Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 17: "The Boy Who Hated Superman"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: January 04, 1954

Writer: David Chantler

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
Tyler MacDuff as Frankie Harris
Leonard Penn as The Fixer
Roy Barcroft as Duke Dillon
Richard Reeves as Babe
Charles Meredith as Judge Allen

"The Boy Who Hated Superman"

Clark Kent exposed the criminal organization of Duke Dillon in articles he had written in the Daily Planet, and Superman put him in prison. Duke's young nephew Frankie Harris hates both Kent and Superman for what they did to his uncle. However, until a suitable relative can found as the boy's guardian, the juvenile court's Judge Allen wants to place Frankie in Kent's custody. Frankie refuses until Duke tells him that this could be an opportunity to find out what evidence Clark has on the gangster. Once this information is found, efforts can be made to make witnesses look bad and eventually free Duke. With the impressionable youth Frankie assisting him, the racketeer might even outwit Superman.

Clark is clearly worried about Frankie while having dinner with cub reporter Jimmy Olsen. As if to calm Kent's fears, Frankie arrives at the mild mannered reporter's apartment willing to do whatever it takes to learn how to work in the newspaper business. Clark agrees to see Frankie at the Daily Planet offices tomorrow afternoon. Little do both he and Jimmy realize that they are setting into motion Frankie's plans to free his criminal uncle.

Frankie has contacted the Fixer, a criminal named for the fact that he can arrange anything for a price. Should Frankie be unable to find the evidence against Duke, the Fixer is to make it possible for the gangster to escape from prison. The Fixer agrees to do it for five thousand dollars, but he doesn't tell Frankie until after receiving the money that it's only a down payment. He will need another five grand to get Duke out of jail. Frankie promises to find the rest of the money somehow. Perhaps, his working at the Daily Planet will help him discover the means to get it.

Frankie enters Clark Kent's office the next day. After speaking with Jimmy, he has convinced the mild mannered reporter to see about getting him a job. He also notices that Clark has signed a voucher for one thousand dollars for Lois Lane to buy some televisions for the local children's hospital. While Clark leaves to see if there are any openings for Frankie, the lad takes one of the papers Clark uses to give funds to other staff members. Frankie might be able to help Uncle Duke get out of prison one way or the other very soon.

As Clark returns to the office after dinner that evening, Frankie has been convincing Jimmy to change his life and work for Duke and him. The promise of money and nice clothes is too powerful for the young reporter as he is given a new suit and one hundred and fifty dollars. It looks like Jimmy may be on the way to walking the path of juvenile delinquency.

Frankie has found Clark's file on Duke and has arranged for the Fixer's henchman Babe to pick it up. After Clark returns from the Planet, he finds the match Frankie had used to see in the darkness while Jimmy, who is staying with Kent while his mother is away, is asleep. To deepen his suspicions further, Clark uses his X-ray vision to see Frankie drop the folder onto the street for Babe. The troubled young man may yet free his racketeer uncle.

Superman has followed Babe to the Fixer's home and prevented him from reading and burning Duke's file. If the Man of Steel has his way, Duke Dillon will remain incarcerated forever. This may not last because, soon, the Fixer will make sure Duke's escape attempt is a success.

As Frankie searches for more evidence and tries to forge Clark's name on the voucher he took, editor Perry White, Lois Lane and Clark Kent are not too happy with Jimmy's recent attitude change. He has become more and more like a hoodlum. He later explains to Clark that he knew Frankie was planning something, and he felt the tough guy act would win the confidence of Duke Dillon's nephew. Unfortunately, Frankie has overheard this. He is angry as he leaves the Planet Building. Jimmy tries to tell Frankie that he was only scared that the boy would get into more trouble. However, before it can be discussed further, Babe arrives to get Frankie. Much to the lad's surprise, Jimmy stays with him, as a true friend should. Now, both young men may be in grave danger if Superman does not find them.

