Episode #022: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)

The Essential Films Podcast

We’re back from the Phantom Zone!On today’s adventure, Adolfo and Mark fight for Truth, Justice and the American way when they discuss the 1978 superhero movie pioneer SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE! On this week’s show:
Clamshell VHS Tapes
One of the first superhero films
Christopher Reeves: Adolfo’s childhood hero
Henry Cavill’s mustache
Brandon Routh’s Christopher Reeves impression
A time when Superhero films were non-existent
All superhero movies trace their origin to Superman
An important milestone for superhero films
How do you make someone fly?
The cheesiness of Can You Read My Mind
How long it takes to even see Superman
The long process of casting Superman
Marlon Brando at his laziest
Brando scored big
Green bagels
Christopher Reeves doesn’t get top billing
The wacky names considered to play the title part
Christopher Reeves’ amazing dual performance
“You’ve got me? Who’s got you?”
The electric chemistry between Reeves and Margot Kidder
Dual filming on Superman and Superman II
Krypton’s blowing up? FAKE NEWS
Lax adoption paperwork laws
The ludicrousness of Lex Luthor’s plan
Why Lex Luthor is awesome even though he differs from the comic book
Hackensack, New Jersey
Does Superman REALLY spin the Earth backwards?
“Head Canon”
The iconic score streak of John Williams
What’s missing from modern superhero films
Evil Superman flicking peanuts
The 3 Hour TV cut
FILM REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE:
FLASH GORDON (1936)
THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (1941)
BATMAN (1943)
CAPTAIN AMERICA (1944)
BATMAN AND ROBIN (1947)
SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE-MEN (1951)
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN (TV Series, 1952-1958)
BATMAN (TV Series, 1966-1968)
THE GODFATHER (1972)
LAST TANGO IN PARIS (1972)
STAR WARS (1977)
SUPERMAN II (1980)
SUPERMAN III (1983)
SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE (1987)
BATMAN (1989)
DARKMAN (1990)
THE SHADOW (1994)
THE PHANTOM (1996)
SPAWN (1997)
STEEL (1997)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
X-MEN (2000)
SMALLVILLE (TV Series, 2001-2011)
SPIDER-MAN (2002)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
SUPERMAN RETURNS (2006)
IRON MAN (2008)
TED (2012)
THE AVENGERS (2012)
MAN OF STEEL (2013)
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (2017)
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017)
KRYPTON (TV Series, 2018)
BLACK PANTHER (2018)
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)
RED SPARROW (2018)
LINKS:
The Essential Films: essentialfilmspodcast.com
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