Featured in the newest site of The London Film museum, Covent Garden is currently playing host to a treasure trove of cinematic artifacts including a rare opportunity to see the above as part of the Magnum On Set collection.
Originally on loan from the Propstore of London, this incredible exhibit was first unveiled in the County Hall site on the South Bank in 2010 (see my archived post) before being withdrawn some months later.
In the intervening years, however, there has been a curious revision that prompted a trip to view the display up close once again. Whereas the costume in County Hall was successfully screen-matched to specific scenes of both Superman: The Movie and Superman II, it was evident the costume tunic had been switched out for one arguably more instantly recognisable.
To clarify, all the Superman costumes were handmade and therefore share particular quirks as none were 100% the same. This costume, however, can be matched to a specific scene in Luthor’s Lair in Superman: The Movie and is clearly identifiable (despite two differing tunics being used in the same scene!) besides being used in promotional material (most notably in the Topps trading card sets as shown in the comparison above. The key identifier is the unique shape of the yellow triangle at the base of the chest shield giving the bottom curve of the \S/ its shape.
Quite why the top has been switched out is a mystery (as this is clearly a much older piece rightly showing its age and not a colour match to the tights) and there has clearly been amendments to the mannequin’s padding, making the body visibly more slender than before. The rest of the exhibit attributes (cape, boots, belt, etc.) appear unchanged.
The exhibition is in its closing weeks now so if you have an opportunity to go and see this genuine piece of Movie history I can’t recommend it highly enough. Vintage Superman costumes are becoming more rare in the public domain and it is unlikely we will ever see their kind (with such accurate provenance) again.
Further reading about the specifics of Christopher Reeve’s Superman costume will be available in the coming weeks with a updated version of my detailed analysis featured on the incomparable capedwonder.com where an extensive gallery of both the Propstore displays can be found…
UPDATE 12/09: Official Propstore feature on this piece here
(comparison pic courtesy of capedwonder.com & Chris King)
The Propstore Of London is currently offering a unique opportunity to own one of Christopher Reeve’s ‘flying’ tunics from Superman III.
Though Superman wardrobe rarely comes onto the market without the accompanying thud of an auctioneers hammer, the leotard pictured above will nonetheless set you back 10K plus.
Like all genuine pieces of Movie history, however, this garment tells a story and creates as many mysteries as it solves. Indeed, this is the first instance of the fabric being publicly identified as ‘Polyamid’ which, though significant, may as well originate on the Planet Krypton for hope of finding more of its particular weave. Also note the curious lack of the red shorts (in most tunics the top & shorts were one piece), presumably to add layers in an effort to hide the flying harness and the position of the ‘slits’ themselves. This, along with the costumier/studio labelling throughout (and even makeup residue) lends great providence to this investment.
Propstore has a sterling reputation among collectors and in a market infiltrated by copies, its good to know there are still genuine examples out there creating a stir among the fanbase and keeping the legacy alive…
SUPERMANIA is proud to present the splendid result of a personal project by SuperFan Alexei Lambley-Steel of christopherreeve.co.uk to perfectly replicate Clark Kent’s tie from Superman: The Movie. See the pics above for the obvious dedication to detail for this most complex of patterns and coolest of tributes. As Alexei wanted to offer a short run to fans he asked me to write a short promo –
“Any more at home like you…?”
Presenting a very unique opportunity to own a replica of the necktie as worn by Christopher Reeve in his defining role as Clark Kent in 1978’s Superman: The Movie. Digitally reproduced using the highest-quality photographs, this fantastic vintage design in Silver, Black, Red and Blue is handmade in the UK from 100% woven silk with Polyester lining and 146cm long and is a fully wearable/displayable prop from the Classic Movie! Special offer price of £25 + shipping for a very limited one time run of 35!
I’m pleased to report that the item in-hand is fantastic quality, not only a great prop but quite the fashionable wardrobe addition for the City Beat. While the run is almost at an end, should you wish to purchase one of the last few remaining go here for more details – see you at the Planet office, and don’t call me Chief…
In continuation of this post documenting the original Superman costume exhibited in Planet Hollywood, Orlando, the images above show that by 2002 the display had been removed from its flying pose the ceiling of the Downtown Disney seating area and relocated to the restaurant lobby.
Having presumably accumulated years of dust and dirt from its years suspended in the open, the costume was in all probability cleaned before being remounted on an unsuitably thin silver mannequin looking worn and considerably faded. While the new display was given an optimum position in the walkway, the new surround (a broken brick wall diorama and chains) lacked the impact of its former home and its plexiglass tube made it almost impossible to photograph. The sign was also changed from the classic Planet Hollywood tag to a garish one mounted at the mannequin’s feet.
As we now know, this costume was the former property of Producer Ilya Salkind, who, retaining it after production of Superman III had used it to audition John Haymes Newton as Superboy as well as in the series itself (also filmed in Orlando) before donating it to the Planet Hollywood chain when it opened in 1994. As was customary in PH restaurants, the memorabilia on display was circulated throughout the sites to keep the decor fresh. Most of the items on show were originals, however some (in the case of Stallone’s props from Demolition Man and Schwarzennegger’s Terminator) were produced in limited numbers just for display. Many of the props and costumes would also be retired if the were damaged or became tatty.
For example, when Planet Hollywood reopened in the newly-renamed Disney Springs in 2017, the Superman costume was given its own gallery space at the top of the entrance stairwell, but was noticeably different than before – in fact it had been replaced by a replica and passed off as the real thing – something the chain was becoming more prone to after standards slipped since its bankruptcy in 2000.
As for the fate of the original Salkind costume, its whereabouts was a mystery for years until fans recently spotted it featuring in the Planet Hollywood Resort, Las Vegas – in the appropriately named ‘Superman Penthouse Suite’ on the 28th floor where it remains to this day…
Pictured above is the vital first component I managed to secure that would initiate my pursuit of the perfect replica Superman costume –
As most fan-made efforts throughout the nineties would demonstrate, the lack of correct belt and buckle would be the undoing of the most valiant attempts, but after a long search a small set of perfect resin casts taken from one of Christopher Reeve’s original belts finally found me. Developing a matching belt would be almost as difficult a proposition in my research stage as at the time the only reference was a clip from TV documentary ‘The Making Of Superman’. From that footage I ascertained the belt itself was a fabric-backed vinyl, however locating such a thing in mustard yellow proved impossible.
Instead I sought to improvise and so in true prop style I concocted a belt made from kitchen lino covered in yellow sticky-back plastic. While the results were good the plastic would eventually weaken and split due to its inflexibility. Many attempts later I came across more pliable plastic and have made numerous belts since then for fans and professionals alike, chances are you’ve seen one of my belts on display on many a full-size replica either online or in-person.
Pictured above are two of the last belts I have – a ‘Hero’ version made from genuine Patent leather and a ‘Stunt’ version built using my method. Over the years costumiers and fans have caught up and developed credible versions of their own but for such a minor accessory, there is no substitute for the genuine buckle cast to complete a replica. Further information on the real costume belts and how they were constructed can be found here
