Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 10: "The Face and the Voice"

Original Broadcast Date: November 16, 1953

Writer: Jackson Gillis

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
George Reeves as Boulder
Carleton G. Young as Fairchild
Percy Helton as Hamlet
George Chandler as Scratchy
William Newell as Grocery Store Clerk
Nolan Leary as Jewelry Store Guard
Sam Balter as The Radio Announcer
I. Stanford Jolley as The Plastic Surgeon
Hayden Rorke as Tom

"The Face and the Voice"

Boulder was a broken down thug until the mysterious Mister Fairchild hired him. Fairchild has plans that require Boulder to go through extensive plastic surgery and voice training. Once that is done, the city of Metropolis, and perhaps the entire world, will tremble at the criminal's feet.

Fairchild's nervous henchman Scratchy has just entered the Daily Planet Building and has made cub reporter Jimmy Olsen believe that he's searching for editor Perry White. Scratchy's true objective is to steal a record from the chief's office. He brings it back to Fairchild as the plastic surgeon removes the bandages from Boulder's face. Shortly afterwards Boulder is given a familiar costume with a red S shield on the chest to model in front of a mirror. Now, thanks to the doctor and Fairchild, Boulder looks exactly like Superman.

Perry is angry because Jimmy isn't one hundred percent sure that the man he saw last night broke into the chief's office. A recording of Superman's Fourth of July speech from last year was taken from his personal files. Meanwhile, a voice coach named Hamlet is using the hero's voice to teach Boulder. In order for Fairchild's plans to succeed, Boulder must look, act and speak like Superman. There is even a bulletproof vest in the costume to make it look as though Boulder is invulnerable. Fairchild intends to make millions in Metropolis while discrediting the Man of Steel. It looks like his plan may be close to succeeding very soon.

With Boulder properly trained, Fairchild can now begin to test if his man can pass himself off as Superman. He asks a confused clerk in a grocery store to give him all the money in the cash register. He does so, but he does not see Superman fly away. The Metropolis Marvel walked out of the market. Stranger still, the stolen one hundred and sixty-five dollars was given to charity. Now, one question is on the minds of everyone in Metropolis, including Clark Kent. Has Superman become some sort of superhuman Robin Hood?

Superman has been seen taking gold and gems from a jewelry store. The security guard shot at him as he ran down a darkened alley. The bullet nicked him. Boulder is now at a getaway car meeting Scratchy, who, with camera in hand, is acting as a witness to the crime. Boulder drives back to Fairchild eager to quit this dangerous impersonation of the Last Son of Krypton until he is reassured that he can have a share of two million dollars in gold coming to the Metropolis Reserve Bank by armored truck. All Boulder is now worried about is the real Man of Steel. However, Fairchild is thoroughly convinced that his evil plot is causing Superman to lose his mind, and the villain could very well be right.

News of Superman's jewelry store robbery is all over Metropolis. Clark believes that he is committing these crimes while he is asleep or that he is losing his grip on his sanity. In the meantime, Jimmy is interviewing an eyewitness to Superman's crime. A flash of recognition hits the cub reporter as he sees the man, for he is Scratchy, the same person who had stolen the phonograph record of Superman's voice from Perry's office. Scratchy now believes that Fairchild's scheme is at risk. He has captured Jimmy in order to eliminate him. With Superman doubting his own mental health, there may be no way to rescue young Mister Olsen from certain death.

Boulder in his Superman guise is in Perry White's office telling the editor that the stolen jewelry is to be given to a local charity for the homeless. Perry is trying to convince the caped hero to see that he is doing wrong with his recent Robin Hood behavior. This angers "Superman", and he has issued a warning to Perry that Metropolis should not make the Man of Tomorrow angry. As a result of this outburst, even Perry White is convinced that Superman has lost his mind.

Tom, a doctor who is a friend of Clark Kent's, has taken a lot of time to make the mild mannered reporter believe that he is not insane. Later, Kent enters Perry's office as the mayor leaves. Orders have been issued to not cross Superman in any way after the Man of Steel had talked with Perry thirty minutes ago. Now more than ever, Superman is extremely determined to learn the truth about what is really going on with the recent crimes committed by the superhuman hero.

As Boulder steals the gold, and Hamlet acts as a witness, Superman is trying to convince Metropolis Police Inspector Bill Henderson that there is someone impersonating him. The frightened Henderson doesn't believe him until he gets a call about Boulder's robbery while the real Man of Steel is in his office. Hamlet's fainting when he sees Superman also decides it for Henderson. All Superman has to do now to clear his name is find Boulder before it's too late.

