Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episode 5: "The Monkey Mystery"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: October 17, 1952

Writers: Ben Peter Freeman and Doris Gilbert

Director: Tommy Carr

Guest Cast:
Allene Roberts as Maria Moleska
Michael Vallon as Tony Urmenti
Harry Lewis as Harold Crane
William Challee as Max
Stephen Carr as the Doctor/the Voice of the Sergeant
Fred Essler as Scientist Jan Moleska
Ned Roberts as Frisch

"The Monkey Mystery"

Central Europe, 1951: Scientist Jan Moleska has been declared an enemy of the state. He and his daughter Maria are in a cave hiding from the secret police. Doctor Moleska is weakened from running. He gives Maria a locket that had belonged to her mother. Inside is the greatest secret that can help mankind. Maria is to go to America and give it only to the President of the United States. Then, and only then, can the human race benefit from Moleska's creation.

Maria's father has been killed by the secret police, and Maria herself has boarded an airplane to the United States in Lisbon. Enemy agents are ordered to contact Harold Crane, a man in Metropolis who works for them. Crane will be paid two hundred thousand dollars to secure Moleska's formula. Once it is in the spies' hands, they can use it for their sinister plans.

Daily Planet reporters Clark Kent and Lois Lane are on the streets of Metropolis enjoying the sight of some children being entertained by organ grinder Tony Urmenti and his monkey Peppy. Peppy is dressed in a Superman costume as he performs for the boys and girls. When the act concludes, Peppy gives each youngster a piece of paper with a fortune written on it. Lois also receives one. However, hers has an unusual message:

"Plane landed in Philadelphia because of Fog in Metropolis. Jan Moleska's daughter taking Washington Limited noon today. New schedule being followed."

The note is signed with the design of a paw with claws extended. Lois is now intrigued by what she has read. She has just left Clark to cover the Peterson trial while she takes a taxi. As the car drives away, Tony and Peppy try to chase her. The organ grinder calls to Lois, but his warnings of trouble go unheard. Lois may find herself in grave danger very soon.

Lois is in her office at the Daily Planet preparing for a trip. She'll take an airplane to Baltimore and board the Washington Limited when the train stops there. Miss Lane intends to get an exclusive interview with Maria Moleska. Knowing that editor Perry White will want to know more about her voyage, cub reporter Jimmy Olsen asks where she got her tip for the story. "From a monkey," she replies to the confused lad, who grabs Lois' fortune after she leaves.

Tony and Peppy are walking into an alley. The monkey is climbing a pipe to enter the window of Harold Crane's apartment. He gives Crane a message that tells him of the paper that was given to Lois and its contents. Knowing that Tony remembered the note, Crane believes that the organ grinder is a risk to the plans for Doctor Moleska's formula. He orders his henchman Max to eliminate Tony by any means necessary. The safety of the current mission depends on it.

Perry White is fit to be tied about Lois leaving without consulting him. Jimmy Olsen is showing him and Clark Kent the fortune Peppy had given her. Seeing that Lois' lead is for perhaps the biggest world event in history, Clark rushes out of Perry's office to the Washington Limited as Superman. Meanwhile, Lois has found Maria Moleska's cabin only to discover that the girl has been struck on the head. She attempts to aid Maria, but she is knocked unconscious by one of Crane's men. Superman may be too late to stop the spy's sinister organization.

Superman has found Lois and Maria. As a doctor is caring for them, the Man of Steel is able to briefly question the scientist's daughter. Her locket containing her father's formula is missing. It's in the hands of Crane's agent. Neither Clark Kent nor Superman has had any luck in finding him. At the same time, the organ grinder Tony Urmenti's body has been found stabbed to death. It looks like Superman's investigation has reached a dead end.

Crane has just received word that his man Joe has got Maria's locket. Now, he only must wait for a European agent named Frisch to give him the money promised for the job. The ring of enemy spies is only one step closer to their insidious goals.

The Daily Planet's staff is having difficulty locating the information needed to solve this new mystery. The Moleska Formula, which is a defense against atomic bombs, has not been found. The only possible lead in the case is the organ grinder's monkey Peppy. A citywide search for Peppy has begun. Even Crane, who has Moleska's discovery on microfilm, is desperately looking for the simian in a Superman suit. Jimmy is closer to getting Peppy when Crane's henchman Max grabs him. The thug and Jimmy fight over the animal. Unfortunately the cub reporter doesn't succeed in his task. Peppy has gotten away from Max, and young Olsen is Crane's prisoner. Jimmy is in serious danger if Superman doesn't save him.

The police have Harold Crane's apartment building surrounded. Peppy, who was with Clark Kent, has climbed the same pipe to give the spy a false message. He shoots at the monkey, but Superman's indestructible body blocks the bullet. The Man of Steel then knocks Crane and Max's heads together. With the pair of criminals now unconscious, Superman unties Jimmy and hands him the Moleska Formula to give to the police. The case is finally solved, and Lois Lane and Maria Moleska are recovering from their injuries. This leaves Jimmy with just one question.

"Hey, what happened to Peppy?"

His answer comes in the form of the little monkey in a Superman costume sitting in an opened desk drawer eating a banana.

5Rating - 5 (out of 5): Allene Roberts makes her second appearance in The Adventures of Superman. She plays Maria Moleska this time around, but fans of "The Haunted Lighthouse" will remember her as Alice from that episode. "The Monkey Mystery" marks Ms. Roberts' first speaking role in the series, as her character in "Lighthouse" was a deaf-mute. It's a pity she didn't have any scenes with Jack Larson in this one because they worked so well together last time. Maybe Ms. Roberts got to work with Mr. Larson in "The Whistling Bird" in season two. We'll just have to stay tuned for that one.

I can't help but wonder if this episode would later inspire the character of Beppo the Super Monkey in the Silver Age comics. Whether it did or not, Peppy provides some light hearted moments to an otherwise noirish episode, and I'd love to hug the little fellow for that.

Something about Harry Lewis in this episode reminds me of a mixture of Bud Collyer and the Prankster in recent comic books. If you look at images of all three, you'll be able to see the similarities. Lewis is perhaps best known for his role of Edward "Toots" Bass Key Largo, but he has a very extensive filmography as a character actor in film and television. He also provides "The Monkey Mystery" with the perfect villain for the story. His portrayal is perfect in every scene.

Three out of five episodes of The Adventures of Superman have featured Jimmy Olsen in trouble. He has been captured by spies, locked in a safe and nearly drowned. Poor Jack Larson hadn't gotten much of a break. Granted, Lois was in peril in the previous story, but the character of Jimmy seems to be the resident risk taker along with Ms. Lane. We'll see if Phyllis Coates will be in as much distress as Jack Larson in these next weeks.

"The Monkey Mystery" was a delightful story that blends film noir with humorous moments seamlessly. The writing, direction, production, acting and especially Peppy, who is currently serving as my desktop wallpaper, give us a wonderful and memorable episode of The Adventures of Superman that can entertain viewers of all ages. Then again, isn't that the point of any of the best tales of the Man of Steel?



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