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Showing posts with label George Reeves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Reeves. Show all posts

Thoughts On The Superman Re-Boot

by Armand Vaquer


It will be interesting to see how Brit Henry Cavill (above) fills Superman's red boots in the upcoming Superman re-boot movie.

Will he be able to suppress his British accent enough to convincingly convey that he was raised in the midwestern section of the United States? ("I say, old chap, I'm fighting the never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way!")



To me, for a super-hero movie to work is that the actor has to look and act as if the comic book character stepped out of the pages of the comic and onto the silver screen. In the post-Kirk Alyn era, only George Reeves (left) and Christopher Reeve (below, right) had that quality (although I despise Reeve's Clark Kent portrayal). None of the other Supermen had this quality. Dean Cain didn't look at all like Superman and his costume was wrong (especially the buckle and boots).






Brandon Routh did not convince me that he was Superman (Superboy, maybe). Cavill looks more mature and more like Superman than does Routh in my opinion. How he handles the role is an open question. We will have to wait and see.

Another thing that would have to happen for me to be convinced that I am watching Superman on screen in the new movie: jettison the Routh Superman costume with that awful collar, dark coloring and those awful Speedo trunks! The costume would have to look more like Christopher Reeve's costume with its bright colors.

Above, Brandon Routh in his awful costume from "Superman Returns."

Will the producers take note? Again we'll have to wait and see.

Noel Neil Fractures Hip

Above, Jack Larson and Noel Neil in November 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

by Armand Vaquer

Some distressing news arrived this morning.

Actress Noel Neil, the original Lois Lane, broke her hip in a fall.

Neill first played Lois Lane in the two Columbia Superman serials starring Kirk Alyn and in the Adventures of Superman television show (1953-57) starring George Reeves. She is 89.



UPDATE (7/28/10): Noel Neill's manager/biographer Larry Ward gave the initial okay to post Noel's address, but has since had second thoughts. Accordingly, it has been removed. Perhaps a P.O. box may be set up.

Jack Larson Emmy Ad In "Variety"

Above, Jack Larson with Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich at the "Superman Week" ceremony in July 2001. Photo courtesy of the office of Michael D. Antonovich.

Jack Larson Emmy Ad In "Variety"

by Armand Vaquer

Jeepers! Wouldn't it be cool if Jimmy Olsen is nominated for an Emmy Award?

Lou Koza, the current editor of The Adventures Continue website on the Adventures of Superman, reported that the June 16 edition of Variety contains a two-page ad asking for votes for Jack Larson for an Emmy Award for his work on Law & Order: SVU.

While Lou was out and about, Jack Larson called and notified Lou's wife of the ad. Lou doesn't know if Larson was already nominated or if the ad was asking for votes for Larson to be nominated. He says that Jack will call him back.

The 2010 Emmy Nominations will be revealed in a ceremony at 5:30 a.m. on July 8.

Jack is one of television's legendary actors for his portrayal of cub reporter Jimmy Olsen on the Adventures of Superman television show of the 1950s. The show starred George Reeves as Clark Kent/Superman.

Superman's Girl Friend, Noel Neill Honored With Statue

Above, Noel Neill and George Reeves.

Superman's Girl Friend, Noel Neill Honored With Statue

by Armand Vaquer

A special event took place at the 32nd Annual Superman Celebration.

Several hundred people gathered in Metropolis, Illinois yesterday for the unveiling ceremony of the new Noel Neill "Lois Lane" statue.

Braving heat and humidity after an early rain, the gathering honored the "First Lady of Metropolis" with a nine-foot tall statue of Neill in her signature role of Lois Lane in the Adventures of Superman television show (1951-1957).

Above, with help from "Superman" Josh Boultinghouse, Noel unveils her statue. Photo by Bill Dillane.

Metropolis Mayor Billy McDaniel said:

We have a legend in the statue on the Superman square. This is a unique statue, because this is a living legend. A dedicated lady who has dedicated so much of her life to entertainment.


In her remarks at the ceremony, Noel Neill quipped:

Nine feet tall. Whatever. None of us are over nine feet tall, not even George. But that's showbiz.


Neill, of course, was referring to the show's star, the late George Reeves.

Above, Jack "Jimmy Olsen" Larson and Noel in 2005. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sculptor Gary Smith created the Lois Lane statue and he also created the big Superman statue which stands in the main square.

WSIL-TV has an article on the ceremony along with a video. To view them, go here.

Noel Neill will be celebrating her 90th birthday this coming November.

Superman and The Mummy's Kiss: Something Shared

Above, the E. Clem Wilson Building, something that the "Adventures of Superman" and "The Mummy's Kiss: Second Dynasty" have in common.

Superman and The Mummy's Kiss: Something Shared

by Armand Vaquer

After I posted my spotlight feature on actress/model/language instructor Yuu Asakura on Monster Island News, I was in the mood to watch Don Glut's The Mummy's Kiss Second Dynasty tonight. In the movie, Yuu Asakura had a bit part as Marie, the assistant to the tabloid editor. Christine Nguyen played the tabloid's ace reporter who gets wrapped up in the mummy story.

For the first time, I watched the movie with the commentary track on and noted Don's comment that he wanted to use the E. Clem Wilson Building on Wilshire Blvd. at La Brea Ave. in the movie as the tabloid office so he could correct an error in the first (1951) season DVD set of the Adventures of Superman, starring George Reeves.

Above, the E. Clem Wilson Building as the Daily Planet Building in 1951.

In the commentary track, Glut said that the commentators in the Superman DVD said that the building used for the Daily Planet Building was Los Angeles City Hall. In actuality, the E. Clem Wilson Building was used as the Daily Planet in 1951. Starting in 1953, City Hall was used as the Daily Planet until the show ended in 1957. Both Gary Grossman (Superman: Serial To Cereal) and Chuck Harter made the same error in their commentaries.

I guess we can now deem the error corrected, thanks to Don Glut.