Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episode 15: "Treasure of the Incas"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: December 26, 1952

Writer: Howard Green

Director: Tommy Carr

Guest Cast:
Leonard Penn as Pedro Mendoza
Martin Garralaga as Chief of Police
Juan Duval as Doctor Cuesta
Hal Gerard as Professor Laverra
Julian Rivero as the Taxi Driver
Stephen Carr as Don Anselmo

"Treasure of the Incas"

The collection of South American art and antiques from the late Peter Van Sandt's estate is being auctioned off today. Among the items up for bid is a tapestry with a framework of stars around its image. Lois Lane is covering the event for the Daily Planet, and Professor Laverra, who has travelled all the way from Lima, Peru, has asked her to purchase the piece for him because it is unwise for him to be seen. Laverra promises to wait for her outside of the auction house after giving Lois a thousand dollars for the artwork.

The auction has ended, but Professor Laverra is nowhere to be seen. Unknown to Lois, Laverra has, in fact, been killed by Pedro Mendoza, a scar-faced villain who also wants the tapestry. Mendoza has approached Lois by claiming to be a friend of Professor Laverra. Lois is very suspicious of Mendoza. She tells him that Professor Laverra can contact her at the Daily Planet if he wants the Incan art.

Lois is explaining the day's events to Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen while showing them the tapestry. They notice a star shaped hole in the upper right part of the fabric. Lois feels that something strange is going on. She takes the cloth with her to her office in case Professor Laverra is looking for her there. Shortly afterwards, Clark is ordered by editor Perry White to get to the city morgue. Professor Laverra has been found dead. Lois, Jimmy and Clark are now in the middle of an intense mystery.

Taking the tapestry with her, Lois is about to go to the police to aid them in their investigation of Professor Laverra's murder. Suddenly, Pedro Mendoza enters her office. He wants the artistic fabric in her possession. Lois screams, forcing Mendoza to knock her unconscious. Lois has definitely been placed into the jaws of danger.

Clark Kent is waiting for Lois at the city morgue. He becomes worried as time passes. His powerful eyes scan Lois' office to find her on the floor unconscious. This is truly a job for Superman. The Man of Steel flies into the Daily Planet building to assist her. He soon learns that Mendoza knocked her out and stole the Incan Star Tapestry. Now more than ever, Lois is convinced that she's gotten involved in a big story, and she has every intention of learning what's behind it all.

In spite of protests from both Superman and Perry White, Lois intends to go to Peru. Superman had told her that Professor Laverra worked for the University of Lima there. This is Lois' first lead in her investigation. Before she can take her flight, however, Perry insists that she is accompanied by Jimmy Olsen for her safety. The pair of reporters arrive in Lima, where they discuss Professor Laverra's murder with the chief of police. He suggests that Lois and Jimmy speak with Laverra's colleague Doctor Cuesta while the authorities search for information on Pedro Mendoza. Lois and Jimmy seem to be another step closer to discovering what Mendoza really wants with the tapestry.

Lois and Jimmy have just met Professor Laverra's assistant Don Anselmo before speaking with Doctor Cuesta. The trio is surprised to find Clark Kent in the office with Cuesta. Perry had felt that his best reporters should work together on the story, and Kent has told Cuesta of Professor Laverra's death. Meanwhile, Jimmy wants to know how Clark got to Lima so quickly.

"Jim, when I'm in a hurry to get someplace, I really fly," The mild mannered reporter replies.

Doctor Cuesta is now explaining why Professor Laverra wanted the art that Lois had purchased for him. When the star shaped hole is placed over another fabric depicting ancient Lima, it shows the location of a hidden Incan treasure. The companion piece to Lois' tapestry is currently in Doctor Cuesta's safe. Professor Laverra wanted to give the riches found to the government so there could be money for the poor and needy. Laverra had spent many nights with Don Anselmo planning the project. It has now become more important than ever for Superman and his friends to continue Professor Laverra's mission.

