Superman 15 chapters 1950 directed by spencer gordon bennet columbia pictures. George reeves played superman in the 1951 film superman and the molemen as well as the tv series the adventures. Kirk alyn as superman in the 1948 serial, superman. Who played superman in the first superman movie answers. I grew up watching reruns of the superman tv show with george reeves, but i was an adult before discovering the superman movie serials with kirk alyn. The only drawback is that whenever superman flies, they cut to animation. George reeves was the first to play superman in a liveaction tv series. Here he arrives in the nick of time to save housewife jean west, from a fire in an apartment building. In one chapter superman is exposed to kryptonite during a public event, just like in superman iii. Jun, 20 since superman first hit the screen in 1951, portrayed by kirk alyn, there have been a host of actors to play the man of steel. Before george reeves played the famous superhero, there was kirk alyn who wore the costume for the first onscreen version of superman. Kirk alyn, the first movie superman, died sunday at a hospital near. Superman 1950 arent exactly the highlights of supermans live action history, it wasn.
This item is an 8 x 10,black and white lithograph photo of kirk alyn in a scene from the 1950s superman movie series. Despite the fact that clark kent is obviously superman, the specs fooling noone, in this series i. Supermans arrival to earth 1948 in serial superman kirk alyn. Kirk alyn in a publicity portrait for his first serial, daughter of don q republic, 1946. Kirk alyn was the first human incarnation of the incredibly strong, indestructable man from krypton.
Jun 06, 20 two 15part film serials superman 1948 and atom man vs. Starting his show business career as a chorus boy on broadway and an entertainer in vaudeville, kirk alyn played bit parts and minor supporting roles in several lowbudget films before getting his big break playing the title role in the serial superman 1948. Columbia pictures hired him because he looked like supermans mildmannered. The 15 chapter serial was a 1948 15part blackandwhite movie serial starring kirk alyn as superman and noel neill as lois lane. As typical of the cinema serials of the time, each fifteen. Created by writer jerry siegel and artist joe shuster, the superhero character who escaped the destruction of his home planet krypton, to. Jimmy meets the masked atom man who shows the main protoptype arc. Superman movie serials there were two superman serials produced. Alyn portrayed the man of steel in two 15part movie serials in 1948 and 1950. Christopher reeve was the first to play superman in a live. Who was the first person to play the role of superman.
Kirk alyn was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play the dc comics. Offered here is a custommade superman suit that was personally owned and worn by kirk alyn, the actor who portrayed superman in the 1948 serial of the same name and its 1950 sequel atom man vs. Kirk alyn superman clark kent in the superman movie serials superman and. It is notable as the first appearance of superman on film and for the longevity of its distribution. Kirk alyn, as the first actor to play superman in a liveaction film, is forever assured a footnote in histories of popular culture, but from a serial buffs perspective he is. Superman has with later liveaction versions of the character. The 15chapter superman 1948 spans our heros first arrival on earth to his alterego role as reporter clark kent of the daily planet where noel neill portrays lois lane through his battle with sinister spider lady and her relativity reducer ray. Two of legends of tomorrows most beloved characters are preparing to leave the waverider. Back in 1948, first superman live action movie was released serial superman movie star is kirk alyn aka the first superman of the. The two major forces behind the series were a pair of very remarkable, creative men producer robert maxwell, and actor george reeves. The first actor to play the role of superman on film was kirk alyn who passed away march 14, 1999 at the age of 88. Oct 08, 2019 unlike other supermen i could mention, kirk alyns man of steel looks like hes having fun. Speaking of the 1978 movie, its remarkable how many inadvertent connections atom man vs. Superman is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on superman.
It was originally screened at movie matinees and after the first three scenesetting chapters. Apart from featuring in some similar comic booktype serials, he had few roles in television series and movies, some even uncredited, until he retired. Kirk alyn, the first movie superman, died sunday at a hospital near houston after a long illness. Sep 05, 2017 like kirk alyn, george reeves was an early trailblazer for bringing superman to the screen. The adventures of superman was produced from 1951 to 1957, and was the first filmed adventure series with special effects ever attempted for tv. The first onscreen superman was a gorgeous series of animated shorts. Both starred kirk alyn as superman clark kent, while noel neill played lois lane. Superman, as well as blackhawk from the blackhawk movie serial in 1952, and general sam lane in 1978s superman. Kirk alyn is likeable as superman, although my own favourite was george reeves. Superman was the second of two columbia serials that starred kirk alyn. Kirk alyn sets the heroic standard for generations to come, portraying superman in these fun, multichapter cliffhanger adventures. The first actor to play the role of superman on film, kirk alyn passed away on sunday, march 14, 1999 in a hospital in suburban houston, texas at the age of 88.
