Hard to believe but this great film was released 30 years ago. I have fond memories of seeing it, with great anticipation. This was such an event...there was no cable tv, no VCRs, no DVDs, no multiplexes. Movie watching is so differnet now.

I think two things made the film successful: Richard Donner's reverence for the character and mythology...and of course, Christopher Reeve. When he
was on "Inside the Actor's Studio", Reeve said he played the part as "a friend" - someone who wanted to help, but not get in the way...someone who despite his powers, did not have an ounce of self importance.

I watched the film again this week, with my 6 year old son. He loved it. Who needs today's CGI technology, 30 years ago they made us believe a man coud fly.

Hard to believe but this great film was released 30 years ago. I have fond memories of seeing it, with great anticipation. This was such an event...there was no cable tv, no VCRs, no DVDs, no multiplexes. Movie watching is so differnet now.

I think two things made the film successful: Richard Donner's reverence for the character and mythology...and of course, Christopher Reeve. When he
was on "Inside the Actor's Studio", Reeve said he played the part as "a friend" - someone who wanted to help, but not get in the way...someone who despite his powers, did not have an ounce of self importance.

I watched the film again this week, with my 6 year old son. He loved it. Who needs today's CGI technology, 30 years ago they made us believe a man coud fly.

It was the first and is still arguably the best of all the Superhero movies that have come since. Such a major accomplishment for it's time and you're right - Donner and Reeve treated that story for what it was - epic mythology for a modern age - albeit with great affection and intelligent humor. I love that movie and have lost count of how many times I have watched it over the years. It is damned near perfect in it's intent and it's execution. My 9 year-old daughter loves it too.

The movie had a good heart.

I plan on watching Superman - The Movie again this weekend to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of release. This is the first Blu-ray disc movie that I ever watched on my projector from the PS3 when I bought the system last year. I have watched it many times since. My absolute favorite superhero movie of all time, as well as my favorite of the Superman films.

I sincerely hope that the studio brass will pass on the "total reboot" idea with the franchise, and just continue on with hopefully better films. I fear that any modern remake of the origin story will lack the overall warmth and heart & soul of this film. It is truly a timeless classic.

I agree; I remember seeing it in the theater and being very impressed that the art direction & production design (expecially for the first two thirds of the movie) appeared to have been translated right out of an actual comic book. I could see every scene as the comic book panel that inspired it. Actually, the theater viewing experience did more to pull the audience into the comic book. I assume that the BR experience on a big screen will do the same thing!

Also, when I first read that Margot Kidder had been cast as Lois Lane, all I could think was "why?", but as soon as I saw the movie I realized that she is the perfect choice; she gave Lois more humor and depth of character than I had previously imagined was there.

Actually I think that the casting is great all around, even beyond Kidder & Reeve, considering the spot-on portrayals of the Kents, young Clark, Jimmy, Perry, Lex, Otis, and the inimitable Miss Teschmacher (notice who's missing from the list!)

I nver did see this at the cinema, sadly enough. I was fourteen at the time, and ambivalent...the ads certainly looked well-made, but the pevailing attitude from Hollywood until that time was that superheroes were to be treated as camp hijinx. The thought of sitting for two-plus hours of Lorenzo Semple Jr.'s Superman made my heart sink. So I passed on the chance.

That winter my love of John William's scores compelled me to buy the double LP. No movie with music that (alternately) rousing and moving could be what I had dreaded. I wanted to see it - too late.

My chance came in winter 1980, shopping at a mall. Had just purchased Marice Jarre's Shogun score when I heard the theme from Superman. An audio/video store was playing the movie in their display window and a crowd had gathered to see it. I stood there rapt for two hours twentysome minutes (minus the opening credits - which I waited for to be rewound and repeated). Marveled at the film's beauty, rejoiced in the dialog, cheered for Superman's rescue of Lois from the copter, cried at her death and ressurrection, delighted in the cast, and basked in finally matching Williams to the the film. Went home profoundly moved and fulfilled (and glad to get off my damn feet).

