Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 4 - Episode 10: "Blackmail"

Original Broadcast Date: May 26, 1956

Writers: David Chantler and Oliver Drake

Director: Harry Gerstad

Guest Cast:
George Chandler as Bates
Selmer Jackson as the Police Commissioner
Sid Tomack as Eddie Perkins
Herb Vigran as Arnold Woodman

"Blackmail"

Half a million dollars in payroll money has been stolen by a gang led by the mysterious Mister Big. Superman has captured one of his men, a small time thug named Bates. The flight with the Man of Steel to Metropolis Police Inspector Bill Henderson's office has shaken Bates up. However, he's not scared enough to reveal Mister Big's identity and whereabouts. Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent has an idea for a plan that involves Bates intentionally escaping while Henderson takes him to the county jail. Bates can be followed to the thieves' hideout by Henderson's men once he is free. If Kent's plan works, Mister Big could be captured. If it fails, Inspector Henderson could risk losing everything he's worked so hard to create in his career.

Bates has knocked out Henderson. His getaway is front page news. The inspector's men are currently tailing Bates as he telephones Arnold Woodman, the notorious Mister Big. Woodman and his other partner Eddie Perkins have been hiding in a bomb shelter with walls that are lined with lead. Bates had been hired by Woodman to steal Henderson's files on Mister Big's gang. Instead, the criminal's instincts to flee got the better of him. In spite of this, Arnold has an idea. He intends to blackmail Inspector Henderson with twenty-thousand dollars. If Mister Big succeeds with his vicious plot, even Superman may not be able to get Henderson out of trouble with his superiors.

Everything Woodman needs to begin ruining Inspector Henderson has been set into motion. If Bill doesn't give Eddie everything he has on the payroll robbery, all of Metropolis will believe the inspector took a bribe to free Bates from prison. The money has been planted, and poor Henderson's hands are tied. Arnold Woodman may have just succeeded in making Inspector Henderson look like the very type of criminal whom he has fought against for years.

Clark Kent arrives at Henderson's office just as Eddie leaves. Woodman and Eddie are clearly worried. Fortunately, Bates being a fugitive can work to Mister Big's advantage. A letter written by Bates should get Clark's attention. Bates will give himself up only if Kent meets him in the shack where Superman captured him. Little do the criminals realize that Clark will never even read the note. Lois Lane spilled ink on the envelope and intends to go with Jimmy Olsen to meet with Bates. In addition to that, Mister Big is prepared with a weapon that is so powerful it could even defeat and possibly destroy Superman. If that happens, Arnold Woodman will be the most powerful gangster in Metropolis.

Lois and Jimmy are prisoners held at gunpoint by Eddie. Jimmy, in possession of a stethoscope he and Lois used to eavesdrop on Clark and Inspector Henderson earlier, tricks the hypochondriac Eddie into believing he's a doctor. Eventually, Jimmy knocks out Eddie, and both he and Lois tie up the gangster. Unfortunately, they are unaware of the blackmail. Lois and Jimmy's eagerness to help in the Mister Big case could cost Inspector Henderson his job. What will the future hold for the beloved officer of the law?

Inspector Henderson is saddened by the latest news. He's to go with the police commissioner, two uniformed officers and Eddie Perkins to a location where the twenty-thousand dollar bribe can be found. Things look bad for Henderson at this moment. If Clark Kent doesn't work fast as Superman, his friend's career and life could be ruined forever.

As the police commissioner and Henderson head for the Central Bus Depot, Clark finds the key to locker number 770 hidden in the front passenger side fender of Inspector Henderson's car. Superman flies at great speeds to get to the terminal before Henderson and the others. When the commissioner opens 770 with the master key, he, Henderson and Eddie find the lock a little difficult, but they soon discover that there is nothing where the bag of money should be. Angered, Eddie lets it slip that he planted the cash. He also reveals that Mister Big is Arnold Woodman. He and Arnold were hiding out in a bomb shelter in the back of 85 Chestnut Street. With Eddie Perkins going to jail and Inspector Henderson cleared of all charges, all Superman must do is confront Arnold Woodman. Will he stop Mister Big, or will the villain's new weapon destroy the Man of Steel forever?

Mister Big's new gun literally blows up in his face. Now, he, like the rest of his gang, will spend the rest of his life in prison. Superman has brought yet another criminal to justice. However, he isn't so lucky as Clark Kent. Lois and Jimmy have been given raises for writing the story of Arnold Woodman's arrest, but poor Clark has nothing. However, Superman is sufficiently satisfied that Inspector Henderson will continue to fight crime in Metropolis.

Rating - 3 (out of 5): You'll recall George Chandler as Scratchy in "The Face and The Voice" and hotel manager Herman Hicks in "Flight to the North". However, he is best known for the role of Uncle Petrie Martin in Lassie.

Selmer Jackson was in the episodes "Double Trouble" and "Jet Ace". Look for him in 1940s The Grapes of Wrath and The Ape.

Sid Tomack will be back in season six for "Three in One".

Herb Vigran will return for season five's "Mister Zero".

The bomb shelter is the same set used in "The Girl Who Hired Superman".

What we have here is an episode that merits a four or five for its story, but there are moments when "Blackmail" moves at a snail's pace. Certain scenes go extremely slow. This disrupts the entire rhythm of the final product.

It's great to have an episode that centers on Inspector Henderson, and Robert Shayne does give a fine performance in most of "Blackmail". However, there are some scenes in Henderson's office when it feels like Shayne's heart isn't fully into his acting. As a result, the good inspector seems out of character at times.

Arnold Woodman and his gang really work well as villains in "Blackmail". Herb Vigran seems more at ease with this role this time around. He seemed to struggle a bit in "Superman Week". The one actor who feels out of place is George Chandler. His dialog sounds, for lack of a better term, way too sleepy. Had someone else played the part, or had Chandler delivered his lines differently, Bates perhaps would not have been such a wasted character.

Finally, Lois and Jimmy were able to get out of trouble without Superman saving them. The Adventures of Superman normally follows a formula for each episode. Something happens. Lois and Jimmy think it leads to a story, only to be captured by the week's bad guy. Superman has to rescue them. That's all well and good, and it works well for the series. However, it is refreshing to see the cast and crew break away from the usual plot devices from time to time.

All and all, "Blackmail" is not without its rough spots. In spite of that, it's a decent episode for fans of Inspector Henderson, or the entire series for that matter, to enjoy. It does drag somewhere in the middle. Still, I felt it was an entertaining effort.

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