell to Backlot", a rare vintage short, "Pony Express Days", and commentaries by Superman experts Gary Grossman ("From Serial to Serial") and Chuck Harter.
As a fan of the original series, this is what the good (bad?) Doctor ordered. George Reeves was born to play Superman, and his portrayal of the mild mannered Clark Kent set the benchmark high for Dean Cain, and soon, Brandon Roth. My favorite episodes? It's gotta be "Ghost Wolf" and "Treasure of the Incas"
"Look up in the sky...It's a bird...It's a plane...No, it's Superman!" Coming soon to a DVD player near you.
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I saw the customer reviews for months and months, but for some reason could not order this dvd set. When I finally did, I was so glad. It brought back so many happy memories. The picture was cleaned up so well with very few dust particles I remember from watching them on TV for years. I don't miss the commercials either. Watching these episodes gives me so much pleasure, even the bad scenery doesn't bother me. I know I'll have to order more seasons, but the first & second seasons got the best reviews, before the violence was lessened to make it a more "kid friendly" show (per other reviews). Wow, 26 shows for such a low price (I got these first two seasons of 26 episodes each somewhere else for $19.00 each). 5 Stars...most of the 52 shows are classics. I hadn't seen many for over 20 years and really enjoyed them again!
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I remember watching Superman as a kid and feeling much more impressed. Not now. Got it for my 6 y. old for Christmas - big let down. Too much weak writing and dialogue - not enough Superhero rescues. Spend the dough on Batman instead.
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`The Adventures of Superman' (TAS) was made under difficult circumstances: almost no time, almost no money, and no CGI. Yet three things make TAS a timeless classic:
1) The recurring cast members were all superb, especially George Reeves as Superman. Reeves played the part with just the right combination of intelligence, righteousness, manliness, and, when necessary, gentleness. A WWII vet and former boxer, Reeves had a physical presence that implied strength and power. Reeves never played Clark Kent as a sissy or klutz, and within the framework of the show this approach worked well. Reeves is to Superman as Errol Flynn is to Robin Hood, as Sean Connery is 007.
2) Tight, disciplined stories. Every episode has some kind of hook early on, and each one has some element of suspense to keep you involved.
3) Good to excellent directing and cinematography. Every episode is at least competently done, and some work marvelously.
There is a widespread concensus among fans that the 1st two seasons of TAS are the best, due to their being less whimsical than the remaining 4 seasons, and due to their being shot in crisp black and white. The B/W episodes tend to resemble film noir, which has the effect of making these shows seem somehow more realistic than the color episodes.
There is considerable debate as to whether the 1st season or the 2nd season is actually the best. In season 1, Lois Lane was played by Phyllis Coates, a good actress who somehow got stuck doing exclusively B movies. Her Lois is a little edgier and tougher than then Noel Niell, who played Lois in the rest of the 6 seasons, as well as playing Lois in the 2 Columbia pictures movie serials. Fans who prefer Phyllis Coates' Lois will give an edge to Season 1.
A deeper difference is that Season 1's stories are a little more hard-boiled, with more guns being fired and more people getting shot and/or killed. The decision to tone-down the violence probably had something to do with the fact that the Kelloggs cereal company had assumed sponsorship of the program, and due to the Senator Estes Kefauver crusade against violence in comic books.
Violence is a major element in the best Season 1 episode, `The Stolen Costume.' This episode also provides the most nuanced or perhaps even ambivalent portrayal of Superman in the entire series. `The Stolen Costume' is one of the two greatest episodes in the whole series, the other being `Panic in the Sky' from Season 2.
Many episodes in Season 1 and Season 2 are almost as great. Even the weakest episodes of TAS are infinitely better than the 2006 film `Superman Returns,' which cost all the money in the world and took 3 fricken years to make.
While many fans give the edge to Season 1, I have a slight preference to Season 2, although I've no complaints with Season 1. Season 2 still had the occasional death (of a villain, mind you, and never by Superman's hand!) but also introduced more science fictional elements and stories began to explore the question of Superman's invulnerability. In at least 3 episodes of Season 2, Superman is in some way weakened, injured, or otherwise taken out of action as a major plot point.
Also of note, Season 2 features the TV debut of Noel Niell as Lois Lane. Ms. Niell's portrayal of Lois is softer than Phyllis Coates', and perhaps somewhat more stereotypically female. Many fans of the show debate the 2 Lois' merits, but I will not, finding many appealing qualities to them both. Moreover, to think of them reminds of how woefully inadequate Kate Bosworth was in `Superman Returns.'
These DVD collections are a good value. Twenty six episodes per box makes almost 11 hours of pure show, plus the featurettes and audio commentary are not bad either. These DVD's are, hands down, the most satisfying and fun home video product I have ever purchased.
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It is such a shame that George Reeves ended up hating his SUPERMAN career so much, he gave such an honest and decent portrayal that actual SUPER magic happens on the screen. Also some of the stories are very sinister and dark, really very brave for early TV.
As described, classic magic, well presented, a good cleam picture and with good extra. A real must for SUPER fans worldwide.
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