Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 21: "The Golden Vulture"

Original Broadcast Date: February 01, 1954

Writer: Jackson Gillis

Director: Thomas Carr

Guest Cast:
Peter Whitney as Captain McBain
Vic Perrin as Scurvy
Robert Bice as Bennett
Murray Alper as Sanders
Wes Hudman as the Dock Hand
Sol Gorss as a Sailor
Carl Saxe as a Sailor
Dan Turner as a Sailor

"The Golden Vulture"

The S.S. Golden Vulture is a salvage boat that has been searching for sunken treasure in the Caribbean commanded by the mad Captain McBain, whose delusions allow him to believe he is a pirate like Long John Silver. McBain has bullied mousy steward Scurvy believing that it could make a man out of him. However, Scurvy has grown weary of his captain's abuse and sent a message in a bottle, which washed up on the shore while Daily Planet cub reporter Jimmy Olsen was fishing. Unfortunately, some seawater has gotten onto to the paper, making the writing unreadable. It looks like poor Scurvy will always be the victim of the insane Captain McBain.

In spite of being unable to read the writing, Jimmy takes Scurvy's note to the Daily Planet. Clark Kent discovers it's from the Golden Vulture. This prompts Lois to investigate further. She has learned that the Vulture is docked off the coast, and a mail boat is going to deliver things to its crew today. Lois intends to take Jimmy with her on the ship to get the story on the Vulture. Little does she realize that her curiosity could lead them into danger.

Jimmy and Lois have boarded the Golden Vulture. Captain McBain does not want them on the ship, but he cannot do anything until the supply barge arrives in an hour. Things are more suspicious as a man named Bennett has broken JimmyÕs camera. Plus, the Vulture won't even be docking as scheduled. McBain is in a hurry to find more riches in the Caribbean. As McBain shows a treasure chest, Scurvy has entered to secretly give the reporters another note in guise of asking if they want coffee. However, Jimmy notices an empty rum bottle that Lois shows him. It looks exactly like the one with the message he had found. Young Mister Olsen lets it slip that he just received another paper. Now, Captain McBain is forced to take drastic measures that could put Scurvy, Lois and Jimmy in grave peril, for nobody will leave his cabin alive.

In his search for Lois and Jimmy, Superman, in his guise of Clark Kent, has discovered that the supply vessel is actually sending more gold and jewels to the Golden Vulture. He has just made his way to the salvage ship to find that Lois and Jimmy are being held captive in the captain's quarters while Scurvy is in irons in the brig. The Man of Steel is going to need to plan things well if he is to rescue his friends from the mad Captain McBain.

Clark has just broken the chains that imprisoned Scurvy. The steward is now showing him what really happens on the Golden Vulture. Stolen gold and jewels are melted and remodeled to look like old pirate treasure by the boats crew of ex-convicts. The riches are then sold to museums for a hefty profit. Captain McBain and the Golden Vulture's owner have the perfect racket, but they never counted on Superman learning anything about it. The Last Son of Krypton will make certain these thieves and confidence men go back to prison where they belong.

A famous confidence man, jewel thief and fence named Sanders has just boarded the Golden Vulture. He is the owner of he vessel and converted the stolen gold and gems into counterfeit pirate booty because he knew that he'd only get a small percentage of the profits from stolen goods. Clark has just learned these facts. However it may be too late. McBain's men are attacking him. McBain himself has joined in the fight. After punching McBain, Clark gets away to change into Superman. Unfortunately, Jimmy and Lois prevent this by running into him. As a result of this, Clark has been captured along with Lois and Jimmy. Superman may not be able to save his friends this time without revealing his secret identity.

A blindfolded Clark has been made to walk the plank. This gives him a chance to deal with Sanders and McBain's men in a way that only the Man of Steel could. McBain's sword even bends against Superman's invulnerable chest. The gang of thieves is no longer a threat, but Superman jokingly takes his time to save Clark Kent as he bounds the villains' hands in iron. The Metropolis Marvel eventually dives into the water to "rescue" Clark. The mild mannered reporter emerges, but Superman is nowhere to be seen. Lois is suspicious once again. However, before she can complete her thoughts on this. Clark, asking for assistance, throws her and himself into the harbor.

"What did you say you were thinking, Lois?," he asks.

"Never mind, Clark," replies a drenched Lois. "It couldn't be. It just couldn't be."

Rating - 4 (out of 5): Peter Whitney's impressive filmography includes the roles of Timothy Delaney AKA Gabby in Three Strangers and Sergeant Buck Sinclair in The Rough Riders. Unfortunately, he never appeared again in The Adventures of Superman.

Do not adjust your television sets, for Vic Perrin, no matter how many great roles he's had in radio, film, television and animation, will always be known for his role of the Control Voice that introduced the original Outer Limits television series. Perrin also played parts in the Super Friends cartoons, including Green Lantern's foe Sinestro. His portrayal of the Control Voice would later inspire Corey Burton's performances as Brainiac in Superman: The Animated Series.

Robert Bice is perhaps best known as Police Captain Jim Johnson in The Untouchables starring Robert Stack.

Murray Alper appeared in projects with some of Hollywood's biggest names. One of his last film appearances was as a judo instructor in The Nutty Professor with Jerry Lewis.

Wes Hudman was primarily a character actor in westerns. Look for him in episodes of The Range Rider and Death Valley Days.

Sol Gorss played Injun Joe in a 1955 TV film version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which was redone on the series Climax!.

In addition to acting, Carl Saxe was an accomplished stuntman. He's been a double for actors on Star Trek and Last Train from Gun Hill.

This episode is the only role in Dan Turner's filmography.

This episode was the only time any actors in the guest cast ever appeared in The Adventures of Superman.

The writing/directing team that gave us "Superman in Exile" and "Panic in the Sky" is back. Now, "The Golden Vulture" is not as good as those episodes, but it is still a decent entry that one could expect from The Adventures of Superman series. It has some problems, which I will discuss. Still, it will keep you entertained for its entire thirty minutes.

The concept of a group of jewel thieves passing their loot off as pirate treasure is an interesting one that works perfectly into the story of "The Golden Vulture". I just can't help but think that the character of Sanders was completely unnecessary. The episode would have worked better if Captain McBain had been the mastermind of the entire operation that somehow went over the edge. Captain McBain could have had as much potential as Madame Selena or any of the trio in "The Evil Three". As he is now in the final version of "Vulture", McBain is watered down by Sanders' presence.

I had cut Ellsworth and company some slack for Clark not wearing his glasses in front of Lois and the others in "Panic in the Sky", but there are other ways the situation with Clark and McBain's crew could have been handled. Now, one could argue that it's extremely dark outside. However, light could pass onto Clark's face somehow. A good way to remedy this plot problem would be to have someone knock Clark into the water while he had his horn rims on. It worked well when terrorists did it in John Byrne's Man of Steel #4, and it could have functioned just as well in "The Golden Vulture" had it been done.

In spite of these flaws, "The Golden Vulture" gives fans what they want in The Adventures of Superman. The story is a wonderful blend of superhero action, film noir and swashbuckling adventure. The scenes with George Reeves as Clark and Superman were breathtaking, but the rest of the cast and crew also did a splendid job. If you're looking for a wonderful half hour of television, this episode is for you.

Back to the main TELEVISION page.