Original subtitles

NARRATOR: The Adventures of Superman.

Faster than a speeding bullet.

More powerful than a locomotive.

Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound.

MAN 1: Look! Up in the sky! MAN 2: It's a bird!

WOMAN: It's a plane! MAN 3: It's Superman!

NARRATOR: 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.

[♪♪♪]

You sent for us, boss?

You bet I did. Where were you?

Well, chief, we just

got in here this minute.

What's the matter? Something special?

No. Nothing special. That's just the trouble.

Read that headline.

Yes.

"Mayor seeks reelection."

So? So, what's wrong with that?

So, is that anything to sell newspapers?

Who cares whether Mayor Fredericks runs again.

Well, chief, we don't create the news,

we just write it, you know.

I'll admit, it's been a very quiet week.

Quiet?

We're putting gardening news on the front page.

People are going to get out of the habit

of buying newspapers.

This is a big city.

There must be something of interest.

Well, maybe we've done our job too well.

What, with our exposés of crime,

and, uh, wonderful work by our police,

maybe there isn't any crime left in Metropolis.

I wish you were right.

If that were the case,

I wouldn't mind if the circulation fell off.

But you know we've just made a dent.

Crime is still going on.

Why don't we know about it?

But we've chased down every tip

and covered every assignment you've sent us on.

Obviously that's not enough.

From here on, the three of you are on your own.

You mean, we're fired?

In your case, that might not be a bad idea.

You mean, roving assignments,

huh, chief?

That's right. Split up. Poke around.

Investigate everything that looks odd or suspicious.

Too bad Superman isn't around.

Then we could get some real coverage.

Hey.

Where are you going?

Well, I lost the heel off my shoe, Lois.

I thought I'd better get it fixed.

Have you got any ideas, chief?

You're supposed to be a reporter.

You get the ideas. And don't call me chief.

[♪♪♪]

Now, get out and circulate.

And bring me back a story that will sell newspapers.

[GUNSHOTS]

[GUNSHOT]

[ALARM RINGING]

[BYSTANDERS CHATTERING]

I got it, chief.

I've saved the Daily Planet.

What is it this time, Olsen?

Pictures of get-the-cat-out-of-the-tree

detail again? No, sir, chief.

A bank robbery at Federated Savings and Loan.

PERRY: Really?

You were there? You've got pictures?

Better than that.

You can phone the headline down:

Private citizen foils armed bank robbery.

What?

Sure. I was walking down the street

when this guy comes out of the bank firing a gun.

And then this other guy comes up

and almost jumps him...

Hey, wait. Wait just a minute.

I wanna take this down. Here.

[SIGHS]

Ladies and gentlemen and fellow reporters,

you all know what a great instinct

that I have for news.

Just the story, Olsen.

Oh, sure.

Well, I was walking down the street

with this great instinct for news that I have,

when suddenly, "Bang, bang!"

I heard shots from in the bank.

This guy comes out of the bank firing a gun as he runs.

Then this other guy comes from nowhere, and get this,

jumps the bank robber.

Jumps a desperate criminal firing a gun

and wrestles him to the sidewalk.

You actually got pictures of all this?

Step by step. Right from the beginning.

Jimmy, we're proud of you.

[WHISPERS] Wait a minute.

As Al Jolson used to say:

"You ain't heard nothing yet."

This joker not only gets the criminal

down on the sidewalk,

but he's got a rope and starts to tie him up,

when the bank guard comes out and collars the crook.

Jimmy, you're sensational.

Jimmy, you're a rotten reporter.

What? Do you know what a good reporter

would have done?

Well, just what I did.

Get the story and get it straight.

What would you have done, Kent?

Well, I might have brought the hero up here to the office

for an exclusive byline interview.

Exactly.

Voilà.

Meet Frank Smullins,

the hero of the hour,

whom I have just brought here

for an exclusive byline interview.

Mr. Smullins...

