Paul G. Smart of Edmond, Oklahoma.
Paul writes: Herein are my answers to
the questions you sent me by e-mail. I had a great time answering
them. My wife guessed my favorite episode right off the bat!
She is a real supporter of me collecting items from the Adventures
of Superman. Coincidentally, she has quite a collection
of Gone With The Wind items including photos which feature
Reeves as one of the Tarlton twins. Following are my responses:
What was your first reaction to George
Reeves and/or the Superman series?
It is the first television program
I recall seeing. I was born in 1958 so I first saw it as a rerun.
I believe I was four or five years of age. Even at that age I
recall the series to be a serious show, definitely not a kiddy
show. I was fascinated by Superman and surely must have believed
he was real.
What are your 10 favorite episodes?
- "The Human Bomb"
- "The Mind Machine"
- "Superman In Exile"
- "The Stolen Costume"
- "The Secret of Superman"
- "The Birthday Letter"
- "Panic In The Sky"
- "Crime Wave"
- "The Golden Vulture"
- "Shot In The Dark
What are some of you favorite scenes
from the series?
- "The Stolen Costume" when
the rope burglar accidentally discovers Superman's secret closet.
- "The Mind Machine" when Clark
supposedly helps "that poor woman in the car," changes
to Superman, and begins to fly.
- "The Birthday Letter" when
Superman flies into Cathy Williams' window while she's reading
a Superman comic book and when Superman flies Cathy over Metropolis.
This is undoubtedly the most realistic flying footage of Superman
with another person ever made for television or movies.
- "Crime Wave" when, upon Superman's
arrival at Dover's Cliff near Willow Falls, the two henchmen
and the professor bait Superman into the specially constructed
concrete room. The henchmen dare Superman to enter, "What's
the matter" Are you afraid?" Superman smiles, "No,
I'm not afraid."
- "Superman in Exile" when
Superman is at his cabin near Mount Blue Peak and, while listening
to the radio, realizes that lighting could be that "counteracting
shock of some kind" which is needed to reverse his radioactivity.
What interesting mistakes or inside
jokes have you detected?
Other than Clark's references to
himself and Superman ("Six of one, half-dozen of another")
and occasional glimpses of wires, none.
Aside from Superman/Kent, who was your
favorite character on the show and why?
Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. She
had great chemistry with Reeves. Her aggressive Lois played well
against both Kent and Superman. She never hesitated to speak
her mind. When she was stuck out on a ledge in "The Human
Bomb" she didn't hesitate to protest to Superman about leaving
her there. She would slap or step on the toes of a bad guy, if
he got in her way, as well.
How do you view the series today, as
an adult, differently from when you were a child?
Today I want to know who wrote and
directed an episode, who wrote the music, who the guest stars
were, which flying sequences were used, and I check to see if
I can see the wires on the flying harness. Other than my curiosity
about the production of the show, I enjoy is much the same now
as when I was a child.
Why have you continued to watch the
series and why do you consider yourself a George Reeves fan?
The first couple of seasons made
this a darn good series. The acting was good, the directing was
good, the stories were good, and the special effects were exceptional
for their time. The shows contained drama, suspense, action,
amusing tongue-in-cheek moments and occasional human interest
stories. I have always wanted to say this, and I think many agree
-- George Reeves' fun and jump takeoffs for flying are superior
to any other portrayals on the screen. Also, I believe the show's
depiction of Superman flying in the first season is superior
to any depicted since. No matter how good the special effects
are today, to show Superman flying at a rapid speed without his
hair blowing or his cape tightly stretched is absurd. I'll take
George Reeves flying, wires and all, above anything else I've
seen. I am a George Reeves fan because he was my first hero.
His Superman knew the difference between right and wrong, and
he acted without hesitation. George Reeves, himself, seems to
have been a genuinely kind person and a likable individual. He
was a fine actor. Thanks for the opportunity for me to share
my views of George Reeves and the Adventures of Superman. |