Adventures of Superman (TV Series) Great Caesar's Ghost (1955) User Reviews

Perry White Actually Meets 'Caesar's Ghost'

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 19 July 2006]

Boy, a friend tipped me off that from this season on, the episodes in Superman became more child-friendly with goofy (but fun) stories. He wasn't exaggerating, as this one is very goofy.

In order to prevent Perry White (John Hamilton) from testifying at a trial, a mobster - with help - pretends to actually be the ghost that White yells out all the time as an exclamation ("Great Caesar's Ghost!!") . As a result, White thinks he's losing his mind, first hearing the ghost talk back to him and then, actually seeing the "ghost" (a Shakespearian actor, in on the deal) even appears in front of White, further making him think he's gone crazy.

Here's a real twist: Jimmy Olsen figures out something like this is behind i. He has to explain it to a baffled Inspector Henderson. And I thought Olsen was stupid! He's Sherlock Holmes compared to Henderson. No wonder Superman had to solve almost all the crime in Metropolis. How they stop the crooks in this story, I can't say without "spoilers."

Anyway, Hamilton must have had fun rehearsing some of these lines. Too bad it didn't stop "Perry" from yelling that expression out in future episodes. Sometimes I get tired of it, myself!

A Decent Color Episode

[cardboardmems · 6/10 · 17 November 2017]

The color episodes of the Adventures of Superman, were generally more kid friendly, and lacked the edge of the earlier black and white episodes, but this one isn't bad.

Perry White is supposed to be a star witness at the Morley gang trial. The gang gets the idea to drive him nuts, by capitalizing on his oft used phrase of "Great Caesar's Ghost!"

A guy dresses up like Caesar's Ghost, complete with Roman costume and phosphorescent paint, and every time White says the phrase, the gang member answers.

Slowly, Perry is seemingly driven mad, even to the point of trying to jump out of a plane to see who's voice he's hearing.

Superman rigs up a sting operation with Jimmy to make the gang member think HE'S seeing a ghost. White realizes he's not going insane.

One thing I love about this episode, is that there is a scene in it, where Clark Kent practically admits he's Superman. It would go over a kid's head, but an adult watching would have to chuckle.

Clark, Lois and Jimmy Olsen are in White's office. Kent is acting as temporary editor while White is about to check in at the booby hatch.

Lois makes a comment along the lines of, "Why hasn't Superman tried to help poor Mr. White". Kent responds, "Well Lois, I've been so chained to this desk..."

It's The Butler Again!

[redryan64 · 6/10 · 4 November 2014]

CAPITALIZING ON THE inherent humor that is built into certain regular series characters, the producer and writers concocted this episode. Blustery, crusty and cantankerous as Daily Planet Editor Perry White is, his "Heart of Gold" syndrome still shines through.

THE CHARACTERIZATION OF the Planet's boss, as portrayed by John Hamilton, was a true asset to the series. Whether it was bellowing out angry and bombastic orders to Kent and Miss Lane or his constant annoyance from young Cub Reporter, Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), any scene featuring the Editor was a minor gem. Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Larson comprised the nearest thing that the series had.

FOCUSING ON THE peculiarity of an expression that Perry White had been using for some tears, this custom made yarn was presented for our approval.

PERRY IS IN belief that he is either losing his mind or that he is being visited by a spirit from the other side. He is secluded for a restful recuperation and to regain his balance. Because the "spirit" is that of Julius Caesar, White's favourite expression of anger is changed. Instead of 'Great Caesar's Ghost', Perry now discharges the pseudo-expletive of 'Great Jingle Bells!'

OF COURSE WE find out that this all a hoax; with a gang using the talents of a Shakespearian-type actor in costume sprinkled with luminous powder providing this Ghostly Apparition.

THE EPISODE STRUCK a sort of compromise for the direction of the tone of the Superman show between the action and more violent content of seasons 1 & 2.

IN ADDITION TO the regular cast of George Reeves, Noel Neill, Jack Larson, John Hamilton and Robert Shayne, the supporting cast (although small) did the job. Making the criminal illusion complete were: Trevor Bardette (Great Caesar's Ghost), Jackson Gillis, Jim Hayward and Olaf Hytten as Jarvis the crooked Butler.

Perry Gets Gaslighted

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 7 February 2015]

This is another of those memorable episodes, even after some fifty odd years since I first saw it. Perry White is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He has been working long hours and is about to testify in a huge case against a major crime boss. His work is suffering and he is giving out ridiculous assignments to his employees. He's even cutting out paper dolls. One day he hears a voice that no one else can hear. It turns out to be the voice of "Great Caesar's Ghost" whom Perry has entreated a million times. Perry almost jumps out of a plane trying to find the source of the voice. When he gets to his country place, the ghost actually appears, in full legionnaire garb, and forces Perry to talk about ancient wars and learn Latin. His butler is the only other person at the house and he claims to know nothing. I absolutely love how this episode concludes. It's certainly one of the most creative of all the Superman shows.

Memorable but lacking cohesion

[LaoagMikey · 7 March 2016]

I remembered this episode from being a child watching every possible Superman episode I could. It came on every other Thursday at 5:30 in Shreveport, coexisting in the same time slot with a western (that I forget the name of since I never watched westerns).

It starts out OK but when Perry gets in the plane, there is this voice which is never explained. That bothered me for 40 years. How did the voice sound in the plane? When I finally bought my copy of the series and got to this episode, I watched carefully to try to solve my unexplained memory of where the voice in the plane came from. Superman looked around and found nobody and no apparatus to explain the voice and they left it at that. That bothered me then and it bothers me now. I don't like that they left this point incomplete.

Further along, the voice is heard by Perry but not by Jimmy who was not in on the prank so that is yet another loose plot point. It is understandable that the valet could not "hear" it, he was one of the mob and lying but not so for Jimmy.

So, although the episode was fanciful and memorable, I find it is not cohesive. Too much broke the mold. Wrong things happened and left unexplained for me to rate it high. Was good to see Perry get in some good acting time, though.

Mikey