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The
Adventures of Superman ran from 1951 to 1957; in all 104 episodes
were broadcast, the last half of which were shot in colour but
originally broadcast in black and white. The overall feel of
these shows had more to do with 1930s and '40s gangster films
than with comic-book characters and stories. In fact, many of the
shows had a distinct film noir look, especially in terms of the
dark, expressionistic lighting and the alienated, trapped
characters. The episodes depicted people full of fear and
tension: blackmailers, killers, smugglers. The sets were empty
warehouses and back alleys (many of which Clark would run into to
change).
Beginning with the 1954 shows, "The Adventures of
Superman" seemed tamer, showing crooks as bumblers rather
than villains.
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