Editing Christopher Reeve (section)

===''Superman'' films===
[[File:Superman (Christopher Reeve - 1980).jpg|thumb|Reeve as [[Superman (1978 film series character)|Superman]]]]
During the [[Off-Broadway]] production of ''My Life'', Stark Hesseltine told Reeve he had been asked to audition for the leading role as [[Clark Kent]]/[[Superman]] in the big-budget film ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman]]'' (1978). [[Lynn Stalmaster]], the casting director, put Reeve's picture and résumé on the top of the pile three separate times, only to have the producers throw it out each time. Through Stalmaster's persistent pleading, a meeting between director [[Richard Donner]], producer [[Ilya Salkind]], and Reeve was arranged.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 188–189</ref> The morning after the meeting, Reeve was sent a 300-page script. He was thrilled that the script took the subject matter seriously, and that Donner's motto was ''[[verisimilitude]]''. Hesseltine also told him that [[Marlon Brando]] was going to play [[Jor-El]] and [[Gene Hackman]] was going to play [[Lex Luthor]]. Reeve flew to London for a [[screen test]], but he still did not believe he had much of a chance. On the plane ride, he imagined his approach to the role. He later said, "By the late 1970s, the masculine image had changed.&nbsp;... Now it was acceptable for a man to show gentleness and vulnerability.&nbsp;... I felt that the new Superman ought to reflect that contemporary male image." He based his portrayal of Clark Kent on [[Cary Grant]] in his role in ''[[Bringing Up Baby]]''. After the screen test, his driver said, "I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you've got the part."<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 195–197</ref>

Portraying Superman would be a stretch for the 24-year-old actor. He was {{convert|6|ft|4|in|cm|abbr=on}} tall, but his physique was slim. Reeve went through an intense two-month training regimen with former British weightlifting champion [[David Prowse]] supervising. The training regimen consisted of running in the morning, followed by two hours of [[Weight training|weightlifting]] and 90 minutes on the [[trampoline]]. He added {{convert|30|lb|kg|adj=on}} of muscle to his "thin" {{convert|188|lb|adj=on}} frame.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrington |first1=Wallace |last2=O'Connor |first2=Michael George |last3=Kavitsky |first3=Joyce |title=Superman (1978) |url=https://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/m-movie1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225090944/https://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/m-movie1.html |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Christopher Reeve Homepage}}</ref> He later made even higher gains for ''[[Superman III]]'' (1983), though for ''[[Superman IV: The Quest for Peace]]'' (1987), he decided it would be healthier to focus more on [[cardiovascular]] workouts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrington |first1=Wallace |last2=O'Connor |first2=Michael George |last3=Thomas |first3=Judy |last4=Kavitsky |first4=Joyce |title=Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) |url=https://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/m-movie4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123185403/https://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/m-movie4.html |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Christopher Reeve Homepage}}</ref> One of the reasons Reeve could not work out as much for ''Superman IV'' was an emergency [[appendectomy]] that he had in June 1986.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rossen |first=Jake |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Superman Vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon |location=Chicago |publisher=Chicago Review Press |pages=166 |isbn=978-1-55652-731-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Susan Heller |last2=Dunlap |first2=David W. |date=June 26, 1986 |title=NEW YORK DAY BY DAY; Appendectomy Centenary |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/26/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-appendectomy-centenary.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220074720/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/26/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-appendectomy-centenary.html |archive-date=December 20, 2024 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

Reeve was never a Superman or comic book fan, though he had watched ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|Adventures of Superman]]'' starring [[George Reeves]]. Reeve found the role offered a suitable challenge because it was a dual role. He said, "there must be some difference stylistically between Clark and Superman. Otherwise, you just have a pair of glasses standing in for a character."<ref>{{cite web |last=Bergan |first=Ronald |date=October 12, 2024 |title=Christopher Reeve |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/oct/12/health.film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006111607/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/oct/12/health.film |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=November 20, 2006 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), p. 200</ref> Remembering Loden's earlier advice, Reeve also decided to "underplay" Superman: "I was six feet four, strong, and physically imposing; so I played against that, making him as casual as possible, letting the audience sense an implied power."<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), p. 179</ref>

On the commentary track for the director's edition of ''[[Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut]]'', creative consultant [[Tom Mankiewicz]] spoke of how Reeve had talked to him about playing Superman and then playing Clark Kent. Mankiewicz then corrected Reeve, telling him he was "always, ''always'' playing Superman" and when he was Clark Kent, he was "playing Superman who was playing Clark Kent." Mankiewicz described it to Reeve as a role within a role.

The film, made without the use of computers for special effects, was the first attempt to realistically show a person flying. Roy Field, the film's optical supervisor, said, "There were many techniques used to make Superman fly, but the best special effect of all was Christopher Reeve himself. We discovered very early on he, being a [[Gliding|glider pilot]], could hold his body aerodynamically. So when he got into the harness, the whole shot began to come alive."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/tNFAFBhh1cU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130815231925/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNFAFBhh1cU&guid=&hl=en&client=mv-google&gl=US Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media |people= Thau, Michael (director)|year= 2001|title=The Magic Behind the Cape |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNFAFBhh1cU|time= 13:25 minutes in}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The film grossed $300.2 million worldwide (unadjusted for inflation).<ref>{{cite web |title=Superman |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4050814465/weekend/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121135156/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4050814465/weekend/ |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=October 23, 2006 |website=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Reeve received positive reviews for his performance:
* "Christopher Reeve's entire performance is a delight. Ridiculously good-looking, with a face as sharp and strong as an ax blade, his bumbling, fumbling Clark Kent and omnipotent Superman are simply two styles of gallantry and innocence."&nbsp;– ''[[Newsweek]]''
* "Christopher Reeve has become an instant international star on the basis of his first major movie role, of Clark Kent/Superman. Film reviewers—regardless of their opinion of the film—have been almost unanimous in their praise of Reeve's dual portrayal. He is utterly convincing as he switches back and forth between personae."&nbsp;– ''[[Starlog]]''

