Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 3 - Episode 11: "Flight to the North"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: October 01, 1955

Writer: David Chantler

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
Chuck Connors as Sylvester J. Superman
Ben Welden as "Leftover" Louie Lyman
Marjorie Owens as Margie Holloway
Richard Garland as Steve Emmet
George Chandler as Herman Hicks, the Hotel Manager
Ralph Sanford as Buckets

"Flight to the North"

A tall, muscular person in overalls has just entered the Crumbly Hotel with his mule Lilly Belle. Herman Hicks, the manager, cannot believe what he sees at the reception desk. He is even more befuddled by the name of the new guest. He is Sylvester J. Superman, and he's come all the way from the hamlet of Skunk Hollow in Skunk Hollow County to see Metropolis. Hicks believes that Superman is, well, Superman in disguise. He is especially convinced of this after Sylvester bends a crowbar into a horseshoe. Hicks even allows Lilly Belle to stay in the room with her master. The young man is surprised to find such hospitality when he registers. Little does country boy Sylvester J. Superman realize that his first trip to the big city will be one he will surely never forget.

"Leftover" Louie Lyman has spent the past five years in the state penitentiary thanks to articles written by Clark Kent in the Daily Planet. Now, Lyman is waiting for Kent in the mild mannered reporter's office to give him a piece of his mind. However, Kent, who has just returned after rescuing people as Superman, tells the gangster that he isn't afraid of him. Lyman will have to keep an eye out for both Clark Kent and Superman if he doesn't stay out of trouble.

Leftover has returned to his room, which happens to be in the same hotel in which Sylvester J. Superman is staying. There, Lyman finds his partner and friend Buckets. They discuss his time in the state prison. What he missed the most while there was lemon meringue pie. Buckets remembers how well his Aunt Tillie could make them. In Lyman's eyes, however, nobody baked them like Margie Holloway. When Louie was a boy, he would get a dollar for cutting the Holloway lawn, and young Margie would bring him a piece of lemon meringue pie. This causes a debate between Lyman and Buckets, which results in a bet. Both men have to bring said dessert from their favorite bakers to the hotel by 6:00 PM on Thursday. A newsboy will be the impartial judge. The one that brings the best sweet will win half of the fifty-thousand dollars that Louie has stashed away. Anyone who does not bring a pie loses automatically. Both Buckets and "Leftover" Louie Lyman are going to have their work cut out for them with this wager.

Sylvester J. Superman is reading the classified ads in the Daily Planet when something catches his eye. Margie Holloway has written Superman to ask for help. A confused Sylvester believes that her words are meant for him. Little do he and Lilly Belle realize that this case of mistaken identity will lead them on one of the greatest adventures of their lives.

Clark Kent has also read Margie's request for Superman. He heads for her address not knowing that he will meet up with another Superman very soon. In the meantime, "Leftover" Louie Lyman is trying everything he can to get his hands on the lemon meringue pie she has just made. However, it's meant for her fiance Steve Emmet, who is stationed in an air force radio shack in Iceville, Alaska. She promised Steve to never bake for anyone else. This won't stop Louie. He'll do anything he can to have the delicious dessert.

Sylvester J. Superman has arrived in the nick of time as Louie does not wish to have a witness to his crime. He reluctantly leaves. Sylvester merely introduces himself as Superman to Margie. She has her doubts and expects to see the familiar red cape and blue tights. However, Sylvester moves her piano by himself, convincing Margie that he could very well be the Man of Steel. Sylvester J. Superman and his mule Lilly Belle will soon begin a voyage they will surely never forget.

Clark Kent has arrived to talk to Margie about why she needs Superman. She tells both Kent and uh, Superman that only Superman could fly her lemon meringue pie to Steve in Iceville, Alaska to make sure it's fresh. She has given money for charity in exchange for the delivery. Kent is curious to see how Sylvester will accomplish his mission. He personally believes that the real Superman should do the job, but Sylvester won't give the sweet dessert to anyone besides Steve Emmet. Things get more interesting when "Leftover" Louie Lyman unsuccessfully tries to buy the pie from Sylvester. Both Clark Kent and Superman have their hands full keeping Louie out of trouble and making sure that Sylvester J. Superman doesn't get into too much danger running an errand meant for the Man of Steel.

Steve Emmet cannot believe his eyes. He thinks the time in the radio shack by himself has driven him insane. There is a towering man in overalls with a mule in front of him. The man has a box in his hand. Thanks to an airplane, Sylvester J. Superman and Lilly Belle have succeeded in their task of delivering Margie Holloway's lemon meringue pie to Steve. However, his own words about the situation ring true as both man and mule enter the cabin to get warmed up.