Nuts, I may go watch it again tonight.

I watched the film again this week, with my 6 year old son. He loved it. Who needs today's CGI technology, 30 years ago they made us believe a man coud fly.

I think it's because they sincerely believed it themselves. It wasn't just a trick any more than it was just another stab at a franchise.

It was fun to see it in the Paramus, NJ multiplex (only three theaters at the time), because it was only a couple of miles from Hackensack, NJ, so of course much of the audience was from hackensack.

When Luthor said where that second missile was heading, the audience went wild! :lol:

I still remember seeing this when it opened with my Dad, we both loved it. When Superman II came out, we were first in line for it too. Oddly, at the time I actually liked the action-packed Superman II better, though over the years my opinion has changed and I think the original is by far the superior movie.

Much as I liked Ironman and the new Batman movies, I still think overall Superman was the best comic book adaption Hollywood ever produced.

Actually I think that the casting is great all around, even beyond Kidder & Reeve, considering the spot-on portrayals of the Kents, young Clark, Jimmy, Perry, Lex, Otis, and the inimitable Miss Teschmacher (notice who's missing from the list!)

I assume you mean Brando. Even his performance has grown on me over the years, the extra footage included in the "director's cut" probably helped. Still, all the casting choices in the film pales next to Christopher Reeve. He might have been the most perfect casting choice ever. I literally can't imagine anybody who would have been near as good.

I remember seeing this when it was released,At Eric's Place in Center City Phaladelphia.

It was pure Magic.

Chris Reeve is sadly missed.

I remember comming out of the theatre and looking up in the sky at the buildings ....Wishing he was really out there somewhere:)

Great Film. A True Epic.

I assume you mean Brando. Even his performance has grown on me over the years, the extra footage included in the "director's cut" probably helped. Still, all the casting choices in the film pales next to Christopher Reeve. He might have been the most perfect casting choice ever. I literally can't imagine anybody who would have been near as good.

That's the one. I'm glad that his part is mostly over before the 'meat' of the film really gets started. To me his performance is disappointing. Jor-El as a character could have been amazing.

I still love the movie, though; one casting disappointment is not enough to diminish my opinion of the overall work.

I've wondered for years whom I would've cast in his place as Jor-El, and I finally decided that Gregory Peck might have achieved the necessary balance of passion and gravitas. I think he had a more inspirational, sonorous voice, too.

I agree about Reeve; there could be no one else as Superman!

(He was very good in some other, lesser movies, too.)

I make it a point to re-watch this film at least twice a year. The first time I saw it, it was in 1979, a year after its theatrical release. Our junior high showed it to all the classes on a projector in the gym for our last assembly before we were let loose for Christmas Vacation. It was on one of those old RCA CED discs, which were about the size of vinyl LP records and played about the same way ( not optical like Laserdisc ).

Now, whenever I get homesick, the first half of the movie is a big comfort. The Smallville sequences were filmed in Southern Alberta. I grew up only about 100 miles or so south of those locations in Northern Montana and my childhood was very much like that portrayed in the film, plains... wheat fields... farms... big skies and small, rural schools and trains. Whenever I get the chance to visit home, I hear John Williams' sweeping scores for those scenes and they summarize my emotions of being home perfectly.

Of course, I too think the cast was perfect. There was a lot of wit and humor to the portrayals. Even Lex Luthor was likeable and done only as Hackman could portray him. : " Otisburg? OTIS-BURG?? " " Miss TESCH-MACHERRRRR! "

Kevin Spacey channeled Hackman in his own portrayal of Luthor, but with a more sinister bent. Loved that characterization too, but Hackman will ALWAYS be the definitive Lex Luthor for me.

The production design and execution of Krypton and its demise was something else to see. I still consider it one of my favorite sections of the movie. Thanks to the acting of the villians, especially Terence Stamp as Zod, I felt the dread they felt as the Phantom Zone swept down, absorbed them and carried them off...the 'Guilty. GUILTY...guilty...guilty... Guilty.' verdicts of the Kryptonian council still echoing in my head long after it stopped echoing in the theater.

