By Michael Lyons
Those who remember venturing to movie theaters in 1978 to see “Superman: The Movie” have earned the right to act like the proverbial “old man,” rocking on the chair on the front porch and waxing nostalgically: “In my day, there were no ‘Avengers’ or ‘Justice League!’” We didn’t have a new super hero movie every six months! We had ONE supper hero movie and we were happy to have it!”
And...that’s not an exaggeration. That one super hero movie was “Superman: The Movie.” Released on December 15, 1978, it was the first time that a prominent comic book super hero had been in the spotlight since Adam West’s campy “Pow” take on “Batman” in that popular TV series from the previous decade.
However, “Superman: The Movie” would be different: big budget, serious and epic. In our current movie culture where super hero films are so common place that they’ve become a genre unto themselves, “Superman” still flies high above the rest. With this year marking the film’s 40th anniversary, it seems the perfect time to reflect back on how this version of the man in the red cape led the way for all of the super hero goodness we enjoy today.
“Superman: The Movie,” tells a tale that’s become almost commonplace today and one that it helped create: that of an “origin story.” We learn how Superman came to be. On his home planet, Krypton, he is jettisoned aboard an escape vessel by his father Jor-El (played by none other than Marlon Brando, setting a then-record for the highest price paid for an extended cameo).
We follow Superman to Earth, his teenage years in Smallville and his later life, dealing with the dual personality of reporter Clark Kent at the Daily Planet newspaper. Here, Superman finds himself saving big city Metropolis, and the world, from the villain, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman, having the time of his life).
Taking a page from the blockbuster disaster movies that preceded it, “Superman: The Movie” is a march of ‘70’s all-star actors, each one bringing their A game. In addition to Brando and Hackman, veteran Glenn Ford is so homespun and wise as Pa Kent, Superman’s Earth father; Ned Beatty, dim-witted and hilarious as Luthor, Lex’s sidekick; Jackie Cooper, gruff and barking as Daily Planet editor Perry White and Valerie Petrine, very likable as the Lex Luthor’s conflicted femme fatale (“Miss Tessmacheeeerrrrr!!!”).
Rounding out the cast, in two prime roles, were Margot Kidder, as reporter Lois Lane, redefining this iconic character, as an independent, work-driven, metropolitan woman. Kidder accomplishes something unique, balancing both strong and vulnerable, as she strives to get the story on Superman, while falling for him.
Then there’s Christopher Reeve in the title role. An unknown prior to “Superman: The Movie’ (he received billing after Brando and Hackman AND after the title), Reeve became this super hero for an entire generation...and beyond. Not just satisfied with playing the role as a stiff, strong man, Reeve brought humor and emotion (his anguish after the earthquake sequence is still amazing to watch) to this role that’s not been seen since. Reeve became immediately associated with Superman for his entire career after this and with good reason, the actor imbued the icon with his heart and humanity.
Pulling “Superman: The Movie” together was director Richard Donner, who would go on to a string of hits in the ‘80’s with “The Goonies” and the “Lethal Weapon” movies. Here, Donner works on a large-scale and orchestrates everything perfectly, from impressive action sequences (Superman’s first major appearance saving Lois from a helicopter crash is perfectly choreographed) to quieter, character moments (young Clark struggling to understand why he couldn’t use his powers to save a life is very touching).
Additionally, the film’s use of special effects still astound. Well in advance of our computer generated age where nothing is impossible, “Superman: The Movie” was made at a time when a character flying meant wires and clunky movements. This film changed all that, using every available, hand crafted trick in the book to create a visceral feeling of flight and speed in the film.
Much with the character has followed in the four decades since “Superman: The Movie” was released. There were three sequels in the eighties, two TV series in the ‘90’s, an attempt at a reboot in 2006 and, of course, the recent re-vitilizatoon of the DC Universe on film.
This non-stop wealth of movie riches from both DC and Marvel owes so much to the blockbuster that soared into theaters almost forty years ago. As the tag line for “Superman:The Movie” stated: “You’ll Believe a Man Can Fly.” Indeed we did...and still do!
Sources: IMDb
Wikipedia
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