Those of you attempting to open the page ‘Take The Gentleman’s Cape’ in the Costumes section above may find that it has been disabled – the reason for this is it’s now forming the basis of my upcoming addition to the Capedwonder library entitled – you guessed it – ‘Take The Gentleman’s Cape – Tailoring Superman For Cinema’.
After almost 80 years, it seems the fascination with this seemingly most simple of costume designs doesn’t seem to wane. Indeed, even with the latest instalment of the character’s cinematic exploits released only last year, the debate around what makes the perfect Superman outfit rages on and will no doubt start again once the sequel begins filming. My particular take on the subject is that this is your generation’s Superman, so I encourage you to go have fun with it –
Meanwhile, my book will chart the history of the first ‘Longjohn’ character from its conception by the famous pair of Ohio teenagers in the 1930’s through to the final incarnation of the infamous producing duo of the 1980’s. Of course the focal point will be the version worn by Christopher Reeve as realised by Academy Award winning designer Yvonne Blake.
As you may remember from the article hosted on both this site and capedwonder.com, the painstaking research detailing every aspect of the Superman costume from concept to screen makes it the definitive guide on the subject. In the book I will seek to expand on this like never before, with never before seen images, archival and new interviews plus a retrospective on how and where the costumes were made.
On that subject, below the two cover mockups above (neither final) is an unseen image contributed to the book by Steve Hudson showing the storefront of the Irving Street branch of Bermans & Nathans, circa 1981. Young Steve is posing outside the shop having just purchased a complete Stromberg Costume (from The Spy Who Loved Me) off the rack for £15 (can you imagine??)
Finally and crucially, the impetus to commit the book to print came courtesy of my good friend and SuperFan Philip Hawkins, who put me in touch with the legendary British costume designer John Bloomfield. Not only was he kind and forthcoming with all his original designs for Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (Which will be lovingly reproduced in the book) but also generous enough to provide a really touching introduction where he looks back on his career and fondly recalls his time choosing wardrobe for Christopher Reeve.
The book is being worked on right now so does not yet have a release date – I will keep you updated (and feel free to leave a message if you have anything to contribute, especially former Bermans employees!) but rest assured I’m working hard to deliver a product worthy of the capedwonder library no collector will want to be without..!
CAPEDWONDER EUROPE WELCOMES YOU TO 2026 – our 16th year online..!
If you’ve not yet seen the latest video on the SUPERMANIA channel, I urge you to do so before I continue gushing about this most magical of pieces and newest addition to the collection. Indeed, only now have I been able to objectively look at this small slice of movie history and proffer up some details without getting dewy-eyed over my first authentic item of wardrobe from Superman: The Movie.
As I mentioned in the video, I was fortunate enough to secure this last of the Krypton extras’ costumes offered individually before the remainder were consigned to Propstore for their winter auction. The shock of seeing these long-thought-lost garments was compounded only by the fact they existed at all. Of course, we had the wonderful designs by Yvonne Blake (some of which now look startlingly contemporary) but the action and editing during the demise of the Planet Krypton in the movie made it nigh-on impossible to positively identify what the background artists were wearing. Even if many of the outfits did not appear on-screen, finally, out of nowhere, there was conclusive proof that famed costume house Bermans & Nathans had indeed produced them.
Last but certainly not least from the stunning array of designs for men in the ‘Krypton Crowd’ is ‘Sketch 15‘ – as designated on the inventory label and shown in its concept form (and in reality emulating the same pose) – above. A creation of simple yet sophisticated elegance, the only notes from Blake regarding the Tabard’s composition is ‘all reflective if possible’. While I can confirm the fabric selected does have a significant sheen, the only reflective portions are the parallel strips on the front (which have miraculously survived the better part of 50 years unscathed).
Unfortunately I can’t find anything on a ‘Raymond Cronk’ so if anybody out there has any info, I would love to add the provenance. His bloodstains may be on the collar but no, he’s not having it back…
This week we celebrate Christopher D’Olier Reeve’s 73rd Birthday. Decades after his untimely passing, in an era where people are now living comfortably into their nineties, seventy plus sounds younger than ever. In these heady days of fictional Multiverses, I often wonder about what our hero would be doing in an alternate 2025, while the rest of us languish here in the misery of what simply has to be Biff Tannen’s hijacked timeline.
