Appearance
Superman
Directed by Richard Donner, Superman (1978)—marketed as Superman: The Movie—is the definitive superhero epic that set the gold standard for the genre. The film tells the comprehensive origin story of Kal-El, from his infancy on the doomed planet Krypton to his childhood in the rural town of Smallville, and finally to his arrival in the bustling metropolis of New York-inspired Metropolis. Christopher Reeve delivers an iconic, dual performance as both the god-like Man of Steel and the bumbling, mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent.
The film is famous for its groundbreaking visual effects, the soaring musical score by John Williams, and its legendary tagline: "You'll believe a man can fly!".
Locations
The production was a massive international undertaking, filming across three continents to capture the diverse environments of Krypton, the American Midwest, and the urban jungle of Metropolis.
The Daily Planet (The News Building), New York City
The exterior and lobby of the Daily Planet were filmed at the News Building (formerly the New York Daily News building) at 220 East 42nd Street. Its massive rotating globe in the lobby made it the perfect stand-in for the world's most famous fictional newspaper. Map Location
Smallville (High River & Calgary, Alberta)
To depict the vast, golden wheat fields of Clark Kent’s childhood home in Smallville, the production moved to the plains of Alberta, Canada. The Kent Farm was located near High River, while the high school and town scenes utilized various rural areas around Calgary.
Lex Luthor’s Lair (Grand Central Terminal), New York City
The villainous Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) maintains his underground lair deep beneath Grand Central Terminal. While the lavish hideout itself was a massive set built at Pinewood Studios in the UK, the real concourse and the railway tunnels beneath the station were used for the sequences where Otis (Ned Beatty) is tailed.
Lois Lane’s Penthouse (100 Gracie Terrace), New York City
The terrace where Superman visits Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) for their famous flight over Metropolis was filmed at 100 Gracie Terrace on the East River. For years, fans debated the location, but it was eventually identified by its unique architectural angles and the specific view of the NYC skyline. Map Location
The San Andreas Fault (Red Rock State Park, New Mexico)
The dramatic climax where the Earth opens up during Lex Luthor’s engineered earthquake was filmed at Red Rock State Park near Gallup, New Mexico. The area has since been affectionately nicknamed "Superman Canyon" by locals and fans. Map Location
The Fortress of Solitude (Pinewood Studios & Shepperton Studios)
The crystal-covered Fortress of Solitude was one of the largest sets ever constructed at the time, split between Pinewood and Shepperton Studios in England. The production utilized an 800,000-gallon water tank at Pinewood to simulate the Arctic glaciers and the emergence of the Fortress.
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Director
Richard Donner
Cast
Christopher Reeve
Marlon Brando
Gene Hackman
Margot Kidder
Ned Beatty
Jackie Cooper
Glenn Ford
IMDB
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