Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 6 - Episode 3: "Divide and Conquer"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: February 17, 1958

Writers: Robert Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth

Director: Phil Ford

Guest Cast:
Donald Lawton as President Patillo
Robert Tafur as Vice-President Obreon
Everett Glass as Professor Lucerne
Jack Reitzen as Philippe Gonzalez
Jack Littlefield as the Prison Guard

"Divide and Conquer"

Our story takes us to South America, where Daily Planet editor Perry White and reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent are speaking with President Patillo about placing a Latin American edition of the newspaper in the country. In the meantime, Vice-President Obreon is conspiring with cabinet member Philippe Gonzalez. A briefcase containing a bomb has been placed in Patillo's office. It is to go off at noon. Once the device eliminates the president, Obreon can take his place and rule with an iron fist. Patillo has been doing everything he can to help his people, and this does not sit well with his second-in-command. Obreon, however, did not count on Superman's preventing the vile act of terrorism. Clark, having forced Perry and Lois out of the office, heard the ticking before changing into the costumed hero. The Man of Steel's impervious body took the brunt of the explosion, thereby saving Patillo. Unfortunately, to cover his tracks, Obreon uses the law to assist him. Anyone who is seen at the scene of an assassination attempt must be placed in prison. This includes Superman. President Patillo protests until Obreon points out that if he beaks the law, he will be replaced. Superman has no choice but to turn himself in to the authorities. With the Last Son of Krypton in jail, there may be no way to stop Vice-President Obreon from succeeding in his vile schemes to take over the land.

Knowing that President Patillo will be impeached should he break out of his cell, Superman must figure out a way to keep the foreign leader safe. He asks Lois and Perry to contact an old friend named Professor Lucerne. He has helped the Metropolis Marvel on numerous occasions. Once he's arrived, Lucerne explains about the molecular density of any form of matter. Superman's atoms are packed closer together. This is what makes him have his superhuman abilities. If the particles that make up our hero could be spread apart, perhaps he could be two people. Should he decide to do this, both Supermen would only be half as powerful. Bullets could hurt him, and even flying would be difficult. Plus, Superman might not be able to bring both halves back together. He will have to do much pondering, for if he chooses to try Professor Lucerne's theories, he will not be at his normally titanic peak. If Superman does not act, the life of President Patillo could be in grave danger.

Superman has succeeded in splitting himself into two people. One has broken out of prison with the other's aid as he was not strong enough to pull the cell window's bars alone. As the double flies away, Superman remains incarcerated after placing the bars back where they belong. In the meantime, President Patillo has told Lois and Perry that he will dissolve the country's government, which would leave both Vice-President Obreon and himself out of office. Patillo wants the people to decide who their leaders should be. Will his plan succeed before another attempt is made on his life, or will Superman be too late to save the day?

Believing Clark Kent is Superman because he hasn't been seen since our hero went to prison, Lois has gone with Perry to the mild mannered reporter's hotel room. The second Caped Wonder is actually pretending to need rest after the bombing in the president's office as Clark. He has learned that Lois intends to interview Obreon in effort to trap him. Patillo suspects that the vice-president is trying to kill him. It is for this reason he wants a new election. This does not sit well with Obreon, who reveals his intentions after Lois leaves his office. Should there be a new ruling power, Obreon will no longer be vice-president, and won't be able to get his hands on the mines that provide for the country's economy with its jobs and rich minerals. The vicious politician will have to work fast to make certain President Patillo is not able to bring about a new era of hope for the Latin American land. What Vice-President Obreon does not realize is that Superman will do his best to stop him at any cost even with only half his strength.

President Patillo, Lois and Perry are taking an inspection tour of some abandoned mines in San Gabrielle. Philippe Gonzalez and Vice-President Obreon hide as they wait for them to enter. When a detonator's plunger is pushed down, dynamite will cause a cave-in that will trap the trio. Obreon and Gonzalez know from the prison guard that Superman is still in his cell. The villains are confident that they will be able to commit their act of sabotage without any interference. They'll be in for a surprise should they learn that there are actually two Men of Steel.

