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.

And now, another exciting episode in The Adventures of Superman.

It all began about a year ago.

Metropolis murmured with the usual hum of activity as the wheels of industry

turned, breathing life into the city.

Shortly before noon at the city airport, the Silver Star was taking off on its

regular run to span the country.

The plane had already passed the city's outskirts and was gaining altitude when

it happened.

Minutes later, the phone rang in editor Perry White's office of the Daily

Planet. An obviously disguised voice asked that a notice be published in the

next edition demanding $100,000 from the city.

or the crane steamship lines would be next on the list of the wrecker.

White realized that whatever destroyed the Silver Star was no accident but

sabotage. There was only one thing to do, warn the steamship authorities.

All company vessels operating in the metropolis coastal waters were alerted

to search for concealed explosives, time bombs, or any other suspicious devices.

Every passenger and crewman boarding or disembarking was to be carefully

watched.

Then on the morning of the 17th, the liner SS Colossus steamed out of port

under close guard.

The ship had just cleared the breakwater when it came, swift, sudden, and without

warning.

The wrecker had carried out his threat.

In all Metropolis, only Perry White had had any contact with him, knowing the

mysterious saboteur only as a telephone voice, the voice of a ruthless killer

who he and Inspector Henderson feared might strike again at any moment.

And once more came that strange, clipped voice, warning that the Transcontinental

Limited, now ten minutes out of Metropolis, would never arrive.

The morning paper screamed a lurid account of the smash-up, but could shed

no light on the wrecker's identity or how he had caused the crash.

Public apprehension was mounting like a tidal wave, as demands and pleas poured

in on the authorities.

It was then that Inspector Henderson arranged a private meeting in Perry

White's office.

Now, you gentlemen control the three major transportation systems operating

within this area.

I brought you here because we need your help. Are you suggesting that we submit

to this wrecker's demands?

Hardly. You don't starve a blackmailer by feeding him. And you don't run a

railroad by permitting its destruction.

Or a steamship line.

It seems to me we're up against an enemy capable of striking out of nowhere.

We haven't much choice except to buy him off.

Then I say pay him whatever sum he demands.

Do you realize you'd be playing directly into the hands of this criminal?

Well, I don't want to be a hero. I'm a practical man.

But that wouldn't stop the sabotage. What will?

A united defense.

Now, we don't know how the wrecker accomplishes his purpose, but we do know

that he's operating somewhere from within the metropolis area.

By joining forces, we stand the best chance of closing in on him. Well, if we

only had some clue to his identity.

He's as anonymous as a shadow.

Just a mysterious voice on the telephone.

What about that voice, Perry?

Was there anything about it that might give us the slightest lead?

Not the voice, no. But ever since I got that first call, I've been trying to

identify a strange sound behind it.

What kind of a sound?

Well, like a repeated thump.

followed by the clang of a bell.

Church bell?

Traffic bell?

No, it was different somehow. It was more like the ring of a blacksmith's

anvil. Well, that might be anything.

Have you tried to trace those calls?

Mr. Kent here did.

Without much luck, I'm afraid, whoever it is that's making these calls must be

using a portable telephone, tapped into an existing line.

We'll get nowhere in that direction.

Yes?

Yes, he's here. The switchboard operator has a call for you, Mr. Crane.

Mr. Crane, this might not be just an ordinary call, you know.

Kent's right.

Clark, you listen in on the extension.

Hello?

Crane speaking.

Holding secret meetings at the Planet office won't help you, Crane.

Who is this?

I'll do the talking and you'll listen.

I wanted to remind you that the SS Rector, one of your prized luxury

liners, is scheduled to sail from Pier 19 at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Unless you agree to pay $100,000 as I instruct, the wrecker will destroy that

ship at exactly 145.

What is your answer?

My answer is no.

Very well, Mr. Crane.

Just remember...

145.

Did you hear it? That strange background noise?

Yes. What did it sound like to you?

Offhand, it sounded vaguely familiar, but I can't identify it.

Then you should have let me agree to pay the demand while I have the chance.

If the wrecker destroys that vessel, I'll hold you personally responsible.

