Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 1 - Episode 20: "The Riddle of the Chinese Jade"

Original Broadcast Date: January 30, 1953

Writer: Ben Peter Freeman

Director: Tommy Carr

Guest Cast:
Victor Sen Yung as Harry Wong
Paul E. Burns as Lu Sung
James Craven as John Greer
Gloria Saunders as Lilly Sung

"The Riddle of the Chinese Jade"

Our story begins at night in Metropolis. A nervous Harry Wong is meeting ex-convict John Greer in a restaurant. They are planning to steal a jade figurine of Quon Yin, the Goddess of Peace, from Harry's employer Lu Sung. Wong feels the family heirloom rightfully belongs to Sung's niece Lilly, whom the young man wishes to marry. It is for this reason that Harry is working on the theft with Greer. They will use the tunnels under Wong's home and Lu Sung's curio shop in Chinatown. Greer had learned of the underground passages used during the Tong wars from the man who had built homes and businesses in that section of the city. At 3:00 PM tomorrow Greer and Harry will perform the heist in broad daylight. The Quon Yin Jade is normally under heavy lock and key. However, Lu Sung wants to give it to a museum, and Daily Planet reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent will be covering this for the great metropolitan newspaper. This will be Wong and Greer's only chance to take the statue. All they will need to do is provide a diversion.

As Lois and Clark get the story of the Quon Yin Jade from Lu and Lilly Sung the next day, a homemade bomb is thrown through the window of the curio shop downstairs. Leaving Lilly to rest on a sofa and the statue in its now opened and unlocked box, Lu, Lois and Clark go to investigate the damage and cause of the explosion. Harry and Greer have now made it to the Sung residence to take the precious figurine. Unfortunately, there is something that both Harry and Greer had not counted on. Lilly has seen them steal the Quon Yin Jade. The pair must bring Lilly with them, thereby making the job more dangerous for everyone involved.

Metropolis Police Inspector Bill Henderson has been called to Lu Sun's shop. As he and two bomb squad officers examine the debris, it is discovered that both Lilly and the Quon Yin Jade are missing. Henderson believes that Harry Wong is involved somehow, particularly after Clark shows him some bamboo dust that was on Wong's shirt when he had entered the store. The shavings match those in the box that once contained the Quon Yin Jade. Worse yet, until it can be proved otherwise, Henderson suspects that Lilly is in league with the criminals that had stolen the statue. Things do not look good for either Harry Wong or Lilly Sung.

Fifteen minutes have passed since Harry Wong left Lu Sung's shop to supposedly contact other employees. Harry is actually back with Greer arguing over payment for his part in the crime. Harry intends to confess his involvement in the theft of the Quon Yin Jade and abduction of Lilly. Greer thinks this is a bad idea. Greer and Harry trade punches as Lilly tries to escape with the Quon Yin Jade. Greer knocks both Lilly and Harry out, places them in the tunnels and floods them. As water surrounds Harry and Lilly, John Greer has made off with the Quon Yin Jade. It looks like there may be no way to stop the villainous Greer's plans to sell the precious figurine.

As Inspector Henderson and Clark Kent go to Harry Wong's home across the street from the curio shop, Greer has returned to the upstairs residence of Lu and Lilly Sung. With the Quon Yin Jade in hand, Greer has knocked out Lu Sung and taken Lois Lane at gunpoint. Meanwhile, Clark has heard the sound of running water. As Superman, he searches for the fastest route to get to Harry and Lilly before they drown. People mill about the Man of Steel as he digs through the pavement to the underground passages. Harry Wong and Lilly have been rescued successfully, but Lois is still a hostage of the evil John Greer. Superman may not be able to save her in time.

Superman and the police have seen Greer with Lois. Greer wants to make a deal. He'll free Lois if he's allowed to get away with the Quon Yin Jade. As the police distract him, Superman approaches Greer. The Man of Steel knocks out the thief and rescues both Lois Lane and the Quon Yin Jade. Now, John Greer will spend his days in prison thanks to Superman.

Harry Wong has confessed his involvement with John Greer in the theft of the Quon Yin Jade and unintentional capture of Lilly. He has also agreed to testify against Greer in an attempt to make amends to Lu Sung, Lilly and himself. Seeing that the young man has seen the error of his ways, Inspector Henderson has decided not to arrest Harry. Both Lois and Lilly kiss Henderson as Clark Kent enters the Sung residence.

"Why Inspector, what are you trying to do, become a Superman," Kent asks with a wink to the audience.

Rating - 5 (out of 5): Victor Sen Yung has an extensive filmography. While he is best known for his role of Number Two Son in the Charlie Chan films and Hop Sing in the TV series Bonanza, Yung would also appear in such shows as Get Smart and Kung Fu.

Even though she played various parts on television, Gloria Saunders will remain in the hearts of Terry and the Pirates fans. She played the Dragon Lady in the television version.

"The Riddle of the Chinese Jade" marks James Craven's second time working in a project based on a DC Comics character. He was Norwood in the 1949 movie serial Batman and Robin.

Paul E. Burns was a character actor who played a wide variety of parts, including Jethro in the Elvis film Love Me Tender. Burns will be back for season two in the episode "Star of Fate".

Look closely at the bamboo on Harry Wong's shirt. The amount is different in the long, far shots. There are more shavings in the close ups.

"The Riddle of the Chinese Jade" is adapted from an episode of The Adventures of Superman radio show with the same title. While currently unavailable, the radio version was originally broadcast on February 11, 1949.

Have you noticed that there are episodes in season one, including "The Riddle of the Chinese Jade", in which the villains have no idea who Superman is? I'm inclined to believe that this is because news hasn't spread about him among certain parts of the criminal organizations because the Man of Steel hasn't even finished his first year as a crime fighter. Keep in mind, this was aired in 1953, a year when the Internet did not provide knowledge to anyone "Who's the guy in the circus outfit?" The underworld found out the hard way as The Adventures of Superman progressed on television.

It has a slightly different atmosphere than most of the best episodes of season one, but it honestly deserves the rating it was given. The story is solid in spite of no background on the character of Greer. I honestly don't feel much is really needed. The audience kind of gets the feeling he's done this sort of thing before, and, as a result, he went to prison for it. This is really all that's required to know about Greer.

The acting in "The Riddle of the Chinese Jade" is at its usual perfection. However, one can tell that this tale was originally on radio from Robert Shayne's portrayal of Inspector Henderson. Henderson, on radio, was more willing to accuse someone he believed was involved with a crime until all the facts are given to him. He also was rather intolerant of Clark Kent's involvement in criminal investigations, even though the mild mannered reporter, like his costumed alter ego, is only trying to help. Shayne's version of Henderson seemed to be more open to other people's opinions. Shayne seems to get back into the way he normally plays the inspector in the conclusion of "Jade".

The overall effort of "The Riddle of the Chinese Jade", while containing more comic book action and less film noir of other episodes, is a perfect adventure with a great script and incredible performances from everyone involved in the cast and crew. After a few filler episodes, this one was a perfect follow up to the great half hour that was "The Evil Three". I guarantee that you will have fun watching every minute of this story.

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