Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 2 - Episode 26: "Around the World With Superman"

Original Broadcast Date: March 08, 1954

Writer: Jackson Gillis

Director: Thomas Carr

Guest Cast:
Judy Nugent as Ann Carson
Kay Morley as Elaine Carson
Raymond Greenleaf as Doctor Anderson
Patrick Aherne as Mister Murray
Max Wagner as the Shortwave Radio Operator
James Brown as Jim Carson

"Around the World With Superman"

The Daily Planet is holding a contest for the children of Metropolis. Superman will read letters that tell what the world means to them. The winner will fly around the globe with the Man of Tomorrow. Superman has chosen little Elaine Carson to go with him. However, there are some problems that Superman, in his guise of reporter Clark Kent, and Lois Lane discover. Elaine is an adult, and her daughter Ann, without her knowledge, wrote the essay. Ann is visually impaired, but that's not all. Ann does not believe that Superman really exists.

Ann goes on to explain that she merely used her mother's name because first, she wanted her to see the world in the way the girl does in spite of her blindness. Plus, Elaine works so hard to support Ann since her father Jim left home after an automobile accident cost Ann her sight. Unfortunately, Elaine does not want any kind of publicity for herself or her daughter. She even becomes angry when Jimmy Olsen takes Ann's picture. Now, Elaine Carson has threatened to take legal action against the Daily Planet should anything about her or Ann be published. It looks like Superman and his friends have their work cut out for them.

Rival newspapers like the Daily Blade are calling the Planet's contest a fraud. It is for this reason that editor Perry White ran the story about Ann winning before getting word of Elaine's reaction. The staff must investigate Elaine's reasons for not wanting the attention in hopes of convincing her to let Ann go around the world with Superman. Meanwhile Clark Kent is speaking with Ann's physician Doctor Anderson. The finest X-ray equipment has been unable to find the cause of her loss of sight. Kent thinks he knows a way to discover it. He just needs Lois to talk to Elaine Carson while he performs an impossible feat. The mild mannered reporter must make Ann believe in Superman.

Time is of the essence for Lois and Clark because it looks like the Carsons have their things packed to leave Metropolis. As Lois waits for Elaine downstairs, Clark, saying that he's Superman, enters the apartment. He shows her that Superman is very strong by bending a fireplace poker that both he and Ann are holding. The visually impaired girl still has her doubts. However. Clark asks her to whisper something while he is in another room. Her words are so private that she possibly doesn't want even Superman to hear them.

"I want my daddy back home again."

While waiting for Elaine Carson to come home, Lois meets Mister Murray. Ann's mother reveals that he is her husband's attorney. Jim Carson was driving the car when the family was in the accident that caused Ann's blindness. Elaine said some horrible things while blaming Jim for the crash. Now, the couple speaks through their lawyers. Lois realizes that she, Clark and Superman have to do more than merely have Ann win a contest. They must somehow bring a family together again.

Superman has given Elaine, Ann and Lois some good news. He has discovered a tiny sliver of glass lodged in Ann's optic nerve. With the Metropolis Marvel's guidance, Doctor Anderson could remove it. If all goes well, Ann Carson will be able to see once again.

The operation was a success. Ann has come out of her surgery and is ready to see the world on her flight with Superman. Everyone can keep track of their progress thanks to a shortwave radio operator's reports. Meanwhile, Lois has led Elaine Carson into her office, where a surprise awaits. This could be a time of great joy for the Carson family.

Ann is enjoying seeing the world with Superman. As they fly over Arabia, he says that her father was there. This and other phrases from Superman make Ann curious, but that will have to wait until they return to Metropolis. Something big is coming for Ann, and it could change her life forever.

Superman and Ann have finished their trip around the world. However, another surprise awaits her in Lois' office. Jim Carson has returned to his wife and daughter. The family has finally reconciled. This touches the hearts of both Lois and Superman, but a look from Lois gives Superman the impression that she has intentions to raise a family. He runs off before Lois can act on them.

Rating - 4 (out of 5): 1954 was the year Judy Nugent played visually impaired characters. She did so in this and in an episode of Annie Oakley entitled "Valley of the Shadows". She also portrayed Jet Maypen in 1958's Walt Disney Presents: Annette. On a side note, June Lockhart's daughter Anne was married to Judy Nugent's son Adam C. Taylor.

