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MOVIE

Superman (1978)

Directed by Richard Donner•2h 24m•Published Jul 8, 2025•Episode length 2h 55m
Episode 286 - Superman (1978)
Science FictionActionAdventure

Top cast

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Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Clark Kent / Superman
Margot Kidder
Margot Kidder
Lois Lane
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
Lex Luthor
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Jor-El
Ned Beatty
Ned Beatty
Otis
Jackie Cooper
Jackie Cooper
Perry White
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Pa Kent
Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard
1st Elder
Jack O'Halloran
Jack O'Halloran
Non
Valerie Perrine
Valerie Perrine
Eve Teschmacher

Director

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Richard Donner
Richard Donner
Director
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Overview

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.

Show notes

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“You’ll believe a man can fly.” Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting duo – Ian & Liam (Megs couldn’t make it—she’s busy spinning the Earth backwards to reclaim her weekend while KevDog’s off searching for crystals in the Arctic... or just stuck in a phone booth with no signal - as we don the cape, slick bac…

Read full show notes

“You’ll believe a man can fly.” Join your favourite TransAtlantic podcasting duo – Ian & Liam (Megs couldn’t make it—she’s busy spinning the Earth backwards to reclaim her weekend while KevDog’s off searching for crystals in the Arctic... or just stuck in a phone booth with no signal - as we don the cape, slick back the hair, and fly faster than a speeding bullet into our 286th episode, reviewing Richard Donner’s iconic superhero origin story Superman (1978). We’re trading classical guitars and military trenches for red trunks and crystal fortresses as we discuss:

  • We look at how Superman redefined the superhero genre before it was a genre—and why it still matters nearly 50 years later.
  • Why Christopher Reeve may be the most perfectly cast superhero of all time, and how his dual performance still holds up.
  • Ian dives into the film’s structure and why the three-act split (Krypton, Kansas, Metropolis) feels so bold and ambitious.
  • We condemn and then forgive Teen Clark (Jeff East) and  do likewise for Brando but without the forgiveness at the end
  • We discuss whether Lex Luthor is a credible villain—or just a walking punchline with a killer property portfolio.
  • Liam marvels at the charm, the score, and the genuine sense of wonder—while struggling not to get emotional about Pa Kent.
  • We ask: does the “reverse time” ending still fly? Or is that where the cape starts to fray?
  • And of course: whether Superman (1978) is the Best Film Ever.

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