That gives us three hours. We can concentrate every police officer and

plainclothesman the city can spare in and around the pier.

I suppose I should be grateful, but we're not dealing with any ordinary

criminal. And he wouldn't be dealing with any ordinary opponent if Superman

could be there.

That's an idea.

Between Superman and an army of guards, the record wouldn't stand a chance.

You think you could contact him before deadline?

We could try.

The early morning edition of The Planet is about to go to press.

Perhaps a page one notice would alert him.

If Superman shows up at that pier, I'd like to be there, Chief.

So would I.

Chief?

Don't call me chief!

Mr. White, could I talk to you for a minute?

Come in and close the door. There's a draft.

You know, I've been thinking.

You've been thinking?

Well, now, there is a twist.

I've been thinking about the wrecker.

What do you know about the wrecker? You weren't even in here.

Well, somebody must have left the key on one of your intercoms down, and I was in

Mr. Kemp's office, so I just happened to... So someone left one of the keys in

my intercom down, eh?

Couldn't have been you, of course.

I guess it could have.

But anyway, I got it all figured out who the wrecker is.

You have?

Who? Well, it could be anybody.

I blame myself.

I hired you.

Hundreds of boys, bright boys, applied for the job, and I chose you.

And you won't be sorry either, Chief. I'm sorry already.

You won't be sorry if I figure out who the wrecker is.

All right, Mr. Olsen, what is your theory? Who is the wrecker?

Well, it could be Mr. Kilgore, or Mr.

Crane, or Mr. Morgan, or even you.

Yes, yes, I guess you're right.

Yeah.

I called myself on the telephone and asked myself if I could speak to Mr.

Crane. Oh, golly, Chief, I don't really think you're the wrecker. I just... Get

out of here!

Get out of here! Cover a story! Go to lunch!

Go anywhere, but get out of here.

Thanks, Chief. Thanks for what? For telling me to cover the story.

Great Caesar's ghost.

In spite of all those guards at the pier, Clark, I'm worried.

We don't know who we're looking for. We've never seen the wrecker.

Perhaps we have, Lois. What do you mean by that?

Well, that meeting in the chief's office was held in strictest confidence.

Yet whoever called Crane knew all about it.

Then somebody at that meeting tipped off the wrecker.

Unless somebody at that meeting was the wrecker.

Miss Lane?

Mr. Kent, the chief said for me to go along to the pier with you.

All right, Jimmy, get in.

As soon as we could, Inspector.

Is Superman here yet? I haven't seen him.

Maybe he hasn't read the notice in the planet.

It's 145. Sure she'd show.

I wouldn't worry about it, Miss Lane.

I don't think the record will risk trying anything with armed guards

covering every inch of this dock area.

Inspector, if you don't mind, I'd like to scroll down the pier and take a look

at that last-minute loading.

Sure, go ahead.

Thank you.

Afraid you're not going to get your story today, Miss Lane.

One minute before deadline.

And still no sign of Superman. Never mind. We've got the situation under

control.

145 exactly.

I don't see anything or even hear anything.

Of course not. We've stopped the record cold.

There's Superman!

Well, the danger's past. What's he here for?

This innocent-appearing little toy isn't as harmless as it looks.

It's equipped with a high-explosive warhead and a radio-controlled unit that

will guide it to its target.

How did you get hold of it?

Superman brought it here and left it in my care.

If he hadn't intercepted that in midair, it would have destroyed the steamship

Rector. So that's how the wrecker caused those disasters.

The trick is to find who's been causing them.

There's obviously a man who's very familiar with guided missiles and

aerodynamics.

Well, I'll take this little plaything down to the crime lab.

Maybe they can trace it down.

Yes?

Hold on.

It's the wrecker. He wants you, Inspector.

Now look here, whoever you are. I'm warning you.

On the contrary, I'm warning you.

Superman's powers cost me a victory.

But he has one weakness.

Even Superman can only be in one place at a time.

I'll defeat him merely by destroying a dozen targets simultaneously.

You wouldn't dare.

Must I prove it?

Or are you ready to meet my terms?