Meet my associate, Mr. White.

Nice meeting you, Mr. Smullins.

And it's good to know there are still men left

with an inbred sense of civic duty.

Well, thank you, Mr. White.

But you see, as I was trying to tell Mr. Olsen...

Uh... And these are two of my best reporters.

Clark Kent. How do you do?

PERRY: Lois Lane. How do you do?

It's really a thrill meeting you two.

I read your stories all the time.

It's an even greater thrill to meet you, sir.

Especially after we heard what you'd done.

Oh, i-it was nothing, really.

"Nothing," he says.

Jumping an armed hoodlum, single-handed.

Now, Mr. Smullins,

will you tell us in your own words

just what happened.

Well...

I was walking along the street,

when suddenly I hear this shooting.

I looked up and I saw this man

running out of the bank with a gun.

What were you doing by the bank?

Well, I-I was on my lunch hour.

I was just taking a walk.

Uh, I'm a bookkeeper at Simmons & Sons.

Simmons & Sons?

Why, that's more than a mile from the bank.

I know. But I... I s...

I sort of got a feeling

that I should take a walk in that direction.

Uh... I often get those feelings.

What do you mean you often get those feelings?

Well, to be there when something is happening.

Like what? Uh, I was at 8th and Spring

when, uh...

When that crazy man threatened to jump off the roof.

And I was at the ballpark

when Huggins pitched a no-hitter.

This was the first time you were ever at a ballpark?

That's right.

Am I speaking loud enough?

PERRY: Oh, quite, quite.

I've seen lots of other holdups and robberies and shootings.

But this is the first time I've ever taken an active part.

Now, that's what I call an instinct for news.

One man in 10 million has it like that.

He just happened to be walking by the bank,

a mile out of his way.

Hey, wait a minute. I was there too, you know.

Uh, you were just lucky.

This man's the greatest natural born reporter

to come along in years.

From now on, you're working for the Planet.

But I already have a job.

I've been a bookkeeper for Simmons & Sons

for 20 years.

I'll double what you're getting there.

How much are you making now?

Forty-five dollars a week.

Like I said. Give you $90 a week to start.

For the greatest natural born reporter

to come along in years?

[SIGHS]

All right. I'll make it 100. What do you say?

Uh, I... I don't know.

I'll have to discuss it with Celia.

Do you realize the opportunity I'm offering you?

Your own series. A byline.

A special crime-busting reporter.

I'll have to discuss it with Celia.

And then Mr. White said

if I'd come to work for the Planet,

he'd pay me $100 a week.

Oh, Frank, I...

I'm so proud of you.

And now we can get married.

But don't you think we should wait

until we see if this new job works out?

Well, of course it will work out.

Didn't he call you

the greatest natural-born reporter

to come along in years? Yeah.

I... But I sort of

h-hate leaving Simmons & Sons.

I've been there so long.

But, Frank, you...

You're only a junior bookkeeper

after all these years.

I know.

But I feel that eventually

I'd work up from there.

Do you remember the plan I submitted to Mr. Simmons

about a complete overhauling of our sales campaign?

Frank, you've been submitting

that plan for five years now.

Why, you can't even get Mr. Simmons to read it.

But if he would... He won't.

Twenty years with his firm,

and...

I'll bet he doesn't even know your name.

You know, you're right.

Why, with the plans Mr. White has,

there's no telling what might happen to me.

We gotta knock off

this Smullins character right now.

It's bad luck to knock off a reporter.

It'll be worse luck if we let him live.

I still say we ought to rub him out.

You say?

Let's get this straight.

I agreed to come to Metropolis

and organize this setup on one condition:

that my word is final.

We have the whole operation planned.

We held off on everything for a month,

to lull the town into a sense of false security.

In that month, I planned 20 perfect jobs.

We spring them. "Bang, bang, bang!"

One right after another.

And before they know what's hit them,

we're all rich and out of town.

Well, this guy sure fouled up your first job.

