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Post by crazy_asian_man on May 9, 2012 11:54:21 GMT -5
Just got through Christopher Reeve's "Monsignor"- a pretty BORING film, but couldn't help but feel with that guy's ridiculous good looks- 'hey, it's Superman'- and had a hard time getting through the film without seeing Supes onscreen every fifteen minutes or so, versus the corrupt priest, that he was supposed to be playing.
Was curious.... did anyone 'buy' Reeve in a lot of other roles outside of Superman? I enjoyed him in small comedic parts here and there- and it's not like he gave a bad performance elsewhere, but I wonder if he wasn't too wrong after all to have had the fear of typecasting... as the only two really memorable films he talks about for the ones being really beloved by the public are STM and "Somewhere in Time".
Thoughts?
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Post by Valentine Smith on May 9, 2012 12:01:43 GMT -5
I've always had trouble seeing him as anyone other than Superman. BUT, that's because I first saw STM when I was three years old. It was not only the first time I had ever seen Chris Reeve, it's pretty much the first movie I ever remember watching. Reeve's Superman performance had such a profound effect on me at that age that I was pretty much screwed after that.
I'd be curious to hear from folks who knew his work beforehand, or who weren't as young/impressionable as I was.
A story I've repeated at least once on every incarnation of this board is this: My Dad was an audio engineer and worked on nearly every soap opera that was made in NYC. He knew Chris Reeve, pre-Superman. Played tennis with him a couple of times. He was "just a nice, skinny kid" as my Dad says. One day Reeve tells everyone he's leaving the show, he's got a big break, but can't talk about it. Next time my Dad sees him, it's on-screen at a theater in midtown Manhattan, and he's Superman.
A couple of years later, my Dad was working on some morning news show, and who's the guest, but Chris Reeve. My dad is mic-ing him up, and they're chatting/exchanging pleasantries. My Dad jokingly asked him, "So, what have you been up to since you left Love of Life?" Chris's response was a: "Well, I've..." before he realized my Dad was putting him on. I like to think his response/expression was the same as when Perry asks Clark "What's his favorite ball team?" in STM.
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Metallo
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Post by Metallo on May 9, 2012 12:37:58 GMT -5
I can just imagine seeing Reeve in Deathtrap after Superman.  For me it now depends on the role/movie. When I was younger I always though of him as Superman when he did other films. Now not so much. He only did a few non Superman movies that I thought really made an impact. Never really think of Superman too much when I watch Somewhere in Time because the whole premise is so far out there even though he looks very Superman/Kent like in it. I think of Superman at first but the feeling quickly fades. I do think about him as Superman in Noises off and Switching Channels because he plays bumbling characters even though I like Noises off. Whenever I watch Above Suspicion I always think about his accident and not Superman. Talk about life imitating art. Don't think of Superman when I watched his remake of Rear Window because I was too busy thinking about the Hitchcock version. |
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ye5man
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Post by ye5man on May 9, 2012 13:11:10 GMT -5
When I was a kid it was difficult to separate the two, but today its no problem. I watched Street Smart not long ago and was thinking Superman IV by production association only.
I can't believe how awful the trailer to Monsignor is. Its LOL bad; I do want to watch the film, I got the DVD, but I know its going to be a chore.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2012 14:58:04 GMT -5
The only non-Superman Reeve film I've seen is Village of the Damned.  |
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ye5man
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Post by ye5man on May 9, 2012 16:50:46 GMT -5
Even though Reeve has a small part (with a generous 3rd billing, his first since STM), make "Remains of the day" a priority.
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Knight
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Post by Knight on May 9, 2012 18:19:02 GMT -5
I want to get other Reeve films, Deathtrap, Noises Off and Somewhere In Time.
Yea, as a kid I had trouble separating him from Superman but now I totally admire his other work.
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ye5man
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Post by ye5man on May 9, 2012 18:55:52 GMT -5
I don't think of any his leading films stands out. Silly man ought to have done a few commercial projects between his stage oriented stuff.
I could not outright recommend any of his leading projects. I really enjoy Switching Channels, but sadly it takes off once Reynolds and Turner take centre stage.
