The Magnetic Telescope (1942)

Dreadfully Boring

I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Someone used the term "misguided" to describe the scientists in this series. It's easy when they have true science in mind but don't know what they are dealing with. The others are the ones with criminal intent. Where the science is used to rob or plunder. This is the former, where this guy doesn't know when to stop, causing chaos for the world. Even after his machine is destroyed the results of his actions continue to affect the earth. A comet, a very large celestial body, heads toward the earth and Superman is pretty small compared to it. He must use every tool in his arsenal to dissuade the space junk. Of course, Lois is right there, getting in the way. This is a landmark episode where a kiss is exchanged. I'm sure the kids watching this on Saturday mornings would have yelled, "Mush." There was some innocence at that time. Remember, outside the theater, a war was in progress.

It is nothing really new that Superman occasionally needs to go up against nature phenomenons rather than bad guys and this 8-minute cartoon from the days of World War II is just another example. "The Magnetic Telescope" has a whole bunch of meteors flying down to the earth after a scientist lost touch with reality. And the man in blue is the one who needs to get things straight again. And of course he does. As delusional as the scientist may have been, he is no antagonist in here and he disappears quickly out of the picture. I personally did not enjoy the watch here too much, even if I believe it is not one of the worst from Fleischer's Superman series from 75 years ago. Still, a thumbs down.

"The Magnetic Telescope" is one of the better cartoons from the Superman series that the Fleischer Brothers made. The plot is very exciting and is has a neat scene at the end where Clark gets to smooch Lois! It begins with a stupid and very irresponsible scientist testing out his insane telescopic device. It uses magnetics to bring objects closer to the Earth! And, not surprisingly, when he brings a meteor near the planet, it causes some serious damage. However, he's determined to try this again--but on a much larger object!! When a comet is brought near, folks rush the observatory and smash the device--but the comet STILL comes hurtling towards the Earth. Now here is the kicker--Superman tries repeatedly to stop the comet but it's too big and powerful. So, he must do something fast to fix that darned device and hope that it can be used to reverse the path of the object.As I noticed in several of these cartoons, Superman is NOT all-powerful. He gets knocked down, hurt and overwhelmed from time to time. I actually like this as it added to the suspense. I also loved when the day was saved and Lois THOUGHT she was kissing Superman and it turned out to be Clark (well, at least it was Clark dressed as his alter ego, Clark Kent). Well done.

A mad scientist has developed a contraption capable of pulling celestial bodies out of the heavens. When he succeeds in bringing a highly destructive comet upon Metropolis, and with intrepid reporter Lois Lane in harm's way, only Superman can stop the chaos caused by THE MAGNETIC TELESCOPE.This was another in the series of excellent cartoons Max Fleischer produced for Paramount Studio. They feature great animation and taut, fast-moving plots. Meant to be shown in movie theaters, they are miles ahead of their Saturday Morning counterparts. Bud Collyer is the voice of Superman; Joan Alexander does the honors for Lois Lane.