Behind The Scenes: Richard Donner & Christopher Reeve On The Set Of SUPERMAN

Richard Donner’s Superman broke new cinematic ground. Visually it’s stunning, and that’s before you take into the account the special effects – most of which still hold up today (impressive when you consider that they were making them up as they went along). However, the film’s cinematic palette was spot on, with Geoffrey Unsworth’s cinematography adding a rich texture to Donner’s multi-layered narrative. The crystal gloss of Krypton, the rich, vibrant colours of Smallville and the steeliness of Metropolis give the film visual structure that few films (never mind comic book films) can lay claim to.

What can be said about Christopher Reeve’s casting in Richard Donner’s Superman which hasn’t been said before? The man is the epitome of Superman and Clark Kent. Reeve is strong, direct and full of the honest character that you would expect from the man who fights for truth, justice and the American way.

Budgeted at $55 million, Superman grossed $134 million at the US box office and more than $300 million globally when it was released in 1978.