Tons of rock bury President Patillo, Lois, Perry and two bodyguards in the mine. Obreon spreads a rumor that Superman escaped prison to attempt to assassinate Patillo. An angry mob is outside screaming for justice. Superman is worried when Obreon arrives with the shocking news. He will free the Last Son of Krypton if he cannot bend the cell bars. He is unable to do so. Now, Superman can leave through the front door without any problems. However, he prefers to use the window from which his duplicate escaped. The guard's bullet strikes and hurts Superman as he flies to save the president and his friends. In the meantime, the second Superman is there having difficulties moving a simple stone. Things look grim for Lois and the rest of the group. Can both Men of Tomorrow pull themselves together in time for a rescue that could help put the South American country's new government into place?

As Vice-President Obreon and Philippe Gonzalez prepare a document that will put the mines in their control in order to line their pockets with money, the two Supermen have become one person again. The Man of Steel burrows underground to create a new tunnel. In addition to the president, his bodyguards, Lois and Perry being free, a new vein of ore has been discovered. Patillo tells of this when he and Superman confront Obreon and Gonzalez about the assassination attempt. Obreon is confident nobody can prove he tried to kill President Patillo. However, Superman reveals that his and Gonzalez's fingerprints are on the detonator box that caused the cave-in. Now, the only governing the corrupt politicians Philippe Gonzalez and Vice-President Obreon will do will take place in a prison cell thanks to Superman. Perhaps they will even get the same one he was in.

Lois and Perry are at Clark's hotel room. Both are exasperated by his weakness while they were in grave danger and cabled the story to the Daily Planet in Metropolis. They even find it ridiculous that Lois believed that Clark was Superman, especially after he was in jail while Clark apparently rested his nerves.

"I do see what you mean though," Clark says. "It's difficult even for Superman to be in two places at once."

4Rating - 4 (out of 5): Donald Lawton had uncredited cameos in the Alfred Hitchcock films To Catch a Thief and The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Robert Tafur was Father Ripero in 1954's Green Fire and a priest in Evilspeak.

Everett Glass will reprise his role of Professor Lucerne in "The Mysterious Cube".

Jack Reitzen played Chopstick Joe in Terry and the Pirates. He also was a Russian in 1952's Invasion USA, which also featured both Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill.

Jack Littlefield will return in the final episode "All That Glitters".

Look closely at George Reeves' arms when Superman saves the president from the bomb. They change positions between close-ups and far shots.

This is the first time Superman ever split into two beings, but it would not be the last. Superman #162 would show a pair of Supermen in 1963 in "The Amazing Story of Superman-Red and Superman-Blue!". An updated version was done in 1998 in the "Superman Red/Superman Blue" story arc that ran through the various Superman comic books of the time.

I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised by what I have seen in season six so far. Granted, it still cannot compare to the first two years of fifty-two black and white episodes, but things are back on track again with good stories that are entertaining and engaging. "Divide and Conquer" is another great example of what The Adventures of Superman should be, a quality show for people of all ages.

Some purists out there might not like seeing Superman split into two people because that was not among his powers in the comics at the time this episode aired. However, I found that it worked well in the episode. The pair of heroes with half the power was honestly an incredible concept that would later be used for the Man of Steel's later four color adventures and also in Star Trek. The story of "Divide and Conquer" was executed stupendously, and George Reeves really rises to the challenge of playing a double. This just adds to the magic of the half hour.

For all its wonderful aspects, there are some key elements missing. For example, we don't know the name of the South American country in which Patillo is president. It's never mentioned throughout the episode. We do get Vice-President Obreon's first name in a scene in the beginning. Hernando is written on his door. Yet, we have no indication of Patillo's moniker. In fact, there's nothing in the president's office to indicate it. Small, important details like that should be given to the audience.

The villains in "Divide and Conquer" are similar to those in "King For a Day". However, unlike those nefarious baddies, Vice-President Obreon and Philippe Gonzalez are written to be heavies instead of a slapstick comedy team. Jack Reitzen's performance does feel a little bland in spots, but he and Robert Tafur really pulled off decent acting as this episode's antagonists.

In spite of some minor flaws, "Divide and Conquer" helps the viewer to understand why The Adventures of Superman is so beloved by fans of both television and the Man of Steel. It's an episode that really contains all the great elements that make the show such a treat for audiences of all ages. I recommend you watch this one as soon as possible. You certainly won't regret it, and you'll have a fun thirty minutes upon which to feast your eyes.



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