Original subtitles

In the far reaches of space, like a pinpoint at infinity, there once was a

tiny blue star.

Spanning the billions of miles that separated this star from the Earth, we

discover that it was in reality a planet like our own.

This was the ill-fated planet Krypton, which revolved about the brilliant sun

of its own solar system, while satellites like ringed moons in turn

revolved about it.

Krypton was a rugged planet laced with jagged mountain chains rich in strange

minerals unknown to Earth.

And on a wide plateau lay the capital of Krypton, the nerve center of a

civilization that was far advanced, for it boasted a race of super men and

women.

Among the leaders was Jor-El, the foremost man of science.

Jor-El had concluded that Krypton was being inexorably drawn toward its sun

and would one day explode like a giant bubble and disintegrate.

Jor-El's wife, Lara, inspired him in his feverish race to construct a trial

spaceship. If successful, he planned to build a mammoth fleet to carry the

inhabitants of the doomed planet to safety on Earth.

Giant subterranean pockets of gas exploded, touching off long-sealed

volcanoes. Plumes of fire lit the sky.

Molten lava scarred Krypton's surface.

The fears of Jor-El and Lara were intensified by their concern for the

safety of their infant son.

To Jor-El, the tremors and shocks, which were now more frequent and violent, were

an indication that the cataclysmic day was not far off.

Yielding to Jor-El's urgent demands, Roseanne, leader of the Council,

summoned his colleagues in emergency session.

Members of the Council, we're all well aware of the phenomena that Krypton's

been experiencing the past few weeks.

Recently, a great tidal wave threatened to engulf our capital.

Now, quakes and eruptions of mysterious origin are occurring with increasing

frequency.

Our distinguished scientist, Jor-El, has brought me an alarming report.

I refer him to you.

Gentlemen, I cannot stress enough the urgency of the task before us.

Krypton is doomed.

Even as we discuss this holocaust, our days, perhaps even our hours, are

numbered. I urge you to heed my warning.

I demand that Jor-El explain his reason for uttering this fantastic prophecy.

Jor-El is trying to frighten us.

Jor-El, your predictions are nonsense.

An insult to this distinguished body.

We're waiting, Jor-El, for you to spin your tale of horror.

Derision and disbelief are not new to men of science.

For centuries, they have combated the skepticism you display.

Give us facts.

Briefly, gentlemen, it is this.

The sun is gradually drawing our planet into its orbit.

Soon the gravitational pull will be so strong that Krypton will be unable to

withstand the strain.

When that moment occurs, our world will shatter into millions of fiery

fragments.

Nothing can survive such a catastrophe.

Perhaps he is right. We must do something.

I believe we should give him the benefit of the doubt.

We cannot risk such peril.

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

Assuming for a moment that what you say is true, how can we avoid this disaster?

It cannot be avoided.

It is a natural evolution of nature, a force that even we supermen are

powerless to prevent.

We are powerless?

Yes, but we can use our great ability elsewhere.

We must flee Krypton.

To effect an escape, I urge that an army of workmen be drafted at once to

construct a fleet of spaceships to transport our people to Earth.

There we will find an atmosphere similar to ours.

So this is how you plan to solve the dilemma you have created.

By flight, in spacecraft.

Yes. Even now I am working on a model for trial purposes.

What assurance do we have that it will reach its destination on Earth?

How can we undertake such a project on pure chance?

You must be guided by my knowledge, which this august body has always

respected. No one questions your integrity or learning, but it occurs to

me that a man of science should be ingenious enough to combat this alleged

impending disaster, rather than run away like a frightened child.

What have you to say to that?

Hear that, gentlemen?

That is your answer.

What manner of wizardry is this? Are you perpetrating a new horror for some base

and personal reason?

Krypton has experienced quakes in the past and has survived.

Now Jor-El challenges credulity by claiming our planet is being drawn into

the sun's orbit.

The doom of Krypton.

Escape through the air, gentlemen.

Are these not the utterances of a man whose mind perhaps has begun to wander?

I for one refuse to be intimidated.

This is my final plea.

Time is our mortal enemy.

We must prepare to escape in spaceships without delay.

There is no alternative.

