User Reviews

OF ALL THE weaknesses that a super-powered super hero can have, the very thought of anyone's gaining the knowledge of his secret identity would be paramount. The very fact that it does not require any kryptonite or some super cyclotronic ray to threaten the Man of Steel; but rather just the very knowing of such could be just as crippling to Superman, although not in the sense of being fatal.

THE STORYLINE ABOUT this sort of "identity theft" had proved to be a popular topic throughout the entire history of the SUPERMAN comics feature (as well as in any other member of the Superhero genre). It was a great central tenet of the writers of this, the first season; which boasts at least two episodes as examples of our assertion. Along with this THE SECRET OF SUPERMAN (the 13th installment), we have episode 10, THE STOLEN COSTUME.

TODAY'S HONORED EPISODE is constructed around the plot by a criminally inclined MD, Dr. H.L. Ort (Peter Brocco), to gather as much info as possible from any and all of Superman's known associates from the Metropolis Daily Planet. The reasoning behind this is that there seems to be a connection between the Man of Steel and the Planet. The henchmen of the renegade Dr. Ort use an "Eastern European" truth serum to assemble all known facts about Superman from those known associates: Kent, White, Miss Lane and young Olsen.

THE THEORY BEHIND all this was that by piecing together any and all seemingly tiny and insignificant tidbits of information, one will wind up with something that is far greater than the sum of the parts. In short, it would theoretically give one the alter ego of Superman.

INN THIS PARTICULAR case, the plot almost worked; as while Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) was under the influence of the drug, the sinister physician convinced her that her long standing suspicions about Kent and Superman were indeed correct.

HOWEVER THE PRINCIPAL of the 'Happy Ending' prevailed as we learned that once the drug wears off, all is forgotten by the subject. Thank you, Lord!!

ANOTHER INTERESTING ASPECT of the show's plot line is Kent's charade as being a former reporter, having been "fired" by Perry White (John Hamilton). While 'searching' for a job, Clark is shown as being shabby and 'broke', wearing no tie and not having the two bits ($0.25) needed to buy a cup of coffee from a lunch wagon. Being the talented and very underrated actor that he was, George Reeves 'sells' us on his false sense of unemployment.

UNLIKE SO MANY of the first season's offerings, this was not a mystery tale.

Review – The Secret of Superman 7 With the help of a powerful truth serum someone is trying to find out the identity of Superman by doping Daily Planet employees seen closest to the Man of Steel. A deranged M.D., Dr. Ort, is the person drugging people and asking questions; he tried Olsen in order to steal a file, he tried Clark to dispose of his dead henchman, he tries Lois and convinces her Clark is Superman which she under the influence. Clark and Superman are never seen together, therefore, they must be one in the same he tells a drugged Lois. He also doesn't like reporters interfering in his quest. Henderson wants him arrested for illegal use of the drug, forcing someone to ingest without their consent is not legal, also. Clark uncovers the sick Dr. Ort pretending to be looking for work and Olsen notices him hanging with the guy who had Jim up after curfew. The henchman dead from a cop's bullet, Dr. Ort is about to eliminate Lois and Jim, when Superman rescues them, Ort escapes, only to be gunned down by Henderson's men. Lois didn't remember a thing while under the influence and we can see relief in Clark's eyes when he questions her at the close. All the Planet's employees were present along with Henderson to make the episode tolerable.