Superman (1978) (Summer of Superheroes, Part 4)

Our Summer of Superheroes reaches its climax with arguably the most important movie in the genre's history: Richard Donner's 1978 film Superman, starring Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, and a firmly on-book Marlon Brando. Join in as we discuss the geophysics of Lex Luthor's evil plot, the other attempts to put Superman in cinemas, the nearly two-year shoot, and our favorite real estate schemes. Plus: What ideas did Brando have to reduce his workload? Did Donner have a phone in his bathroom? What was the original plan for the time travel finale? And, most importantly, is Clark Kent more super or more man? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe! Next week: The 400 Blows (1959)-----------------------------------------------------Key sources and links for this episode:Which Lie Did I Tell? More Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman (2000)The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture by Glen Weldon (2016)Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru (2019)Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)Taking Flight: The Development of Superman (2001)Making Superman: Filming the Legend (2001)Roger Ebert's four-star review of Superman (1978)"The Making of Superman" (EMPIRE Magazine)Interview with Producer Ilya Salkind by Barry M. Frieman for SupermanHomePage.com"Nick Nolte Doesn't Care about Legacy, and Talks Julia Roberts Feud" (Insider)"The Superman Story that Set the Ku Klux Klan Back Years is Now a Comic" (Polygon)