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.

As judge of the juvenile court, it's up to me to make some kind of provision for

you while your uncle's waiting trial.

Just let me take care of myself, huh, Judge?

I'm afraid that's impossible.

You're a minor, and a suitable guardian must be found for you. I don't need a

guardian. I can get along.

You think you know all the answers, don't you, Frankie?

Listen, Judge, I lived with my old man before he died.

He was a square.

He worked like a dog all his life, and we never had nothing.

Then my uncle took me in.

We had everything.

Everything but a decent home and somebody to love you.

I don't need any of that junk.

I'm not like the other guys.

I'm different, see?

Send Mr. Kent in, please.

Kent?

What's he got to do with me?

Just an idea, Frankie. I'd like you to listen.

Hello, Frankie.

Let's lay it on the line, Mr. Kent.

I feel the same about you as I feel about Superman.

Oh, and how's that?

Don't you know?

You dug up a lot of information to frame the Duke. And if it hadn't been for

Superman, we'd have been in South America right now with $200,000.

Money that your uncle stole, boy.

Can't you see that you're wasting your affection, wasting yourself on a man who

is simply no good?

The Duke is my uncle. And he's my friend.

And he'd stick by me. And I'm going to stick by him.

Loyalty is a fine thing, Frankie, when it's not misplaced.

And Mr. Kent has offered to look after you until we find a suitable home or

some other relatives.

Why don't you give it a try, Frankie? Jimmy Olsen's staying with me now while

his mother's away.

He'd be a pal for you.

And you might find it's not too bad on our side of the fence. I told Superman

not to do me any favors.

The same goes for you.

All I want to do is see the Duke. I got a legal right.

All right, Frankie.

I'll arrange it.

Well, just in case you change your mind, I'll give you my address.

You're real bad, Duke.

It ain't good.

Those dirty rats.

They confiscate all the money in the suitcase and slap me with a $100,000

bail. Sure as they know you're important, Duke.

Yeah. How's it with you, kid? Will you hear?

Clark Kent wants me to come and stay at his apartment with him with that boy

reporter, Olsen.

What'd you tell him? What do you think?

Frankie, you're gonna do it.

What for?

Listen, we know that Kent has dug up enough evidence to put me away, but we

don't know what kind of evidence or how much.

But if we knew what kind of a case they had against you, then we could arrange

for payoffs and alibis and buy enough witnesses to make them look silly.

That's it. And if you can't get it through Kent, maybe you can get it from

that Olsen kid.

I'll do my best, Duke. You know that.

Sure, Frankie. You're the only one I can trust.

Remember what I always told you. Be smart.

Just a little smarter than the other guy.

You know, Duke, I... I think this is going to be fun.

Okay, Flatfoot, you can let me out now.

What's the matter, Mr. Kent?

You hardly ate anything. Don't you like my cooking?

Oh, sure, Jimmy, I'm sorry. It's swell.

It's just that I'm worried about Frankie Harris.

Well, golly.

If the guy wants to be a hoodlum all his life, I don't see what you can do about

it. Excuse me.

Frankie, come on in, boy.

Hi, Frankie. I'm Jim Olsen. Hi.

Sit down.

Thanks. We got some food left. Won't you have a bite?

No, no thanks. I ate already.

What made you change your mind?

Oh, I don't know. I guess I like to be with guys that use their head.

You got to be plenty smart to get something on the Duke like you did, Mr.

Kent. Just doing my job.

Do you think you could teach me to be a reporter?

I mean, tell me how you dig up the stuff like you got on the Duke.

Well, Frankie, I'll tell you what. Why don't you come down to the office

tomorrow and we'll see what we can do.

Sure. In the afternoon, all right?

Be fine.

Well, I think this is going to work out all right.

Yeah, so do I.

Checkmate.

I don't dig this game, boss.

You will.

You will.

Fixer. Hello.

Remember me? I'm Frankie. I used to be with the Duke.

