Today would have been Christopher Reeve’s 60th birthday. In honour of his memory and to celebrate his tenure as the Man Of Steel I present my collection of images signed at various stages by the man himself –
From the top – autograph dedicated ‘To Mark’ obtained in-person by a crew member at Pinewood Studios during 1978, hand signed index card from the mid-80’s matted with a print from Superman: The Movie, pre-printed card with a shot of Reeve in ’77 and another print taken from BRAVO magazine from 1979.
Forever missed, forever in our hearts & minds – Forever a Superman…
Issued to coincide with the release of Superman II in 1980, this exclusive set of letraset transfer sheets were dropped one at a time into packs of Nabisco Shreddies breakfast cereal. Intended for use with various cityscape ‘action scenes’ printed on the backs of the boxes, kids were free to create their own archaic version of the Metropolis battle.
Though amusingly primitive by today’s standards, the ‘rub down transfer’ craze would be huge in its day with a plethora of science-fiction/action movie/military/TV show offerings in sets featuring numerous figures and backdrop options. Denied a set in its own right, the Superman series was represented only by the promo as shown above and consequently complete sets are scarce. Should this bring on an irresistible wave of nostalgia I recommend visiting action-transfers.com for a comprehensive list…
A limited edition release to coincide with DC Comics 75th anniversary, the Christopher Reeve as Superman bust represented a new direction for collectables division DC Direct by going retro. Indeed, the sculpture pictured above is only the second-ever officially licensed collectable from Superman: The Movie bearing the likeness of Reeve, (the 1/6 statue sculpted by Karen Palinko being the first) the line continuing to spawn similar tributes to Tim Burton’s Batman.
While the piece is nicely rendered by Adam Beane (reminiscent of Reeve in his earliest Fortress scenes) on a crystal base featuring the \S/ logo, its let down horribly by the paint-job and the sheer lack of attention to detail. While I admit not fully comprehending the purpose of display busts anyway this could have been a great, fun item but in honesty I’m a bigger fan of the box and purchased it only for completest sake.
Beane’s talents seem to have been way under-utilised here and one could make a convincing case that the 1/6 statue would have benefited more from his take on the celluloid Man Of Steel provided the finish was of equal standard. As is, IMHO its a chintzy companion piece to said statue and should only be of interest to die-hard fans. Having said that, a donation to the Christopher & Dana Reeve foundation is made with its every purchase and there can be no better recommendation than that…
In honour of the Super-Marketing campaign mounted by Warner Brothers to cash-in on the release of Superman: The Movie in 1978 I’m proud to present some of its highlights adorning my collection decades later –
From the top, artist Jim Dietz interpretations of key scenes collected in a glossy portfolio – even today this set of twelve paintings impresses making a mint set an expensive rarity. The Superman cut-out diorama set is a curiously complex paper model given its intended audience (even the instructions advise to take your time & dream) and although some of its whopping 80 pieces have dated poorly there is still the basis of an incredible kit should it be refined.
The 1979 calendar is the only disappointment of the group as only the giant centrefold (Superman pointing to the sky) can compensate for 12 months worth of grainy images printed on poor quality paper. Tucked away in an a smart but unassuming PVC envelope, the Superman blueprint set is a great insight into the practical effects besides being a visual treat. Here the 15 plates fold out into superb renderings of everything from Luthor’s Lair to the XK101 rocket complete with accompanying notes.
Besides David Michael Petrou’s incredible paperback account of ‘The Making Of Superman’ the remainder of the literary line was dedicated to non-movie specific lowbrow fare such as the ‘Official Superman quiz book’ until DC Comics issued some unmissable contributions of their own.
To be continued…
Anyone with an interest in the cinema of the last fifty years would no doubt be intrigued to discover what a significant, yet virtually anonymous role one Victor Armstrong has played in some of the most popular films. From humble beginnings showing a natural talent for wrangling horses to doubling for most ‘A’ list action men in the ’80’s and beyond, stuntman extraordinaire Vic’s legacy is ongoing and continues to dazzle audiences the world over.
Candidly written without a hint of egotism, Vic’s memoir is an unpretentious glimpse into the pratfalls of show-business. His recollections come from a love of his craft and some of the events (some tinged with tragedy) are never less than compelling. No surprise then, that Vic should be a notable part of the Superman Movie franchise and devotes a chapter to his experiences, from wires snapping on flying rigs to arguments with a star determined to do his own stunts…
Vic made a rare public appearance at this years Memorabilia event in Birmingham only a few weeks ago and it was my intention to attend and get my copy of his book signed – sadly I missed my opportunity to meet him so thank god for my good friend Greg who obtained his autograph for me in a great pic of Vic during filming of Superman: The Movie…From the top, Vic’s auto pic, the book, and screengrabs taken from the Superman DVD documentaries showing Vic in action…
