Casey Chong presents the essential Christopher Reeve movies beyond the Superman franchise…
The name Christopher Reeve will be forever associated with his iconic role as Clark Kent/Superman in the Superman film series, portraying the character from the 1978 original through to 1987’s The Quest for Peace, totalling four movies. His wholesome appearance, along with a heroic charisma, has defined Superman for generations, even today with the likes of Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill and David Corenswet taking over the role to varying degrees of success.
But apart from his Superman role, Reeve proved himself to be a versatile actor capable of transitioning between genres from the crime thriller to romance drama, and even comedy. His acting career may have tragically suffered a setback after an equestrian competition in Virginia went wrong, resulting in him being paralyzed and having to rely on a wheelchair and a ventilator, and although he passed away at the age of 52 in 2004, his legacy still lives on. And if you are planning to revisit or even watch some of his movies for the first time, here is our curated list of the essential Christopher Reeve movies beyond Superman…
Street Smart (1987)
Here’s an interesting trivia about Street Smart: Cannon Films apparently agreed to greenlight Christopher Reeve’s pet project if he appeared in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. No prize for guessing which movie emerges the best in terms of quality. Reeve plays Jonathan Fisher, a struggling reporter willing to break his journalistic integrity by fabricating a story. The story in question is an article about a “real-life” pimp, a result that may have burst into popularity before it gets worse for Fisher. This is especially true after the story somehow matches with Fast Black (Morgan Freeman), an actual pimp who recently ran into trouble for involuntary manslaughter.
Reeve’s morally conflicted role in Street Smart showcases his dramatic flair, easily one of the best performances in his career. His character contrasts well with Freeman’s Fast Black, whose frighteningly volatile portrayal as a pimp earned him a much-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Kudos also goes to Jerry Schatzberg’s assured direction for highlighting the solid dynamic between Reeve and Freeman, one of the few hallmarks which define this propulsive crime thriller.
Somewhere in Time (1980)
In 1978, Christopher Reeve was on top of the world, making us “believe a man can fly” in a then-groundbreaking Superman. He could have ridden on that success alone, but Reeve proved he could play a romantic lead as seen in Somewhere in Time. Based on Richard Matheson’s novel Bid Time Return, the author himself adapted the screenplay about Richard (Reeve), a playwright who is increasingly obsessed with the vintage photograph of Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), a stage actress from the early 20th century, while staying at the Grand Hotel.
Proving that love can transcend time both literally and figuratively, Somewhere in Time effectively blends an old-fashioned romantic drama with a sci-fi undertone. The latter is especially true with the time travel element, but instead of a machine typically seen in such a genre, Richard goes back to 1912 through the power of self-hypnosis, where everything from clothes to items like coins must be appropriate to the particular era.
The movie benefits from Reeve’s memorable on-screen chemistry with Seymour, highlighting their romance that is both passionate and heartfelt. It also helps that Jeannot Szwarc’s direction brings a melancholic quality to the movie from the beginning to the bittersweet end, coupled with John Barry’s beautiful score and Isidore Mankofsky’s era-specific cinematography.
Deathtrap (1982)
Michael Caine and Dyan Cannon may headline Deathtrap, a chamber mystery that takes place in the confines of a home, but the movie is also notable for Christopher Reeve as Clifford, an ambitious student who shows up at struggling playwright Sidney Bruhl’s (Caine) front door after the latter invites him to discuss some input about his manuscript. The good news is that the manuscript reads like a goldmine, which can potentially revive Sidney’s dwindling career. But why let Clifford take the credit when Sidney can claim the manuscript as his own? And to do that, he and his wife, Myra (Dyan Cannon) must do the unthinkable: Kill Clifford since he hasn’t told anyone else about the play.
This is where it gets interesting, as Sidney Lumet – adapted from Ira Levin’s 1978 play of the same name — gamely uses the single-location setting to his advantage, mixing a twist-filled mystery with excellent character interplay. In other words, he brings out the best in three of his principal cast. And while Caine excels the most in his neurotic lead performance as Sidney Bruhl, Deathtrap equally excels with Reeve’s acting prowess, showcasing his versatility in playing the role of a calculating playwright who seamlessly alternates between dark comedy and dramatic turns.
Rear Window (1998)
Remaking Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 voyeuristic thriller classic may seem like an uphill task, but director Jeff Bleckner, along with screenwriters Eric Overmyer and Larry Gross, managed to do better than expected with in their 1998 version of Rear Window. Don’t let the made-for-television film fool you, though, especially with Christopher Reeve anchoring the performance as the wheelchair-bound architect confined to his apartment following a near-fatal accident.
The fact that Reeve was a real-life quadriplegic after the horse-riding accident disabled him from the neck down helps to add authenticity and poignancy to his role, where you can’t help but root for his character’s predicament. Reeve’s physical limitations meant he had to rely heavily on his eyes and expressions to do the acting. It may come across as an artistic challenge for a disabled or even able-bodied actor, but Reeve managed to pull it off admirably in Rear Window. The movie is equally suspenseful, particularly during the thrilling second half, including a scene where Reeve’s character threatens the alleged killer (Ritchie Coster) on the opposite side of the building using emails.
Above Suspicion (1995)
Here’s an underrated HBO film that premiered just six days before Christopher Reeve’s ill-fated horse-riding accident turned him into a quadriplegic. Ironically, Above Suspicion eerily mirrors the actor’s real-life incident with his character, a highly decorated police detective who becomes paralyzed after a botched raid, leaving him bound in a wheelchair. The movie boasts solid supporting roles, including Joe Mantegna as his rival cop and Kim Cattrall as the cheating wife.
But it was Reeve’s quietly manipulative performance that elevates this neo-noir thriller, complete with a crafty stretch when Reeve’s character orchestrates his own death by roping in his wife and his cop brother (Edward Kerr) to help him fulfill his wish because he’s no longer wanted to live in a wheelchair.
Switching Channels (1988)
Reeve’s post-Superman era, after playing the superhero four times, saw the actor playing against type for a change. Sporting an unusual blonde hairstyle, Reeve plays a wealthy sporting goods owner who falls in love with Christy (Melanie Griffith), a TV reporter working under her superior and ex-husband John (Burt Reynolds). Switching Channels deftly combines screwball farce and romantic comedy, thanks to Ted Kotcheff’s genre know-how direction, embracing his movie with enough broad humor and snappy dialogue.
The Fun with Dick and Jane and Weekend at Bernie’s director brings out the best in his actors, with Turner and Reynolds playing off each other well. Interestingly, the two actors were reportedly had a falling out behind the scenes due to their on-set conflict. Reeve may have been a supporting actor here, but he managed to make the best of his screen time, proving he has comedic chops. The highlight includes the hilariously absurd elevator scene reflecting his character’s fear of heights.
What are your favourite Christopher Reeve movies? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Casey Chong
