Before Henry Cavill, Christopher Reeve, or George Reeves, there was another Man of Steel. His name was Kirk Alyn and he starred in the two first ever live-action movie serials featuring Superman. It was released in theaters a mere 11 or 12 years after the superhero premiered in the pages of Action Comics in 1936. After being out of print for a while, Warner Archive is bringing Superman: The Theatrical Serials Collection back for those who weren't lucky enough to get it the first time or are new to the party.
BACK IN PRINT ON DVD
SUPERMAN: THE THEATRICAL SERIALS COLLECTION (1948, 1950) Back on DVD
Join us in celebrating the 80th Anniversary of America's best beloved immigrant with this collection of the Man of Tomorrow's first venture into live-action movie magic. A multi-media superstar from the start, by 1948 the Last Son of Krypton had already leapt off the pages of Action Comics and Superman magazines to conquer the bigger league venues of newspaper comic strips, radio drama, and theatrical animation with live-action serials to be his next stop. Thanks to its whiz-bang storyline, fast action and great cast, Superman and its follow-up serial Atom Man vs. Superman, quickly became the most successful serials of all-time.
Kirk Alyn sets the heroic standard for generations to come - as Superman - in these fun, multichapter cliffhanger adventures. The 15-chapter Superman (1948) spans our hero's first arrival on Earth to his alter-ego as reporter Clark Kent of The Daily Planet alongside Lois Lane. In the 15-part Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), a UFO and A-bomb imperil Metropolis. Don't miss a moment!
Leading man Kirk Alyn (credited only as 'Superman') ably embellished on Bud Collyer's radio drama voice work as Clark Kent/Superman and superbly separates the super and the man, creating one of the definitive versions of Clark Kent and a great influence on Christopher Reeve's approach decades later. Golden Age great Lyle Talbot brings Lex Luthor to life in Atom Man vs. Superman, and his deliciously malignant scene-chewing proved the model for the homicidal scientist for subsequent comic and cartoon generations to come. Special Features : Featurette "Saturdays with Superman" - a look back at the first live-action Superman; Excerpts from Look! Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman documentary.