What continues to thrive, thankfully, is the Superman Legacy. Even with a new movie franchise launching this year, it seems the classic movie series has only solidified its position in fandom and cinema history. Indeed, while comparisons to the new actor in the cape are inevitable, it seems that Christopher Reeve has gained a mythical status equivalent to Sean Connery’s Bond – Others may come and go, but nobody does it better.
As for the future, the celebration continues with the recent announcement from Capedwonder.com that author David Michael Petrou’s seminal work The Making Of Superman: The Movie is to be re-released in 2026 in a spectacular new edition –
– And the fan-made tributes not only keep coming, but get better with every project – now easily surpassing the quality of licensed products. See below Chris King’s upgraded wish-fulfilment action figure, made with the kind of love and attention to detail only a SuperFan could provide –
As time marches relentlessly on, perhaps the defining attribute of Reeve’s Superman is not only hope, but reassurance that there’s always something to look forward and aspire to. Both the dedication of the fanbase plus the efforts of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation will ensure the legacy continues in earnest on this Birthday and beyond.
The final word, then, is appropriately delivered by SuperFan Gary Irving, whose heartfelt thoughts must carry us through until next Sept 25th –
“Christopher will forever be remembered as the man who brought Superman to life on the big screen, but his legacy goes far beyond the cape. After his tragic accident, he showed the world what true strength and courage look like. He became a tireless advocate for spinal cord research, a voice of hope, and a reminder that real heroes inspire us through their actions and their heart!!”
The greatest Superhero theme of all time?
Though there have been many claims to the title, almost fifty years later, John Williams Magnum Opus continues to resonate all around the world as the definitive soundtrack for all things Super and heroic.
This inescapable conclusion is also obviously not wasted on current Superman Movie director James Gunn, who, even with the budget granted for any music at his disposal, still opted for adapting Williams score for his latest cinematic outing (as did Bryan Singer in 2006).
As for what actually makes The Superman March so utterly compelling, so thrilling, so enduring, the debate rightly goes on – but what is arguably more fascinating is what it means to people personally. The memories, the nostalgia, all transcend anything merely constituting ‘music from a film’.
No, just like the movie itself, the Theme From Superman is a cultural landmark, instantly recognisable and has already stood the test of time. A shame then, that the phenomenon of the Super Hero theme seems to be all but at an end. Could it be that filmakers/composers are so aligned with the views above that they have simply stopped trying? Indeed, only Danny Elfman’s score for Batman (1989) comes close in terms of both impact and resonance, while the much-missed Jerry Goldsmith’s cues for Supergirl (1984) are a fond memory (like so many of the other themes of the ’80’s)
For the millennials, however, one struggles to pinpoint a strong musical accompaniment to associate with your favourite comic-book hero. Only veteran composer Alan Silverstri (Back To The Future) with his stirring theme for the Avengers arguably manages to conjure up the kind of memorable hum-along theme tunes of old. This is only one, amazingly, in a period of over 25 years and countless Superhero pictures with no real theme or march to speak of. This includes Hans Zimmer’s meandering work for Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which occasionally borders on brilliance with a singular theme, but like so much of his work, gets buried in indulgence.
So from what must be a bygone age, lets remind ourselves of just what a phenomenon the music from Superman The Movie was, with this small collection of 45rpm singles from all countries all over the globe – indeed, there are over 20 variations of this one single alone – and we may never see its like again…
“Hi Martin, Below is a first look link to our live script reading performance of Superman Reborn, the unmade 5th Christopher Reeve Superman film. There was a third draft of the story that leaked on the Internet many years ago however that was not the draft that we used. What was utilized was a never before seen first draft that was signed off and intended by producer Ilya Salkind and writers Mark Jones and Cary Bates.
It also features a live Q&A with the producer Ilya Salkind and screenwriter Mark Jones. This is what was performed and recorded in Hollywood November of last year. It is currently unlisted. We are officially picture locked and are scheduled for a world premiere of Monday January 13. Here is an exclusive first look for you. Enjoy and feel free to share with whoever you think might be interested in viewing it first before anyone else. Hope you’re doing well and stay safe out there. –
David Kocher
