User Reviews

Review – No Holds Barred Wrestling on television was very popular in the early fifties and as a result this episode is familiar. Quite often a wrestler would have a gimmick, something to make him stand out from the rest of his peers. The episode has Bad Luck Brannigan with a gimmick, the paralyzer, and the unique hold would make the ticket sales increase because people wanted to see the hold in action and some wanted to see him lose. Dick Reeves does an admirable job in his role as Brannigan, as do Dick Elliot as honest promoter Sam Bleaker and Herb Vigran in his familiar role as a not so honest promoter Mort Murray. Malcolm Mealy is believable as the amateur challenger Wayne Winchester. The combativeness is not limited to the ring as Lois is at Clark's throat for coaching Wayne on ways to shun the paralyzer. What would an episode be without Lois climbing Clark's back, berating him, because she was right and he wasn't. Clark proves to be wise to the nature of the game and solves the problem with of course the help of Superman. Four stuntmen were used in the episode which presents itself well due the popularity of wrestling, the good guy finishing on top, and the bad guys getting their just desserts with the innocent achieving fulfillment in the end by healing the stricken. Worth watching for a number of reasons, wrestling in the ring, wrestling between Clark and Lois, and the guest actors provide a believable performance.

With the full frontal assault of Television on our culture in the Post World II era came a rekindling of interest in Professional Wrestling. As a sport, a form of self-defense and an entertainment, Wrestling is as old as Mankind. It was for the entertainment value that the Professional Mat Game and the new TV Networks found that theirs was truly a "Marriage Made in Heaven!" An abundant supply of veteran grapplers was found to be already out there.

Added to that was a fine crop of young talent from the ranks of the Amateur Athletic Union and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, by way of World War II and the Armed Forces. There were plenty of top flight straight out wrestlers to provide competition for the Champions' Belts and plenty of veteran supporting players to feign fake foreign persona and get involved in terrible "feuds" to keep things interesting on the 'undercard'(preliminary matches).

So it came to pass that some Theatrical Films and Television Series Episodes would make Pro Wrestling and Wrestlers the subject of some of their stories. The Superman TV Series would be one.

Our story opens with a series of Daily Planet headlines and announcer voice-overs telling the story of a streak of w3ins in the squared circle being piled up by a Wrestler named "Bad Luck" Brannigan. Not only has the grizzled Ring Veteran Brannigan(Richard Reeves)won all these matches, but his opponents were all sent to the Hospital and feared unable to return to the mat, ever. Their physical skills and health both being compromised by the new found hold of new Champion Brannigan. The hold, affectionately known as "the Crippler", did just as its name states, leaving each opponent bedridden for an extended stay.

Investigation by The Daily Planet, Clark Kent and Superman reveals some subtle use of finger tips around opponents shoulders by Champ Brannigan. Superman follows up, finding a man from India being held against his will, being told that the American "authorities" would put him in prison if he were to be discovered. He was also compelled to teach this finger to pressure point skill to Wrestlers like "Bad Luck".

Superman gets the low-down on this finger 'magic', frees the imprisoned/kidnapped Indian Man and, as Mr. Kent, shows the business and the counter exercises to former Collegiate Wrestler, Wayne Winchester(Malcom Mealey). Mealey defeats Brannigan, becomes new Champ. Crooked Promoter (Herb Vigran), Brannigan and whole stable of "crooked" wrestlers get pinched and run out of town. Honest, decent guy promoter Sam Bleaker(Dick Elliot)resumes position as top promoter in Metropolis.

THE END (Distributed by Motion Pictures for Television, Inc.) As an installment of the first season, this NO HOLDS BARRED has to rank toward the top of the heap. Good use was made of footage from wrestling matches(probably from the Olympic Stadium or Hollywood Legion Hall),being inter cut and matched-up with filmed shots of "Bad Luck" wrestling his opponents.

The episode is further enhanced by the supporting cast. Guys like Herb Vigran and Dick Elliot could always be counted on in Superman episodes and were both repeat guest players. Added to the regulars of Phylli Coates, John Hamilton, Jack Larson and Robert Shayne,they make the story just fine.

The addition of the real life Wrestlers gave a touch of authenticity beyond that of series TV, then or now. In particular, Pro Wrestler Henry Kulky added this appearance to his resume. He possibly made more Film/TV appearances, ever, than anyone else of his profession.