Clark Kent: The Movie

Imagine if mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent was leading a double life … not as Superman but as baseball sensation Bud Smith, pitching for the Metropolis Titans.

Well, this actually happened, way back in 1947, in a series of episodes called Superman vs. Kryptonite (click to listen commercial-free) made for the radio show Adventures of Superman (click for the whole series, with classic commercials).  Spanning over a decade, from 1940 to 1951, the show seemed way ahead of its time, tackling serious issues such as racism and corruption in politics.

Sometimes you can even hear Superman shouting famously, “Up, up, and away!” and then “Down, down!” to help listeners visualize his flying maneuvers.

While it’s fun listening to this program, a particular delight can come from watching the action unfold.  In this short film, news reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen are trying to figure out who this baseball player really is … Bud Smith or …. Clark Kent?