Original subtitles

Faster than a speeding bullet.

More powerful than a locomotive.

Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound.

Look, up in the sky, it's a bird. It's a plane.

It's Superman.

Yes, it's Superman.

Strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities

far beyond those of mortal men.

Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers.

Bend steel in his bare hands.

And who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great

metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice,

and the American way.

It's out of control.

And building in intensity every second.

Gentlemen, we've got to stop it. For Metropolis and every living thing within

a hundred miles is doomed.

Yes, we've got to stop it. But how?

Mechanically, it's very simple.

All we have to do is to take the center control rod and insert it in aperture B

-74 to neutralize the chain reaction.

The trick is to get close enough to that master to do it without... Without

dying. That's right, Fred.

But still, I have to try it. Not you, Professor Adams.

I'm in charge here. It's my responsibility. But you're too

important. Let me.

Well, at least let me go in there with you. That way, if my body can protect

yours, we can get close enough to it and have you do it.

All right.

Allen, get on the shortwave radio and alert all police, military, and civil

defense. If we fail in this, Metropolis must be evacuated at once.

Yes, sir.

Project X calling civil defense.

Project X calling civil defense.

Come in, civil defense.

It is I, in the midst of this dull afternoon, I've brought you the greatest

story of the century. Commit me, my card, Joseph Ferdinand, public

relations. I don't understand what you're talking about.

You are no doubt Mr. Clark Kent, or perhaps Miss Lois Lane.

No, I'm not Mr. Kent, or Miss Lane either. I'm Jim Olsen, and I'm busy.

Do you have something more important?

Nothing is more important than the crown jewels of my so beautiful country.

I'm sorry, but I can't afford to buy any crown jewels today.

Buy? I'm not selling. I merely spread the enormous news that these beautiful

jewels are to be exhibited here in your so charming city.

Oh, I see. You're a press agent.

You got the wrong department.

Excuse me, Mr. Kent. Miss Lane, I presume.

Be quiet.

Stand by all channels.

Relay us.

Police channels, stand by.

Prepare to evacuate the city.

Stand by all channels.

Mr. Kent, what's going on here? Just a minute, Jimmy.

The professor's coming out of the main chamber now. Hold it.

We'll still have it straight from him in a minute.

I'm sure when you hear the importance of my source... Professor,

do you have it under control?

Control? No, I'm afraid not. Harris is still in there.

Dead, perhaps.

The nuclear pile is running wild.

This is an emergency of the gravest nature.

Huh?

And you thought you had a story.

You just heard what the professor said. There may be an explosion at any moment.

Worse than a hundred atom bombs.

Let me try and help you, Professor. It's no use, Alan. You'd never get out

yourself. Anyway, we're all doomed.

Look!

Superman! Show me what to do, Professor.

I'm afraid even you can't stop this terrible thing, but if you can remove

the center rod from the center aperture and insert it in aperture B-74, that's

this one, it might just work.

If you can reach the pile.

I can try.

He's still alive Getting behind a lead shield in the decontamination chamber,

but don't expose yourself.

He's loaded with gamma rays

He's got it.

He's got it.

Attention, civil events.

Sound the oil clear. The danger from the nuclear pile has been brought under

control.

Superman! Superman!

Stand

back,

everyone.

Get me a Geiger counter.

But, Superman, we want to thank you.

Millions of lives were saved thanks to you.

Get me a Geiger counter.

Do as he says.

Yes, sir.

Professor, if there had been an explosion, that radiation would have

been spread all over, wouldn't it? Yes, that's true.

Now it simply can't happen.

But it's new, isn't it?

And you haven't quite figured on how to handle it, have you?

The radiation?

No. That's why we started to break up the pile the moment we discovered it.

It's too dangerous.

Anything contaminated may stay that way forever.

You see?

The terrific power of the radiation seems to have become concentrated in me.

No. It can't be.

Your whole body radioactive forever.

Jimmy, I'm going home. You be sure and call me if anything happens.

Yes?

Yes.

Well, hurry up and put him on.

Hey, Miss Lane, it's you.

Miss Lane.

Who, our wandering boy?

Mr. Kent.

I'll hurry it up, operator, will you? All right, don't fall off your chair.

