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Superman (1948) is a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial based on the comic book character Superman. It stars an uncredited Kirk Alyn (billed only by his character name, Superman; but credited on the promotional posters) and Noel Neill as Lois Lane. Like Batman, it is notable as the first live-action appearance of Superman on film and for the longevity of its distribution. The serial was directed by Thomas Carr, who later directed many early episodes of the Adventures of Superman television show, and Spencer Gordon Bennet, produced by Sam Katzman and shot in and around Los Angeles, California. It was originally screened at movie matinées and after the first three scene-setting chapters, every episode ends in a cliffhanger. The Superman-in-flight scenes are animations, in part due to the small production budget.
Original Release
07/15/1948
US Release
07/15/1948
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kirk Alyn | Clark Kent / Superman / Superman, alias Clark Kent |
Noel Neill | Lois Lane |
Tommy Bond | Jimmy Olsen |
Carol Forman | Spider Lady / The Spider Lady |
George Meeker | Driller |
Jack Ingram | Anton |
Pierre Watkin | White / Perry White |
Terry Frost | Brock |
Charles King | Conrad [Chs. 6-15] / Conrad |
Charles Quigley | Hackett [Chs. 6-15] / Hackett |
Directors
Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr
Writers
George H. Plympton, Joseph F. Poland, Arthur Hoerl, Lewis Clay, Royal K. Cole, Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kirk Alyn | Clark Kent / Superman / Superman, alias Clark Kent |
Noel Neill | Lois Lane |
Tommy Bond | Jimmy Olsen |
Carol Forman | Spider Lady / The Spider Lady |
George Meeker | Driller |
Jack Ingram | Anton |
Pierre Watkin | White / Perry White |
Terry Frost | Brock |
Charles King | Conrad [Chs. 6-15] / Conrad |
Charles Quigley | Hackett [Chs. 6-15] / Hackett |
Herbert Rawlinson | Graham [Chs. 3, 9-11, 13-15] / Graham |
Forrest Taylor | Leeds [Chs. 3-4] / Leeds |
Stephen Carr | Morgan [Chs. 3-4] / Morgan |
Rusty Wescoatt | Elton [Chs. 7-15] / Elton |
Fred Aldrich | Cop at Museum |
Phil Arnold | Cabbie |
Jimmy Aubrey | Wave Tracer |
Robert Barron | Ro-Zon |
Roy Butler | Radio Operator |
James Carlisle | Government Agent |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Sam Katzman | Producer |