Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 3 - Episode 7: "Olsen's Millions"

Original Broadcast June 04, 1955

Writer: David Chantler

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
Elizabeth Patterson as Mrs. Peabody
George E. Stone as Big George
Leonard Carey as Herbert The Butler
Richard Reeves as Stacey Tracy
Tyler MacDuff as the Delivery Boy

"Olsen's Millions"

Ever since she inherited some money fifty years ago, Mrs. Peabody has devoted her life to caring for homeless cats. Daily Planet editor Perry White has sent cub reporter Jimmy Olsen to cover a story on Mrs. Peabody and her felines. In spite of the elderly woman's forgetfulness, the interview seems to be going smoothly until a cat jumps into Mrs. Peabody's safe. Jimmy accidentally steps on the tail of one of the animals, causing him to fall against the door. Mrs. Peabody's furry friend is now trapped within the metal box. Worse yet, Mrs. Peabody cannot remember the combination. Jimmy Olsen will have to think fast if he is to rescue the poor creature.

Jimmy has called Clark Kent, who has changed into Superman. The Man of Steel rips open the safe door while Mrs. Peabody searches elsewhere in her home for the combination. The cat has been saved, and Superman leaves. Jimmy is holding the feline when Mrs. Peabody returns. She believes that Jimmy rescued the animal in spite of his saying otherwise. As a token of her appreciation, Mrs. Peabody will deposit one million dollars in a bank account for Jimmy within the hour. Little does the cub reporter realize that that money will lead to one of the most harrowing adventures of his life.

News of Jimmy's wealth is in the Daily Planet. As criminals Big George and Stacey Tracy try to plan how they can steal Olsen's money, Lois Lane, Clark Kent and Perry White cannot help but wonder if being a millionaire has gone to their young friend's head. Jimmy is spending extravagantly. He's rented a new apartment, hired a butler named Herbert and even quit his job at the Planet. Jimmy Olsen may be living the good life now, but it may be only a matter of time before his riches get him into big trouble.

Herbert has given Jimmy work references, but the new millionaire refuses to see them because he believes that he's a good judge of character. Clark, however, is rather suspicious of the gentleman's gentleman. The mild mannered reporter tries to warn the young man to be more weary of strangers, even Herbert, now that he's come into some money. At that moment, Stacey Tracy arrives. He wants fifty-thousand dollars to help finance his machine that turns sea water into gold. Herbert, not trusting Tracy, reveals that the confidence man used imitation flakes in his demonstration of the device. The butler throws Tracy out of Jimmy's apartment. Clark may have misjudged Herbert, but, unknown to him and Jimmy, Stacey Tracy was executing a phase of a plan Big George has to get his hands on Jimmy Olsen's million dollars. Can Superman stop these criminals before it's too late for his young friend?

After Jimmy drops Clark off at the Planet, he wants to give Lois a tour of his new apartment. In the meantime, Herbert has given the young man a message from Superman. Jimmy is to bring what's left of the million dollars to him at the last house on Valley Street in Pinehurst. He must hurry. Time is of the essence. Lois tries to call Clark at the Planet, but he is not in his office. There is no way to tell if this letter is really from the Man of Steel. Jimmy and Lois could possibly be walking into Big George's deadly trap, and Superman may not be able to save them.

Herbert has driven Lois and Jimmy to Pinehurst, where they find Big George and Stacey Tracy instead of Superman. Worse yet, Herbert is part of Big George's plan to steal Jimmy's money. The would-be millionaire has the strongbox with the cash, but he didn't bring the key. He believed Superman could rip it open if he really sent the message. Now, Lois and Jimmy are being held prisoner by Big George and his gang in a room lined with lead to block Superman's X-ray vision. With the Man of Tomorrow not knowing where to find them, there might not be any hope for their rescue.

Clark Kent has gotten the message that Lois and Jimmy went to Pinehurst to meet Superman. As he flies in search of them, the pair is trying to figure out how to call for help without alerting Big George. To be on the safe side, the strong box Jimmy had didn't contain the remainder of the million dollars. Lois had actually placed it in her purse. Placing some money in a ventilator shaft, Lois and Jimmy will burn it to send an S.O.S. smoke signal with its system's control chain. If Superman sees it in the chimney, he will be able to find Lois and Jimmy. Otherwise, they could very well be doomed to death at the hands of Big George.

