Today marks would have been Christopher Reeve’s 58th birthday.
I’m often asked how I feel about his passing and his influence on me, and rather than acknowledge the most bittersweet of tragedies I have an overwhelming sense of pride – If only the rest of us could forge such a lasting legacy twice over, first making us believe a man could fly and second making us believe a man could overcome.
Pictured above is an article written by me for UK Collectors magazine TV & Film Memorabilia published in 2005 detailing Reeve’s life and career with an emphasis on collectables produced during his tenure. The fact that an influx of new items bearing his likeness now and to come is a fitting testimony to Reeve’s place in our collective consciousness as the definitive Superman…
This newest acquisition of genuine set-used crew-wear is notable for the fact it once belonged to somebody working on the ‘Flying Unit’ and would have been present during most if not all stunt/ flying scenes of Superman IV.
One suspects this blue satin Bomber jacket would have been most useful during the chilly November nights at Elstree Studios in 1986/7 and as the pictures demonstrate, it survived in pristine condition to this day and is a treasured addition to the collection..!
One of the many choice exhibits in a waxwork museum which, to the best of my recollection, I discovered in Kissimmee’s Old Town, Orlando, Fl in the late nineties.
While its usually always a pleasure to see Christopher Reeve’s Superman represented in any form – this particular piece is more notable for its comedy value but given the resources its a pretty valiant attempt…
Showcasing arguably the sharpest and most colourful photography available from the Movie series, these Japanese Programmes also contain Cast & Crew Bios along with the standard synopsis of each picture.
The first in a number of posts to come of Japanese printed matter including clippings with even more rare imagery..!
Candid images from the set of Jeremy’s school from Superman IV: The Quest For Peace – In reality the Woughton Campus of the Sir Frank Markham Comprehensive School in Milton Keynes, UK, Circa 1986. Note veteran make-up artist Stuart Freeborn attending to Reeve’s sideburns – Freeborn was the Make-Up Supervisor on all four pictures;
From Starlog Magazine #119;
“It takes about an hour and a half to make Chris up as Superman, and about thirty minutes to do his Clark Kent makeup. Chris’ face is just about the same as it was ten years ago – I know makeup men are supposed to say that anyway, but in this case, its really true…”
