Just before the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El sends his infant son Kal-El on a spaceship to earth in the opening scenes of the action film “Superman.” The boy is raised by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, as he gradually discovers his superpowers and moves to the big city to fight crime.
Director Richard Donner (“The Omen” 1976) put together a classic superhero filmed based on the “Superman” comic books that first appeared in 1938, created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The screenplay by Mario Puzo is first-class writing, starting with the 20 minute segment on Krypton, through Kent’s childhood in Smallville, to his move to Metropolis, employment at the “Daily Planet” newspaper, and Clark’s emergence as Superman.
Producer Pierre Spengler and his staff did a fantastic job in casting the actors. Marlon Brando was quite a genius selection as Jor-El; he receives top-billing in the credits. Others appearing in the Krypton segment include Maria Schell, Trevor Howard, Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Jack O’Halloran, and Susannah York as Lara, Superman’s biological mother.
The earthly cast includes Christopher Reeve as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent, Phyllis Thaxter as Martha Clark Kent, Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine as Lex’s not-go-bright friends, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Mark McClure as Jimmy Olsen, and Jeff East as the teenage Clark Kent. Cameos appearances include Noell Niell (Lois Lane from the old television show “Adventures of Superman” 1952-1958) and Kirk Alyn (Superman of earlier Superman film serials of 1948 & 1950) as Lois Lane’s parents, as well as Larry Hagman as an army major in charge of a convoy transporting missiles and Rex Reed as himself talking to Lois and Clark outside of the Daily Planet.
Attention to detail by the production team clearly paid off big time as the very watchable and entertaining “Superman” was a huge blockbuster and box office sensation for producer Pierre Spengler, Dovemead Ltd., International Film Production, and Warner Bros. Pictures. It won one Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, with loses for Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Musical Score (John Williams).
Superman (1978)
cinema
My Review
Just before the destruction of the planet Krypton, scientist Jor-El sends his infant son Kal-El on a spaceship to earth in the opening scenes of the action film “Superman.” The boy is raised by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent, as he gradually discovers his superpowers and moves to the big city to fight crime.
Director Richard Donner (“The Omen” 1976) put together a classic superhero filmed based on the “Superman” comic books that first appeared in 1938, created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster. The screenplay by Mario Puzo is first-class writing, starting with the 20 minute segment on Krypton, through Kent’s childhood in Smallville, to his move to Metropolis, employment at the “Daily Planet” newspaper, and Clark’s emergence as Superman.
Producer Pierre Spengler and his staff did a fantastic job in casting the actors. Marlon Brando was quite a genius selection as Jor-El; he receives top-billing in the credits. Others appearing in the Krypton segment include Maria Schell, Trevor Howard, Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas, Harry Andrews, Jack O’Halloran, and Susannah York as Lara, Superman’s biological mother.
The earthly cast includes Christopher Reeve as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor, Glenn Ford as Jonathan Kent, Phyllis Thaxter as Martha Clark Kent, Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine as Lex’s not-go-bright friends, Jackie Cooper as Perry White, Mark McClure as Jimmy Olsen, and Jeff East as the teenage Clark Kent. Cameos appearances include Noell Niell (Lois Lane from the old television show “Adventures of Superman” 1952-1958) and Kirk Alyn (Superman of earlier Superman film serials of 1948 & 1950) as Lois Lane’s parents, as well as Larry Hagman as an army major in charge of a convoy transporting missiles and Rex Reed as himself talking to Lois and Clark outside of the Daily Planet.
Attention to detail by the production team clearly paid off big time as the very watchable and entertaining “Superman” was a huge blockbuster and box office sensation for producer Pierre Spengler, Dovemead Ltd., International Film Production, and Warner Bros. Pictures. It won one Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, with loses for Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Musical Score (John Williams).