The 1951 film Superman and the Mole-Men is the first feature film starring George Reeves as Superman. It’s meant to act as the pilot episode of the television series Adventures of Superman. Phyllis Coates played Lois Lane in this film and in the first season of the series.
In Superman and the Mole-Men, Clark Kent (George Reeves) and Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) travel to the small town of Silsby to cover for the Daily Bugle, the world’s deepest oil well, which has mysteriously been shut down. The supervisor, Bill Corrigan (Walter Reed), informs them that drilling stopped after reaching an unprecedented depth of 32,000 feet when something strange and out of the ordinary was discovered. While Clark and Lois investigate, two unusual creatures—small beings with mole-like bodies and large human heads—emerge from the well and begin exploring the town.
Soon, the watchman is found dead, and when Lois searches his office, she sees the mole-men in the window. She screams, but of course, the men don’t believe her. It would only be a matter of time before more people spot the creatures.
The townspeople, led by the aggressive Luke Benson (Jeff Corey), form a mob to hunt down the “dangerous” mole-men. However, Superman discovers that the creatures are peaceful and frightened, and they are not intending any harm. Tensions escalate when the mole-men’s radioactivity and strange appearance cause widespread fear, culminating in a standoff between the frightened townsfolk and the misunderstood visitors from below.
One of the mole-men cautiously explores the surface world in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole-Men.
“Superman discovers that the creatures are peaceful and frightened…”
For fans of the original Adventures of Superman, which I watch after school every afternoon, Superman and the Mole-Men pretty much lays out the foundation of the television series. George Reeves has the role of Clark and Superman fully established and isn’t that different from how he played him in the final episodes of the series. I’ve always liked Phyllis Coates as Lois—a beautiful, strong woman who’s treated like a woman in the 1950s, essentially eye candy for the men with a deeper subtext.
What sets this film apart from the series is the production values. The entire film takes place on a studio lot set for a western tale. Much of its shot outdoors, and there’s a lot of emphasis on the aliens and their appearance. The television series was shot on a much smaller budget with established sets, and I don’t recall there being many special effects. Mostly bullets bouncing off Superman and alien laser gun effects.
When you lack a big effects budget, Superman and the Mole-Men (along with the series) leans into “truth, justice, and the American way” for its storylines, and we have Superman’s guiding values on full display. Superman refuses to get caught up in the hysteria. Instead, he finds himself guided by the truth and a bit of compassion.
As a film, Superman and the Mole-Men is a straightforward, low-budget adventure that captures the charm of early 1950s science fiction. Its simple sets, practical effects, and nighttime cinematography create an eerie atmosphere that works well for the story it tells. Though modest in scope, the film succeeds as a pilot for the Adventures of Superman series, introducing audiences to George Reeves as the Man of Steel.
"…Reeves has the role of Clark and Superman fully established..."