30 years and aging wonderfully well...

Just a few scenes for your viewing pleasure...


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"Woah Jack! That is one bad out-fit!"

"Woah Jack! That is one bad out-fit!"

" S'cuse me... "


There are far too many great lines to quote here!

" Yes Otis, we were just talking about you. You were followed again. "

" It's one of those... cat-like reflexes. "

" Is that the newspaper I asked you to get me this morning? Then why am I not reading it? "

" Cuz I haven't given it to you yet? "

" Do you want to see a long arm, Otis? Do you wanna see a REALLY LONG ARM, OTIS? "

" Come in, the door's open. "

" Oh, by the way... my attorney will be in touch with you about the damage to the door. "

"We all have our little faults. Mine's in California."

"You've got me? Who's got you?"

"Do you know why the number two hundred is so vitally descriptive to both you and me? It's your weight and my I.Q."

"It's amazing that brain can generate enough power to keep those legs moving."

"Otis, take the gentleman's cape."
"I don't think he wants me to, Mr. Luthor."

I saw this three times in the theater in '78. It was the event of the year for me. And I still swear that the very first time I saw it the little comic book prologue was not there. It just started with the credits sequence. The next two times, the prologue was there leading to the top of the Daily Planet and off into space. Anyone else see the same thing or did I imagine it?

Easily one of the very best superhero films and very hard to top.

" Do you want to see a long arm, Otis? Do you wanna see a REALLY LONG ARM, OTIS? "

To this day my wife uses that line to kid around when I do something that slightly pisses her off.

Am I the only one around here who found much of the film to be silly? Yeah, there were some great lines, but overall I just couldn't get into much of the characterization. Reeve as Superman was outstanding, but I found his Clark Kent unbelievable. No one could be that naive and clumsy. And how smart could Lex Luthor really be if he has only two assitants, one of whom was as dumb as a box of rocks? I found Lois Lane to be incredibly self centered, and it was incredible to me that someone like Superman could fall in love with such an egotistical person.

Just my 2 cents.

I found Lois Lane to be incredibly self centered, and it was incredible to me that someone like Superman could fall in love with such an egotistical person.I agree with some of your other points, but especially this one. I spent some time as a journalist, and Kidder's version (can't lay all the blame at her feet, of course) of Lois Lane is one of the worst, least realistic depictions of a supposedly crack reporter I've ever seen. What's her face in Superman Returns may not have been all that convincing, but she wasn't ridiculous. And you're right -- putting all that aside, what exactly did Superman see in this woman as she was presented?

Qapla'

SSB

And you're right -- putting all that aside, what exactly did Superman see in this woman as she was presented?

Qapla'

SSB

Well for one thing, he had X-Ray vision.

http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/library/photos/266/266986.jpg

Well for one thing, he had X-Ray vision.

http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/library/photos/266/266986.jpgNot good enough --It isn't as if she was the only woman who had those. :p

Qapla'

SSB

I agree with some of your other points, but especially this one. I spent some time as a journalist, and Kidder's version (can't lay all the blame at her feet, of course) of Lois Lane is one of the worst, least realistic depictions of a supposedly crack reporter I've ever seen. What's her face in Superman Returns may not have been all that convincing, but she wasn't ridiculous. And you're right -- putting all that aside, what exactly did Superman see in this woman as she was presented?

Qapla'

SSB

In her defense, I think that was supposed to be the joke. I'd think even the world's worst reporter would know how to spell rapist.

And don't forget, it was the seventies.

And don't forget, it was the seventies.That does explain a lot.

Qapla'

SSB

I don't think "silly" is the appropriate term. One of the film's great accomplishments is the way it so seamlessly mixes drama, action, and comedy. The first third of the movie (Krypton, Smallville) is almost religious in tone. The middle section (Metropolis, The Daily Planet, Lex and crew) is screwball comedy in the best Hollywood tradition, and the final third offers relentlessly rousing action on an epic scale as it builds towards a perfectly satisfying climax and resolution.