The first, simply titled superman was released in 1948, the second atom man vs superman was released in 1950. The first onscreen superman was a gorgeous series of. The lithograph photo has been mounted on an 8 x 10 piece of photography paper. The first appearances of superman in liveaction film were in a serial for columbia pictures in the 1948 superman serial starring kirk alyn as superman, noel neill as louis lane and tommy bond as jimmy olsen. It included many firsts, with lex luthor discovering the phantom zone and lois lane working as a television reporter for luthors tv station. According to a new report from deadline, brandon routh and courtney ford will be stepping down as series.
Kirk alyn is an actor known for playing superman in the two movie serials, superman and superman vs. Kirk alyn was the first actor to play superman on screen in cinemas in the 1948 columbia serial superman which was comprised of 15 episodes. Superman had much improved special effects, with animated bullets bouncing from superman s chest and liveaction scenes of kirk alyn in flight. Jan 05, 2020 and while kirk alyns two serial outings as the last son of krypton, superman 1948 and atom man vs. If kirk alyn, who has died aged 88, had known about the superman curse, he would never have taken on the role in two 15part movie serials, superman 1948 and atom man vs superman 1950. Harvey, noel neill, lyle talbot kirk alyn and noel.
Superman 1950 before he played superman alyn was a songanddance man who performed in vaudeville and in supporting roles on broadway. Kirk alyn makes for a very enthusiastic portrayal of superman. Burt ward as dick grayson robin in batman tv series batman robin. Both starred kirk alyn as supermanclark kent, while noel neill played lois lane. Kirk alyn in superman 1948 kirk alyn, terry frost, don c. Unlike the george reeves superman tv series, however, the kirk alyn superman emulates many of the dramatic stunts of the comic books. Kirk alyn played superman in the black and white serials made in 1948 and 1950. Superman comes to earth as a child and grows up to be his homes first superhero with his first major challenge being to oppose the spider lady. Alyn played superman for the first liveaction superman movie serial, released.
Two years after the series ended in 1957, reeves was found shot to. Kirk alyn was an american actor, best known for being the first actor to play superman on screen, in the movie 1948 superman, and its sequel atom man vs. Alyn would later make a cameo appearance in the 1978 film superman, and also had a role in a parody film, playing pa cant in superbman. I was fascinated to see how the first season had our character only flying in. Every liveaction superman actor costume ranked worst to best. Kirk alyn was the first to play superman in a liveaction film. This was mostly because of studio budget constraints in the 1940s. Kirk alyn 19101999 films first superman the first actor to play the role of superman on film, kirk alyn passed away on sunday, march 14, 1999 in a hospital in suburban houston, texas at the age of 88. Superman 1948 is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on the comic book character superman. It stars an uncredited kirk alyn billed only by his character. The film serials were soon overshadowed by the very popular adventures of superman series starring george reeves that ran on tv from 1952 to 1958.
Superman is a 1948 15part blackandwhite columbia pictures film serial based on the comic book character superman. He wasnt able to sustain a film career after the serial ended, however, and after small. Superman is a 1948 15part blackandwhite columbia pictures film serial based on the comic. It stars an uncredited kirk alyn billed only by his character name, superman. Superman and the molemen was released in november 1951, and the series was set to air around the holidays, but kelloggs, the shows sponsor, didnt sign on until 1952. Oct 29, 2019 im only doing live action filmstv shows christopher reeve superman iiv tom welling smallvile tv series brandon routh superman returns henry cavill dceu tyler hoechlin supergirl tv series. Kirk alyn, 1948, superman, see more kirk alyn was the first actor to play superman on screen in cinemas in the 1948 columbia serial superman which was comprised of 15 episodes. Superman comes to earth superman 1948 is a 15part blackandwhite columbia film serial based on the comic book character superman. Fresh out of columbia university, handsome kirk alyn auditioned for a broadway show as a gag, and much to his amazement, landed the role. It is notable as the first liveaction appearance of superman on film. Kirk alyn superman movie scene photo signed autograph.
46 1252 1157 222 863 127 1192 1613 458 1270 1294 1371 470 1368 547 310 75 1022 794 1344 622 1498 545 987 1620 1585 1406 961 1587 185 1189 961 254 28 1004 366 900 27 31 888 85 1309 182 1203 24 1147 1355 790 1416