"The Air Force is never gonna believe this."

Clark Kent has gone to Crumbly Hotel to look for "Leftover" Louie Lyman. Herman Hicks has told him that the gangster has rented an airplane with skis. This can mean only one thing. Lyman intends to steal the lemon meringue pie from Steve and Sylvester. Superman will have to make the most of his superhuman speed if he is to stop the theft of the delicious sweet treat.

As Superman flies to Alaska, Lyman has stolen the lemon meringue pie from Steve. He is making his getaway in the ski plane. "Leftover" Louie Lyman is now one step closer to winning the twenty-five thousand dollar bet with Buckets.

Superman has just met Superman as the Man of Tomorrow searches for Louie. As if to answer our hero's enquiries about him, Lyman radios that his plane was forced down by ice on the wings. Using a portable transmitter in a cave in which he is trapped, Louie asks for help. Superman flies to the rescue leaving Steve Emmet to believe that his madness is increasing. Sylvester J. Superman, on the other hand, is shocked to see a man soar through the air. There are more surprises in store for Skunk Hollow's favorite son as his adventure continues.

Louie has been rescued by Superman, and the pie has been returned to Steve. Sylvester and Lilly Belle take Lyman back to Metropolis while the Last Son of Krypton explains the situation to Steve. Some time has passed. Louie is now in his room at the Crumbly Hotel trying to keep warm. Buckets, in the meantime, enters. Both gangsters do not have a pie, making the bet invalid. They have both seen the error of their ways and intend to go straight. They tell this to a visiting Clark Kent and Sylvester J. Superman. Both men are happy about this. However, Sylvester and Lilly Belle do not feel right in the city. They will return home to Skunk Hollow, where Sylvester can be just plain Superman.

"And the best of luck to you, Superman," Kent replies to Sylvester with a handshake.

"And you too, Lilly Belle," Kent says to the mule with a smile.

3Rating - 3 (out of 5): Chuck Connors is perhaps one of the most famous actors to guest star in The Adventures of Superman. With numerous film and television show credits to his name, Connors has been the protagonist of such shows as The Rifleman and Branded, and he played the Sarge in the comedy Airplane.

Ben Welden is something of a regular face seen on The Adventures of Superman. He'll return for season four's "Topsy Turvy".

Marjorie Owens primarily made guest appearances in various television series. She mainly only did one episode of the shows she was in, with the exception of U.S. Marshal. She played the role of Mrs. Gantry twice.

Richard Garland had quite a career in cult films. His credits include The Undead and Attack of the Crab Monsters, the latter of which was directed by Roger Corman. It was on a double bill with Corman's Not of This Earth, which starred Beverly Garland, who had been married to Richard from 1952-1956. Both films were released one year after their divorce. Beverly Garland would later play Lois Lane's mother in seasons two through four of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

George Chandler will be back in next season's "Blackmail".

Ralph Sanford will be remembered as George, the customer in the diner in "My Friend Superman". Look for him as Joe the bartender in The Forty-Niners.

If you're looking for a serious episode of The Adventures of Superman, you'll most likely be disappointed by "Flight to the North". For all intents and purposes, this is a comedic episode, and it's performed as such, unlike "Test of a Warrior" and "The Bully of Dry Gulch". Those efforts were not meant to be funny. Yet, the execution of their final product leaves the opposite impression on the audience.

"Flight to the North" honestly merits something between a four and a five. However, one thing drops the quality of it one or two points. Chuck Connors is a fine actor who has done pretty much every genre of film and television. Unfortunately, his performance as Sylvester J. Superman is all over the place. What I mean is one minute, he's trying too hard, and the next, he acts like he'd rather be elsewhere. He doesn't seem to have a handle on his character. Plus, there is a moment in Connors' scenes with George Reeves where there seems to be some sort of animosity or tension between the two men. The mule Lilly Belle did better than Chuck Connors in this one.

Ben Welden seems to work best as the comedic villain in The Adventures of Superman. "The Dog Who Knew Superman" shows us proof of this. Unlike Chuck Connors, Welden seems to have a lot of fun with his part in "Flight to the North". It's a pity that there were not more scenes of Welden with Ralph Sanford. Sanford didn't seem to have the connection Billy Nelson does with Welden, but they did work well together in "Flight to the North".

"Flight to the North," in spite of Chuck Connors, was still a delightful change of pace that will put a smile on the gloomiest of faces. I especially got a kick out of seeing Lilly Belle. That mule was just so darn lovable. Even George Reeves seemed to be happy to be near her in the closing scene. If you're having a bad day, watch this episode. The comedic story will certainly give you a smile or, at the very least, make you want a lemon meringue pie, and that's always a good thing.



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