Non and Superman - life imitating art
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Jack O'Halloran
Polaris01313-1 — 18 years ago(June 17, 2007 11:57 PM)
In an October 2006 Starlog interview, Jack had stated that Chris was rude to him for some unknown reason and a fight nearly broke out between them. Richard Donner had to tell Jack to cool off because he didn't want him to re-arrange Chris's handsome features. After that, O'Halloran said to Chris that he would address him as sir or mister from now on. Apparently, Chris was polite to some people and rude to others.
That is something I find hard to believe.
Here is what Jack later said in an interview with Supermanhomepage.
Q: Did you ever see Chris after his accident?
A: No. I give Chris a lot of credit. From the time he got hurt until his death, he did a lot for people. He gave people a lot of courage. I mean, I'll never be a hypocrite. I didn't really like Christopher Reeve, we didn't really get on. I thought he was a bit of an a**hole. But, when he got hurt, my heart went out to him and I've seen the courage he gave people. And that was magic. So he did do something with his life that was kind of good and for that, I give him a lot of credit. I can't be a hypocrite, I'm not going to say we were best friends and all that sh*t, because we weren't. His head got too big for his body, man. Chris was like a 28 year old guy with a 16 year old mind. Chris thought he became a movie star.
That doesn't sound like the Christopher Reeve we all knew and admired. I have to admit, when I read those remarks, I thought, "Talk about speaking ill of the dead!"
My guess is that both of them just didn't hit it off. I e-mailed Jack about those comments, and he said that "honestly the problem was a personal one, and it was better to let sleeping dogs lie and remember Chris for all the good that he did after his accident." Jack later said in a post that he did respect Chris as an actor, but that the both of them were not friends.
Hard to believe, isn't it? -
Johalloran-1 — 18 years ago(June 21, 2007 10:16 PM)
I have told the truth about my relationship with Chris, what is so hard to believe.There are a lot of things people cpould say but that is not my placb68e to carry other peoples problems. I can only speak for myself if you knew Chris personally and found him different so be it and good for you.You can believe this though I never said anything after Chris passed that I didn't say to him or when he was still here.
Regards
Jack O'Halloran -
Polaris01313-1 — 18 years ago(June 23, 2007 12:32 AM)
I'm not disputing that at all, sir. Believe me when I say this. I meant no disrespect or offense, whatsoever. If I did, my apologies. I do not doubt your word and I do not doubt what you have said in various interviews on the subject. Regretfully, I did not know Chris on a personal level. I had never met him, but I would have liked to have before he had passed on.
Honestly, if5b4 I had been in your place, I would have reacted the same way. Like you, I don't tolerate rudeness whatsoever. Not from anyone or anybody, regardless of who and what they are.
Perhaps I should have phrased my shock and surprise a bit differently.
What I'm trying to say is this. I just find it a bit shocking that he had acted in such a disrespectful manner towards you and other people. In the various interviews I had seen him in, as well as having read his two autobiographies, I got the impression that he was a very decent, professional, and outstanding(if not outgoing)young man.
Obviously, there was another side to him that the public did not know about.
Surely, you can understand that some people, like myself,(whether they knew Chris or not, or were fans of the first two Superman films)would be shocked and surprised by the revelation of this particular subject. Let alone how they would react to such information. -
Johalloran-1 — 18 years ago(June 24, 2007 01:07 AM)
I realize you are a true fan of Superman films. So let me ask this question if some one had an opportunity to do several films or a series of films that they said they had a passion for and that made them a star. Should they not be true to the subject and do the film to the best of there ability or do they take the money and not worry about the fan base.For you see if Chris were who you bekieved then he would have insisted that Donner finish Superman II. For you see the Salkins could not finish the film without him and no one else would have worked either. But he took the money they gave him and then did three and four was totally his idea.So where was his consideration for the fan base.
Regards
Jack O'Halloran -
Polaris01313-1 — 18 years ago(June 24, 2007 09:32 AM)
If I understand you correctly, sir, then yes they should certainly be true to the subject matter of the films and work on it to the best of their abilities. Most of all, they should take time out to listen and have respect for the fan base. If nothing else, hear their suggestions and adapt the fan base's ideas into the film.
Judging by your statement about Chris, he obviously took a 'political' approach to the completion of Superman II. Something, for which I have heard about, but never fully understood.
If Chris was just as upset and outraged by the Salkinds actions as you and the rest of the crew were, then why did he not push as hard on the Salkinds to have Richard Donner complete work on the second film? Most of all, I thought he did care about the source material and staying true to the Superman legend?
From close analysis of the interviews with him over the years, and with that of the other actors, he seemed to take the role and the material seriously.
