User Reviews

Chuck Connors guest stars as "Slyvester J. Superman," a super-hick from "Skunk Hollow." He arrives in town with his pet mule, "Lillybelle." He's a very strong man and convinces, by bending a steel bar, the hotel manager that, yup, he's really "Superman." Thee hotel man thinks Superman is in disguise and gladly gives him at room (at the Crumbly Hotel.)

Meanwhile, two crooks get out of jail and have $50,000 in stashed loot to divvy up. They get into an argument over who has tasted the best pies: "Leftover Louie" bets on old friend "Marjorie" and "Buckets" bets on his "Aunt Tillie." The bet is their share of the loot with an impartial judge making the choice.

Louie tracks down Margie, who conveniently has just baked a fresh pie, but she is waiting for Superman to answer her ad in the paper. She wants the pie flown to Alaska for her fiancé to enjoy. The hick "superman" sees the ad and answers it just as Leftover was making a fuss because Margie wouldn't give him the pie. Clark Kent then arrives at Margie's door and explains what the ad in the paper was for. Ole Sylvester says he'll take the pie up there, and lo-and-behold, he does via airplane, train and mule - and in no time, apparently, as the pie is still fresh.

Leftover Louie - played by perhaps a man who made more villainous appearances than anyone on this show's history, Mr. Ben Welden - hears about and hops on a plane, too, to get that pie! The rest of the story is even more ludicrous!!!

I could continue but this episode is so outrageously dumb, I'm reluctant. I have to admit, though, it was totally innocent fun and I got some laughs out of it. More than anything, I was stunned to see something this far out....and I mean, far out!

The first season of "Adventures of Superman" is one of the greatest TV series //ever//. Robert Maxwell intended it as an adult program. There was no sponsor (DC picked up the bill), and the result is dark, violent, and sometimes just plain nasty. It is anything but a kiddie show.

When Kellogg's became the sponsor and Noel Neill replaced Phyllis Coates (arguably the best Lois Lane in TV or movies), "AoS" gradually became less violent, even downright sappy. Though the color episodes are generally looked down on, some are excellent, such as one in which criminals try to drive Perry White crazy by making him think his constant exclamation "Great Caesar's ghost!" has actually summoned Julius Caesar's spirit.

"Flight to the North" shows how to get away with a silly idea if it's totally over the top. Two crooks make a bet on whose girlfriend/mother makes the best lemon-meringue pie. What follows is better seen than described. If you haven't seen it, do so.

Superman answers a personal ad in the Daily Planet requesting his help in delivering a freshly baked Lemon Meringue Pie to her Fiancée. Steve, the lucky guy who is the Fiancée, is stationed in Alaska in a remote Weather Station. Superman arrives and pledges his help.

The only problem is that this is one Sylvester J. Superman, a rustic American Highlander(commonly called a "Hillbilly"). He shows up with his Mule,Lulubelle, and although he seemed quite puzzled about the request made by this damsel in distress, Margie(Marjore Owens)for help in delivering this to her True Love, Steve(Richard Garland),who is alone in the Arctic, manning the above mentioned Weather Station.

Well, to this Sylvester J. Superman, who lives his life in compliance with the Old Code of Chivalry which calls on a Man to always help a Lady wherever and whenever possible. He (apparently having 'deep pockets') charters an airplane to fly him and the Fresh Pie there to the Northern White Wilderness.

Meanwhile, Career Crook in the best Comic Book tradition, "Leftover" Louie Lyman(Ben Welden), newly released from the State Pen, meets up with fellow Gangster, "Buckets"(Ralph Sanford). When asked about being locked-up for those years and did he miss his old girlfriend, Margie, "Leftover" Louie tells "Buckets", no, but he would love to have one of her Lemon Meringue Pies. A wager between the two ensues and becomes the bone of contention in getting clear possession of the homemade Lemon Meringue Pie.

So, with that, the game was afoot! We were treated to a series of madcap chases and escapes with both the Hillbilly Sylvester and the real Superman's getting caught up with Louie's attempts to steal the Pie, which old Girlfriend, Margie, has refused him.

Eventually, all ends happily for the two separated, Young Lovers-the Pie's being delivered, with our Superman sharing in the cutting and sampling.

Louie is seen siting in a chair in his pad, shivering-blankets over him with his feet soaking in hot water.

A lot of viewers probably had a little problem with an episode, thinking them to be out of line with Superman Stories. In truth, tales which were whimsical and light like this 1955 FLIGHT TO THE NORTH were always used frequently in the Comics' Pages. If a 52 Page Comic Book of that era was published without having a "Full Length Novel", taking up the full number of pages allotted to the feature, there would usually be 3 stories, each being about 8 to 10 pages in length.

In order to vary the fare, the Editor would usually have one story with Outer Space Travel or Some other Science Fiction theme. The second Story would involve some more "ordinary", run of the mill Crooks; such as Bank Robbers, Burglars, Counterfitters or Con Men. The third story would usually feature putting the main character (Superman, Batman,etc) into an unusual role or having to perform their heroics in some unusual or even farcial situations. The last example was what this FLIGHT TO THE NORTH would have as a Classification.

The whole crew pitched in and made it in to a very pleasant change of pace and provided a little message of showing a little kindness and consideration toward others in offering helping hand. And even though there may not be anything in it for "Numero Uno", a Good Deed is its own reward.

It was also a great outing for Chuck Connors, no matter how absurd the character or the scenario. Chuck was relatively new to this Acting in Film and Television, having formerly been a Player in the early NBA as well as a Baseball Player, having been a 1st Baseman with the Brooklyn Dodgers(his home town) and the Chicago Cubs. A role like his "Sylvester J." gave an Actor a chance to 'ham it up' and let it all hang out!

And let us not forget one other segment of the program, and that is the Supportng Guest Players, and we've already mentioned the young betrothed couple. Well, the others George Cahndler as the Hotel Clerk was a repeat player, though in a much smaller role here. But, if you wanted those "Big Time" Gangster types, you could not do better than our own "Buckets" and "Leftover" Louie Lyman, Ralph Sanford and Ben Welden. The two probably had about 70 years experience between the two of them, and they never turned in any bum performances.

Hilarious episode and one of my favorites. Ben Weldon makes one of his several appearances playing unsavory characters. This time as "Leftover" Louie Lyman. Louie has 50 grand at stake for one of Margie's delicious lemon meringue pies that he's willing to chase down all the way to Alaska. Weldon has great comic timing and he's always a pleasure to watch. Also terrific is Chuck Conners as Sylvester J Superman. I don't recall ever seeing Conners in anything but serious roles and especially noteworthy is his run on the Rifleman. Seeing him as completely oblivious to being confused with the superhero Superman is a riot. Terrific sight gag is him traveling with his beloved mule Lily Belle up to Alaska with socks on her ears to protect from the cold.

Two crooks make a bet. One has just been released (graduated) from prison. He gets into an argument with a cohort over who can produce the best lemon meringue pie. It will involve getting pies from an aunt and a former classmate. Enter Chuck Connors (later the Rifleman) with a mule. His last name is Superman, so the desk clerk believes he is "the" Superman. He ends up reading a want ad in the paper from a lady needing help. It turns out her fiancée is in Alaska and she has baked a pie for him and wants Superman to deliver it to a remote outpost. The hick sets out to deliver the pie while the gangster goes off in hot pursuit. It is comical what happens in Alaska with the young radioman feeling like he has moved into the Twilight Zone. A pretty silly episode but it has its moments.