Today would’ve been Christopher Reeve’s 64th birthday. As is customary here at SUPERMANIA we mark the occasion with a fitting tribute – in this case a rare interview with the man himself taken from the August 1987 issue of Starlog Magazine.
Speaking to Kim Howard Johnson from the set of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace in 1986, Reeve, somewhat poignantly indicated how this film was the most personal of the series. In fact it would be, both thematically and practically having taken story credit and second unit direction besides the standard dual roles.
All of which Reeve seemed to take in his stride, his experience evident after a decade in the red boots and the creative freedom to express what his Superman should be doing. Some of these character nuances (such as both identities ultimately being a disguise) were firsts here and continue to resonate in Super-Literature.
Though the film would be a critical and commercial failure, Reeve’s performance was universally praised and remains the one constant in what has now regained life as a cult classic.
Rest in Peace, ‘Toph…