Lois and Jimmy have been forced to burn all the money in order to make a fire sufficient enough to send a signal to Superman. Meanwhile, Big George has discovered that Jimmy's box only contained blank paper. He, Stacey and Herbert are about to teach Lois and Jimmy a lesson when they get the surprise of their lives. Superman has burst into the room. He got Jimmy's S.O.S. Now, with guns and Stacey Tracy's head useless against the Metropolis Marvel, the trio of confidence men will spend the rest of their lives in a prison cell. Big George's gang will only see a million dollars in their dreams thanks to Superman.

Jimmy Olsen gets back his job as Daily Planet cub reporter. He is to return to work in the morning as long as he doesn't call editor Perry White "Chief". However, the lad needs to borrow fifteen cents from Clark Kent for bus fare. Clark gives Jimmy a quarter, but he must promise to not use the rest of the money to hire a butler. Everything seems to be back to normally for Superman and his friends, especially Jimmy Olsen.

Rating - 3 (out of 5): Elizabeth Patterson is best remembered as Mrs. Matilda Trumbull in I Love Lucy and Mrs. Casey in Pal Joey. She also had a successful career on Broadway before being in films and television.

George E. Stone was popularly known for his roles of the Runt in the Boston Blackie films and the court clerk in various episodes of Perry Mason. He was also a close friend of writer Damon Runyon.

Leonard Carey is no stranger to playing a gentleman's gentleman. He's done so in uncredited roles in such films as 1949's The Secret Garden, While the City Sleeps and Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train.

Once again, Richard Reeves and Tyler MacDuff appear in the same episode of The Adventures of Superman. They were both in "The Boy Who Hated Superman". MacDuff would not return to the series, but Reeves will be in season four's "The Big Freeze", which will also feature George E. Stone.

The script for "Olsen's Millions" replaced "The Unlucky Number," which would later be used in season four. That episode also features Elizabeth Patterson in the guest cast.

This episode is adapted from the story "Olsen's Millions" that appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #3, cover dated January 1955.

This episode, quite frankly, would have gotten a higher rating, but there are some things in it that just don't make sense upon closer examination. In addition to Jack Larson seeming to be totally confused about Jimmy's direction and/or motivations for his actions, (My reason for originally wanting to give "Olsen's Millions" a four) one is left to wonder about the intelligence of Jimmy, Big George and his gang. Jimmy doesn't bother to look at Herbert's references or listen to Clark Kent's suspicions. Larson is normally good with comedic bits that inspire sympathy, but in the case of "Millions", he makes Jimmy come across as an irritating dolt that shouldn't even work in the Daily Planet mail room.

Big George, Stacey Tracy and Herbert really should be in an episode of The Dumbest Criminals in Metropolis. Their plan starts out well, even though it's pretty standard. However, when they capture Lois and Jimmy, the stupidity sticks out like a sore thumb. I understand faking a letter from Superman to get Jimmy to bring the cash. Beyond that point, there are more holes in Big George's plan than in the plot of Star Trek: Generations. First, the gang does not bother to search Jimmy or Lois for the money or weapons. Keep in mind, Lois merely put the million dollars in her purse, which can show a lack of intelligence on her part as well if you think about it. Secondly, Jimmy and Lois are locked in a room with a ventilator shaft control cable. Now, the passage doesn't look big enough for them to escape, but smoke signals were sent due, again, to Big George failing to control his prisoners. Had Big George been in seasons one and/or two, he most likely would have made certain that Lois and Jimmy would have more difficulty in calling for help.

In spite of its flaws, "Olsen's Millions" is a million times better than "Test of a Warrior". The first scenes with Mrs. Peabody, Jimmy, Superman and the cats was particularly delightful. Had the conclusion been as entertaining, or at least written and planned better, the entire episode might have been as great as some from the previous years.

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