George Reeves' 100th bday

[madmarva]

I just read that George Reeves' 100th birthday is Sunday. Here's a salute to my first Man of Steel and still my favorite Clark Kent. I didn't see the Kirk Allyn serials until I was an adult.

Turner Classic Movies is showing 4 of his old films on Sunday beginning at 8 am eastern, including Tear Gas Squad and Jungle Jim, which stars Johnny Weissmuller after he got too flabby to play Tarzan.

Tear Gas Squad also stars Dennis Morgan and John Payne, who are cut in the same mold as Reeves. Interesting casting.

I always saw GR as the golden age Superman and Christopher Reeve as the Earth I Superman in my preteen mind.

It's nice GR is getting a little recognition.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Very nice! I really do believe George COULD have been a major Hollywood leading man. He apparently thought so too, and before he went into the service in WWII, was tracking as such. His mentor, who directed "So Proudly We Hail" which he starred in, was killed in the war, and thus George's champion was gone.

That being said, I never felt he phoned in his performance as Superman, although by most accounts he considered it a mixed blessing.

I've always thought of George as the Earth-2 Superman as well. I even snuck that into a Back Issue article!

Thanks for the head's up!

Chris

[madmarva]

Evidently Reeves gave a fine performance as the second lead in From Here to Eternity, but after viewers made Superman jokes during early test showings of the film, his part was cut significantly. What a shame.

He also had a small part in Gone With the Wind.

I still enjoy watching the Adventures of Superman. I know I'm in the minority, but I like it better than The Batman TV show.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Naw, I think the show still holds up very well. Sure, the flying effects are dodgy, but dagnabbit, those springboard takeoffs and ladder jump landings still look good, and work better than many later Superman iterations (I'm looking at you Dean Cain, with your cape-camera sweep!). And no one came through a wall like George.

The cast is just damn good too. I love Larson's Jimmy and Hamilton's Perry White. I like the two Lois actresses for different reasons, and George played Superman with such ease and confidence, you never doubted him for a second. I watch my DVDs quite a bit, more than most other TV series I have in that format.

Chris

[thunderbolt]

Still my Superman, no one has come close to his Kent. And yeah, he could bust thru a wall like nobody. The look on his face like he's having fun doing it is perfect.

[LadyZod]

I enjoyed the Lois/Superman dynamic on Adventures of Superman.

I liked his treatment of her as that annoying little sister that always gets into trouble, but he still loves her as her big brother.

When I discovered the show, I was just so tried of the usually Lois scheming to find Superman's identity so he's be forced to marry her schtick. Adventures of Superman provided me with something different.

[kingdom warrior]

Love George Reeves, He defo would have made a great leading man, if you get a chance watch "So Proudly we hail" He was amazing in that movie.

I tend to homage him all the time I always do some kind of drawing of him........





and even have fun with my GR Superman

[PNGwynne]

Those are beautiful, Steve.

I have the show on DVD, too--it's something I rediscovered, and appreciate more, as an adult.

[HardyGirl]

I love the original Adventures Of Superman. My older brother and I still enjoy watching it like we did when we were kids. Sometimes, we'll even eat cinnamon toast while we watch, just like when we were kids. Ah...memories!

[libby 1957dog]

its a shame hot toys ,what with all the ironman and batman stuff there putting out ,show George a little love in his !00th year ,im sure they could put out a beautiful 1950s style superman ,to go with Burt and Adam ,i ended up putting one together for myself ,but he could use a better head sculpt ,imagine a hot toys level head sculpt , Ah well maybe some one some day ,

[libby 1957dog]