Superman: The Mad Scientist (1941) Movie Script
1
Up in the sky. Look.
- It's a bird.
- It's a plane.
It's Superman.
In the endless
reaches of the universe
there once existed a
planet known as Krypton.
A planet that burned like a green star
in the distant heavens.
There, civilization was far advanced,
and it brought forth a race of supermen,
whose mental and physical
powers were developed
to the absolute peak
of human perfection.
But there came a day when giant quakes
threatened to destroy Krypton forever.
One of the planet's leading scientists,
sensing the approach of doom,
placed his infant son
in a small rocket ship
and sent it drifting in the direction
of the Earth just as Krypton exploded.
The rocket ship sped
through star-studded space,
landing safely on Earth
with its precious burden,
Krypton's sole survivor.
A passing motorist found the uninjured
child and took it to an orphanage.
As the years went by,
and the child grew to maturity,
he found himself possessed
of amazing physical powers.
Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive.
Able to leap tall buildings
at a single bound.
The infant of Krypton
is now the Man of Steel,
Superman.
To best be in a position
to use his amazing powers
in a never-ending battle for true justice,
Superman has assumed
disguise of Clark Kent,
mild-mannered reporter
for a great metropolitan newspaper.
Kent, I wanna see you.
Just received another threatening note.
Okay, Mr. White.
Lois, another note
from the Mad Scientist.
Coming in, chief.
Now, listen to this warning.
He plans to strike tonight.
"Beware, you fools! My Electrothanasia-Ray
strikes tonight at 12.
Total destruction will
come to those who
laughed at me and failed
to heed my warnings.
Beware, I strike at midnight.
This nut may prove dangerous.
Kent, you help Lois follow up her lead.
- She may have an angle on this thing.
- Yes, sir.
But, chief, I'd like the chance
to crack the story on my own.
- Well, now...
- Thanks, chief.
But, Lois.
Chief, don't you think
that's a dangerous mission?
The hour has come.
I'm a reporter for the...
So you want a story?
I'll give you the greatest
story of destruction
the world has ever known.
How is that for a story, Miss Lane?
Flash. True
to his threat, the Mad Scientist,
whose warnings have held
the city in a grip of terror,
went on his rampage of destruction
on the stroke of midnight.
The deadly impact of his mysterious ray
smashed the famous Tower Bridge,
hurling cars and pedestrians
into the river below.
The police have warned everyone
to remain in their homes.
This looks like a job for Superman.
It's Superman.
I don't believe it. He isn't human.
Congratulations, Lois,
that was a great scoop.
Yes, chief, thanks to Superman.
Up in the sky. Look.
- It's a bird.
- It's a plane.
It's Superman.
In the endless
reaches of the universe
there once existed a
planet known as Krypton.
A planet that burned like a green star
in the distant heavens.
There, civilization was far advanced,
and it brought forth a race of supermen,
whose mental and physical
powers were developed
to the absolute peak
of human perfection.
But there came a day when giant quakes
threatened to destroy Krypton forever.
One of the planet's leading scientists,
sensing the approach of doom,
placed his infant son
in a small rocket ship
and sent it drifting in the direction
of the Earth just as Krypton exploded.
The rocket ship sped
through star-studded space,
landing safely on Earth
with its precious burden,
Krypton's sole survivor.
A passing motorist found the uninjured
child and took it to an orphanage.
As the years went by,
and the child grew to maturity,
he found himself possessed
of amazing physical powers.
Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive.
Able to leap tall buildings
at a single bound.
The infant of Krypton
is now the Man of Steel,
Superman.
To best be in a position
to use his amazing powers
in a never-ending battle for true justice,
Superman has assumed
disguise of Clark Kent,
mild-mannered reporter
for a great metropolitan newspaper.
Kent, I wanna see you.
Just received another threatening note.
Okay, Mr. White.
Lois, another note
from the Mad Scientist.
Coming in, chief.
Now, listen to this warning.
He plans to strike tonight.
"Beware, you fools! My Electrothanasia-Ray
strikes tonight at 12.
Total destruction will
come to those who
laughed at me and failed
to heed my warnings.
Beware, I strike at midnight.
This nut may prove dangerous.
Kent, you help Lois follow up her lead.
- She may have an angle on this thing.
- Yes, sir.
But, chief, I'd like the chance
to crack the story on my own.
- Well, now...
- Thanks, chief.
But, Lois.
Chief, don't you think
that's a dangerous mission?
The hour has come.
I'm a reporter for the...
So you want a story?
I'll give you the greatest
story of destruction
the world has ever known.
How is that for a story, Miss Lane?
Flash. True
to his threat, the Mad Scientist,
whose warnings have held
the city in a grip of terror,
went on his rampage of destruction
on the stroke of midnight.
The deadly impact of his mysterious ray
smashed the famous Tower Bridge,
hurling cars and pedestrians
into the river below.
The police have warned everyone
to remain in their homes.
This looks like a job for Superman.
It's Superman.
I don't believe it. He isn't human.
Congratulations, Lois,
that was a great scoop.
Yes, chief, thanks to Superman.