One movie NOT discussed in the Superman / Man Of Steel podcast was Superman And The Mole Men (1951), which was the original Superman feature film and the first based on any DC Comics character. It starred George Reeves as Clark Kent / Superman and Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane and was a forerunner to the syndicated “Adventures Of Superman” TV series which also starred Reeves.
It ran only 58 minutes and was made on a very low budget but was an important forerunner to the superhero genre we know today. It’s also notable that the Mole Men depicted in the movie are merely wanting to explore the newly discovered surface, but their appearance, and their ability to make everything they touch glow, frightens the local townspeople, leading to conflict.
Reeves life ended in tragedy and was fictionalized in the Ben Affleck starrer “Hollywoodland” (a movie well worth checking out). But his contribution to the superhero genre is notable and unforgettable. Superman And The Mole Men makes for an interesting add-on if you’re watching the 1978 and 2013 entries.