If our advanced civilization is to endure.

We shall put it to a vote.

Is it the desire of this assembly to concur with Jor-El's proposal to

construct spaceships to remove Krypton's population?

No. No. No. No.

The council has spoken, Jor-El.

Not spoken, Roseanne.

It has pronounced the death sentence for all Krypton.

With each hour, the intensity of the tremors increased.

Krypton became unbearably hot as it was drawn closer to the sun.

Jor-El worked incessantly to complete his tiny spaceship, though he knew only

one of them could go it.

A single moment atop, all Krypton scattered.

as it suffered the tormenting agonies of doom.

And as Krypton and all its people perished, the infant son of Jor-El and

Lara hurtled through the infinite reaches of space toward distant Earth.

it over there behind that rock.

Baby, it's alive.

How could it be?

The blankets are made of some odd material.

It must be fireproof.

Hey,

it's a cute little tyke, isn't it?

But even this baby, the queer machine that brought it here.

Where did they come from?

Out of the sky, I reckon.

That doesn't make sense.

What are we going to tell people?

We're going to tell them nothing. Want everybody to think we've gone crazy?

See, we'd better get back to the house. The baby may be hungry.

The Kents took the baby into their home.

Decided to raise him as their child.

and gave him the name of Clark Kent.

He developed rapidly, and it was soon clear that he was no ordinary infant.

As he grew older, there was no doubt that Clark's mysterious origin had made

him different from other children.

By using his remarkable X-ray vision and super hearing, he could perform

unbelievable feats.

The Kents were successful in their determination to avoid publicity and to

keep Clark's surroundings as normal as possible.

But Clark himself was anything but average.

I'll get it done. Go on with your reading.

Hello? Yes.

Oh.

Well, thank you for calling.

That was Judd. Says a tornado's heading this way. You must find your father in

warning. Where is he? Down in the South Meadow.

Quick!

Don't touch any metal.

Clark, that was the most remarkable thing you ever did.

I'm grateful to you, son.

I'm grateful, too, that the tornado didn't hit for the farm.

Hope Mom hasn't been too worried.

Later, when Clark had reached manhood, the Kents decided to have a talk with

him.

Clark, we've had you with us as long as you can remember.

But you know we're only your foster parents.

My real parents couldn't have done more for me.

You came to us out of the sky, from what distant place we can't even imagine.

You're different from other people.

Your unique abilities make you a kind of superman.

Because of these great powers, your speed and strength, your X-ray vision

and super-sensitive hearing, you have a great responsibility.

I know what you're going to say, Dad.

I must use my powers wisely and justly.

Yes, you must use them always in the interest of truth, tolerance, and

justice.

The world needs a man of such extraordinary capabilities.

That is why you must leave this farm.

You must go where they can be best put to use.

Very well.

And when I leave, I'll get a job that will keep me close to world events.

Then when anything happens, I'll know about it at once.

Here's a uniform I made for you out of the blankets you were wrapped in when we

found you. It's a strange kind of cloth that resists both fire and acid.

I hope it'll protect you always.

Well, thank you, Mother.

And I'll only wear it when I'm... when I'm Superman.

I think it's best that no one knows that he and Clark Kent are the same person.

Shortly after this, Clark's foster parents passed away.

Remembering their last wishes...

It's Timmy. Can I come in?

It's may I come in? And the answer is yes. You're in.

Lois Lane, eighth reporter of the Daily Planet, prepares her story for a waking

world. Hold it.

Thank you.

Just a minute.

It's going to be a very long wait unless you get busy and help me through these

clips on the mine disaster we're covering.

But Lois, I was just going to take a pic... You'll have to wait here.

The rail is broken, and the limited is due any minute.

The aide has gone to telegraph up the line to stop it. He certainly was

excited. Well, he should be. That crack flyer rages through here, and she's

loaded to the hilt.

The limited just passed the last station.

You'd better call the emergency hospital and have them stand by.

This train is really going. The engineer must be late for dinner.

The way he's traveling, he hasn't eaten all week.

Not going to make it.

This looks like a job for Superman.

Don't miss.

of the Earth, the second exciting chapter of Superman at this theater next

week.