The Adventures of Superman - Seasons 5 & 6

( 1 )

Overview

The fifth and sixth seasons of The Adventures of Superman close out Warner Home Video's DVD release of the series in the same grand style seen on the earlier season installments. As with Seasons Three and Four, which had short production schedules of 13 episodes each, owing to the switch to color shooting, there are a total of 26 episodes in the five-platter package, with all of the bonus materials this time confined to the fifth disc. The full-screen (1.33-to-1) film-to-video transfers are, if anything, ...
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More About This Product

Overview

The fifth and sixth seasons of The Adventures of Superman close out Warner Home Video's DVD release of the series in the same grand style seen on the earlier season installments. As with Seasons Three and Four, which had short production schedules of 13 episodes each, owing to the switch to color shooting, there are a total of 26 episodes in the five-platter package, with all of the bonus materials this time confined to the fifth disc. The full-screen (1.33-to-1) film-to-video transfers are, if anything, generally slightly better and more consistent in these two rounds of episodes than on the previous color releases, and run rings around the old laserdisc releases, but there's still considerable variation in color tones between shots and scenes in the same episodes, owing to weaknesses in the preservation of original materials. Some shots (starting with the main-title sequence) have a depth and richness that approaches Technicolor, while others have a pale, dupey quality, for which the producers have done a fairly good job of compensating in the transfer itself. The sound is consistent, and set at a healthy volume, and the same easy-to-use menu seen on earlier volumes is present on each of these discs. The DVD volume closes out with a close look at the character of Jimmy Olsen as portrayed by Jack Larson, who has participated in the supplementary sections of all of these releases -- the interview and factual material are good as far as they go, but one heartily wishes that someone had drawn Larson out on what he learned as an actor on the series from director Tommy Carr, who helmed a major part of the first two seasons, and also from some of the veteran co-stars and guest stars; the most entertaining moment in the entire round of supplements derives from this volume, and a fan reaction to a dual role that he portrayed in one episode of the series. Given the usual track record on vintage series supplements for DVD, it's difficult to complain too loudly about the shortcomings, although one does hope that Larson will write an autobiography someday that really addresses his work, the series, and his character, which is one of the most memorable portrayals in early television.
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Special Features

Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen - Jack Larson celebrates his series character along with co-star Noel Neill and author/historians Jim Beaver, Gary Grossman, Michael J. Hayde and Jan Anderson; Subtitles: Français & Español (episodes only)
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
With The Adventures of Superman at the peak of its popularity -- ranking sixth among all independently produced shows then in syndication -- producer Whitney Ellsworth saw no need to tamper with a winning formula. The 13 episodes made during 1956's Season 5 are comparatively weak ones, with the writers trying out different ideas and concepts while maintaining the juvenile tone that had typified the previous two years' offerings. More episodes centered on Daily Planet reporters Lois Lane Noel Neill and Jimmy Olsen Jack Larsen, with Clark Kent and Superman George Reeves often making token appearances. One of the best Lois-Jimmy escapades, "The Tomb of Zaharan," finds the nosy newshounds held captive by the descendants of a fanatical religious cult who believe that Lois is the reincarnation of their ancient queen. The inexplicably well remembered "Mister Zero" stars diminutive actor Billy Curtis as a Martian visitor to Metropolis who at one point actually utters the oft-parodied command "Take me to your leader." The sixth season's 13 episodes, produced in 1957, were also on the silly side, but they produced a few favorites -- such as "Superman's Wife," in which veteran pin-up model Joi Lansing appeared as a plucky policewoman whom the Man of Steel marries, much to Lois Lane's chagrin. Reeves himself directed several of the final episodes, of which "The Perils of Superman," a lighthearted romp spoofing old cliffhanger movie serials, is certainly the best. "All That Glitters," directed by Reeves from a script co-written by Ellsworth, was the 104th episode -- and the last. A proposed seventh season never got off the ground, and Reeves died tragically in 1959, a supposed suicide. Thanks to these DVD compilations, however, he continues to fight a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/14/2006
  • UPC: 012569825192

    • Rating:

  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Full Frame
  • Presentation: Subtitled / Full Frame
  • Time: 11:17:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 20,031

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
George Reeves
Noel Neill
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Adventures of Superman: The Complete 5th and 6th Seasons - In Color
   Play
   Episodes
      Peril in Paris
      Tin Hero
      The Town That Wasn't
      The Tomb of Zaharan
      The Man Who Made Dreams Come True
      Disappearing Lois
   Special Features
      See Other Discs for Special Features
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: Off
      Web Info
Disc #2 -- Adventures of Superman: The Complete 5th and 6th Seasons - In Color
   Play
   Episodes
      Money to Burn
      Close Shave
      The Phony Alibi
      The Prince Albert Coat
      The Stolen Elephant
      Mr. Zero
   Special Features
      See Other Discs for Special Features
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: Off
      Web Info
Disc #3 -- Adventures of Superman: The Complete 5th and 6th Seasons - In Color
   Play
   Episodes
      Whatever Goes Up
      The Last Knight
      The Magic Secret
      Divide and Conquer
      The Mysterious Cube
      The Atomic Captive
   Special Features
      See Other Discs for Special Features
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: Off
      Web Info
Disc #4 -- Adventures of Superman: The Complete 5th and 6th Seasons - In Color
   Play
   Episodes
      The Superman Silver Mine
      The Big Forget
      The Gentle Monster
      Superman's Wife
      Three in One
      The Brainy Burro
   Special Features
      See Other Discs for Special Features
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: Off
      Web Info
Disc #5 -- Adventures of Superman: The Complete 5th and 6th Seasons - In Color
   Play
   Episodes
      The Perils of Superman
      All That Glitters
   Special Features
      Superman's Pal: Jimmy Olsen
      Justice League Heroes Video Game Trailer
   Languages
      Spoken Languages: English
      Subtitles: Français
      Subtitles: Español
      Subtitles: Off
      Web Info
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Customer Reviews

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    Posted November 16, 2008

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