- Date: November 20, 1942
- Type: Movie
Eleventh Hour (1942) is the twelfth of seventeen animated Technicolor short films based upon the DC Comics character Superman. Produced by Famous Studios, the cartoon was originally released to theaters by Paramount Pictures on November 20, 1942. While Clark Kent and Lois Lane are kept under house arrest as prisoners of war in Japan, Superman becomes a saboteur. In the Japanese City of Yokohama the Eleventh Hour strikes and a ship is turned over. Superman escapes searchlights while sirens go off and goes through a window, putting a barred grille back in place. Lois asks if Clark is awake, to which he asks who could sleep through a racket like this. Lois says the racket has been happening every night since they have been interned. Clark says it may be sabotage, which Lois also hopes. She wonders if Superman is responsible. A guard tells them to stop talking. A Japanese Official says the sabotage must stop at once. As the Eleventh Hour strikes, Clark looks at his watch and leaves the window, returning as Superman. He leaves the room by removing the grille and drags a ship over into the sea. Sabotage happens every night at the Eleventh Hour, and the Official again says the sabotage still must be stopped. Lois sees Superman as he leaps between buildings. She says outside Clark's room that it is Superman, she just saw him, and the Japanese have a 'swell chance' of catching him. However a guard covers her mouth from behind and drags her out. Notices are put up saying 'Warning! Superman One more act of Sabotage and the American Girl Reporter will be executed at once'. Superman sends another ship into the sea, but is buried under steel girders. Lois is taken out for execution with her hands tied. As Superman digs himself out she walks against the wall and is blindfolded. Superman sees the notice and is fired on, but leaps away. He shields Lois just as the bullets are fired, and leaps away with her. On a ship landing in America Lois is interviewed. She is asked by a reporter if Clark got away, but says he is still over there but Superman promised to look after him. As the Eleventh Hour strikes in Japan there is another explosion. --- Up in the sky, look! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Faster than a streak of lightning. More powerful than the pounding surf. Mightier than a roaring hurricane. This amazing stranger from the Planet Krypton, the Man of Steel - Superman! Possessing remarkable physical strength, Superman fights a never-ending battle for truth and justice disguised as a mild-mannered newspaper reporter, Clark Kent. Oh, Clark. Are you awake? Who could sleep through a racket like this? It's been going on every night since we've been interned. What could it be? It could be sabotage, I think. Me too, but who? Clark, do you suppose... Yes, Lois? Oh, nothing. Just a silly hunch that Superman may be over here. *Japanese speech* Clark! Clark! It is Superman. I just saw him. Swell chance they've got of catching him... Miss Lane! This way, please. How does it feel to be home? Smile, please. How about Clark Kent? Did he get away? No, no, he's still over there, but don't worry. Superman's going to look after him. --- A Paramount Picture Stereoptical Process and Apparatus Patented, Patent Number 2054414 Superman Paramount presents Superman, A famous Studios Production in Technicolor Eleventh Hour Copyright MCMXLII by Paramount Pictures Inc All Rights Reserved By arrangement with Action Comics and Superman Magazine Superman comic strip created by Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster Direction: Dan Gordon Animation: Willard Bowsky, William Henning Story: Carl Meyer, William Turner Musical Arrangement: Sammy Timberg Yokohama Warning! Superman One more act of sabotage and the American girl reporter will be executed at once! Signed A Paramount Picture in Technicolor