Sure, we're waiting.

Here, let me take it.

Well, well, well, Mr. Kent.

And what air raid shelter have you been hiding in?

Yes, Clark, we know all about it. We've already put out an extra on it.

Surprise!

Clark, it's horrible, isn't it? That radioactivity is all through him. He

could bring death to anyone who comes near.

Clark, wait.

Where have you been?

What? Where are you calling from?

Well, it's a phone. Sort of in the country.

But, Lois, why shouldn't I be in the country?

I'm just trying to follow Superman and find out about him.

Yes, but he's gone up in the mountains somewhere.

Clark, I know that. Everybody knows it. He told Professor Adams he was going to

get away from people.

Jeepers, what's wrong?

Clark, speak louder.

This connection is... Operator.

Oh.

Isn't it funny the way Mr. Kent disappeared today just before Superman

showed up out there and saved everybody?

What?

Clark, what's the matter with you? Why did you call?

Lois, I told you.

I just called to tell you I won't be coming back for a while.

No, I don't know when.

It'll be longer than that, I'm afraid.

Much longer.

Lois, maybe I shouldn't have called you at all.

Clark, what... What kind of a story could possibly keep you away?

Clark, you haven't said anything yet except about Superman.

Lois, I'll just have to write you a letter or something about it.

I can't explain it to you now. I'm sorry.

Goodbye.

Operator. He was just talking and... From where?

He did.

No, never mind.

Jimmy, he was calling from near Blue Peak, the same place where Super... Oh,

no, he just couldn't be.

Just the same. The next time Mr. Kent's around, I'd sure like to put a Geiger

counter on him. Then we'd find out if he's Superman.

That's what makes me wonder. Maybe you can't.

Huh?

Clark says he can't come back. And why can't he unless... Unless he's Superman.

Here I am. It is I one side, young man.

Who is it, Skinny?

Oh, it's you again.

Precisely. The name is Ferdinand.

Now, Mr. Egan, regarding the crown jewels my country is sending for an

exhibition... Throw them out. What?

Come on, press agent.

But I've told you of the value.

I've told you. I was handling all of the arrangements.

Don't argue with the man. Yes, I've even told the papers. The jewels are arriving

by ship. When they are not, they will be here tomorrow night by a special plane,

and I'm the welcoming committee.

I told you, I don't want to handle a job that big. Not in this town. It's too

dangerous. Besides, here in Metropolis, we got a great big guy named Superman.

But haven't you even seen this?

It's like I told you, Mr. Ferdinand. I like to play it safe.

And the man doesn't want to read the paper. Now, come on.

Hold it, Skinny.

Let him go.

Exile.

Self-imposed banishment to Mount Blue Peak in order not to...

and danger other human beings.

How much did you say those crown jewels were worth?

A king's ransom.

Now, here's the way I thought we should handle it.

Your friend Skinny here can fly a plane, you see. Yeah, yeah, don't worry about

it. We'll take care of it, or what do you know, at last.

Well, it looks like there'll be a hot time in Old Metropolis in more ways than

one from now on. Yes, sir. With Superman stuck up on a hill and out of our hair.

Superman, how did it work?

Did it get rid of the radioactivity?

Oh, which one, Professor?

Hmm? Oh, the grounding in the iron ore?

Well, I found a deposit. I drove right straight through it.

I can't tell you. Just a moment.

No, Professor Adams, I'm afraid you'd better try something else.

All right, all right.

I've got more faith in the acid idea anyway.

We'll parachute drop a tank of the solution to you in the morning.

This may be the neutralizing agent that will do the trick.

Yes, I've read all the books you sent me.

Oh, that reminds me.

You're getting your papers, aren't you?

Have you noticed how the crime situation in Metropolis has increased?

Well, of course I've noticed.

What can I do about it when everyone I go near is threatened with the same

radiation? I have the best research men in the country working on your problem.

We'll find a solution if there is one.

All right.

Goodbye.

Superman, I have received a reply from Dr. Fisher in Vienna.

His theory is that some kind of counteracting shock might do the trick.

But there would have to be a way to carry the energy off.

But what kind of energy would do it?

He doesn't know, and frankly, neither do I.

Pardon me, Miss Lane. What? It is I. They said you would work late tonight.