As for Superman III and IV, it is clear that consideration for the fan base was literally tossed out the window. Believe me, I honestly did not care for the third or fourth films. Despite the fact that Chris worked on the third film(because he said he would)and created the idea for the fourth movie(which he later admitted that it totally backfired)I thought they were an atrocity to the Superman mythos and an offense to the fan base. -
Johalloran-1 — 18 years ago(June 24, 2007 11:21 PM)
Richard Donner hired and fought for Chris who was 175lb. actor who never did anything before Superman. The film made him a star, but instead of fighting and standing up for the man who gave him his chance. He took the money and let Lester come on board for Superman II and III. Superman IV wasn't even done by the Salkins because the238y knew it was going to be so bad.So who sold the fan base out then. Certainly not Donner who believed that 10 Superman films should have been done properly.And his version of II is much better than Lester's. Just imagine if he would have been able to do the film like he was supposed to it would have been superb and three and the rest would have been fantastic.
Regards
Jack O'Halloran -
Polaris01313-1 — 18 years ago(June 25, 2007 12:27 AM)
Well, that does shed some new(if not unpleasant)light on Chris and his involvement in the production of the first two films. In all honesty, it depicts him as either a Judas type, someone with an ego problem, or just someone who did not want to get caught in the maelstrom of studio politics.
I can't really say, since I don't know all of the circumstances.
Either way, I can definately sympathize, let alone, understand your bitterness and resentment. I would have fought 'hell and high water' to have Donner stay on as director. If I had been in Chris's place, I would have stood up for Donner, no matter what.
Which brings me to some questions that I have been formulating since our correspondence from yesterday.
Was Richard Donner aware of Chris just taking the money and letting Lester come on board? It seemed to me that he and Chris had an excellent working relationship, judging by those same interviews I had seen both of them in.
And why didn't Mr. Don111cner have Richard Lester banned from the set, like he did the Salkinds? I mean, from what I have read, Donner had the power to have the Salkinds removed. Why didn't he just wield that same authority on Lester? Let's face it, Richard Lester had no business being involved in the two productions, let alone being allowed on the set. Regardless of whether or not the Salkinds owed him a picture. Honestly, if the Salkinds hadn't screwed up the way they did with Lester, I don't think the fan base for Superman would have been betrayed.
I didn't realize that Richard Donner had wanted to work on 10 Superman films. I'm with you on Donner's involvement of the films. Judging by his excellent work on the first two movies, they would have been spectacular. -
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Johalloran-1 — 18 years ago(October 01, 2007 08:00 PM)
Donner wanted to make the best film he could and his vision involving Superman was brilliant.Producers greed is what spoiled the Superman films. How do you take Brando out of a film piss off Hackman and remove a great Director.
Superman IV was all about money with no consideration of the fan bas1c84e.How do you let a company like Cannon do a film like Superman. Please understand the reputation of Cannon spoke for itself.
Regards
Jack O'Halloran -
Reno-007 — 18 years ago(December 20, 2007 10:13 AM)
Again Jack, you are so refreshing about Chris and the films. You say it like it is and that is a rare thing these days. I live in San Diego CA, do you ever come down here to do work? Also I just wanted to add that when Superman II came out here in early summer of '81 I saw it with my brothers in New York because my family and I were going on the Queen Elizabeth II to Southampton UK. And the movie was being played on the ship as well! I loved the fact that since the movies on board were free I absolutely took total advantage of it. One scene that always cracks me up is when you were testing your heat ray vision and that kid is watching you! Thank you for answering fan questions,
Paul C.
What do you primitive childr1908en know what you call God?
-Count Iblis -
Reno-007 — 18 years ago(December 22, 2007 09:49 PM)
Yes sir it has!! And the weather is still great. If I could go back in time and tell myself in 81 that I'd actually be talking to you I'd fly to the moon! And you have a great holiday too Mr. Halloran!
What do you primitive children know what you call God?
-Count Iblis -
DrMirakle32 — 17 years ago(March 09, 2009 03:54 PM)
It really is a shame to hear how Chris Reeve treated some people in real life. I once asked an actor and proffesional trainer (who shall remain nameless) about working with Reeve, and I kid you not, he called him a "sack of beep
He more or less said that Reeve was cool the first few weeks of working, but once he put on the suit, he became extremely arrogant. As a huge Superman fan who always heard great things about Reeve, I was kind of turned off when I heard how he acted on set. He was only human, and God knows I still admire his portrayal of Superman, and the way the pulled through after the accident. -
Polaris01313-1 — 17 years ago(March 10, 2009 12:15 PM)
I've heard so many stories and conflicting information about Chris, that it is hard to sift through the facts, and determine which is factual and which is not.
We may never know the full story. All I can say is this: like all people, Chris obviously got along with some people and some he did not.
Despite that, we shouldn't let that tarnish or ruin our image of Christopher Reeve.
Yes, he was a human. But, he was still a Superman to many.