Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 5 - Episode 1: "Peril in Paris"

Reviewed by: James Lantz

Original Broadcast Date: March 07, 1957

Writers: David Chantler and Robert Drake

Director: George Blair

Guest Cast:
Robert Shayne as Inspector Launay
Albert Carrier as Pierre Lumont
Lilyan Chauvin as Anna Constantine
Charles La Torre as Raoul Durrant
Peter Mamakos as Gregore
Franz Roehn as Jacques du Crae

"Peril in Paris"

Daily Planet reporters Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen find themselves in Paris, France. They are speaking with French Police Inspector Launay, who is an identical twin of Inspector Henderson of Metropolis. Launay has received a letter for Superman from a neighboring country behind the Iron Curtain. It was written by Anna Constantine, who was a great theater actress before the war. She wishes to meet Superman on the morning of April 2 at 5:00 AM backstage at the La Cordia Theater. According to Ms. Constantine, the welfare of many people depends on the Metropolis Marvel helping her.

As Jimmy goes to take some articles to the press bureau, Superman is meeting with Anna Constantine. He even shields her from a bomb explosion with his invulnerable body. Constantine and her assistant and friend Gregore have taken her family jewels from those who had stolen them during the war. They need Superman's help to get them into France as they will be searched thoroughly at the border. At first, the Man of Steel declines to do so, but once he learns more, he accepts. Ms. Constantine wishes to sell her baubles to help troubled relatives in France. After Superman checks who is the rightful owner of the gems, he is to speak with Ms. Constantine again in Paris. The Man of Steel may find himself in over his head once he is immersed in this adventure.

Pierre Lumont and Raoul Durrant, two French policemen, have arrested Gregore and Anna Constantine during their second encounter with Superman. They have told the caped hero that the actress and her confidant are smugglers. However, Clark Kent learns from Inspector Launay that there is neither a Raoul Durrant nor a Pierre Lumont working for him. Madam Constantine and Gregore were not brought into custody. With a fortune in jewels involved, only former criminal Jacques du Crae, an expert diamond cutter and fence, could soon be involved in this unusual case. It's up to Superman to get answers from him soon. Otherwise, Anna Constantine could be in grave danger.

Superman has enlisted the aid of Jacques du Crae. He is to spread a rumor through the French underworld that an American, who will be Jimmy Olsen undercover, is interested in the Constantine jewels. Should the Man of Tomorrow's plan succeed, the thieves who took Ms. Constantine and her heirlooms will go to prison, and du Crae will be heralded as a hero for helping the authorities capture the criminals. If Superman fails, everyone involved could face certain death if he cannot rescue them.

Jacques du Crae is to meet Clark Kent at 5:00 PM, and Jimmy has an appointment with jewel thieves Pierre Lumont and Raoul Durrant in his hotel room two hours later. However, Lumont and Durrant take du Crae prisoner along with Anna Constantine and Gregore, leaving Kent to find Durrant in du Crae's shop. Du Crae wanted to leave the smugglers' hideout to get some tools he needs to cut gems, but he was unsuccessful. On top of that, Lumont has arrived earlier than planned to negotiate with Jimmy. It looks like Superman may have no luck bringing the criminals involved in this case to justice.

As Jimmy is brought to Lumont's lair, Durrant has taken whatever materials du Crae requires to change the Constantine jewels after Clark has let him go. However, Superman will soon pursue the thief. The Last Son of Krypton will have to work fast, for Jimmy's bumbling imitation of a juvenile delinquent could get himself, Anna Constantine, Gregore and Jacques du Crae into deep trouble that could cost them their very lives.

As it turns out, Gregore is also part of the French smuggling ring. He has helped in trapping Jimmy as he gave himself away. The cub reporter did not know that one piece in the Constantine collection was merely glass. As Jimmy, Ms. Constantine and Jacques du Crae are forced at gunpoint to go into an underground cellar, the young man confesses that Superman followed him. Is Jimmy telling the truth, or will he and his fellow prisoners spend their remaining days under Paris?

Having been on the trail of Raoul Durrant as Jimmy calls for help, Superman smashes through the wall of the smugglers' domain. Fearing the Man of Steel, all three criminals jump into the cellar to wait for the authorities to arrest them. Jacques du Crae wonders how Superman could recognize Durrant as the fake policeman in his shop if Clark Kent was to be there. Jimmy asks how our hero could explain that to him and the others.

"With the truth, Jimmy. You're not the only one I have to keep track of. Sometimes, I'm very close to Clark Kent you know," Superman says with a wink to the audience.

3Rating - 3 (out of 5): Robert Shayne is the third main cast member to guest star as a twin. Look for him as Professor Prof. Clifford Groves in The Neanderthal Man and Reggie, the blind newsstand owner in the 1991 television series The Flash.

Albert Carrier was Pedro Quinn in 1983's Scarface and Pete Savage and a French delegate in the 1966 Batman television series and movie respectively.

Lilyan Chauvin has appeared in such films as 2002's Catch Me If You Can and Predator 2 and such television series as Falcon Crest and Star Trek: Deeps Space Nine.

Charles La Torre played Stellini in the 1948 Academy Award winner for Best Actor, A Double Life.

Besides Robert Shayne, Peter Mamakos is the only member of the guest cast for "Peril in Paris" to appear in more than one episode of The Adventures of Superman.

Franz Roehn had an uncredited role as a police doctor in 1958's The Fly.

During Superman's takeoff after his first meeting with Anna Constantine and Gregore, the sound effect of his landing is played backwards.

When Superman flies to his second appointment with Anna Constantine his S is backwards.

There is a spot on Superman's costume when he is seen talking with Jacques du Crae.

"Peril in Paris" has potential to be a five. The story itself is a good one. However, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The actors are especially lacking in their performances this time around. George Reeves and Jack Larson, who normally do fine jobs even with the worst of previous seasons, particularly seem like their hearts are not completely in their work.

As much as I love the concept of Robert Shayne playing a twin of Inspector Henderson, I can't help but wonder just how necessary to the plot of "Peril in Paris" Shayne's character was as he shows up on screen. Any other actor could have played Inspector Launay. It feels like Shayne was cast merely to ease the show's budget. Had the episode been written differently, perhaps Launay would not feel like wasted potential. Robert Shayne is a fantastic actor, but he doesn't get to show this to the audience as much as he could have.

Superman isn't quite, well, super in this episode. Granted, during filming, George Reeves may have been recovering from injuries sustained in a 1956 automobile accident. Still, seeing the villains jump into the cellar instead of the Man of Steel knocking them out with a punch or wrapping something around them to keep them for the police does make the audience feel somewhat cheated. I don't blame this on Reeves as much as Thol Simonson, David Chantler and Robert Drake. One would think that they could come up with something better for a hero with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.

I wouldn't exactly say to skip "Peril in Paris" as it is better than some of season four's entries. However, I would advise anyone to not expect too much from the episode. Mediocre acting, missed special effect opportunities and sluggish pacing bog this entire half hour down a lot. It's better than the next two offerings in season five, but it still makes one wonder why The Adventures of Superman has taken such a downward turn in quality.



Back to the "Adventures of Superman - Episode Reviews" Contents page.

Back to the main TELEVISION page.