Duke owes Babe five thousand dollars, and he intends to collect from Frankie. In addition to that, Frankie learns that Duke set him up to take the fall with a rival gang. Duke never intended for Frankie to go with him to South America before Superman captured him. Frankie is now confused and wondering who his true friends are. Jimmy shows him the light by giving Babe the money and helping Frankie escape the big henchman of the Fixer. Now, both young men make their getaway, and only one knows what surprises are in store for the other.

Tonight is Frankie's birthday. He told Jimmy as he was trying to get him to work for Duke. Perry, Lois and Clark have done something for the troubled young man that nobody had ever done for him. They're giving him a party. Frankie and Jimmy return safe and sound from their little adventure as the former realizes he never had any of the important things in life before tonight. He has just called the Fixer to try and stop Duke's escape. However, it's too late to do that. If Frankie isn't there when Duke gets out of a manhole behind Metropolis Stadium, innocent people could get hurt.

Clark's superhuman ears have overheard Frankie's conversation with the Fixer. As the lad blows out his birthday candles in the darkness, Clark changes into Superman. The Man of Tomorrow forces the manhole cover closed and places a car right on top of it so Duke Dillon will have no means of escape. Meanwhile, Frankie tells his new friends that his birthday wish was to prevent something that was supposed to happen from occurring. At that moment, Clark returns to learn that Frankie no longer hates Superman.

"Well, he'll be happy to know that," Kent says with a smile, "Very happy, indeed."

3Rating - 3 (out of 5): Tyler MacDuff played Billy the Kid in 1954's The Boy from Oklahoma. Look for his return to Metropolis in "Olsen's Millions".

Leonard Penn was Mendoza in last season's "Treasure of the Incas". He also was the electronics storeowner in chapter fourteen of the Superman movie serial starring Kirk Alyn as the Man of Steel.

While Roy Barcroft makes his only appearance in The Adventures of Superman television series, he would later meet up with the Last Son of Krypton as a member of the Gorilla Gang in the 1965 amateur short film Superman Versus the Gorilla Gang.

You'll most likely remember Richard Reeves as Bad Luck Brannigan in "No Holds Barred" and Frenchy in "Jet Ace". Look for him to return next season in "Olsen's Millions" as Stacey Tracy.

Character actor Charles Meredith is perhaps best known for his role of Doctor LeMoyne Snyder in the television series The Court of Last Resort. This was his only episode of The Adventures of Superman.

The Adventures of Superman radio program at times would deal with topics of this nature. Sometimes it would turn out well, and others came across as rather ham fisted. Unfortunately, "The Boy Who Hated Superman" falls into the latter category. This isn't the fault of the actors. In fact, they do splendidly, even if there are moments when Tyler MacDuff tends to overact in some scenes. This could be due to the time constraints put on filming. MacDuff probably didn't have much of a chance to get to know his character. Anyway, neither the cast nor George Blair is to blame for anything. It felt honestly like David Chantler was trying too hard to capture the atmosphere of the 1948-1950 audio serials. The end result honestly feels more like one of those short films they'd show on Mystery Science Theater 3000.

I don't want to sound like I'm discriminating against age, but Duke Dillon just looked too old to be an active gangster with a nephew Frankie's age. His character feels miscast. Had Roy Barcroft switched roles with Leonard Penn or even Richard Reeves, Duke would probably been more believable. As he was in this episode, I felt like I was watching one of those television shows where a married couple of senior citizens have an eleven year-old child. Barcroft just wasn't believable in the part.

In spite of the overacting I mentioned before, Tyler MacDuff did a fine job as Frankie, and his character had potential. It's just a pity more hadn't been done with him. With the right development, he would have been the perfect sidekick for Jimmy.

Speaking of Jimmy, Jack Larson does try a bit too hard to pull off the bad boy routine, but he does deliver a fine performance. Given the right moment, Larson could have portrayed the misunderstood teen of the 1950s. Once again, The Adventures of Superman has given us a chance to see Larson's range as an actor.

"The Boy Who Hated Superman" was an average episode that could have been a lot better than what is shown in the final product. David Chantler, in my opinion, didn't put his best effort into the script in trying to capture the spirit of the radio show. Still, there are some great moments. Unfortunately, they are overshadowed by a story that tries too hard to deliver its message.



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