Lois has positively identified Pedro Mendoza. Don Anselmo, who is with Lois and Jimmy at police headquarters, has offered to take them for a drive in the country tomorrow. Later that night, Anselmo breaks into Doctor Cuesta's office. He takes Cuesta's tapestry and places it under the one stolen from Lois. He then calls Mendoza. Now, the evil Mendoza knows the location of the Treasure of the Incas. Superman and his friends may not be able to stop the criminal's plans to get the riches.

It is now the next day. Lois and Jimmy are preparing to leave with Don Anselmo when Clark arrives to tell him his theory about the location of the Treasure of the Incas. The star shaped hole in the fabric stolen from Lois was in the upper corner, which is northeast on a compass. Clark believes that the treasure is in a town in the foothills of Lima called Madara. Lois thinks nothing of this, but Anselmo thinks Clark might be correct. Driving through the hot countryside, Anselmo only has these thoughts - ridding himself of Lois and Jimmy, and finding the Treasure of the Incas for Pedro Mendoza.

Don Anselmo has stranded Lois and Jimmy in the middle of nowhere. This does not stop the intrepid reporters. They follow Anselmo's car's tire tracks to a cave where they hear sounds of digging. Mendoza and Anselmo greet Lois and Jimmy before placing them in chains. In the meantime, the pair of villains' search for the Incan treasure leads them to a rock wall on which dynamite must be used. With the fuse on the explosive now lit, it looks like Lois and Jimmy may not get out of Mendoza's deadly trap.

Superman has freed Lois and Jimmy and used the dynamite to trap Mendoza and Anselmo behind some debris. His breaking the wall found by the criminals has uncovered the hidden Treasure of the Incas. Professor Laverra's dream of aiding the poor can now come true thanks to Superman.

Pedro Mendoza and Don Anselmo are in prison, and Lois and Jimmy are leaving Lima, Peru for Metropolis. There were only two flight reservations, and Clark Kent must find another means of getting back to Metropolis.

"Sure, if you had wings you could fly," Lois says to Clark.

"Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea," Clark responds with a smile.

4Rating - 4 (out of 5): Leonard Penn is best known to science fiction fans as Griff in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. He was also Hammil's valet Carter in the 1949 movie serial Batman and Robin. Look for Penn's return in season two's "The Boy Who Hated Superman".

Much of character actor Martin Garralaga's roles, including the head waiter at Rick's in Casablanca, are uncredited. The opposite is true of his two appearances in The Adventures of Superman.

Stephen Carr returns after a period without any cameos. It's a little unusual to see him as a bad guy, but "Treasure of the Incas" really shows his range as an actor, proving that Carr can also play a villain as well as a business man or scientist.

It's great to see Phyllis Coates and Jack Larson back in an episode after their absence from "The Stolen Costume" and no scenes with Larson in "Mystery in Wax". Both work so well together with George Reeves. There are moments throughout the first season when one can feel that there is a genuine love and friendship between Coates, Larson and Reeves. Reeves can even be seen smiling at times when he's in a scene with Coates.

We have another well-done episode in "Treasure of the Incas". The acting is stupendous, and the script was well written. However, I can't help but feel that one thing was unnecessary. The scene in which Don Anselmo calls Pedro Mendoza from the office after stealing Doctor Cuesta's tapestry should have been cut. The fact that Anselmo contacts his associate removes the suspense when Jimmy and Lois learn that he is working with Mendoza. Maybe some time could have been devoted to what Clark was doing while Lois and Jimmy were out in the country with Anselmo. The phone conversation wasn't needed, and the revelation of Anselmo's working for or with Mendoza lacks the surprise it should have had.

Beyond that flaw, "Treasure of the Incas" is another fun and exciting entry in the first season of The Adventures of Superman. It was pure entertainment. Let's hope the next episode is as good as this one was.



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