Before exploring the documentary, take a flight through Christopher Reeve’s most iconic roles.
On Monday, the trailer for ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ dropped, offering a sneak peek at what fans of Reeve and ‘Superman’ can anticipate when the film exclusively hits theaters on September 21 and 25. Directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, known for their work on ‘McQueen,’ this documentary chronicles Reeve’s extraordinary journey from an unknown actor to a beloved movie star. Beginning with his groundbreaking performance in 1978’s Superman, Reeve brought the legendary superhero back into the limelight, starring in four films and delivering what many consider the quintessential portrayal of the Man of Steel. Before diving into the documentary, here's a look back at his most iconic roles.
The iconic superhero film ‘Superman,’ based on DC Comics and starring Christopher Reeve, is the first of four movies in the Superman series with Reeve as the titular hero. Directed by Richard Donner, the film explores Superman's origins, from his infancy as Kal-El on the planet Krypton, son of Jor-El (played by Marlon Brando), to his formative years in the small town of Smallville. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning $300 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of the year.
‘The Remains of the Day’ is a drama film adapted from Kazuo Ishiguro's 1989 Booker Prize-winning novel. Directed by James Ivory, the film features Anthony Hopkins as James Stevens and Emma Thompson as Miss Kenton, along with James Fox, Christopher Reeve, Hugh Grant, Ben Chaplin, and Lena Headey. The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning eight Academy Award nominations.
Directed by Richard Lester and written by Mario Puzo along with David and Leslie Newman, ‘Superman II’ is the second installment in the ‘Superman’ film series, serving as a sequel to the 1978 original. Continuing directly from where the first film left off, Christopher Reeve returns as Superman. The plot centers around the arrival of General Zod and his comrades on Earth, who are freed from the Phantom Zone—a prison created by the people of Krypton. The film was well-received by critics, who praised the performances of Hackman, Kidder, Stamp, and Reeve, as well as the visual effects and humor.
‘Somewhere in Time’ is a romantic fantasy drama film from Universal Pictures, directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, and Christopher Plummer. The movie is an adaptation of Richard Matheson's 1975 novel ‘Bid Time Return,’ with Matheson himself penning the screenplay. Reeve portrays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes captivated by a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The film developed a devoted cult following over the years. In 1990, a passionate fan named Bill Shepard founded a fan club called INSITE in honor of the movie.
(Credit: IMDB)
‘Deathtrap’ is a black comedy suspense film adapted from Ira Levin's 1978 play of the same name. Directed by Sidney Lumet and co-written by Levin and Jay Presson Allen, the film stars Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, and Christopher Reeve. The story revolves around a once-famous playwright who has struggled to produce a hit in recent years. When one of his students shares the manuscript of a promising new play, the playwright confides in his wife that if the student hasn't told anyone else about it, he could kill the student and pass off the manuscript as his own.