It says the Planet hired him

as a special crime-busting reporter.

It was a freak. An accident.

He couldn't possibly have known about the job.

It was planned and timed perfectly.

Some perfect.

They got Louie with all the dough.

The job this afternoon will come off without a hitch.

A hundred-thousand-dollar heist.

And all it takes is one pickpocket.

Then...

eight more jobs tomorrow.

Ten the next day.

And we'll have this town practically cleaned out.

I still don't know what we're doing here.

They wouldn't dare hit the bank again.

I don't know.

I've just got one of my feelings.

Who is that?

That is C.V. Owen. He's the president of the bank.

Another feeling?

I've got a feeling your feeling is right.

You see that little fellow watching Owen?

Well, that's Fingers Danny.

He is the hardest-working pickpocket in town.

There's your chance, crime buster.

I think Danny just lifted Owen's wallet.

Uh, shouldn't we call the police?

Later. First, grab Danny.

Then write another firsthand account

of how you captured a criminal.

If he's a criminal, he... He... He might be armed.

Danny? He's even afraid of a cap pistol, himself.

Look. Why don't you grab him,

and I'll get the police,

in case he gives you any trouble.

Then you can write the story.

Oh, no, you don't.

Mr. White has billed you as the crime-busting reporter.

You're the hero of the hour.

Everyone wants to know what you're going to do next.

And that's what sells newspapers. Come on.

Hey, why don't you watch

where you're going.

Well, hello, Danny. Window shopping?

Yeah, yeah. Just window shopping.

Well, then what's your rush?

All right, Frank, grab him.

What's the idea?

Let's just see what we can find here.

That's my wallet.

So it is. So it is.

My. Must be over $50,000 here.

Do you always carry that much money around?

Well, I had a good day at the track today.

Sure you did.

Let's go in the bank

and see if they can explain all this.

Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!

Well, what do you know.

He did have a gun.

Frank, I apolog...

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

I still can't get over Smullins' courage.

Ah. Neither can I.

Clark, I don't understand you.

Now that we're beginning to get some good beats again,

you don't seem happy.

Well, frankly, chief, I'm just a bit worried

about this so-called crime-busting reporter of yours.

Worried? But why? It can't be that you're jealous.

I know you too well for that.

Oh, chief.

For your information...

Frank did not capture Danny.

I did.

You did? That's right.

Frank was afraid to even approach Danny.

When Danny pulled a gun on him, he fainted.

Are you sure? Of course I'm sure.

But after he came to,

I managed to convince him that he had disarmed Danny.

Well, maybe he tripped. It might have been an accident.

If you ask me, I think

his first capture was an accident.

Now, chief.

Do you remember that series of pictures that Olsen shot?

Yeah.

Well, chief, I've got a hunch.

Well, he did it again.

Another accident? Another freak?

Certainly.

The guy obviously likes to hang around the bank.

I still say we ought to rub him out.

We can't afford to upset our schedule.

Especially with a killing.

And that's final, Marty.

According to the schedule, the next job is mine.

The safe job at Van Rale's.

That's right.

My figures show there ought to be about half a million dollars

in diamonds in that safe.

Besides a load of cash.

I don't like the way your first two jobs went haywire.

I could end up in the clink.

What could go wrong with this one?

Pete and Al should have the alarm cut by now.

And in about a half-hour,

both guards will be doubled up with cramps.

Now, you better get going.

Now, get this straight, Big Jack:

that schedule or no schedule,

if that Frank Smullins character shows up,

he's gonna get it.

Now, chief, I want you to look very carefully.

You notice that...?

That string there in Frank's hand?

Yes. What about it? We know he was trying to tie him up.

Well, that's what I mean.

You see, it's not just a rope as Jimmy reported. It's...

Well, it's just a piece of twine.

Look at the way it's entangled in Frank's hand.

Does that suggest anything to you?

Why... yes. It's...

It's a cat's cradle.

