Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Czar of the Underworld (1953) User Reviews

Delightful episode with a great premise

[sssuperman-dot-com · 9/10 · 28 November 2015]

Personally, I generally don't like Season 1 of this show as much as Season 2. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the story lines often feel extremely generic, to the point where there's hardly a purpose to it being Superman, or the fact that the character dynamics don't feel quite as well developed. But there are certainly some real gems in this season too, such as this episode.

Part of the reason this episode is so great is because I REALLY like the premise. A film expose of a criminal empire is made based largely on material from articles written by Clark Kent. This strikes me as something fun, interesting and different to do with the character's journalistic career. I hope this isn't the only time this idea has been used in Superman media, as there's probably a lot that can be done with it. Anyway, Clark and Inspector Henderson take a trip to Hollywood for the making of the film, but it turns out to have a very troubled production due to constant sabotage attempts of the crime lord, Luigi Dinelli. There's even a murder at one point, and the lives of Henderson and Kent are always under threat. Thankfully, Superman is around to help too (of course).

This episode possesses some great tension and crime-fighting goodness. There's also a lot of nice character moments. I enjoy how this show emphasize the role of Clark Kent and not just Superman in fighting crime, and this episode of course showcases that. It's nice to see Clark smug and happy about the criminal's inevitable downfall that he's helping bring about, and I like Superman's dry wit. There's even a splash of humor from a rather angry Perry White.

Lois Lane is absent from this one and Jimmy only has a minor role, but good ol' Inspector Henderson gets a lot of screen time. I enjoy the dynamic and friendship between him and Kent, so this made me happy.

Overall, just a nice episode with a lot of enjoyable elements and an extremely worthy premise, and most of all, it contains so much of what makes Clark/Superman, particularly this version, so lovable to me.

Best Superman episode.

[lrcdmnhd72 · 9/10 · 6 July 2006]

When I was between the ages of 7-10, I lived in a little town of Algonac, Michigan, where I spent 3 of the best, perhaps the 3 best years of my life. Therefore, practically all memories from this time frame are favorable. The episodes from the TV Adventures of Superman are no exception.

I am especially drawn to Czar of the Underworld. Why, I am not really sure. Perhalps part of this is due to the fact that part of this episode shows behind the scenes of film making when Clark Kent and Inspector Henderson go to Hollywood to help make a movie exposing a crime czar.

I also liked it when Inspector Henderson hung up on Perry White, the editor of the Daily Planet.

Not too difficult to tell the good guys from the bad guys (except for the surprise ending).

Anyway, the bad guys are not eulogized. This is especially true at beginning of the episode where the phone call from Clark Kent's office, which included Inspector Henderson's caustic remarks to the bad guy crime king pin (The Czar of the Underworld).

Also, I believe there is a mistake stating that Phyllis Coates (Lois Lane) and Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen) did not appear in this episode. I don't think Phyllis Coates appeared in this episode, but Jack Larson did when he barged into Perry White's (John Hamilton) office with the teletype of actor Alan Dexter's murder at the National Studios in Los Angeles. Then Perry White started yelling at Olsen, "Just wait until I get Kent on the phone! Just wait!"

Superman Goes Hollywood

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 30 January 2015]

A movie is being made from a series of articles written by Clark Kent. They feature a crime boss who is not so happy to be the featured character in the movie. Kent and Henderson go off to the film capital and oversee the picture being made. But the crime boss is having none of this and sends his thugs to disrupt the film. They even kill the leading man. The tricky part is proving who is behind all this carnage. Meanwhile, Henderson has a great time, feasting off the film studio. There is one great scene where the irascible Perry White chews on Henderson because he feels Henderson and Kent are just goofing off. He gets news of the murder on the news wire. He goes into a complete rage. As the series continues he gets more and more threatening and abusive. He even threatens to fire Clark Kent. Henderson hangs up on him when he can't get a word in edgewise.

Action, Intrigue, Mystery, Resolve

[biorngm · 10/10 · 24 October 2017]

Review - Czar of the Underworld A highly rated episode based on the mystery, surprise, and plenty of Superman action, plus no Lois. The premise of making a movie about a crime kingpin based on a series of articles Clark Kent authored, with numerous attempts to sabotage the entire movie make this episode watchable. I like Clark and Henderson working together, in tandem, offering information to solve the crimes. Mind you, Clark does most of the leg work, but he is expected with his other identity. The crux of the story has the czar mad the movie is being made, period. When his attempts at an assassination in Metropolis, sabotage with the airport limo ride, continued bombings, arson at the studio, murder on the set and an attempt of another murder off stage all reveal who the other man was aiding and abetting. We have Olsen and White, mostly White, in their roles early, and then it is all Kent, Henderson and Superman. Worked for me, and I didn't know the man on the inside until the end. Watch and find out and don't be confused with the actors listed and some not listed in this episode. There are four actors credited along with the regulars on the DVD, but listed there are people not in the episode and some people not mentioned that had speaking lines, i.e. Shorty was the man with the rifle at the onset, never noted, and he had lines. Go figure.

A Kid Viewer's First Look At The Nitty-Gritty of Making TV Shows and Movies

[djfone · 10/10 · 24 March 2024]

This might be my favorite episode of the entire series because, as a kid, it took me inside the Hollywood Sausage Factory.

The massive soundstages where magic is made. The enormous banks of lights and cameras along the overhead walkways. The ladders, platforms, acoustic wall-padding, and hardware that go into creating every episode.

Of course, this episode, 70+ years later, recalls the current scandal enveloping Alec Baldwin and the armorer on the set of the upcoming movie "Rust", with a fatal live bullet somehow ending up in a prop gun.

I'm amused at this episode, where a studio star's trailer is so important, immediately following "Wonder Woman" on the Heroes and Icons network, co-starring Lyle Waggoner. After leaving the acting biz Waggoner founded Star Waggons, Hollywood's go-to source for luxury trailers for studio sets and film locations.

There are some continuing peculiarities here carrying over from several other first-season episodes: --- dialogue coach Steve Carr as another vital character yet again denied a cast credit --- that familiar brick wall, concrete steps and landing, and bizarre piping, perhaps from a soundstage's loading dock or the studio's parking garage --- yet another shot of prominent plumbing as the studio's security guard passes a soundstage with its huge standpipe --- the every-episode stock shot of the Daily Planet exterior --- the Clem Wilson Bouilding on Wilshire @ LaBrea --- with that badly-tattered flag flying horizontally in the wind.

There's a quick scene of Superman carrying the unconscious Luigi Donelli up a few outdoor steps to "Stage 13" --- might that be the door and landing we so often saw that first season, both earlier in this episode when Kent and Henderson are entrapped by the driver, from the inside and most prominently in "No Holds Barred"?

There's also a continuity gaffe as Superman crashes through Luigi Donelli's penthouse window, shattering glass. Just a second later there's NO glass at al, in the window frame.

All in all, a sensational, thrilling --- and educational --- episode.