Kay Morley disappeared from the acting scene after 1954, but you can see her in films like The Princess and the Pirate and television shows like The Lone Ranger.

Raymond Greenleaf played many roles, including Judge Monte Stanton in 1949's All the King's Men. This was his only appearance in The Adventures of Superman.

Patrick Aherne's filmography includes uncredited roles in The Man Who Knew Too Much and 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still. He'll return to The Adventures of Superman in season four's "The Jolly Roger".

Max Wagner had uncredited parts in Donovan's Brain, East of Eden and the original Ocean's Eleven. One of his most famous roles is Sgt. Major Rinaldi in 1953's Invaders from Mars.

This particular James Brown didn't sing "I Feel Good", but he was good as Lt. Ripley 'Rip' Masters in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.

"Around the World With Superman" would be the last time Jackson Gillis and Thomas Carr would work together on an episode of The Adventures of Superman. Carr went on to direct other projects, but Gillis would remain with the series through season four.

This episode is adapted from the story "The Girl Who Didn't Believe in Superman", which appeared in Superman #96, cover dated March 1955.

Supposedly, some footage of an optic nerve was removed from this episode and replaced with Superman explaining the cause of Ann's blindness and helping Doctor Anderson with the surgery.

This episode honestly deserves a five, but a great big plot hole the size of New Krypton prevents that. A letter was written by Ann using her mother's name. Her mother knows nothing about it and acts like she's done this before. There's just one problem. How could a blind girl in 1954 write without help? I'm no expert on the visually impaired, but I'm willing to bet much of the ambulatory aids of this day and age didn't exist. Somebody most likely would have to assist her, yet nobody is ever mentioned. I'm surprised this detail was overlooked by Jackson Gillis, Thomas Carr, Whitney Ellsworth and company.

The closing scene shows, for lack of a better term, the immaturity of how some creators view Lois and Superman's relationship. He can't be a superhero while having a family? I find that way of thinking a bit ridiculous. I have the same problem with Superman II and the fact Superman and Lois in the comic books cannot have children because he's an alien. If Jor-El knew that Krypton was going to be destroyed, and he believed that his son would be the sole survivor. Surely, being the most important scientist on the planet, he could do something to make Kal-El genetically compatible with a human. That's only my point of view. I just feel the conclusion of "Around the World With Superman" should have been handled differently.

I will be honest with you. Upon my first viewing of "Around the World With Superman", I did find Ann to be slightly irritating in the beginning. However, with further analysis of the episode, I came to realize that she has a right to be the way she is. Whereas one could have trouble believing the first scene with Isa Ashdown in season one's "The Birthday Letter", Judy Nugent provides viewers with a stupendous performance throughout the show. It's a pity she never appeared in more of The Adventures of Superman. She especially seemed to work well with George Reeves.

"Around the World With Superman" is a heart warming change of pace from previous Carr and Gillis collaborations. For one thing, there is no villain in the episode. Secondly, Superman is showing a humanitarian side. Sure, he always does this when rescuing people, but in this case, there are no gangsters to knock around. There's more to the character than that, and it shows here. He's trying to help a blind girl get her sight and her father back in order to bring her family together. This is something that, in my humble opinion, gives the audience an idea what really put the "super" in Superman.

If you want an entertaining episode of The Adventures of Superman with great acting, fantastic visual effects, engaging characters, and a story that tugs at your heartstrings, watch "Around the World With Superman". It will make you feel good inside and give you a better understanding of what makes Kal-El live up to the name Superman.

Season Rating - 4 (out of 5): Mathematically, both seasons one and two deserve a four. However, the second year of The Adventures of Superman has given us "The Defeat of Superman", "The Face and the Voice" and "Panic in the Sky" among others. Those are some of the best episodes in the entire series. In my opinion, that makes it slightly better than year one. In general, the first twenty-six entries are great, but the viewer can really see that the show is testing the waters, so to speak, to see what works well and what doesn't. Like with the first batch of stories, there are some weak ones among numbers twenty-seven through fifty-two, but cast and crew alike pulled off some really classic moments that will be remembered for many years to come.

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