Oh, yes. His nephew, I believe. Correct?

Right. Well, sit down.

Thanks. Too bad about the Duke.

I knew him well. He was a very fine operator.

I presume your business with me has something to do with the Duke's recent

embarrassment, shall we say, with the law?

Here's the setup, Fixer.

I'm living with Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen.

Now, I think I can get the information I need from one of them.

Probably Olsen.

At least that'll give us a chance in court.

Well, what exactly has this got to do with me?

Well, if I can't get what I'm after, then you take over.

Oh, I do, huh?

You know you're the only one that can arrange it. A bust out while he's still

in the county jail.

Oh, I see.

If you can't risk a trial, you want an escape.

Can you do it?

Naturally, I can fix anything.

For a price.

How much?

Shall we say about $5,000?

Count it, Fixer.

As I said before, my price is $5,000.

Down payment.

What do you mean, down payment?

I mean you'll have to guarantee another $5,000 after the job.

I haven't got it. All I got left is a few hundred dollars.

Where'd you get this, then?

The Duke had it stashed in case we were ever busted.

Sorry, but it's not enough.

Okay, I'll get the rest of it.

How? Never mind, I'll get it.

Good, the deal.

Hi, Frankie. Hi.

I thought this was supposed to be Mr. Kent's office.

It is, but he lets me use it when I'm concentrating on a story. Where you

been?

No place.

I'm sorry.

I guess it's none of my business.

Well, just in time for the guided tour.

On your left, you have a magnificent view of James Olsen Esquire.

Hello, Mr. Kent. How are you, Frankie?

And this is my office.

If you really want to be a reporter, make up your mind to spend half your

life in a place just like this. It's not very fancy, is it? No, and it's not a

very glamorous profession either.

Most people seem to think reporters are just like Superman.

Let's get one thing straight, Mr. Kent.

I don't even want to be reminded of Superman.

I hate him.

All right, Frankie, let's just drop it, shall we?

Oh, Frankie, welcome to the catacomb. Hi, Miss Lane.

The chief told me to see you, Clark. I need a voucher for $1,000.

For what?

The plan is donating some television sets to the children's hospital. The

man's here for the money. Well, that's good enough for me.

What do you use around here? The honor system?

Oh, pretty much so.

Once Clark signs the note, we turn it in for cash downstairs.

See, I'm beginning to learn something already.

I thought you'd keep it all in a bank.

You have no idea the amount of ready cash we use in just one day.

For example, we might have to send a reporter clear to Timbuktu at a moment's

notice. Or buy three television sets.

Thanks, Clark.

You're welcome.

What about it, Mr. Kent?

Do you think I could get a job around here? It might help straighten me out.

Why don't you wait just a minute? Here, sit down.

Thanks.

I'll see what I can do.

Well, that wasn't too bad for a bachelor dinner, was it? I thought it was pretty

good. It's just what I like, variety.

One night pork and beans, the next night beans and pork.

Well, what's on for the night?

I don't know about you two, but I have to go back to the office and work.

How come you don't do it here?

I do, sometimes.

See you later.

Now, there's a real square for you.

What do you mean?

I think Mr. Kent's a pretty swell guy.

No offense meant.

It's too late for him to change anyway.

But it's not too late for you, Jim.

What are you driving at?

You want it straight from the shoulder?

Yes, straight from the shoulder.

Take a good look at yourself and tell me what you see.

Myself. I'll tell you what I see.

I see a guy that could use a new pair of shoes.

A guy that has to shop in the basement.

A guy that's going to burn himself out working for somebody else all his life.

Now, take a look at me.

What do you see?

I'm not sure.

I'll tell you.

Tomorrow I get a birthday.

Hey, we'll have to give you a party. That's not why I said it.

I never had a party in my life. Who needs it?

But I've had everything else.

Take a look at this suit.

Two hundred bucks.

For one suit?

Sure.

Wait a minute.

Here, put this on.

I've never worn anything like this before in my life.