A silly thing you can do with string.

Exactly, exactly. It's just my theory

that he was walking along the sidewalk,

minding his own business,

when this gunman blundered into him,

and they just got all tangled up.

Then he didn't capture the bank robber.

At least not on purpose.

That's right.

He didn't capture Danny either. Let's face it.

Boss, your two-fisted, crime-busting reporter

is just a frightened little bookkeeper

that happens to have a knack

that places him near the scene of a disaster.

Well, what can we do about it?

Well, for your own sake,

you're gonna have to lose him.

We've all got him believing his own publicity so much

that he thinks he's a fearless,

invincible hero, and he's...

Well, he's just sold on it, that's all.

Sooner or later, he's bound to get hurt.

I can't fire him.

We promised our readers a whole series by him.

Why, if the truth of this story ever comes out,

I'll be the laughingstock of the newspaper world.

Well, where is he now? Gone to the Kraler building.

What's he doing there?

Oh, he said he had one of his feelings.

Kraler...

[ALARMED] The Kraler building?

Van Rale's, the jewelers, are there.

Right. Wait. Where are you going?

Well, uh, chief, I, uh... I just remembered.

I have to cover a sports car show.

Oh, fine. And if one of those sports cars backfires...

we'll put it on page one.

[♪♪♪]

[LOCK CLICKS]

[GRUNTS]

[♪♪♪]

Very nicely done.

It'll make a good story for the final edition.

[CHUCKLES] Put that away.

I'm Frank Smullins of the Planet.

You're coming with me.

Maybe your name used to be Smullins.

Right now, it's mud.

Why don't you surrender? You haven't got a chance.

I told you. I'm Frank Smullins.

How'd you get in here?

Through the store.

I untied one of the salesmen, and he's calling the police.

What?

Sorry I have to do this, chum.

[COCKS]

[MOANS]

[WHOOSHING]

[♪♪♪]

[SLAPS]

[GASPS]

What? What happened?

You've done it again.

You frightened the safecracker away

before he could get his loot.

Well...

maybe someday these thugs'll learn

not to fool around with Frank Smullins.

I told you it was bad luck

to try and knock off a reporter.

What was I supposed to do?

Surrender to him when he asked me to?

Now we got Superman on our necks.

That's all we need.

You agree now that we have to

get rid of that reporter?

Unfortunately, I do.

We've got eight jobs going off simultaneously tomorrow.

Even Superman can't be in all those places at once.

But I'll bet that Smullins character can.

We'll have to get rid of him today.

Get rid of him.

We can't even get near him

as long as Superman seems to be protecting him.

We've got to figure a way to make him come to us.

I had the boys check up on him.

He has a girlfriend named Celia Adams.

Lives at 37 Maple Street.

Perry White's office.

I'd like to speak to Frank Smullins.

I have a hot tip.

Oh, um... Uh, just a minute,

I'll try to find him for you.

[IMITATING FRANK] Hello, this is Frank Smullins.

What can I do for you?

If you'll come alone to your girlfriend's house,

I have a very big story for you.

Who is this?

Never mind.

Just be there within an hour,

or you'll never see her again.

Remember: be alone.

Uh, what's the address?

Huh? What do you mean the address?

Well...

uh, she owns two houses.

Which one are you at?

Oh. The one at 37 Maple Street.

Oh, that one. 37 Maple Street.

I'll be right over.

Frank Smullins never breaks his word.

Hey, hey. What was that all about?

I just got a tip.

I'm gonna show Mr. White that that Smullins guy

isn't the only one around here

that can get a scoop.

[DOORBELL BUZZING]

Just stay right there, sister.

Go let him in, Marty.

Hello.

Hello.

What's the joke?

It used to be a joke, Mr. Smullins,

but it's all over.

That's not Frank.

Nice try, sister.

But it won't work.

She's right, Big Jack.

This ain't the guy that busted up the Van Rale job.

