Superman and the Mole Men

Superman and the Mole Men

Year: 1951

Runtime: 58 mins

Language: English

Director: Lee Sholem

AdventureAction

Clark Kent and Lois Lane travel to Silsby to cover the drilling of the world’s deepest oil well. The drill pierces the underground home of small, furry, glow‑in‑the‑dark Mole Men who surface at night. frightened townfolk form a hostile mob led by ruthless Luke Benson, intent on killing the newcomers. Only Superman can intervene to stop the violence.

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Superman and the Mole Men (1951) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Superman and the Mole Men (1951), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Clark Kent and Lois Lane arrive in the small town of Silsby to report on the world’s deepest oil well. That night, two small, furry, bald dwarf humanoids emerge through the shaft and scare the elderly night watchman to death. The investigators find the watchman dead at the site, and Clark, alongside the foreman, begins to search for signs of foul play. Lois glimpses one of the creatures, but when she tries to tell the townspeople, they don’t believe her.

The medical examiner is summoned and eventually leaves with Lois, while Clark stays behind to confront the foreman. The foreman confesses that the well was closed out of fear they had struck radium instead of oil. He then shows Clark ore samples collected during different drilling stages, all of which glow brightly, hinting at something extraordinary beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, the two Mole Men roam the town, and the residents grow terrified not only by their peculiar appearance but also by the fact that everything they touch glows in the dark due to phosphorescence. An angry mob forms, led by the violent Luke Benson, determined to kill the “monsters.” Superman intervenes, stopping Benson and the mob, and he even saves one of the creatures in mid‑air after it is shot from the top of a dam. He brings the injured creature to the hospital, while the second creature returns to the wellhead and vanishes down its shaft.

A doctor announces that the injured Mole Man will die without surgery to remove a bullet. A nurse refuses to perform the operation out of fear, so Clark volunteers to help. Benson’s mob arrives at the hospital, demanding the creature’s surrender. Superman stands guard outside with Lois, but a shot narrowly misses her. He disarms the mob with ease and protects them both.

Three more Mole Men emerge from the drill shaft, now wielding a strange weapon. They head to the hospital, where Benson’s mob spots them and Benson chooses to pursue them alone. The creatures fire their laser‑like weapon at Benson, but Superman jumps in front of the ray to shield him. The superhero then retrieves the wounded Mole Man and carries him alongside his companions as they return to the wellhead. Descending back down, the Mole Men destroy the drill shaft, ensuring that no one can go up or down, and leaving the mystery of Silsby’s glowing undercurrents resolved for the time being.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 12:29

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Movies where a hero protects the misunderstood like in Superman and the Mole Men

Stories where a hero must protect innocent beings from fearful mobs.If you liked Superman defending the Mole Men, you'll enjoy these movies featuring protagonists who stand against mob mentality to protect innocent beings. These similar sci-fi adventures and superhero stories explore themes of xenophobia and heroic intervention with a steady, tense pace.

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The narrative pattern follows the arrival of an unknown entity that triggers fear in a community, leading to the formation of a hostile mob. A protagonist, possessing greater power or moral clarity, must act as a mediator and protector to prevent violence and reveal the true, non-threatening nature of the misunderstood party.

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These stories typically begin with a scientific discovery or strange event that brings alien life to a secluded community. The plot follows a linear path as fear escalates among the townspeople, leading to conflict between those who want to understand and those who want to destroy. The narrative is straightforward, emphasizing the social allegory over complex sci-fi concepts.

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These films are grouped by their shared historical era aesthetic, their core 'first contact gone wrong' plot, and their distinct mood of anxious curiosity turning into fear. They consistently feature themes of xenophobia, a tense but steady pacing, and a mix of adventure and social drama.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Superman and the Mole Men

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