Episode 021: Superman The Movie's 40th Anniversary
Recorded on Facebook Live
June 24, 2018
In 1978, Superman The Movie opened in theaters. It starred Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman, and an unknown named Christopher Reeve. The tagline for the film was, "You will believe a man can fly." And we did as the movie broke the mold in terms of how superheroes were portrayed on the screen and became the benchmark for movies to come. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the film and we've got a panel of fans to discuss it on the podcast. We'll take a look at how this movie set the stage for the modern superhero film and how it still holds up to this day. Plus, we'll discuss how the late Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder were the perfect Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane. We'll have a special tribute to Kidder in light of her recent passing. Joining John to discuss is The Quick and the Dad's Ken Holtzhouser, writer/editor/critic Glenn Greenberg, and Comic Book Central's Joe Stuber.
Our Panel
Joe Stuber is an an Emmy® award-winning producer and lifelong comic book fan who writes, hosts, and produces Comic Book Central. In his guise as Stuberman, Joe has created the world’s first podcast devoted exclusively to in-depth interviews with the legendary talents (actors, writers, producers, directors and more) who have brought comic book properties to life on TV, Broadway, film, video games, live events and beyond!
Joe’s love of comic books began with the superstars of Marvel and DC. Four color treasury-sized editions of Spidey, Superman, Hulk and Batman were all part of his expanding comic book collection…his favorite being the classic team-up, Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man. But something special happened when those comic book adventures were brought to life on the small screen. The Spider-Man animated series and Adam West’s Batman were after-school syndicated staples in the Stuber household. And when the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve classic film, Superman: The Movie hit the Act I Theater in downtown Johnstown, PA – the game changed forever. For the first time, a comic book truly came to life…and we all believed a man could fly.
Comic Book Central is a celebration of comic books coming to life. In the modern era of big-budget blockbusters with lifelike digital effects, comic book movies and TV shows are here to stay, and they’ve become a genre unto themselves.
Broadcasting from the Comic Book Central Lair, Stuberman welcomes superheroes (and super craftsmen and craftswomen) to spend some time talking about our favorite subject – comic book adaptations. Comic Book Central premiered November 8, 2013, has been heard in over 160 countries and has been called “the Inside the Actors Studio of Comic Books”. One listen and you’ll realize…you’ve just heard the world’s greatest podcast!
Glenn Greenberg is an award-winning editor/writer whose work has appeared in numerous books, comic books, Web sites, and lifestyle and news magazines, published by top companies such as Time Inc., Simon and Schuster, Scholastic Inc., Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Time Out New York, Lockwood Publications, and TwoMorrows Publishing.
Ken Holtzhouser's bio is forthcoming. Pick up a copy of The Quick and the Dad by clicking on the link.
