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"The guy who played Superman in the '70s"
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Location: Blogs Atomic FalloutSplittin' Atoms |
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| Posted by: Jake Bell |
Friday, June 01, 2007 4:26 PM |
 If you have not read Superman Family... well, I don’t necessarily blame you, but you should know that on a scale of one to rad, it rates a high Power Glove, which is somewhere above a ten. Who doesn’t want to read about Krypto being a "good dog" or see Supergirl in hot pants? Or how about reading about Kandor’s resident superheroes Nightwing (the original) and Flamebird? Does that do anything for ya? Not to mention that each giant-sized issue features the further adventures of Superman, his girlfriend Lois Lane (which is really the only thing she accomplishes until women’s lib comes into fashion), and his pal Jimmy Olsen!
These issues are reward in and of themselves, but as I was reading Superman Family #190, I came across a real treasure–-an interview with Christopher Reeve just prior to the release of Superman: The Movie. The 24-year-old Broadway actor waxes philosophical about the role saying "I don’t want to be Superman all my life and I don’t want my career to end here. I don’t want people to say 'he’s the guy who played Superman in the '70s.' I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I want a career, not a one-shot deal." He also credits his uncanny resemblance to the Curt Swan’s Superman to his getting the part. Regardless, Reeves accepted the role saying, "It’s a hell of a good part for an actor. No more. No less."
Somehow, Christopher looked at George Reeves and thought, "A career after being Superman can be lucrative and fulfilling! People will definitely separate the actor from the role!"
This got me wondering about what an older Christopher Reeve would tell this 24-year-old upstart self if he had the chance to travel back in time, you know, like in the movie? Because reversing the Earth's orbit would not "destroy us all" so much as it make everything go in reverse, like rewinding a video tape!
Fortunately, as I was wondering thise, my sources (they are mysterious do not question them!) procured a letter from Christopher Reeve of the year 2000 to Christopher Reeve of 1978. Enjoy.
Dear me,
Ha Ha! My greeting is terribly clever since not only is it accurately addressing myself, but also sets the tone for the rest of the letter! Well, for starters you can kiss Broadway goodbye. So long! Farewell! Auf Wiedersehen! Adieu! Ho ho! Seriously though, any serious role that you might want, and be perfectly qualified for, shan’t be yours ever again!
Oh don’t worry, you shall be idolized by millions and will be considered the definitive Superman. However, you may want to get as much of the female bits that you can before 1983. After that you will be thrown Richard Pryor’s leftovers, which, believe me, you will not want. And wearing your underwear over your pantaloons will no longer be charming after 1987. You’ll know why.
Cheerio and Pip Pip!
Dr. Christopher Concierto Reeve the III Esquire Sr.
P.S. Don’t take up horseback riding… try something more safe like cage fighting, wrestling bears, or base jumping. Trust me on this! |
And such is the fate for anybody who plays a role larger than themselves. That is the reason that they cast unknowns to play Superman, so that they might become Superman. A star playing Superman would be distracting, and interfere with a suspension of disbelief or, if you like, keep you from believing that a man can fly. If Nicolas Cage had somehow won the role... well, I probably wouldn’t have seen the movie. But if I had, I would subconsciously end each of his sentences with "dude" or "woah." Just like when I saw Mission Impossible III and spent the entire film thinking "Wow, this dude really does look crazy. I wonder if he’s thinking about the evil Lord Xenu right now."
Fortunately or unfortunately for Brandon Routh, he hasn’t received the same kind of attention that many of the other men who have played Superman have received. I contend that it is because he played Superman as Brandon Routh playing Christopher Reeve playing Superman, but that may be a bit unfair. I am biased you know. Christopher Reeve played Superman and Clark Kent to perfection in my not so very humble opinion. That's why finding an interview with him prior to his stint as Superman was so exciting. It’s a glimpse at someone just before the role that fundamentally changed and defined his life to the public at large.
This Superman Family actually holds some other interesting nuggets. For example, there is a letter from a young Todd McFarlane lauding the creative efforts of the writers of Supergirl for their character development and whatnot. And by "whatnot" I mean hotpants, but perhaps more on this later. Until then, I will be reading more fantastic Silver Age comics and picturing Tom Cruise as Iron Man screaming things like "AA is the devil-spawn of psychology!"
Not defined by my ‘character’ or lack thereof-ully yours,
Patrick |
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Comments (1)
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Re: "The guy who played Superman in the '70s" |
By Agent.Diana.Prince on
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 5:26 PM |
| OMG, I can't believe I still has a crush on him. |
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