All right, I guess you win.

What's the rest of it?

I want $100,000 in small bills wrapped in an unmarked parcel.

At 8 o'clock tonight, place the package on the tree stump you'll find in the

city park.

50 feet east of the bridle path just north of the lake.

Is that clear?

I understand.

Now we've got him. I don't see how.

That park is hemmed in by city streets.

I'll post hidden spotters at every entrance and in the shrubs surrounding

the tree stumps. And they'll be waiting to close in on the wrecker the minute he

tries to escape with a package.

Exactly. I wonder who will show up to claim that money.

It's eight o'clock.

Yeah, the trap is baited. All the wrecker has to do is to walk into it.

Shh, quiet, everybody. Get out of sight.

This might be it.

Good evening.

Oh.

Clark Kent, so it's only you.

What are you trying to do, Kent? Scare us out of ten years' growth.

I know, Inspector. I was just checking with the guards. They have nothing

suspicious to report.

I'm giving the wrecker an hour, so relax, everybody.

He may be in for a long wait.

Well,

we've waited long enough.

The wrecker isn't going to show up.

Maybe the cordon of police we staked out scared him off.

Well, there's nothing left to do but go over and get the package. Come on. All

right.

Well, this is interesting.

Cheaper as the money's gone.

It was lying there just a moment ago in plain sight. I saw it myself.

Well, you just told me that this whole area was surrounded with a cordon of

police. How could anybody have gotten in and taken that package?

Then what became of it?

Well, I think I know the answer to that, Lois.

This stump is hollow.

Uh-huh. There's a trapdoor in the top.

So all the wrecker had to do was to lift up from beneath, grab the package, and

disappear.

If only Superman had been here, his X-ray vision could have seen him.

I'm afraid not, Lois.

You see, this stump is lined with the one thing that Superman can't see

through. Sheet lead.

But where does the hole lead to?

I can tell you that. I should have remembered it.

This shaft connects with an abandoned water main.

The passage runs under this section of the city for a mile in either direction.

Well, then all the wrecker had to do was to run along the passage and escape

through any one of the manholes.

Along with 100,000 beautiful dollars.

Well, he's welcome to it. All he got for his trouble was a nice bulky package

containing strips of blank paper.

Well, tough luck, Inspector.

Come on, kids.

Now, come on, let's go.

Daily Planet exclusively covers capture of Wrecker at City Park.

What a lovely headline that would have made for the morning edition.

And what a lovely headache it turned into. We have a chance to capture the

Wrecker and we let him slip through our fingers.

Don't worry, Lois. We'll hear from the Wrecker again. He'll give us another

clue. What other clue? All we've got to go on are those strange noises we heard

each time he telephoned.

Maybe we'll find out what those strange noises are.

we doing here, Clark?

Oh, I think we've been working a little too hard. How about a little relaxation?

Gee, I think that's a wonderful idea, Mr. Kent.

It's getting late, Clark, and I'm in no mood for revelry.

We might pick up another clue about the wrecker.

Here at a carnival? Here at a carnival.

It brings you mirth, it brings you merriment, it brings you muscles.

Ring the bell and win the Superman Medal of Merit. If you can prove it, take a

chance. If you can't, try it anyway.

Now, here's a jet who's going to make like Superman. So watch him, folks.

Now, Miss Buddy, try it again.

That's my boy.

Congratulations, bud. You just won the Superman Award.

Now, is there anyone else who'd like to be Superman?

How about you, Jim? Show them how good you are.

Oh, no, not me. I'm no Superman.

What about Mr. Kent? He's bigger than I am.

If he's Superman, I'm Queen of the May.

Don't let that bother you, bud. Maybe you're not exactly the Superman type,

but take a crack at it anyway.

All right.

Brother,

now I've seen everything.

Golly, Mr. Kent, you... You wrecked the whole thing?

I'm very sorry. I'll be more than happy to pay you any damages you want.

I don't want any pay. I just want to know how you did it.

Well, I guess sometimes I don't know my own strength. Come on, Lois.

Well, I hope you've had enough fun for the evening.

Fun is just about to start.

