Electric Earthquake

Electric Earthquake (1942)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Seventh film in Paramount's series once again has a wack-o creating an earthquake machine that will make the city fall to its knees. Lois ends up kidnapped by the nut so Superman must save her and the city. This is another decent episode in a not too impressive series. Perhaps I was just expecting more but so far this series has been pretty middle-ground and can't hold a candle to anything out there by Disney, Warner or even MGM. This film does have a fairly decent story but not much is done with it because of the simple way it is carried out and the fact that it plays out just like the previous six films. The action scenes underwater were very entertaining and reason alone to watch the film.

I love the Fleischer Superman cartoons. The animation is smooth and fluid with vivid colors. The distinct art-deco style, vintage science fiction imagery, and use of noirish shadows gave them a look unlike any other cartoons. The music and voice work is superb. They're fun, accessible, enduring animation classics.

The seventh in the series is one of the best and most interesting. A Native American scientist demands the return of Manhattan to his people. Everybody but Lois Lane believes his threats to be empty. Lois sneaks onto the guy's motorboat and follows him back to his secret lair, which is a very cool underwater laboratory. After the scientist straps Lois into a chair ready-made to keep someone prisoner, he begins to unleash his earthquake device on the city. He has large electric cables connected to the bedrock of Manhattan island and, when he sends electric surges through the cables, he causes earthquakes. This results in some exciting scenes. Superman is quickly on the job and into the water, where he discovers the cables and proceeds to try to undo them. This proves harder than it looks. The rest of the cartoon is fun, non-stop action as Supes tries to save the city from the earthquake machine.

This is a great cartoon. The plot is a little more detailed than the average entry in the series and the villain is very unique. It's also interesting that the city is explicitly referred to as the real place of Manhattan, as opposed to the fictional city of Metropolis where Superman's adventures usually take place.

I have to say that so far, as part of sitting through watching the old 1940 "Superman" short animated features, then "Electric Earthquake" was sort of bland and mediocre.

The storyline in "Electric Earthquake", as written by Seymour Kneitel and Izzy Sparber, was a rather mundane foray into the otherwise thrilling and action-packed universe of "Superman". Sure, it felt and looked like something that belonged in the "Superman" animated franchise, but I just didn't find the narrative here particularly entertaining or thrilling.

The art and animation was good, just as in the many other short animated "Superman" features from the 1940s.

Watchable for what it was, director Dave Fleischer and Steve Muffati's 1942 "Electric Earthquake" felt a bit forced and bland.

My rating of "Electric Earthquake" lands on a five out of ten stars.

A Native American man says that Manhattan (Metropolis) belongs to his people and demands that it should be returned to them. Naturally he's refused. So, he plants something like explosive charges in the water under Manhattan and sets them off causing earthquakes. Naturally Lois Lane (as usual) is captured and tied up by him. Looks like it's Superman to the rescue.

Very good and very interesting in that it has a Native American as a villain. Also bringing up how Manhattan belongs to the Indians was very advanced for a 1942 cartoon. Still it's not really dealt with--this was just for entertainment and the action scenes delivered. I especially liked the elevator that traveled underwater to the villain's hideout.

Lots of fun! A 10.

Superman is brought in to save the city of Metropolis. A Native American mad scientist (are they really mad or just have a reason to act) wants Manhattan back for his people, but, of course, just like today, there is no chance. Of course, once again, he is defied and needs to show off his strength. He is able to use electricity below the surface to create and earthquake which jeopardizes the future of the great city. Somehow, Lois Lane figures out where he is and gets into his hideout. Not only does Superman have to save the city, he is stuck rescuing Lois again. There are some wonderful earthquake scenes using the talents of the Fleischer animators. This is a pretty well done episode, although the whole Native American issue is never addressed. Of course, even talking about Indian rights in those days was pretty interesting.