Superman on Television

Adventures of Superman: Episode Reviews

Season 6 - Episode 9: "Superman's Wife"

Original Broadcast Date: March 31, 1958

Writers: Robert Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth

Director: Lew Landers

Guest Cast:
Joi Lansing as Sergeant Helen J. O'Hara/Mrs. Superman
John Eldredge as Mister X
John Bennes as Dugan
Harry Arnie as Blinky Evans
Wayne Heffley as Duke Barlow

"Superman's Wife"

Duke Barlow has been apprehended by Superman. He and Whitey Krell were caught robbing the Fifth National Bank. Both men are part of a gang responsible for a major crime wave in Metropolis. The leader of the organization is unknown to everyone, even those pulling the jobs. According to Barlow, who is attached to a lie detector, the leader planning everything is only called Mister X. Even Police Inspector Bill Henderson's best officer Sergeant Helen J. O'Hara is baffled by this case. She's even been trying to get into Mister X's syndicate somehow. This impresses Superman. After Inspector Henderson introduces her to him, the Man of Steel and O'Hara discuss her investigation. Our hero then does something that takes everyone by surprise. He asks O'Hara to marry him. The lovely sergeant accepts his proposal. This could prove to be dangerous for O'Hara should Mister X get wind of her nuptials to Superman.

In spite of the news hitting her hard. Lois Lane has written an exclusive article on Superman's surprise wedding to Helen J. O'Hara for the Daily Planet. It even reveals that the happy couple will be staying at the bride's apartment at the Barrisford Arms. This information has even reached Mister X, who has captured Helen. The crime boss calls Clark Kent to give a message to the Last Son of Krypton. Superman is to stop interfering with Mister X's operations. Otherwise, Mrs. Superman will pay the ultimate price with her life. Ordinarily, criminals would have something to fear after a threat like that reaches the costumed adventurer. Unfortunately, nobody, even Superman, knows where Mister X is located. There may be no way to rescue Sergeant O'Hara before it's too late for her.

Oddly enough, Clark Kent is smiling after his conversation with Mister X. He may not have much time for his unusual celebration, for the mysterious gangster has called Planet editor Perry White. A bathysphere has been parked at Pier 96 at Metropolis Harbor. That area has not been used in two or three years, and Mister X has made White, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen believe that there is a story there. In reality, Mister X's henchman Blinky Evans has placed a television camera in that location. It will send signals to the criminal mastermind. The images it captures could spell doom for Lois, Jimmy and Perry as they've gone to check things out. Superman will have to really use his powers to their fullest if he is to save his friends and his wife from Mister X's evil clutches.

Though it is empty, Perry, Lois and Jimmy have entered the bathysphere. As Mister X witnesses this on his television, he once again calls Clark to warn him of the danger to his friends. Superman arrives at Pier 96 to enter the diving bell to get the editor and reporters out of it. Suddenly, Mister X lowers the apparatus via a remote control system. The chamber sinks fast into the harbor's murky depths. Even Superman cannot escape. If he breaks free, the water pressure could crush Lois, Jimmy and Perry. It looks like Mister X may have gained the upper hand on the Man of Tomorrow.

With Superman and his friends at the bottom of the harbor and Mrs. Superman believed to be his prisoner, Mister X leaves with his man Dugan to meet Blinky. Meanwhile, in spite of special locks and barred windows, Helen O'Hara is not as helpless as she seems. Using the radio set in the room in which she is held captive, the beautiful sergeant tells Superman of Mister X's plans. He told her everything in the belief that she would not survive the ordeal. The gang lord is unaware that O'Hara is a police officer as that fact was not in the Daily Planet article. Mister X's crime syndicate plans to steal three million dollars from an armored truck that is taking it to the Federal Reserve Bank. It's coming by a back road, but Mister X knows the route and the schedule. When the vehicle crosses the bridge over South Port Ravine at 3:00 PM, dynamite will be used. The resulting explosion will cause the van to fall into the chasm and burst open. Mister X and his gang will grab the funds as part of their biggest robbery to date. Superman is now aware of Mister X's next crime. Can he escape in time to stop him before it's too late?

"Superman, this is Sergeant O'Hara. Mister X and his crime syndicate are planning the biggest...," O'Hara says into the radio's microphone as the villainous mastermind and his henchmen enter the room. Mister X now knows Helen is a police woman, and she's made him believe she never got a chance to send the rest of the message to the Man of Steel. Superman also tells Lois, Perry and Jimmy this as he hears O'Hara on the speaker in the diving bell. Mister X has taken over for Helen. He says that Mrs. Superman will be retiring from the police force permanently while her powerful husband stays at the bottom of Metropolis Harbor with his friends forever. The Metropolis Marvel will need to plan something soon. Otherwise, everyone he cares for will meet a horrible end thanks to Mister X.

It is now 2:45 PM. Having brought Mrs. Superman with them, Mister X and his gang are preparing the dynamite to blow up South Port Bridge when the armored truck arrives. At the same time, Jimmy gives Superman an idea. He can pull the cable attached to the bathysphere from the inside. A little water will get in. However, it wouldn't be enough to harm is Lois, Jimmy and Perry, and he could bring them to the surface. Our hero will have to work fast. The explosives have been placed on South Port Bridge. In addition to that, Helen is also tied to the structure. Once everything blows up, it will be curtains for Sergeant O'Hara as Mister X gets away with three million dollars. Hopefully, Superman will make it in time to save the day.

