If kirk alyn, who has died aged 88, had known about the superman curse, he would never have taken on the role in two 15part movie serials, superman 1948 and atom man vs superman 1950. Created by writer jerry siegel and artist joe shuster, the superhero character who escaped the destruction of his home planet krypton, to. I grew up watching reruns of the superman tv show with george reeves, but i was an adult before discovering the superman movie serials with kirk alyn. Superman movie serials there were two superman serials produced. Kirk alyn was the first human incarnation of the incredibly strong, indestructable man from krypton. Superman is placed in a device, a lever is pulled, and the man of steel vanishes into the empty doom which bears a similarity to the phantom zone of the comic books. This is our collection of images from the superman 1948 serial movie. My main issue here is that kirk alyn does not float my boat as superman or clark kent. Superman serial sonycolumbia pictures superman and the mole men, stamp day for superman, the adventures of superman, lois and clark. Very good condition with moderate corneredgefold wear. Superman suited for greatness 1940s tyranny of style. His costume was also quite close to the one featured in the comic books, but with a couple of significant changes. By 1948, superman was already a cultural icon thanks to his appearance in comics, cartoons and a successful.
Kirk alyn was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play superman on screen, in the 1948 film serial superman, and its 1950 sequel atom. But i also dig the cheesy dundundunnn vibe of film serials. Smiling, prancing, wooden, and just all around goofy, kirk alyn probably would have been well suited in the silent era of movies. Superman is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on superman. Superman, as well as blackhawk from the blackhawk movie serial in 1952, and general sam lane in 1978s superman. Superman watch online free, superman full episode 1948 superman is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on the comic book character superman. Linen backed onesheet movie poster for superman serial. Kirk alyn, the first movie superman, died sunday at a hospital near houston after a long illness. Superman, as well as blackhawk from the blackhawk movie serial during 1952, and general sam lane during 1978s superman. Kirk alyn was the first actor to play superman on screen in cinemas in the 1948 columbia serial superman which was comprised of 15 episodes. Superman quickly grew an audience, and in 1948 the first filmed serial was released in theaters, starring kirk alyn. Starting his show business career as a chorus boy on broadway and an entertainer in vaudeville, kirk alyn played bit parts and minor supporting roles in several lowbudget films before getting his big break playing the title role in the serial superman 1948. Superman comes to earth superman 1948 is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on the comic book character superman.
Actor kirk alyn was the screens first superman, and he also starred in several other serials in the 1940s and 1950s. Well, even though this serial was filmed in 1948, only 3 years before the george reeves series began, it might as well have been 25 years difference. With kirk alyn, noel neill, tommy bond, carol forman. As a superman, i found him generally unsatisfactory. Alyn enjoyed a loyal fan following for his two superman appearances, reflecting that fact in the title of his 1974 autobiography, a job for superman. It is notable as the first liveaction appearance of superman on film and for the longevity of its distribution. Kirk alyn is still probably best known as the first superman, but to serial fans hell also be recalled as a hero who, though he came late to the serial scene, aided greatly in brightening up the genres fading days. It stars an uncredited kirk alyn billed only by his character name, superman. Superman 1948 en couleur et 3d extrait by mikael l. Superman 1948 kirk alyn and noel neill in superman 1948. Kirk alyn, noel neill, tommy bond and pierre watkin directed by. Superman is a 1948 15part blackandwhite columbia pictures film serial based on the comic book character superman. Kirk alyn 19101999 was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play superman in liveaction in superman serial and atom man vs.