For his performance, Reeve won a [[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles]]. Reeve described Superman as "the closest opportunity I've had to playing a classical role on film, the closest expression to something of mythical dimension."<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Loretan|first1=Kyle|last2=Speck|first2=Gregory|date=October 9, 2012|title=New Again: Remembering Christopher Reeve|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/remembering-christopher-reeve|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606183901/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/remembering-christopher-reeve|archive-date=June 6, 2024|access-date=October 16, 2020|website=[[Interview (magazine)|Interview]]}}</ref> His co-star [[Margot Kidder]] said after his death that, with the ''Superman'' films, Reeve "knew he'd done something meaningful. He was very aware of that and very happy with that role."<ref>{{Cite web|author=Dakss, Brian|date=October 12, 2004|title=Reeve Tributes Keep Pouring In|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-tributes-keep-pouring-in/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241231025926/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-tributes-keep-pouring-in/|archive-date=December 31, 2024|access-date=January 29, 2025|publisher=[[CBS]]}}</ref>

Much of ''[[Superman II]]'' was filmed at the same time as the first film. In fact, the original plan had been for the film to be a single three-hour epic comprising both parts. After most of the footage had been shot, the producers had a disagreement with Donner over various matters, including money and special effects, and Donner was fired. Director [[Richard Lester]], who had worked with the producers previously on the two-parter ''[[The Three Musketeers (1973 live-action film)|The Three Musketeers]]'' (1973) and ''[[The Four Musketeers (1974 film)|The Four Musketeers]]'' (1974), replaced Donner. Lester had the script changed and re-shot some footage. The cast was unhappy, but Reeve later said he liked Lester and considered ''Superman II'' to be his favorite of the series.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 201–203</ref> Donner's version of ''Superman II'', titled ''Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut'', was released on [[DVD-Video|DVD]] in November 2006 and was dedicated in memory of Reeve.

Lester directed ''Superman III'', released in 1983, solo. Reeve believed the producers [[Alexander Salkind]], his son Ilya Salkind, and [[Pierre Spengler]] had decreased the credibility of ''Superman III'' by turning it into a [[Richard Pryor]] comedy rather than a proper Superman film. He missed Donner and believed ''Superman III''{{'s}} only really good element was the automobile [[wrecking yard|junkyard]] scene in which Evil Superman fights Good Clark Kent in an internal battle.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 202–203</ref> Reeve's portrayal of the Evil Superman was highly praised, though the film was critically panned. Any negative review for ''Superman III'', however, was nothing compared to the totally negative reception its successor would receive.

''Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'' was released in 1987. After ''Superman III'', Reeve vowed he was done with Superman.<ref>Cosford, Bill. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB35CC479B535BE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D After One Final Fling, Reeve Hangs Up His Cape.] ''[[Miami Herald]]'', June 19, 1983, pg 1L. Retrieved November 19, 2006</ref> However, he agreed to continue the role in a fourth film on the condition he would have partial creative control over the script. The [[nuclear disarmament]] plot was his idea. [[Cannon Films]] purchased the production rights to the character of Superman from the Salkinds in the mid-1980s.<ref>Harper, Oliver. "Superman IV (1987) Retrospective / Review". YouTube. June 6, 2013. Web. August 16, 2018.</ref> Cannon Films were known for low-budget, poorly acted, poorly scripted action films.<ref>Lamble, Ryan. "10 Remarkable Things About Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". ''Den of Geek!''. Dennis Publishing, November 15, 2012. Web. August 16, 2018.</ref> They cut the budget of ''Superman IV'' in half to $17 million. The film was both a critical failure and a [[Box-office bomb|box-office disappointment]], becoming the lowest-grossing ''Superman'' film to date. Reeve later said, "the less said about ''Superman IV'' the better."<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), p. 203</ref> Both of Reeve's children from his relationship with Gae Exton had uncredited appearances in a deleted scene in which Superman rescues a girl, played by his daughter Alexandra, and reunites her with her brother, played by his son Matthew, after Nuclear Man creates a tornado in [[Smallville (comics)|Smallville]].

Reeve would have made a fifth ''Superman'' film after the rights to the character reverted to the Salkinds and Spengler if the film had a budget of the same size as ''Superman: The Movie''. Although there was potential for such a film in the late 1980s after Cannon Films went bankrupt, Reeve never received a script.<ref>capedwonder.superman. "Christopher Reeve at Dixie Trek – Part Two". YouTube. July 24, 2012. Web. August 20, 2018.</ref>

In 1993, two years before Reeve's accident, the Salkinds sold the rights to the character of Superman again, this time to [[Warner Bros.]] "There was supposed to be a fifth ''Superman'' movie titled ''[[Superman Reborn]]'', but because of studio shifts, the terrible box office [''Superman IV''] got, and&nbsp;... Reeves's {{sic}} accident, it never saw the light of day."<ref>Adam Does Movies. "The Best & Worst Superman Movies Ranked: Movie Feuds ep156". YouTube. November 17, 2015. Web. August 20, 2018.</ref>