This is the extended answer to a question we asked Richard Donner for our "Life After Flash" documentary. We were interviewing him for another documentary, and felt this question was quite fitting given his history with Christopher Reeve and Superman. He was the most amazing man, and we were very fortunate to have even spent an hour with him. Let us know your thoughts - would Christopher Reeve have enjoyed a larger career if he didn't take that role?
In my opinion, Christopher Reeve was a wonderful actor regardless of the fact that he was cast in "Superman". For me, "Superman: The Movie" is still the best superhero movie, miles ahead of the Marvel films that are out now. Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner are the reason that it's so good, they made it real. I also think Christopher Reeve is great in "The Remains of The Day". Reeve was also very polite and decent to everyone, another reason people should look up to him and learn from his legacy. - Edward Kennedy
Possibly. But, let's face it. Christopher Reeve portrayed Superman and Clark Kent so well that I don't think there will be another actor for decades to come that will be able to meet, let alone exceed, his portrayal of Superman.
RIP and long live Richard Donner (April 24, 1930 - July 5, 2021), aged 91 And RIP and long live Christopher Reeve (September 25, 1952 - October 10, 2004), aged 52 You both will always be remembered as legends.
Christopher really was a very underrated actor with a wonderful range. Even though Christopher was remembered by many as The Man of Steel, I totally respected him as leading character Richard Collier in the beautiful love story film 'Somewhere In Time.' Those who haven't seen Christopher in this film will be moved and amazed by his acting like I was. He also seemed a very genuine gentleman and Richard Donner struck gold when he decided with Lynn Stalmaster to cast an unknown in the role of Superman. It must be a real struggle for so many actors and actresses who get typecast in a role that is very hard to part to one side and bring new roles to accommodate in their careers. Christopher really was one of my favourite actors and this clip was really interesting to see from this late talented man who gave us Christopher to the world.
i havent seen that film, I'll have to watch it. I think the typecast issue must be hard for actors, but as Richard O'Brien said, "it's better to be typecast than to be miscast"
He was also great in Deathtrap with Michael Caine, and Street Smart with Morgan Freeman. He held his own with those two great actors, which was no small feat.
He was one of the most unique and versatile directors. Making one of the best horror films ever (The Omen), the greatest superhero movie ever (Superman), the greatest family film ever (The Goonies) and the greatest action franchise ever (Lethal Weapon). His talents should never go unnoticed!! RIP Mr. Donner❤
I recently watched several of Reeve’s films having not seen him as anything other than Superman, and I discovered how much of an incredible actor he was. Somewhere in time is such a beautiful film, so raw and elegant, full of pure love and a heartbreaking end. He gave such a nuanced performance, and it was brilliant. He is absolutely remarkable in Death Trap, one of my personal favourite performances in film is by Reeve in this picture. He is absolutely remarkable and shows incredible range beyond belief. He’s excellent in Noises off, an witty film with soo many laughs. He was just a fantastic actor who wasn’t given many opportunities to show is ability because of being known as superman. He was much, much more than that.
ah I love that - I haven't seen anything else of his work, so I absolutely must branch out. I'll put Death Trap on my list! It is a shame when great actors don't have their opportunity to shine, or they DO shine but their "iconic" work creates a shadow
@@LifeAfterMoviesWebShow he’s absolute insane in Death Trap, try to go into the film blind, knowing less about the film will really enhance your experience
I have a lot of time for Richard Donner. Still thankful we got to see at least some version of Superman 2 from him. Also interesting to see blurred in the background his famous "Verisimilitude" Superman sign!
Richard Donner iz a fascinating man, brilliant mind hez got!! Christopher Reeve was born 2 play Superman, he is my favourite Superman of all time!! 😁😁😄😄👍👍😉😉
Type casting is an illusion. It’s not that you can’t see an actor and disassociate them with their famous role, it’s that the role you are watching them in now isn’t good and you wish they were playing a role you remember them in. John Travolta comes to mind, he was type cast for years until he did pulp fiction
I'm not so sure I believe in typecasting. I think every actor can struggle to find the right role for them, whether they've been cast successfully in something else before or not. Harrison Ford was able to find lots of roles that worked for him after Star Wars, but Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher were less successful at it. When you find a role that works in a movie that works, people will forget about your past roles. But if that new movie isn't succeeding as its own entity, people's disbelief won't be suspended and they'll be thinking about unrelated stuff like that actor's past movies. Reeve also may have missed some opportunities, as Wikipedia says he turned down the lead roles in American Gigolo, The World According to Garp, Body Heat, Splash, Romancing the Stone, Fatal Attraction, Lethal Weapon and The Bounty. So it seems like Hollywood was offering him a lot of parts, but he made some errors in judgment in picking roles that may have hindered him from breaking out from the Superman image.
At the end of the day, it is all about quality not quantity isn’t it. Who would’ve thought that Chris Reeve would be revered more than Brando as time passed by ?
I've enjoyed several of Reeve's films. But I was also close friends with his and his wife's nanny, who shared that he was not of great intellectual prowess. Even more, when he was hired to play the part of Superman his past credits were pretty much being in a daytime soap opera. And, he was very very skinny at the time. Reeve really needed to work out, and I am guessing, change his diet in order to 'be' Superman. The studio (Donner) offered for Reeve to wear a 'muscle suit' underneath his Superman clothing. To his credit, Reeve declined, and vigorously worked out instead, building that body that he became. I do not recall Reeve being typecast afterward, as he really did go on to make several more very good films, that were completely unlike Superman. How the 'final act' of his life turned out to be is quite sad.....
