How Hollywood Made Superman Run Fast In Movies Before CGI

Superman’s super-speed in 1978’s Superman: The Movie was a technical innovation as opposed to CGI. In the 1970s, computer-generated effects were in their embryonic stage, so most effects used for film production were practical and difficult to pull off at times. Comic book heroes were at a distinct disadvantage in this regard — especially those with inhuman abilities. As a result, portraying a character like Superman was a filmmaking challenge. However, these limitations would not stop Richard Donner from giving fans the Superman they deserved: a life-like portrayal of the super-powered hero. Superman’s impressive running speed was one ability in particular that was a challenge to capture on film; as a result, the effect was performed in quite a unique fashion.

The Man of Steel has many impressive physical abilities. Some were simple to film, like Superman’s x-ray vision, while others were more complicated. Leaping tall buildings in a single bound or flying around Metropolis were not easy to depict, especially without CGI. One of the most daunting tasks for filmmakers of 1978’s Superman: The Movie was convincingly depicting the hero winning a race against a moving train. Nowadays, Superman could simply be rendered digitally in post-production. How did the filmmakers capture his superhuman speed using practical effects?

The set up for the stunt in Superman: The Movie was actually simple. Jeff East, who played the young Clark Kent, was fitted with a harness attached to two cables, suspending him off the ground. The cables were then pulled along with a crane. Simultaneously, as East dangled a few inches off the ground, he pretended to run. His motion coupled with the speed relative to the train beside him gives the illusion of quickness in the finished product. The editing of the scene as well also reinforced the illusion. It is primitive by today’s standards, but it was well-received back then.

It is easy to forget in the modern-day that CGI is a relatively new technology. Back in 1978, it was not as advanced as it is now. Rear projection was the norm, and more often than not, movies were shot on location or actual sets. Movie magic truly was such, relying on camera tricks and mechanical experimentation. The effect is dated, as the train sequence is borderline comedic to today’s audiences. Coming from a digital-era perspective, it can be difficult to remark scenes like this as groundbreaking. Still, Donner’s innovation should be appreciated. Besides, at least Reeve’s Superman didn’t launch a smaller version of himself from his fingertips, easily Superman’s weirdest power in the DC comics.

For many, Christopher Reeve’s Superman is their favorite. It is common for people to cite his portrayal as the best one. While this is up for discussion, he at the very least checked all the boxes for a proper Man of Steel — from the red and blue costume, to his many iconic superpowers. Though the special effects behind his characterization are dated, they are culturally significant. Donner introduced Superman to the big screen correctly. Superman: The Movie found a way to give audiences a fully-realized version of the character. He came complete with all of his hallmark abilities: even his super-speed was executed very well, despite the technological limitations of the day.

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