Tell me, do those noises back at that concession remind you of anything?

Should they remind me of anything?

All I heard was the thudding noise from the mallet.

And the clanging of the bell. And that doesn't make you think of anything?

The telephone warnings.

The thudding noise and the bell clang are the identical background sounds we

couldn't quite place.

That's what I was hoping you'd say.

The wrecker must have his headquarters at a carnival.

I think so, Jimmy. And it must be somewhere near where a phone wire can

cut into an extension line.

Anyway, you cover that area of the grounds. I'll cover this and I'll meet

you back here, okay? Right.

End of the line, not a clue in sight.

Maybe Mr. Kemp found something.

Jimmy, look.

Jimmy, this wire is tied onto the telephone pole.

Let's have a look inside.

You're wasting your time.

There's nothing in that package but blank paper.

Who are you and how'd you get in here?

We saw where you hid the key.

We looked for you in the park, but then you did your traveling underground.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't give us that.

There's the package you got away with.

There's a tapped phone wire outside leading in here.

These model airplanes speak for themselves.

You're the wrecker, all right.

Who's that?

One way to find out?

Answer it, Jim.

Watch what you're saying.

Who is it?

You know very well who it is, Hatch.

Did you get that package?

Yes. Then hold on to it. I'll be there shortly.

Who was it? You got me, Miss Lane.

But we're soon going to have company.

Good. The more the merrier.

Take that wire and tie up this character.

We'll let Clark in on the finale.

Where have you two been? I've been worried sick about you. Well, it took us

a little longer than we expected to capture the wrecker. To what?

We got him hog-tied in a shack just outside the carnival grounds.

No. You left him alone?

Well, come on. He might get away.

Well, that's exactly what I was afraid of. Someone got to him after you left.

He killed the wrecker.

Now, wait a minute, Lois. If this man was the wrecker, then who killed him?

I got the reports on Emil Hatch from the police file, Chief.

He's got a criminal record as long as a coast-to-coast train ticket. Well, that

doesn't prove he was the wrecker.

Maybe this will convince you.

He was last employed by the government as consultant on guided missiles and

aerodynamics before suddenly disappearing with a fistful of top

drawer secrets.

Well, that seems to ruin Clark Kent's theory.

I don't see Mr.

Kent hanging around to defend his theories.

He went down to that shack early this morning to search for clues. He hasn't

returned yet.

Here we are, Mr. White. Right on time.

Time for what?

Well, didn't Superman tell you?

He asked me to bring these gentlemen here this morning without fail,

promising to produce the record no later than noon.

Gentlemen, I intend to keep my word.

Did you bring the record with you?

No, Inspector Henderson, I didn't. You did, however.

He's present in this room.

Are you accusing one of us?

This is ridiculous.

What about Hatch, the criminal that was found last night in that shack near the

carnival? Hatch was a wanted man.

The wrecker knew this and threatened exposure unless Hatch followed orders.

So in exchange for freedom and the promise of power, Hatch was forced to

construct these miniature robot planes and give the warnings on the telephones.

But Hatch made the mistake of letting himself be captured.

So he had to be killed in order to protect someone's identity.

Whose identity?

Which one is it?

Inspector, meet the wrecker. You're crazy. You've got nothing against me.

You gave yourself away, Mr. Crane, when that harmless miniature plane came at

you. Only a man who knew the danger of those miniature guided missiles would

have tried to escape and you ran true to form.

But this means Crane was sabotaging his own steamships. That's right, Inspector,

for the insurance money.

But he had to attack the other two main transportation systems in order to

divert suspicion from himself.

And any extortion money he might have collected would have been an added

windfall.

Come along, Wrecker. This time you missed the boat.

Thank you, Superman.

My pleasure.

What I don't understand is how this gadget flew in here all by itself.

It didn't, Mr. White.

Jim Olsen directed it from the rooftop across the street there.

He used a remote control unit that Kent found in Hatch's hideaway.

Well, you better call him back here, Lois. After all, we've got a paper to

get out.

And where's Clark Kent?

He ought to know better than to stay away this long.

Well, I think he's around somewhere, sir.