Adventures of Superman Five Minutes to Doom (1952–1958) Online

STARTING off of the Second Season of the "ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN" is a relatively low key, albeit quite serious of an Episode in "Five Minutes To Doom". A lot of the action type scenes that we would normally expect from our Man of Steel are displaced with some highly gut wrenching sequences involving the protestations of a condemned convict on Death Row, one Joe Winters (Dabbs Greer), that he is innocent of charges. Having been convicted and having exhausted all appeals, Winters is scheduled for an appointment with "Old Sparky" at midnight.

MEANWHILE, Metropolis Daily Planet Editor, Perry White, expresses some doubts about the man's being executed; and in those early days of the mi 20th Century, before the introduction of investigative tools such as DNA comparison, he sends Miss Lois Lane and Mr. Clark Kent down to the State Penitentiary to get a first hand look. The investigational twosome arrives and arranges to get a final interview.

DURING the narrative of the Convict's story, Clark Kent holds onto to the man's wrist. Although unnoticed by all around, Clark/Superman is measuring the man's Heart Beat and how steady or uneven his Pulse is. Winters' steady, albeit highly elevated pulse is the one indicator that he was telling the truth.

SHUTTLING between the State Pen and Metropolis, Superman goes to work and through diligent detective work, uncovers the truth; but, time is about to run out! WILL SUPERMAN make it on time to the Prison? WILL THE CITIZENS OF METROPOLIS send an innocent man to his death? (Oh, Lord; would this ever have made a great 'Cliff Hanger"!)

THE ANSWER is, yes he did. Superman arrived really and truly "in the nick of time" and put his arm between the "lever" and its contact surface, stopping the flow of electrons. All is well at the State Penitentiary, the Daily Planet Editorial Offices, the City of Metropolis and the whole, wide World!

MR. DABBS GREER made it 2 for 2; as he also led off the Series' initial Season with his somewhat brief, but pivotal role as the man rescued by the Man of Steel as he fell from the runaway dirigible in "Superman On Earth", the very first TV Episode. We had to wonder if this would be an "ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN" Annual Tradition. The answer was "No", of course; although the low key and very talented Mr. Greer did appear as a featured character in the final Season's Episode, "THE SUPERMAN SILVER MINE."

PROMISINGLY, "Five Minutes To Doom" started off a great season in fine fashion; foretelling of the great run of weekly stories vied for which one would be regarded as the best; not unlike that 1955-56 run of The Honeymooners" sketches on "THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW."

Our Rating = *** ½.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!

Lois and Clark witness the farewell meeting of a condemned man and his wife and little boy. He is to be executed in a day for a murder he claims he did not commit. Clark/Superman hangs on to his wrist as he relates his tale. He is able to note the changes in blood pressure and knows he is telling the truth. During a fight with a crooked contractor, the man is shot by someone unknown, but our guy got the blame and the death sentence. It is now a race against the clock to come up with evidence to prove his innocence. Lois goes to the office of the primes suspect, the big boss, who tears up some evidence of improper building materials being used which would corroborate the story. There follows a hilarious scene as Jimmy Olsen pretends to be a vacuum cleaner salesman. During his demonstration he manages to retrieve the pieces of the incriminating document. Time is running out and there is great suspense. A very apt episode.