The diving bell has reached the surface. Lois, Perry and Jimmy are now safe. Superman has let go of the diving bell's cable, forcing it back to the bottom of Metropolis Harbor. This time, however, Superman can swim back to the pier without harming anyone. As the fuse for the dynamite is lit by Blinky, Superman moves at top speed to warn the armored truck driver to take another route. Seconds later, he rescues Helen. Mister X, in the meantime, has heard the bridge explode. He is eager to get his hands on the three million dollars. The villain gets the surprise of his life when he sees Superman blocking his path. Bullets are fired. However, Blinky and Dugan only end up falling over themselves as Mister X gives himself up. He and his gang will spend the rest of their lives in prison thanks to Mister and Mrs. Superman.

Sergeant O'Hara is now in Perry White's office explaining everything to the editor, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane and Clark Kent. She and Superman were never really married at all. The Last Son of Krypton figured that if Mister X thought they were, he'd try to get at our hero through Helen. She could thereby learn about Mister X's operations in the process. Jimmy, taken by O'Hara's bravery, might propose to her now that she isn't Superman's wife if he was the kind to wed. Helen thinks the cub reporter is sweet, but she intends to wait for Superman to ask her again - for real this time. Lois points out that O'Hara will have some competition.

"Well, Jimmy," Clark says, "It looks like ordinary follows like you and I don't have a chance anymore. These young ladies don't seem to think there's anyone in the world but Superman."

"Well, is there?" Helen and Lois ask in unison. With that, everyone has a good laugh. Clark and Jimmy might have better luck with the ladies in their next adventure.

Rating - 4 (out of 5): Joi Lansing played Zita in the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil, Boots Malone in Hillbillys in a Haunted House and Gladys Flatt in The Beverly Hillbillies.

Semi-regular villain John Eldredge can be spotted as the man in the elevator in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, which also features Eva Marie Saint, who was Martha Kent in Superman Returns.

John Bennes was in such films as The Legend of Bagger Vance, Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice and Crazy People.

Harry Arnie was Old Moe in "The Phony Alibi". He also had an uncredited role of a miner in North to Alaska starring John Wayne.

Wayne Heffley portrayed an air force general in the 1976 version of King Kong and the priest in 1977's Orca.

It's a good one that has some minor flaws. That's the best way I can describe "Superman's Wife". It does remind the viewer of the tales of the Silver Age comics. This makes the episode entertaining, fast paced and fun. However, as much as I enjoyed it, there are some things that could have been put into the half hour that would have given it a perfect score.

I understood pretty much from the get go that Superman had proposed to O'Hara to trap Mister X. That's all well and good. However, it would have been nice to have a brief montage of O'Hara working with the Man of Steel to arrest some gangsters before he asked her to marry him. As the scene is in the final product, Supes pops the question a little too soon for my taste.

I said before I was able to figure out very soon Superman's reasons for making O'Hara his wife. There are various facial expressions from George Reeves throughout the episode that give this away, and they are too much a spoiler in my opinion. Without those looks, the audience could be kept in suspense more. Plus, Superman just acted out of character for a man whose spouse had been captured, particularly in the diving bell scenes. Had I been in his shoes, I'd tear apart Metropolis looking for my wife and Mister X. Everything else would have been irrelevant. It should be this way for Superman as well in my opinion even if he and O'Hara were only pretending. The Caped Wonder wasn't very convincing, and this made some things too obvious.

Let's move on to the bathysphere. What the hell possessed Superman to get into it? Granted, it gives us an idea that he can't save his wife and friends without water pressure crushing Perry, Lois and Jimmy. Yet, he could have gotten all three of them out at super speed before its door closed. Superman looks like a complete idiot once he gets inside the thing. Then again, that could have been the writers' intention for that part of the episode.

There is also a missed special effect opportunity in the diving bell scene. As we as an audience are watching, we are left asking, "What's taking Superman so long to get to the surface?" I mean he has superhuman speed. He should have been able to get Lois, Jimmy and Perry back to Metropolis in seconds. This shows a bit of sloppy handling of the character by Robert Leslie Bellem and Whitney Ellsworth during that part of "Superman's Wife".

Mister X is a typical villain for The Adventures of Superman that works perfectly for "Superman's Wife". However, we are left with unanswered questions about him. Who is he? The police and Superman try to discover his identity, but no name is revealed. How exactly did he know the armored truck's route? Does he work for a bank or the Federal Reserve, or does he have operatives in those organizations? Information like that really might have made the capture of Mister X feel less anti-climatic. Plus, it could have offered some character development to Mister X.

In spite of the nitpicking on my part, "Superman's Wife" does merit a five. It's an action packed half hour full of great performances, interesting characters and a fun story. In other words, this episode is a winner. It's just a pity Joi Lansing could not reprise the role of Helen O'Hara. She would have made a great rival for Lois in the attempts to gain Superman's affection.

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