It's yours.

Oh, jeepers.

Here's a little sup to go along with the suit.

$150?

There's plenty more where that'd come from, Jim.

If you play it smart.

The Duke can always use a young guy that wants to get ahead.

But the Duke's in jail.

He'll be out again.

And doing big things.

With me.

And you.

Collie. Frankie.

You know, that sounds good to me.

I even got a funny feeling. You're inside me like some new power.

Stick with me, Jim, and you'll learn to love that feeling.

And Jim.

I've been taking a chance talking to you this way.

You could tell Kent.

But just remember which of us would lose the most.

Oh, listen, Frankie, a guy can smarten up a lot in a couple of minutes.

Documents of Evidence.

Duke Dillon Case.

Babe, won't you ever learn?

Gee, boss, this game beats me.

Hello? Victor.

Just a minute.

Who are you?

Who is it?

Frankie. I gotta make it fast.

Kent might come back any minute.

I got it. I got the stuff on the Duke. It ought to tell us exactly what we want

to know.

I can't leave, though.

You know where I am, so send a car over here and park in front.

Blink the lights twice and I'll toss this stuff out the window.

Got it?

Got it. I'll send Babe.

Bye.

Special delivery.

A highly incriminating assortment of data, if I ever thought...

Isn't it a little late for you to be up reading, Fixer?

Well, at least if I don't get to read this, nobody else will.

Almost takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Superman, I was only following orders. Shut up.

All right, Superman, so you've got it. So good night.

But please, if you don't mind, open the door before you go through it.

I don't know what I'm going to do about you two. I can tell you that. Nothing.

They've found that fire lying on the sidewalk.

There's nothing illegal about picking it up.

So again, good night.

Good night, Victor.

You sent for me, Chief? Yes.

Kent, I think you should send Frankie back to the juvenile authorities.

But why?

Well, you've been worried about something all morning.

Jimmy's acting like a kid again, and I don't like it.

Frankie must have something to do with it.

I'm afraid you're right, Chief.

Haven't you anything better to do than mill around here and bother me?

I've been beating my brains out all morning. I'm not going to kill myself.

Just who's killing themselves?

Well, not the Lord Fauntleroy, that's for sure.

No? What's with you, Junior?

Me? Nothing.

Well, and Frankie come in yet?

Nope.

He said he was sick this morning. I guess he still is.

I see.

Well, how about lunch? Let's go to Tony's, huh?

Lunch? Sure.

But not Tony's.

I take you to someplace fancy.

Frankie showed me last night.

Well, it's okay by me. How about you, Lois?

No, thanks.

Tony's is still good enough for me.

All right. Come on, Junior. Bring your money.

Frankie? Yeah, Fixer?

Did you get it?

Did you get the stuff?

How much does Kent really have on the Duke?

That's why I'm calling you.

I was all ready to go over it last night when Superman showed up.

I don't have to tell you the rest.

Superman again.

I'll get even with him someday.

That's someday.

Right now we've got to use our ace in the hole and spring the Duke.

I've already made the necessary arrangements.

That's swell, Fixer. When do we move?

As soon as you show me some guarantee of payment.

I told you, I'll get it.

All right, then come on over.

I've got some information I want you to pass on to the Duke.

Hey, I'm going to knock off early. Tell the chief I figured I did enough work

for one day. That's all. Come here.

Come right here.

I mean it.

Now, what is this routine?

Routine? What do you mean?

You know what I mean, and let's have it. I've got enough on my mind without

worrying about you turning on me.

Yeah.

Maybe it is better for you to know.

Well, you see, Mr. Kent,

Last night, Frankie started talking to me.

He tried to sell me a bill of goods to get me to throw in with him and Duke.

And that's it, Mr. Kent.

I knew Frankie was up to something.

I thought if I played along, I could find out what it was.

Well, what do you know?

Well, why didn't you tell us?

I don't know.

I figured it would come out better this way.

