Superman and the Mole Men | |
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Directed by | Lee Sholem |
Produced by | Barney A. Sarecky |
Written by | Richard Fielding |
Based on | Characters by Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster |
Starring |
George Reeves Phyllis Coates |
Music by |
Darrell Calker Walter Greene |
Cinematography | Clark Ramsey |
Edited by | Albrecht Joseph |
Distributed by | Lippert Pictures Inc. |
Release date
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Running time
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58 minutes |
Language | English |
Superman and the Mole Men is an independently made 1951 American black-and-white superhero film, produced by Barney A. Sarecky, directed by Lee Sholem, that stars George Reeves as Superman and Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane. The film was released by Lippert Pictures Inc.
The storyline concerns reporters Clark Kent and Lois Lane arriving in the small town of Silsby to witness the drilling of the world's deepest oil well. The drill, however, has penetrated the underground home of a race of small, bald humanoids who, out of curiosity, climb to the surface at night. They glow in the dark, which scares the local townfolk, who form a mob intent on killing the strange visitors. Only Superman can intervene to prevent a tragedy.
This is the first theatrical feature film based on any DC Comics character.
Mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent and Lois Lane are sent to the small town of Silsby for the inauguration of the world's deepest oil well. The drill shaft has penetrated the deep underground home of the "Mole Men", a race of small, furry, though bald-headed humanoids. The Mole Men come up through the shaft at night, and when the creatures first emerge on the surface, their sudden appearance scares to death the elderly night watchman. Lois Lane and Clark Kent arrive at the oil well and find the dead watchman. Subsequently, help arrives. Clark Kent and the foreman are exploring the surrounding area for signs of intruders when Lois sees one of the creatures and screams. But no one believes her when she tells them what she saw.
The medical examiner is summoned, and he later leaves with Lois. Clark stays behind to confront the foreman, who confesses that the well was closed for fear that they had struck radium and not oil. The foreman proceeds to show Clark ore samples that were collected during different stages of drilling; all of them glow brightly.