Who are you?

I'm taking a survey.

Are you in favor of women having long or short hair?

That depends. Now, on some women...

Shut up!

Sorry, kid.

But now that you're here,

we can't let you go.

Just sit right down there on the sofa.

I'm getting a little worried.

If he doesn't show up pretty soon,

we're gonna have to get rid of these two

and get out of here.

Has Olsen returned yet?

Oh, he's out on a story, chief.

What do you mean?

Well, he got a phone call,

and said something about a hot tip.

I heard him repeat an address.

Uh, 37 Maple Street.

37 Maple Street?

That's Celia's house.

Who's Celia?

My girl.

Well, that's funny.

Maybe they're trying to

get back at Smullins through his girl.

You better go after him, Kent.

Oh, uh, chief, I think I'd better go over

to the Federated Savings and Loan again.

I have one of those feelings

that something is gonna happen, you know.

Oh, I'll go, chief.

What's this about your having hunches?

I don't know, chief...

That's supposed to be Smullins' job.

Oh, maybe, uh, it's catching, huh? [TUTS]

All I can say is,

it's a funny way to run a newspaper.

Well, I-I-I'm sure you're right, chief, but...

you know, there are all kinds of ways

to run a newspaper, aren't there?

I know people say you're crazy when you talk to yourself,

but by great Caesar's ghost, there's nobody else around here

sane enough to talk to!

[♪♪♪]

Maybe this Smullins guy isn't gonna show.

Well, we'll give him a couple of more minutes.

Maybe he called the police.

We gotta get outta here.

Yes, I know.

But first, we've gotta take care of these two.

There's a gas jet in the fireplace.

Turn it on.

Right.

[GAS HISSING]

SUPERMAN: It's getting stuffy in here.

[IN UNISON] Superman!

[GUNSHOTS]

[GUNS CLICKING]

[BOTH GRUNT]

[BULLET CLANKS TO FLOOR]

I hope you'll forgive me for not untying you,

but I have a feeling that it'll be better this way.

Why, if you've so much as harmed

one hair of her head, I'll...

Look out, Frank. They've got guns.

[THUD]

There. That'll teach you

to tie my girl.

Frank, you might have been killed.

What is life without honor?

Jimmy. Are you all right?

But you didn't have to do that. They were...

Jimmy.

Oh, Frank, you're wonderful.

You've saved my life.

PERRY: Oh, come in, my boy.

Ahem. Come in.

Well, uh, that was

a great piece of work you did.

What sort of a feeling do you have for tomorrow?

Well, we just dropped by

to tell you I'm quitting, Mr. White.

Oh, nonsense. You've got

a great future in this business.

Another incident like yesterday,

and he'll have no future at all.

We decided it's too dangerous

a job for a married man.

I see.

And would you be kind enough to tell me

just how he's going to support a wife on $45 a week?

Oh, we don't have to worry about money.

When Mr. Simmons, my old boss,

kept reading about me in the paper,

he finally dug up that plan

I submitted to him five years ago...

and read it.

He offered me twice what you're paying me

to be head of Sales Planning.

Well, I... I'm very glad, for your sake, Mr. Smullins...

but do you think it's entirely fair to me?

Don't take it so hard, chief.

At least you got those stories you were yelling about.

I know. But what am I gonna print tomorrow?

There's the meeting of the Better Babies League

and the flower show.

Quiet.

Now, get out of here, all of you,

before I go completely insane.

[SNORTS]

Oh, Mr. Smullins? Yes, sir?

Stop at the cashier's window on the way out.

I'll phone him and tell him to give you an extra $100.

Sort of a... A wedding present.

Oh. Mr. White.

What's all this sentimentality?

Has everybody around here gone crazy?!

[ALL LAUGHING]

[♪♪♪]

NARRATOR: Don't miss the next thrill-packed episode

in the amazing Adventures of Superman.

Superman is based on the original character

appearing in Superman magazine.