Superman

Superman (1978) was the first major production to take the superhero film seriously, and its tagline promised you would believe a man could fly. It divides into three parts: the destruction of Krypton, a childhood in Kansas, and Metropolis. The first half hour is nearly science fiction, the middle a rural drama, the end an adventure. That odd structure is what holds it up. Marlon Brando's Jor-El produced one of the most discussed deals in Hollywood. For roughly twelve days of work and twenty minutes on screen he took 3.7 million dollars plus 11.75 percent of the back end. Richard Donner said at the time he found it outrageous. Brando also had an idea: not to appear as Jor-El at all but to have him played as a bagel, with Brando supplying only the voice. Donner talked him out of it by pointing out that children would forever picture Marlon Brando when they thought of the character. Christopher Reeve was unknown when he took the part, and the film's real trick is how he separates the two people he plays: Clark and Superman are the same body held differently. John Williams's theme has lasted as long as the character. A dedicated rig was built for the flying, and for its period it convinced. It runs 143 minutes. Good for: classic superhero films, seventies Hollywood, and film music. Less good for: the pace is slow by current standards and the resolution is contentious.