The fact is - the movie just works - on all cylinders.

There aren't many "perfect" movies out there, but in my opinion, Superman: The Movie comes darned close.

Am I the only one around here who found much of the film to be silly? Yeah, there were some great lines, but overall I just couldn't get into much of the characterization. Reeve as Superman was outstanding, but I found his Clark Kent unbelievable. No one could be that naive and clumsy. And how smart could Lex Luthor really be if he has only two assitants, one of whom was as dumb as a box of rocks? I found Lois Lane to be incredibly self centered, and it was incredible to me that someone like Superman could fall in love with such an egotistical person.

Just my 2 cents.


Valid points.
I always describe it thus: The first act of the film is awesome, downright epic and legendary. The rest of the film is kinda goofy.

I'd been reading Superman comics for years when the film came out. It took me awhile to get used to the breaks from the comic book version---Everyone on Krypton wearing white/black without anybody wearing a headband? No Superboy? No Krypto on Krypton? Ma Kent surviving past Clark's teen years? Lex Luthor discovering Kryptonite's effect on Superman? Lex Luthor's baldness NOT caused by Superboy? I came to accept all of the changes made to the comic book mythos for the movie as time passed, except for one---when Lois dies, Superman goes back in time to save her. When he sees her, for some unknown reason, the earthquake doesn't continue. Why??? He should have had to have gotten her out of the car while the earth opened up and swallowed her car without her in it.

I first saw the movie on its official opening day nationwide. It contained the comic book prologue each time I saw it. I noticed there was about one second of both the planet Krypton and the giant red sun before they blew up when I rented the video tape version shortly upon its release. When I watched the movie on cable later, both blew up almost immediately without that one second establishing shot. It was puzzling to me why such a short segment was taken out of the movie. I know there were significant differences in the much longer ABC version years later. Is there any book, web-site, or magazine detailing differences in the various versions released? Does anyone know who scored the additional musical passages in the ABC version? Did John Williams do the additional work, or did someone else just re-edit/re-mix existing and/or unused recordings?

I saw this movie in theaters when first reoleased, and this 20-year-old was completely blown away. The scene where Superman gently takes off from Lois Lane's patio and she heads back inside had my eyes bugging out going "How the hell they do that?" When I found out how simple it was, I was amazed.

I saw it on HBO a couple years later, and noticed odd little jumps in the movie. Hated that.

And the movie wasn't written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr. It was Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton (with an uncredited final polish by John Mankewictz [sp?]).

And the movie wasn't written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr.



Yes, I know. My point was that until Richard Donner we had had an era of high camp superheroes, and I avoided the film as I saw no reason to expect differently. Hence "Lorenzo Semple's Superman", Semple's indelible stamp on Batman having set that mold. In fact, this was exactly what we would have had the (yet again) Salkinds prevailed.

Yes, I know. My point was that until Richard Donner we had had an era of high camp superheroes, and I avoided the film as I saw no reason to expect differently. Hence "Lorenzo Semple's Superman", Semple's indelible stamp on Batman having set that mold. In fact, this was exactly what we would have had the (yet again) Salkinds prevailed.

Ummm...no worries there. The Salkinds sold off their rights to the Superman family to Cannon Films, who made "Superman IV The Quest For Peace." What they did keep was Superboy, and they produced "Superboy The Series" for four seasons (the third and fourth seasons were filmed back-to-back).

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Semple, Jr. went on to write "Flash Gordon."

I remember seeing "Superman: The Movie" at a drive-in in Waco, Tx as a child and later the 18 minute Super 8 version. And I especially remember seeing "Superman II" in the theater! I hated it when he gave up his powers. The scene where he transformed into a mortal kinda creeped me out. The Phantom Zone villains were scary to me! But I loved it when he came back and fought them in the streets of Metropolis. The films felt real to me!