Landing the role of Superman hasn’t exactly been a path to lifelong happiness, writes our Movie Blogger Carl Jones. The tragedy of Christopher Reeve is well documented, but possibly less well known is the fate that befell a certain Mr George Reeves.

George who? you may ask. Those of a certain age will know his name well, for he was the first man to don the Man of Steel’s famous blue and white suit on our screens, in a 1950s TV series.

He died in 1959 from a single gunshot wound to the head – and the police rapidly declared it a tragic suicide.

But in JFK-style proportions, rumours started to spread rapidly that there was more to it than that, and that other gunshot marks had been hidden under a freshly laid carpet in Reeves’ house.

And so we have the scenario for the best new movie of the week, Hollywoodland, in which Ben Affleck plays the tormented Reeves. The action unfolds through the jaded eyes of private eye Louis Simo (played by Adrien Brody), who is intrigued by suggestions that Reeves may have been the victim of a murder plot.

Affleck – a man I’ve always viewed as a graduate from the MDF school of wooden acting – actually turns in one of his best performances in years. He portrays Reeves with a great deal of charm and sympathy, as a man surprised by his sudden fame and ultimately destroyed by it.

Screenwriter Paul Bernbaum takes time establishing the various characters and the facts, evoking a vivid portrait of the film-making business in an era when studio contracts could make or break a starlet’s career.

But running well over two hours, Hollywoodland does test our patience as evidence is amassed to support three possible scenarios.

In timely fashion, you can catch one of George Reeves’ first performances as Superman in a new DVD box set.
Superman – The Christopher Reeve Collection is more than just a money-making collaboration of the big-screen movies. It’s packed with fascinating gossip, rarely seen footage, interviews and comments.

The most fascinating addition of all is an “alternative” version of Superman 2. Richard Donner, who directed Superman 1, was three quarters of the way through filming the follow-up when he was sacked after a row with the producers. They brought in another fella who ripped up much of Donner’s stuff and changed direction.

For this box set, Donner has been invited back to remake Superman 2 the way he would have done it, seeking out as much of his remaining original footage as he could find, including scenes with Marlon Brandon which never made it to the cinema, and countless other pieces cobbled together from out-takes and screen tests.

For the Superman fan, this is a week where dreams come true. Relatives won’t be short of Christmas presents for you . . .

Carl Jones is the Shropshire Star’s film critic. You can catch his views and the latest local film information every Friday in the newspaper.

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