He was outshone by Morgan Freeman in Street Smart. Somewhere in time is plain crap. Death Watch is below par. I can't think of others. Not seen Aviator yet.
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Post by Jack Tripper on May 9, 2012 20:32:44 GMT -5
I never had a problem separating Reeve from Superman. My 2 favorite films of his outside of Superman are Deathtrap and Noises Off.
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Post by TylerDurden389 on May 9, 2012 20:37:21 GMT -5
Noises Off is riot. Love that movie. TBH, the cast has so many names that I don't think we even see Reeve enough for us to even get the chance to think of Superman. Especially from the hustle-and-bustle from what's going on throughout the entire film.
So no, no problem separating the actor from the role. However, seeing anyone else in the red and blue, it just doesn't work for me.
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Metallo
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Post by Metallo on May 9, 2012 22:00:45 GMT -5
Noises Off has a ridiculously good cast.
Seeing Reeve and John Ritter square off doing physical comedy is great. Ritter was a master so the fact that Reeve held his own shows how underrated he was as a physical performer/comedian.
Its probably one of my favorite Reeve films, too.
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Post by crazy_asian_man on May 10, 2012 1:21:44 GMT -5
I've tried to see as many of the non-Superman Reeve films as possible, seen most of them: *Deathtrap I've grown to appreciate more now for its cleverness, wasn't all that crazy about it the first time around because I expected something wholly different - but remember a woman in the theatre screaming (not kidding) "No, Chris---How could you???" when he kisses Michael Caine on the lips. ;D (Definitely give Chris credit for being fearless when it comes to acting, though... I read how a number of leading actors have a lot of restrictions of what they will and won't do, to protect their movie image, so definitely Chris got a lot of points for showing he was serious about being an actor first with that...) *Somewhere in Time I thought was an interesting twist on time travel. It's unique and sticks to its premise.... I kinda get why it became a cult classic. I don't mind it, oddly- but I think I remember reading that originally the story started off with the character was suffering from a fatal illness in the very beginning- which I would have liked better.... as it meant that would give the idea that he was dying and desperate, or was delusional during the time travel. *Aviator....SNORE.....pity. Big snore. *Streetsmart- ok, but VERY cheap and, yep, Morgan Freeman steals the show. But without Reeve, never would have watched the film in the first place. Great for Freeman, not sure what Reeve got out of it- read somewhere at that time that he just really believed in the story & that this was part of his Superman deal... but the story's not THAT great...  *Switching Channels- Reeve is fun, but I really wish that Michael Caine had been able to stay as the lead as originally planned..... Reeve/Caine have good chemistry onscreen.... although I could have also done without the closeup smooch in Deathtrap....  |
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cypher85
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Post by cypher85 on May 10, 2012 10:07:24 GMT -5
You should check out village of the damned. It's pretty creepy.
Plus where else can you see Superman and Luke Skywalker interact.
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Post by crazy_asian_man on May 10, 2012 10:21:03 GMT -5
;D Heard it was a good flick. I should check that out--- didn't know that Mark Hamill was in any other live action film outside of the Star Wars films and "Corvette Summer"! |
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Post by Valentine Smith on May 10, 2012 10:21:30 GMT -5
Yeah, that Village of the Damned remake is pretty darn good!
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Metallo
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Post by Metallo on May 10, 2012 10:46:33 GMT -5
Its not Carpenter at his best but I enjoyed it. Its pretty good and Reeve is pretty good in it. The interesting thing is its something very different to the work he'd usually done up to that point.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2012 17:16:00 GMT -5
I like it a LOT. Watched it for the first time last Halloween and was very entertained by it. It's pretty damn creepy, actually! Great story. Very fun.
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theoj
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Post by theoj on May 10, 2012 17:52:41 GMT -5
I haven't seen Monsignor. Saw The Bostonians recently but not a great film and Reeve looks HUGE in it!
Films where he really shines, out of the red boots, are...
Somewhere in Time
Remains of the Day
Noises Off
Village of the Damned
Switching Channels
and a great but small part in Speechless
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