Fairchild, with a bound and gagged Jimmy as a captive, is waiting for Boulder to arrive with the gold. Boulder drives the armored car to his boss so they can transfer the stolen riches to their vehicle. After Boulder gets in the back of the truck to guard Jimmy, Superman lands in front of Fairchild, who believes that our hero is Boulder. Gun in hand, Fairchild shoots with the intention of cheating Boulder out of his share of the money. Bullets bounce off Superman's face only to hit the gas tank. Fire erupts after Fairchild passes out from fear. Superman then uses his super breath to put out the flames. He rips open the doors and tackles the escaping Boulder. With Jimmy now safe, Superman's name can be cleared of any wrongdoing. Fairchild's plan to discredit the Man of Steel only led to a life in prison for him and his gang.

Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Inspector Henderson are in Mercy General Hospital, where Boulder is waiting for a plastic surgeon to make him look like he did before he had met Fairchild. In spite of going to prison, he is impatient to look like his old self.

"I shoulda known," Boulder says. "It takes more than a face and a voice. There's only one real Superman."

Rating - 5 (out of 5): "The Face and the Voice" features the distinct, raspy voice of Percy Helton. His multitude of roles includes characters in The Green Hornet, The Twilight Zone and Miracle on 34th Street.

Carleton G. Young makes his only appearance in The Adventures of Superman. He can, however, be spotted in such television shows as Perry Mason and The Unexpected.

George Chandler will always be a part of Superman lore. In addition to two more episodes of The Adventures of Superman, he would later play Jonathan Kent in the 1975 television version of the musical It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman.

William Newell primarily played bit parts throughout his career. Check him out in Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Abbott and Costello Show.

Nolan Leary has played the part of a justice of the peace quite a bit. He will even do so for the episode "The Wedding of Superman".

I. Stanford Jolley is perhaps best known as western outlaws. He has played them many times, including in episodes of The Lone Ranger. Look for him to return to Metropolis for "The Stolen Elephant".

The radio announcer says that Superman had knocked the jewelry store guard to the floor. However, Boulder simply ignores him in the actual scene shown to viewers.

A production note on the script's first page says that George Reeves' playing Boulder, Clark Kent and Superman is "probably the first triple identity role in history".

George Reeves was the first actor in The Adventures of Superman to play an additional role besides one of the main characters, but he would not be the last. Jack Larson and Robert Shayne would also do this in future episodes.

Hayden Rorke's scene was not in the original script. His character of Tom also does not appear in the cast sheet. This could explain why Rorke is not listed in the guest cast for "The Face and the Voice". He will eventually get credit as a doctor when he plays Doctor Alfred Bellows in I Dream of Jeannie.

While this is not a direct adaptation, elements from this episode where taken from the 1948 radio serial "Is There Another Superman?".

If you're looking for a great episode to show folks who have never seen The Adventures of Superman, make them watch "The Face and the Voice". It is not only one of the best of season two, it's one of the best of the entire series. There's a compelling story combined with tremendous acting. George Reeves especially handled his triple role perfectly. It's a pity there aren't shows like this one in this day and age.

Lois is conspicuously absent from "The Face and the Voice". Perhaps Noel Neill was rehearsing scenes for another episode. Whatever the case may be for her not being in this, it would have been interesting to see Lois' reaction to Boulder's crimes. Still, in spite of no Lois, this is an incredible entry in the series.

It's honestly a pity that Carleton G. Young didn't do more episodes of The Adventures of Superman. He would have been great as a semi-regular villain along the lines of Lex Luthor. His delivery of dialogue and mannerisms make him perfect as an elegant, well-to-do member of Metropolis society that is also a cold and calculating criminal.

I had said before that George Reeves did superbly playing three characters. I would be completely remiss if I did not devote a few words on how well he made the transition from mild mannered reporter to superhero to a thug pretending to be the Man of Steel. Reeves performed masterfully and showed the audience that he was an amazing actor who could do a wide variety of parts. It's a pity we never got to see more from him. He would have been perfect for a one man show.

I cannot stress enough how fantastic "The Face and the Voice" is. Top notch acting combined with superb directing and a well written story give the fans of The Adventures of Superman an episode that will make them feel the intensity of the action and psychological drama as both Clark Kent and Superman set out to prove to everyone in Metropolis, including themselves, that they are not insane criminals. I wish there were more gems like this out there.

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