THE BEST SUPERMAN
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joeann_21 — 19 years ago(June 13, 2006 08:55 AM)
I have to agree as well, having grown up with all the different shows and movies. George Reeves had a larger than life presence for the role that no other actor before or since has been able to carry out. I did like Christopher Reeve's (may he rest in peace) portrayal, but it lacked the charisma that George Reeves had.
Is anybody out there going to see the latest Superman movie? I think I'll pass on that one, judging from scenes I saw on a great documentary I watched last night about the history of Superman. -
rudeboy8080 — 19 years ago(March 10, 2007 03:08 PM)
I like the late Christopher Reeve's sincere performance as Superman, but I think George Reeves was a cooler Supe. It's a pity that he died a grim, bizarre death. He's gone, but not forgotten.
Jimmy: Mr. Kent, how did you get back so quickly?
Mr. Kent: It's a modern age. I flew! wink wink
Lois: Clark, we know that you're not stupid enough to walk toward a loaded gun!
[Superman bursts through a brick wall]
Jimmy: Jeez, Superman! You could've come16d0 through the door.
Superman: Well, it did seem more spectacular!
[A gunslinger's marked deck of cards is toasted by Superman's heat vision]
Superman/Kent: He had a "hot" deck! -
hobnob53 — 19 years ago(March 22, 2007 10:49 PM)
It's a shame George Reeves didn't live another 25 or 30 years and see just how amazingly popular he remained with everyone who grew up watching him in the 50s and through repeats for years afterwards. I don't think he ever understood or recognized how good he was, how much he brought to the role, and how broad his appeal was. He died long before he'd be appreciated the way he always wanted to be as an actor, not just a comic book hero on TV. Imagine what a huge celebrity he would have been in the 70s and 80s, and the new roles he might have gotten as a result?
How about George Reeves as Christopher Reeve's Earth father in SUPERMAN (1978), instead of Glenn Ford. Wouldn't that have been something to see? It's all so sad.
(By the way: Chris Reeve was great but George was better still: relaxed, genial, with humor and grace. How about WORST Supe ever Kirk Allyn. With that silly face and goofy grin. Like being rescued by Huntz Hall.) -
wrfarley — 18 years ago(November 07, 2007 07:08 AM)
I think the thing people have to remember about George Reeves is when he started playing the role he was a man 37 years old. He had a lot of acting under his belt and knew what worked for him on camera. On the other hand the later actors (Chris Reeve, Dean Cain, Brandon Routh, etc) were in their twenties when they tackled the part and tended to be not fully formed as actors (albeit talented ones). Look at the weight and authority Reeves exudes by simply getting up from his desk and walking to the door 5b4- he's like a B-movie Clark Gable.
I always felt Chris Reeve hit his Superman acting stride in SUPERMAN III, which was a pretty weak picture, but Reeve's charisma was less forced, and especially when he played the negative Superman he started to show some macho. -
captain-video — 19 years ago(April 02, 2007 12:50 PM)
I also agree. George Reeves was/is absolutely the BEST Superman ever. - And for the record I love that George wanted to play the Clark Kent role different than the comics and did. George had great insight.
George's portrayal of SUPERMAN/CLARK had such an incredible nobility. He exudes warmth and kindness and strength and power all at the same time. This is coming from George effortlessly.
George niether overacts or underacts the part. He plays it with brilliant subtlety.
I think it's what makes us all feel that he was the Best Superman.
I didn't know all this as a kid watching re-runs in the late 60's early 70's but I knew there was some reason I always watched this show even as I got older.
And now I'm watching again on DVD.
The whole cast was great, really great but George is the key to it all.
Thanks for the memories George.
{I have enjoyed all the different Superman TV shows and the first 2 Chris Reeve movies but as far as the Brandon Routh Superman movie goes, well for me, it was the least enjoyable Superman movie I've ever seen}. -
RegF798 — 18 years ago(September 14, 2007 11:44 PM)
George was good, but he always appeared too old. He was like 37 when it started, and the series spanned 7 years or so. Superman should be younger, maybe 30. Christopher Reeve was good in the first movie, but the other movies were horribly written, so there was no hope. Dean Cain was far too short; his bio says 6'0", but that must only be on a good day. Superman should be at least 6'3". Tom Welling is good, although technically he hasn't worn the red cape just yet. Brandon Routh was a decent Christopher Reeve impersonator, but not so good as a Superman. Maybe if he attempted to play Superman/Clark Kent more like George Reeves style, he would have been better. He had a decent look, but his acting appeared as if all he wanted to do was impersonate Reeve.