So it struck me like a brick that here was the way to have proper coverage for

the arrival of my country's jewels.

The feature editor will take care of that story.

But, Miss Lane... He's already assigned a photographer to meet the steamship.

Don't worry.

There's a secret.

You can have a scoop.

The exhibit is arriving in half an hour on a special plane.

The story will be all yours if you come with me to meet it.

Oh, it's just not that important a story.

Oh, I'm sorry. That's not true.

I'm worried about something else that's... Well...

Job's a job, I guess.

Let's go.

Here they come.

These are some guards I hired, Miss Lane, just for safety.

These jewels are worth a great fortune, you know. Oh.

Miss Lois has been worrying about Superman.

So am I.

Superman can prevent a lot of crimes, even if he is radioactive.

I don't understand.

He means like if somebody tried to hijack an airplane, lady.

Maybe in a case like that, Superman wouldn't care if people got hurt with

that radiation stuff of his.

I still don't understand.

What I mean is maybe Superman wouldn't worry if it was only crooks that might

get that radioactive stuff of his on him.

What's he talking about?

I'm just trying to play it safe.

Now, Superman wouldn't bother a hijacked plane if any of his friends happened to

be on it. Now, would he, Miss Lane?

There, Gagger.

What? When?

It was on the radio.

They shot one of the real airport guards.

Are you sure that Miss Lane was with them? That's what it said.

The moment the plane landed, they hauled the pilot out and took over.

right in the middle of the crowded airport.

And they were back in the air again within two minutes.

What can I do about it?

If I even touch that plane, everyone on it might be affected.

Why don't you relax?

Come on, sit down.

Here.

I guess you can make all the noise you want now.

Would you like to drive one of these on?

You might as well get used to it.

You want us to treat you nicely, don't you, when we get out of the country?

Get in.

Just a little storm we've got to get through, that's all.

In fact, it's good.

Make it harder for them to track us.

And now, the nightly weather report.

Storm warnings and a probable thundershower for you farmers of the

region beyond.

the Blue Mountain region building up the heaviest pressure.

Lightning and immoderate rainfall expected before the storm passes.

Stay tuned to this station for the latest news and weather reports.

A contracting shock of some kind.

Nothing to worry about.

What is it? I don't know.

Feels like the tail.

If you're going to crash, shut up!

Do something. Shut up, I said.

There's an emergency field near here.

We'll be all right.

We'll just land and check it, that's all.

There's a dump of an operation shack over there. See if they got a telephone

so you can call a mechanic.

Okay, okay.

I think we'd better stay right here, Miss Lane. If we're too long, we will

continue our little trip.

Sorry, mister, but I'm afraid your little trip is over.

Now, just take it real easy.

Nothing's gonna happen.

You all right, Miss Lane? How do you know who I am?

He told me.

Guess he gave you a pretty rough ride, huh?

Who told you? Who gave us a rough ride?

Why, Superman.

Superman? Skinny! Never mind him, mister. My men have got him already.

Come on, let's go.

Superman. So that's who it was. That's right, Miss Lane. He gave me a phone

call. Told me he was gonna force the plane down here.

Come on.

Good evening.

And where have you been, Mr. Kent?

Me? Oh, I've been around.

Oh, around, eh? And I suppose you can explain why you and Superman have both

been missing for approximately the same length of time? My dear Miss Lane, don't

you realize there's a logical explanation for everything?

All right, start getting logical.

Well, let's just say that Superman had certain things to do and I had certain

things to do. Such as?

Well, Superman had a hunch that if he exposed himself to the full fury of an

electrical storm, it might neutralize the radiations he'd absorbed.

Well, it worked.

Oh, it did, eh? And I suppose if Superman isn't radioactive anymore, you

aren't either.

Me? Radioactive? I should say not. See?

This is a Geiger counter. If I were radioactive, this gadget would be

clicking away like mad.

And what are you doing with the Geiger counter? Oh, well, Superman asked me to

check this plane for any traces of contamination.

Obviously, it's perfectly all right. See? No clicks.

You're just trying to confuse me.

But Superman and you, I still wonder.

Wonder? Well, it's no wonder you wonder.

You're a pretty wonderful girl.