But I guess it wasn't quite fair.

Well, I wouldn't worry about it. You're going back to the apartment. I'll see

you later.

Stephen, I feel better.

I was beginning to hate myself.

Hey, Frankie!

Hey,

Frankie! What's the rush? Where are we going? We're not going anyplace.

What's the matter? You talk like I... Like I just heard what you told Kent

upstairs.

Oh. Yeah.

And I thought we were going to be pals. I must be going soft in the head when I

start figuring I got friends that'll stick by me.

Frankie, I know it looks pretty awful, but it was the only way I could figure

to keep you from getting in real trouble. Why don't you try it on a

violin?

Frankie, I'm sorry it turned out this way.

All right, Frankie. In the car. You, beat it.

Save yourself some trouble.

No, I'm staying with Frankie. You better do like he says.

No, I'm sticking.

Okay, but don't say I didn't give you a chance.

Now get in the car, both of you.

Come on, hurry up.

What's the matter with you? Why didn't you beat it?

I don't know.

I guess I'm crazy.

All right, Frankie.

Around the alley, back up what you're supposed to do.

All right, Frankie, let's have it.

I haven't got anything of yours.

That's what you think. The Duke owed me five grand. I'm collecting.

I haven't got it.

The fixer thinks you do. Otherwise, he wouldn't have arranged for the spring.

I'll get the money, sure.

But I got to give it to the fixer.

You'll get yours someday.

I'll get it today or else.

Look, I got to give it to the fixer so he can spring the Duke.

There was a sucker born every minute you took care of about an hour's worth, kid.

What do you mean?

A couple of months ago, the Duke got in trouble with the River Gang.

They said one of the Duke's boys was operating their territory, right? Yes,

so far, yeah.

A week later, you got nailed in an alley and beat up real good, right?

Yeah. I'll settle that someday, too.

Then settle it with the Duke.

The Duke had to show his good faith. He had to let the River Gang teach somebody

a lesson.

He needed a patsy, Frankie, so he threw you to the dogs.

That's a lie, babe.

Uh-uh.

I know it's true because he arranged it through the fixer. And you know it's

true because the Duke was the only one who knew where you'd be that night.

The Duke was going to take me to South America with him. Then Superman caught

up with us. Yeah?

Where are the plane tickets?

In my pocket. They gave me his stuff when they threw him in jail.

Look at him.

One.

One ticket.

He was going to leave me.

You had to find out sooner or later, Frankie.

He used me just like he used everybody else.

Tough luck, kid. That's life.

I'm in a hurry. Let's have the dough.

Look, is it all right if I take care of it? Sure, kid. I don't care where I get

it as long as I get it.

Well,

hi, Frankie. Hi.

Where have you two been?

Why, uh, we've just been driving around. Jimmy?

I'm afraid I can't stay. Uh, Clark, we're ready.

Now, all together.

Happy birthday, Frankie!

Hey, what is this?

Well, speech.

Let's have a speech, boy.

I don't know what to say.

I've never had a party before.

Guess I've never really had anything before tonight Gosh, it's a great

feeling Excuse me

What are you doing? You should be on your way.

I'm not going.

It's all off.

What do you mean, all off?

I can't stop it now.

Now listen to me, Frankie.

And that's not all.

At 7 o'clock tonight, the Duke is coming out of that manhole in the back of the

stadium. He'll be armed.

And if you're not there to meet him, somebody's going to get hurt.

I'm not going through with it.

Jimmy, will you turn out the lights, please?

Frankie, make your wish and blow out all the candles.

Well, somebody turn on the lights.

Frankie, did you make a wish?

Yes, sir.

I wish that something that's supposed to happen tonight is somehow prevented from

happening.

That's a strange one.

By the way, where's Clark?

Right here, Chief.

Frankie, how's it feel to be a year older? It feels wonderful.

And you know, I don't even hate Superman anymore.

Oh?

Well, he'll be happy to know that very happy indeed