Superman was very successful for columbia pictures, and they followed it up with another 15 chapter serial, atom man vs. The new adventures of superman, superman returns, man of. A publicity portrait of kirk alyn from superman columbia, 1948. Superman s arrival to earth 1948 in serial superman kirk alyn by clippyscoop. He played the character superman in the 15 episode serial film superman 1948 and its sequel atom man vs. Kirk alyn was cast as the star of superman and the petite redheaded, blueeyed neill was lois lane, his friend and coworker at the daily planet. Superman 1950, columbias 43rd serial and the second liveaction superman screen appearance, both featuring kirk alyn as superman, finds lex luthor lyle talbot, secretly the atom man, blackmailing the city of metropolis by threatening to destroy the entire community. The first, simply titled superman was released in 1948, the second atom man vs superman was released in 1950. Alyn portrayed the man of steel in two 15part movie serials in 1948 and 1950. It stars an uncredited kirk alyn and noel neill as lois lane. The serial was directed by thomas carr, who later directed many. Clocking in at just over four hours, it managed to just about retain my attention, even if i did have to watch it over two days. The first superman serial was a 1948 15part blackandwhite movie serial starring an unaccredited kirk alyn but billed only by his character name, superman and noel neill as lois lane. Visit brians drivein theater for photos, biography and filmography information, and dvd and memorabilia sources for actor kirk alyn, the first screen superman.
Superman as well as blackhawk in the blackhawk serial, and sam lane in superman. Like batman 1943, it is notable as the first liveaction appearance of superman on film, and for the longevity of its distribution. Superman the 1948 serial columbia pictures kirk alyn. Spencer gordon bennet and thomas carr amazons choice for superman serial.
This 244minute serial would have probably been revolutionary viewing in 1948, and does have a fairly interesting spycaper premise to it, but it doesnt allow for kirk alyn s superman to do much supermanning. In 1948, superman became the hero of a liveaction movie serial, with one new chapter showing each week at saturday matinees in movie theaters around the country and advertised on the superman radio show. Kirk alyn later recalled, it was great fun playing superman when i was a little child, my father never let me play cops and robbers. If you find an image in the database that is from this movie and is not shown here, please edit that image adding the title of the movie in the movie field. Kirk alyn was the strapping actor who in 1948 became the screens first superman, playing the comic strip man of steel in two enormously popular serials. Atom man screened throughout the summer of 1950 the next year george reeves starred as the man of steel in superman and the mole.
Kirk alyn was billed only by his character name, superman. Superman was a 15part columbia film serial which also produced the two batman features. Presumably alyn cast because his look and build were right at a time when actors were not all gym rats, so being buff was a novelty, he just isnt much of an actor. In keeping with the tradition established in the radio show, the actor who portrayed superman was not revealed in the credits. Superman comes to earth as a child and grows up to be his homes first superhero with his first major challenge being to oppose the spider lady. Kirk alyn october 8, 1910 march 14, 1999 was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play the dc comics character superman for the 1948 movie serial superman and its 1950 sequel atom man vs. Superman clark kent kirk alyn lois lane noel neill perry white pierre watkin jimmy olsen by.
Check back all this week as we trace the history of the superman suit as a. Kirk alyn as superman in a publicity still 1948 superman 1948 the first appearances of superman in liveaction film were in a serial for columbia pictures in the 1948 superman serial starring kirk alyn as superman, noel neill as louis lane and tommy bond as jimmy olsen. Kirk alyn 19101999 films first superman the first actor to play the role of superman on film, kirk alyn passed away on sunday, march 14, 1999 in a hospital in suburban houston, texas at the age of 88. Kirk alyn 19101999 was the first actor to portray the man of steel on film. Alyn started as a chorus boy for broadway plays, appearing in notable musicals such as girl crazy, of thee i sing, and hellzapoppin during the 1930s. They reprised their roles in another serial, superman and the mole men, but neither was cast when adventures of superman. Superman 1950 raked in a fortune for columbia pictures, he said. Both starred kirk alyn as superman clark kent, while noel neill played lois lane. The only drawback is that whenever superman flies, they cut to animation. Kirk alyn sets the heroic standard for generations to come as superman, the man of steel in these fun, multichapter cliffhanger adventures. Kirk alyn was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play the dc comics character superman in liveaction for the 1948 movie serial.
It is notable as the first liveaction appearance of superman on. The only creative position listed is paul plamentola as art director. The suit had been highly refined, with a much smoother fit and now featuring simply the s shield. Superman 1948 is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on the comic book character superman. Superman 1948 directed by spencer gordon bennet, thomas.
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