Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 4 - Episode 12: "The Phantom Ring"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: June 09, 1956

Writer: David Chantler

Director: Phil Ford

Guest Cast:
Lane Bradford as Joe
George Brand as the Jewelry Store Clerk
Peter Brocco as the Spectre
Paul Burke as Rosy
Ed Hinton as Al
Henry Rowland as Luke

"The Phantom Ring"

A rash of robberies throughout Metropolis has both the authorities and reporters for the Daily Planet baffled. No one was seen taking the merchandise from various shops and establishments in the city. Editor Perry White is screaming for this mysterious case to be solved. The closest thing to a lead comes to Clark Kent in the form of a homing pigeon. A note is in the box in which the bird was delivered. It is signed by the Spectre, the mastermind behind this crime wave. If Kent wants to learn more about the recent thefts, he's to send a reply with the feathered messenger. No police are to be involved. However, nothing is said about Superman. Clark Kent may need his costumed alter ego if he is to make any progress in this investigation.

As Superman follows the pigeon, the Spectre's gang is counting money and assessing what they had stolen. A machine hidden behind a lead lined wall is activated to make the Spectre feel more secure. Its radar shows that something is following the bird sent to Clark Kent. Suddenly, the thieves become invisible. Even Superman sees nothing and nobody when he enters the Spectre's hideout. Meanwhile, the Man of Steel's involvement in the case may have complicated things for his civilian identity of the mild mannered reporter. The Spectre intends to find a way to eliminate both men. It looks like this new adventure has become more strange and dangerous for both Clark Kent and Superman.

Metropolis Police Inspector Bill Henderson and Clark are having no luck in finding the Spectre and his gang. Nobody has seen them. Yet, doors are opened before money, gems and other valuables are discovered missing. This leads Clark to theorize the impossible. The thieves are invisible. However, even he has trouble believing this. By the time Clark learns the truth, the Spectre could find a way to stop him and Superman. The Metropolis Marvel will have to work fast in both of his identities if he is to prevent another robbery.

The clerk at the Apex Jewelry Store has just put fifty thousand dollars in precious gems on display when the door opens. However, no one is seen entering. As the salesman turns his back, the case is emptied. He finds the stones gone and calls the police. Henderson and Clark listen to his story. This makes Clark's hypothesis seem more sound in spite of the inspector's disbelief. As Clark and Henderson debate the issue, the front door once again opens and closes on its own, providing Clark with more proof that he may be right. How can he stop a crime ring that he cannot even see with Superman's powerful vision?

The Spectre is clearly worried. The crime wave has been a success so far, but Clark Kent is getting too close to the truth about it. The Spectre intends to arrange a little accident that will hopefully rid him of the mild mannered reporter. Even Superman may not be able to save himself from an assassin whom he cannot see.

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen are worried about Clark. They even wish to be able to contact Superman. After they enter Clark's office, something unusual happens. A voice speaks to them, and a gun is pointed at them. However, the thug pointing it is not seen. He is taking Lois and Jimmy to the Spectre. Clearly, they are part of the villain's plan to eliminate Clark. Will Superman stop the maniacal Spectre before his friends meet certain death?

The Spectre's latest note to Clark has ordered him to charter an airplane. He does so not realizing that he has two unseen passengers - the Spectre and his henchman Rosy. The criminal mastermind explains that coins carried by his gang can make them invisible. One thief is outside the Metropolis Bank. At 3:00 PM, he will disappear to steal money. Meanwhile, the Spectre and Rosy have "knocked out" Clark and thrown him from the aircraft. Little do the villains realize that, very soon, they will have to deal with Superman.

Having ordered the Spectre's man Luke to go to Inspector Henderson, Superman has the thief's invisibility coin. He uses it to enter the Spectre's cabin hideout. In this way, the criminal's radar cannot detect him. The fight between the Spectre's gang and Superman is no contest as they are knocked around with ease. Jimmy and Lois are freed to discover the unconscious Spectre and his thugs. The now visible Man of Steel tells Lois and Jimmy that Clark Kent was saved before falling to his death. Lois believes that poor Clark was scared out of his wits.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, Miss Lane," Superman comments. "I thought he took it rather well... for Clark Kent that is."

3Rating - 3 (out of 5): From the Omitted Facts Department in Argo City:

"The Deadly Rock" is adapted from the story "Superman's Last Hour" that appeared in Superman #92, cover dated September 1954. Now, back to our regularly scheduled review.

Lane Bradford was Marex in the movie serial Zombies of the Stratosphere, which also starred a young Leonard Nimoy as Narab.

George Brand was primarily a music editor through most of his career in show business. He's worked on such films as Yentl, The Godfather Part II, Cobra, Over the Top (both starring Sylvester Stallone) and David Lynch's adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction classic Dune.

Peter Brocco is perhaps best known for his role of Ramon in Sparticus.

Paul Burke played Lyon Burke in Valley of the Dolls.

Ed Hinton can be seen in 1955's Devil Goddess, starring Johnny Weissmuller.

Henry Rowland can be found in the Russ Meyer films Super Vixens, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens. Look for him in the third season episode of The Incredible Hulk "Brain Child" as Doctor Bruno.

As Superman flies to the bank after Clark is pushed out of the airplane, his S shield is backwards.

The Spectre is not to be confused with the DC Comics character of the same name that was created by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily.

There's something that really bothers me about this and the Lois & Clark episode from season one titled "I'm Looking Through You". Superman cannot see the invisible criminals. Okay, in Lois & Clark, it's explained that he needs visible light to see with his superhuman eyes. I can cut the producers some slack (albeit not much) since they based their Man of Steel on a less powerful version. However, I personally believe that Kryptonian eyes should be able to see things that the human eye cannot. Then again, there probably would not be much of a story if Superman saw the cloaked thieves right away. That being said, "The Phantom Ring" is still an entry that had potential to be great, but the overall execution gives us a final product that is, once again, merely mediocre.

The villains could have been and should have been perfect for "The Phantom Ring" when one considers the plot devices used. The thing is that much of the actors' performances leave a lot to be desired. Even Peter Brocco is not doing his best in this episode, especially when you consider how well he did in "The Secret of Superman". It feels like the guest cast would rather be elsewhere throughout their various scenes. In addition to that, the honor system must be used in Metropolis. There's no way to know if Luke really went to Inspector Henderson. Superman should have flown him to the police.

For the most part, "The Phantom Ring", like the majority of season four's episodes, has left me longing for the quality material we were given during the first fifty-two black and white entries in the series. This is especially true after watching "The Deadly Rock", which was surprisingly good. I can't exactly say I was disappointed in "The Phantom Ring", but I did expect more from it. There are some great scenes with George Reeves as both Clark Kent and Superman. Unfortunately, Reeves' tremendous acting ability is not enough to save the final product from being a forgettable half hour of television.



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