francene--blog. Year 2013
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June 18th

6/18/2013

 
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Many people have reviewed the new Superman movie with flagging degrees of enthusiasm. The old story, first published in comic form in 1938, is known to all. Just like a book version of any story is preferred to the movie, our imagination fills in the details. Is there more to say about the comic book hero?


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Christopher Reeve will always be my ideal image of Superman. Strong, good-looking and thoughtful, he epitomized a hero to me. I wrote a tribute song to him and featured it in my book, Still Rock Water. In the plot, a music producer sold the song to a television program making a series about the curse of Superman.

I'm a day late with the Blogathon 2013 challenge of inserting my video, but here's the song called Comic Book Hero.


The curse of superman.

Much has been written about the so-called Superman Curse, especially after Christopher Reeve's 1995 tragic accident and his unfortunate death. Once again, tabloid writers drew comparisons with 1950s TV Superman George Reeves' suicide, with the hardships suffered by Superman co-creators Siegel and Shuster after they sold their billion-dollar creation to DC Comics for a mere $130, and with actor Kirk Alyn's lackluster career after playing Superman in two 1940s movie serials.

Quote: 'If anything is demonstrated by some of the unfortunate history surrounding Superman's media career during the past 66 years, it's an amazing and mathematically proven phenomenon observed time and again in the physical universe. That phenomenon is called coincidence.' – Brian McKernan, 12/04

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Like any type of curse, Tutankhamen's curse for instance, mankind loves to whisper stories of intrigue and conspiracy. Now, new facts have come to light about child actors in the Elizabeth stage.


A study by of a University Oxford academic shows that child performers were subjected to abduction, cruelty and violence. These street kidnappings were legal. The theatre owners had licenses to forcibly recruit children. These powers had been granted by Queen Elizabeth I and carried her royal seal. Shakespeare, who comes out of this rather well, expressed his distaste for this use of captive children for entertainment.

Laws concerning children have changed and their circumstances have improved. Or have they? Are they free to go to a public theatre and watch an exciting movie about Superman without the need to fear the man sitting next to them?


Madison link
6/18/2013 05:21:26 am

There will always be some aspect of fear, hopefully the day will come when that fear will be erased. I haven't seen the new Superman movie but I'm excited to see it.

Francene Stanley link
6/18/2013 07:18:17 pm

I'll watch the new movie when it is shown on television, but I won't be able to stop comparing it to the one I love.

Vanessa Terrell link
6/18/2013 06:15:09 am

I think there will always be some type of fear but not the type you wrote about. I will always be a Christopher Reeve's fan...so I'm not sure I will see this Superman movie!

Francene Stanley link
6/18/2013 07:17:08 pm

Good observation. Evil people will always come up with another ruse.

Amy link
6/18/2013 07:39:10 am

Francene,
I really loved Christopher Reeve in the old Superman movies, too. He was just super . . . man! I can't wait to see the new movie, though, too. Regarding children and fear . . . I remember how it was for me and my siblings growing up in a small town in Nebraska . . . during the summertime, we took off in the morning and didn't return home except for mealtimes. I don't think Mom and Dad ever worried about our safety back then, as abductions and kidnappings were very rare. It would be an interesting study, though, to research and see if there are that many more of these awful happenings today, or if the presence of the internet and constant news channels just makes it seem so.

Francene Stanley link
6/18/2013 07:16:01 pm

I've often wondered the same thing. Were we children in the 1940's and 50's in just as much danger from strangers as the children nowadays?

Alana link
6/18/2013 07:55:47 am

I grew up in NYC in the 50's and 60's. I loved the Superman TV show with George Reeves. Whether it was suicide or murder, it was tragic. Christopher Reeve lived and died as a hero-the tragedy here is for his son, who lost his father and then his mother (to cancer). I am not superstitious but if I was offered the part of Superman in a major production - I would not take it.

Francene Stanley link
6/18/2013 07:14:26 pm

Hehe. I doubt we'll be offered the part.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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