Superhero Films – Superman: The Movie (1978)
A review of the 1978 superhero movie Superman: The Movie starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman and Jackie Cooper
A big-budget film about Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s iconic superhero hits theaters on the 40th anniversary of his debut in 1978’s Superman: The Movie.
Director Richard Donner works with an all-star cast consisting of Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, Jackie Cooper, Glenn Ford and Valerie Perrine to bring the Man of Steel’s story to theater screens. Marketing for the upcoming film assures us that we “will believe a man can fly”.
The film would recount Superman’s origin. From his infant escape from the doomed planet Krypton to being raised in Smallville Kansas to working at the Daily Planet in Metropolis to finally battling the evil Lex Luthor. Can he possibly save us from earthquakes, nuclear missles and jewel thieves who scale walls all the while with the music of John Williams playing in the background?
So, who do they have playing the leads? Apparently that actress from Sisters, Margot Kidder will be Lois Lane, the Daily Planet reporter who always needs saving. And as for Clark Kent aka Superman, they got some guy by the name of Christopher Reeve.
Superman would become a classic in not only the superhero film genre, but general films too. The images, sounds, and effects the film presents would eventually become synonymous with the character. And as George Reeves had become the embodiment of the character for millions of fans, Christopher Reeve would also make his own indelible mark on the character for another generation.
Superhero Films – Chap. 10: Superman The Movie from HaphazardStuff on Vimeo.
