Legends of the Superheroes

[Kolbar]

A few days ago, I was able to track down a copy of the old Hanna-Barbera attempt at a live-action version of the Superfriends, entitled "Legends of the Superheroes." The specials feature a menagerie of DC Comics characters. For the heroes: Batman (Adam West), Robin (Burt Ward), Captain Marvel, Green Lantern, Huntress, Black Canary, Flash, Hawkman, and Green Lantern. And for the villains: Dr. Sivana, Riddler (Frank Gorshin), Solomon Grundy, Sinestro, Giganta, Weather Wizard, and Mordru.

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Chateau/4427/losh_brite987.jpg

There were two one-hour specials produced: "The Roast" and "The Challenge."

"The Roast" also features Ed McMahon as the host of the show in whch they roast the superheroes and "The Challenge" has the heroes try to disarm Dr. Sivana's doomsday weapon.

Obviously, they were very low budget, and the laugh track seems out of place, but I'd say these are quite enjoyable, if only to see the only live-action appearances by most of the characters.

So, who else has seen this?

[SAMaine]

Funfact: The reason why Superman and Wonder Woman are noticably absent is because other companies had already secured the rights to make a live-action version of those two characters. As this was made by the 60's Batman people, it's a little campy... Superman's rights were secured with Superman and Superman II starring Christopher Reeve and Wonder Woman was tied up with the Wonder Woman Television series, so Superman and Wonder Woman should be thanking their agent. =P

[Brainatra]

I've not seen it before, but it sounds/looks... weird.

Such a gathering would've made for an interesting installment in the then-annual JLA-JSA teamups, though, especially considering the heroes above at the time were either living on separate Earths (the Huntress, Capt. Marvel) or from the future (Mordru)... ;-)

[Steven C]

I'd like to see this.

[Jack Frenzy]

Oh, yes. I remember this from way back.

Cheap doesn't begin to describe it.

In "The Challenge," the villains stole the heroes' powers and later lost their own, thereby preventing any actual expense on special effects. Closest thing I recall to an actual power usage was that the Flash would just appear out of nowhere and vanish again, and maybe Black Canary screamed a little.

Then, having apparently exhausted their budget, they spent the second episode, "The Roast," holding... well, a roast. Meaning that nothing happened other than heroes and villains sitting around cracking jokes.

After that, it was gone.

[hobbyfan]

Funfact: The reason why Superman and Wonder Woman are noticably absent is because other companies had already secured the rights to make a live-action version of those two characters. As this was made by the 60's Batman people, it's a little campy... Superman's rights were secured with Superman and Superman II starring Christopher Reeve and Wonder Woman was tied up with the Wonder Woman Television series, so Superman and Wonder Woman should be thanking their agent. =P

Actually, Hanna-Barbera, the producers of Super Friends, put these live-action specials out, too. Wonder Woman & Superman were already in the hands of Warner Bros., as WW was airing on CBS at the time and Superman was in between the first two movies.

I had this on VHS a few years ago, then traded it away when I realized how cheesy this was. I remember seeing the Roast when it first aired back in 1979. A poor parody of the Dean Martin roasts of the period, and it even had one of Martin's regulars, Ruth Buzzi, in the cast!

[dth1971]

I remember these 2 Legends of the Superheroes specials in 1979, sure wish Time Warner released them on DVD.

Also: The Roast featured the only appearance of never more existed superhero Ghetto Man. The Challenge featured the earliest TV appearance of actress Marsha Warfield of "Night Court" fame (she was the woman on the telephone). And was one of the actors playing Captain Marvel different than the 2 who played him in the 1970's Filmation Shazam! TV series?