A Guy Hamilton Film, Starring…

The first from a series of vintage full-page ads from Daily Variety starting with the initial artwork presented by the Salkinds when Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger) was in place as Director.

Its interesting to see the film as we know it evolve from these announcements highlighting additions to the cast.  With Hamilton eventually replaced and after a well-publicised and lengthy search it was finally made official that Superman himself would be played by 24 year old ‘newcomer’ Christopher Reeve.  Also of note is Peter Boyle’s casting as Otis in a role eventually filled by Ned Beatty. To date the reason for his replacement remains unknown.

As these prints play an important part in the documentation of the film’s genesis I have removed the yellowing with age in an effort to present them as they were originally intended…

 

‘Flight Streak…’

A hauntingly atmospheric creation by artist Owain Wilson from his flickr album – see it and more classic movies given the avant garde treatment here

“For my Superman design, I figured simple, elegant and classy was the way to go, much like the original 1978 poster and the film itself.  I looked for a profile shot of Marlon Brando and found this painting by an artist whose name I couldn’t make out (Kris Meadows) It was part of a bigger composition so I took this part out and got to work.  The thing I’m most proud of in this poster is Superman’s flight streak. I can’t believe I figured out how to do it..!”