Supposed Original Reeve Superman Costume Auction

Just wandering what the Superman experts make of this Superman costume. It is supposedly a Reeve suit used in I and II.

Christopher Reeve's costume worn in both "Superman" (Warner Bros., 1978) and "Superman II" (Warner Bros., 1980). Consisting of a full length blue body suit with the famous red and yellow "S" insignia sewn in and red trunks attached, yellow belt, red cape with yellow "S" insignia sewn on, red leather "Flying" boots with zip-up back closure and velcro flap, and a dark wig.

Forgot to say I believe it went through Profiles a while back. Also were any wigs used in Superman?

Joe

I think there were some wigs used for stunt performers in certain scenes, but i don't think reeve ever used one.

Actually i think he did wear a wig for most if not all the movies, as far as the costume goes, looks ok, but there are a few fakes floating around out there

The guy playing young Clark Kent had to wear a wig. Not sure Reeve did.

Yes, he did.

Here's an example, currently @ Propmasters (UK):

http://www.propmasters.net/product_i...b5cd29ca6504ba

gjustis said:

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Yes, he did.

Here's an example, currently @ Propmasters (UK):

http://www.propmasters.net/product_i...b5cd29ca6504ba

Thanks guys.

Cheers for the link Greg.

Joe

One just sold at Propstore.

http://www.propstore.com/product-Sup...-Body-Suit.htm

Joe

I never would of thought he wore a wig for the Superman films.

Are you sure it was him and not a stunt double?

Chris Reeve had his own hair didn't he, so why the wig?????

I don't think the above suit is authentic. Doesn't look like any of the suits he wore in the movies. The S symbol is definitely wrong - doesn't look like it's sown into the suit but rather sewed onto the suit - as well as the trunks being way too long.

Difficult to see if the neck opening is squared and follows the upper edge of the S symbol - same distance straight across from left to right and not curved like a regular shirt.

I'm surprised to hear that Chris Reeve wore a wig as Superman..!

I never would have thought that.

ob1al said:

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I'm surprised to hear that Chris Reeve wore a wig as Superman..!

I never would have thought that.

I thought it was weird too!

Thanks for the comments guys.

Joe

Yes, he wore a wig! CR has said so himself on many occasions. There are even pics floating around of them putting it on him.

Man, that kills some of the majesty of his role for me. Silly I know, but still...

Lukes Roommate said:

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Man, that kills some of the majesty of his role for me. Silly I know, but still...

Why?...it's only a movie...it's all fakery and trickery of the highest order.

I've done a series of articles on original Superman costumes:

“Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“

“Update“

“Update 2“

“Update 3“

“"Costume Junkie” Response“

“"Super Hollywood” Response“

“Ten Outstanding Questions…“

"Authentic Superman Costume In The Marketplace"

Jason

*sigh*

Once again, for the cheap seats:

I am NOT Aramndo Alvarez! You DO realize that there are more than one "Armando" in the world, right?!

Reeve wore a wig in some scenes because it made things much easier and faster to switch from Superman to Clark Kent scenes when they were filming. I'm told that's the main reason they gave him a wig - just to speed up filming his scenes.

Chris

Here are some pics of an original Chris Reeve suit.
This is soon to be on display at a museum I work at.



And His cape,






I noticed with the tunic/suit, its closer to an Aqua color, than a blue. Almost teal.

If you can't see his scalp in the hair part, it's a wig.

Thanks for the photos d3po2u, that fabric matches the fabric on the costume sold by Propstore this week and looks nothing like the Guernsey acution costume I wish these auction houses would do some research once in a while!

Thanks Chris, that makes perfect sense.

Joe

The costume is definitely a fake. Everything about it scream fake.

The color is waaaaay off and too blue. The briefs are too long in length, the cape appears to be misproportioned as well as the S emblem. It's definitely an Armando Alvarez fake. The boots and belt are probably reproductions.

"Why?...it's only a movie...it's all fakery and trickery of the highest order."

It may all be fakery and trickery, but you can get attached to a film, and it's actor, and I always thought it was all Reeve. Like I said, silly, but that's how I feel. It doesn't kill my love for his role, but his mythic status has been knocked down a bit in my eyes.

Funny, I only thought he wore the wig's around superman III/IV as in some scenes the hair did not look realistic in these films, I thought for the first two it was his own hair styled (some DVD special features show him onset with model experts doing additional shots and his hair was still styled, if it was a wig you would think he would have removed it)...however Reeve had occasions of baldness (due to a medical condition) so I learned something at least from this post, thanks!

darthvaderv said:

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Chris Reeve had his own hair didn't he, so why the wig?????

Continuity. It's MUCH easier to style a dozen wigs the same way than to try to manage the actors hair into the same condition every day for a period of 9 months, or however long they spent filming superman I and II.

They can also get that crazy curly-cue right every time