Superman 1978- An overview
Superman : The movie is a 1978 epic superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. Richard Donner directed the film, which stars Christopher Reeve as Superman, as well as Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, Glenn Ford, Phyllis Thaxter, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beauty. The film depicts the origin of Superman, from infancy as Kala-El of Krypton and growing up in Small ville. Disguised as reporter Clark Kent, he adopts a mild mannered attitude in Metropolis and develops a romance with Lois Lane,while battling against the villainous Lexi Luther.
The film was conceived in 1973 by Ila Salk ind. Several directors, most notably Guy Hamilton, and some screenwriters were associated with the project before Richard Donner was hired to direct. Donner brought Tom Mongolic's to rewrite the script, feeling it was too campy. Monegasques was credited as creative consultant. It was decided to film both Superman and Superman II simultaneously. Principal photography started in March 1977 and ended in October 1978. Tensions rose between Donner and the producers, and a decision was made to stop filming Superman II and finish the first film. Donner had already shot 75% of the sequel, eventually giving birth to Superman I The Richard Donner Cut. Superman was released with critical acclaim and financial success. Reviewers noted parallels between the film's depiction of Superman and Jesus The film's legacy helped create a reemergence of science fiction films and the establishment of the superhero film genre.
This movie represents the early forms of movies in the superhero genre and because it was produced in the 70s their is a clear difference in not just the effects that are shown in the original superman compared to the same genre films of this generation but of also the accepted and the generally expected views of society. It is for that reason mainly why I picked this film to study as it would give me an indication into how aspects of the typical superhero movie have changed with particular reference to gender roles played within the films and what effect they had on the world back then and the world now.
The level of patriarchy that is contained in the film would have not pleased much feminists which shows the contrasts into Hollywood today as the designed gender role the female generally seems to play is the women who needs saving because she is weak and is apparently incapable of getting herself out of a difficult situation as shown in one of the scenes in Superman: The movie when superman is shown flying through the air at maximum speed with the purpose of saving a half unconscious women from a car that is on the verge of blowing up. This repeatedly happens in the film but jut with different situations in a clear portrayal of male dominance as their is no sign of female empowerment or women possessing the same superpowers as superman. The most relevant role a respective female plays in the movie is by Lois lane who is Superman's love interest and is hardly shown in any strong positions throughout the whole film giving females a negative representation once again.
The movie doesn't seem to create a supposed vendetta against women by casting them in traditional very bas represented roles such as the female fettle but it demonstrates a signal of the order of society that was in place at the time. They re is some concise contrasts yet some similarities between this piece of historical text to the one I'm studying now that's why i think its a good text to relate to.
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