Agreed. Clark comes from a humble background that give him perspective on the lives of ordinary people. He's not from a royal bloodline. He wasn't born into power.
@@Mrd9960 That was probably something they had done a hundred times together and more. Typical father-son kidding around. It would not have occurred to either of them at that moment that it would be the last time.
This, THIS right here is why Superman is so great. "All those powers and I couldn't even save him." It is not about punching or buildings falling over, it is about being a good person. He is all-powerful, but he cannot save everyone, but he wishes he could. THAT is why Superman is relevant in any era.
Looking back with Man of steel i feel they did jonathan right as well as he was worrying about clark going to his full potential and wanted to wait until the world was ready for him and when Clark saved his classmates on the bus he was not angry but knew was doing the right thing
I have a marvel OC character. That OC has a good friend but they meet a bit less after he becomes a superhero. One day he discovers that his friend is suicidal and wants to end it all. He ends up flying in super speed (he has electric powers) and tries to catch his friend that jumped from the building only to discover that he actually planned to hang himself by then it was to late and the whiplash killed his friend. He would cut down the body and mourn his fallen friend.
This film is SO MUCH BETTER than Man of Steel. Man of Steel had shoddy writing & reasonings for Pa Kent dying or why he didn’t want Clark to use his powers nonchalantly. And that over-the-top was meh. Christopher Reeve is the GOAT of Superman movies. ‘nuff said.
It's ironic that Batman is considered the "dark" superhero fueled by pain and sadness and Superman is portrayed as the "light" superhero motivated by Boy Scout honor. Kal El suffers for the same reason that Bruce Wayne does.
When he grabs his arm like that and says "Oh no...", nobody knew what he was doing. The director stopped the scene and asked him about it. Ford had read up on heart attacks and gone to hospital to talk to people who had one, and found that shooting pain in the arm was a common symptom. He thought it added a little extra of what was constantly asked for "Verisimilitude". The director agreed, and Ford got his way. That's a great actor, bringing that little extra to the part.
I'm a little older now myself, and I was trying so hard to remember who I was watching on this original Superman movie - I don't know why I could not remember it, but Ford was such a great actor - and I think director, though I'm not going to look that up now. I'm a little exhausted from reading so much about him at this point. His contribution was short, but still great. For me this was the best of the series, but I did enjoy all of them really. Even when they got corny with Richard Pryor.
Nowadays movies always want to point out that someone is the chosen one or destined for greatness. I love how Jonathan Kent was going to try to explain the reason why he was here (at the 45sec mark) and he pauses.....and admits he doesn't know. That's a great touch of humanity and great storytelling that never happens now.
This. We already know Clark is destined for greatness because of what he can DO. We don't need other characters in the movie to explicitly say, "you are destined for greatness!" That just comes off like the writer is trying WAY too hard to reach the dummies in the back seats of the theater. Like they could NEVER figure that out without being explicitly told.
I agree. Movies nowadays seem to have really big splashes of hubris. Back then, heroes and protagonists had a sort of humility. This scene also emphasizes Richard Donner's constant mantra throughout the filming of Superman: The Movie-"Verisimilitude." Jonathan Kent didn't purport to know anything. Like in the real world, he can only modestly speculate and hope for the best.
@@KneelB4Bacon He wasn't telling him why . He was reminding him . That he was destined for something great and it wasn't to show off or Kick a football
"Everybody said, 'You can't make a Superman story because if he can do everything then what conflicts are there?' And I thought, well, the emotional conflicts, the biggest ones, the ones we all understand." - Grant Morrison
More like *"well just write Superman that Can't do everything, for some reason" Because in both cases of 1978 movie and in All-Star Superman he *FOR NO REASON* can't recover person from heart failure or regrow bottled city of Kandor to normal size, something Superman did in normal comics. All this "emotional conflict" is a bs and lie, especially when you try to pretend you writing omnipotent character, but only pretend. Hell, 1978 even violated canon of Superman being able to change history by traveling back in time (in comics they were invisible barriers or universes splitting into parallel if he ever tried that) and in All-Star Grant just invented solar overload just to create story itself, something that even significantly less powerful Post-Crisis Superman never had.
This scene always choked me up as a kid. Proof perfect that the writers of _Superman: The Movie_ fully understood the importance of humanizing Superman. It's said that Superman is essentially a God and therefore he's not an interesting character; and yet this scene and others demonstrate that our hero shares the same frailty as ordinary human beings: he can be hurt by the loss of the people dearest to him. That's why this movie worked: the audience gets emotionally invested in the character.
Yeah, to think of Superman as just an alien god misunderstands the character. Being a Kryptonian gives him the ability to do what he does, but Ma and Pa Kent give him a reason to do what he does.
dude, are you fucking serious? Don't give me "If he didn't run" shit. The reason this scene is infinitely better than jonathans man of steel death is it is showing that even with all of Clark's powers he couldn't save his father from death via a natural cause. Man of steels allegorical theme was that he sacrificed saving his father to keep his powers a secret - a very poor theme in comparison to this scene which hold powerful emotional weight. Why do you think the comics essentially kept jonathans death as natural causes? because that is the most powerful theme, Man of steel deviated from the comics source when it comes to that sense, and It suffers greatly from it. Comics have had thousands of stories, many many decades to refine key tennants in their characters stories so they usually get it right, when comic book movies start to deviate from the source material they end up being bland and shit - hence Man of Steel, Hence Batman V superman. (and yes I know BVS borrowed some themes from Dark knight returns which is a comic book but it only borrowed themes- that's it).
It probably would've been too late to take him to a hospital, or the heart attack would've been too severe. And why would Clark go back in time that far, probably risking destroying the earth, and the fact that so far his life was fine the way it was, just to save his father from a heart attack that would still come by because of fate?
bladebison Clark and his father didn't just protect Clark's secret. They protected his family and friends and the whole town of Smallville, which would suffer the consequences if his secret was discovered. Also, Zack Snyder's Superman didn't need a tragic origin to choose to use his abilities to help others. He did it because his mother saved him in grade school. He chose to be a hero to the world like his mother was to him. "Man of Steel" is not "bland and shit". It shows that even in our world, Clark Kent (an American immigrant boy who wants to use his abilities to help others) can still grow up to be Superman. I don't care if you have me burned at the stake for blasphemy, but "Man of Steel" and "Batman v Superman" are the best Superman films since those directed by Donner.
It's sort of incredible how much better this scene is compared to Man of Steel's death scene. Quieter, subtler, it humanizes the characters so well, and the editing and direction by Richard Donner is so deft in that it allows this entire sequence from the speech to the death to the funeral to tell you so much visually in just a few shots. It's arguably one of the best scenes in any superhero movie by far.
Ezzzactly. No need for CGI tornadoes or convoluted writing. Just a kid learning the simple hard lessons of life, the way everyone needs to at some point.
JediFan421 I totally agree with you on this. I enjoyed Man of Steel but its death scene completely missed the point. The reason why John's death worked in the Donner movie is because it was an aspect of life and death that Clark has no power whatsoever over. It showed him that no matter how powerful he gets, he's still mortal in some ways.
Such a great scene. Still remember from when I was a kid watching it in the theater. When Glenn Ford says "Oh no", it is so clear that he meant, "Oh no, I need more time, I haven't finished raising my son", not "Oh no, I am going to die".
Everyone deserves a dad like pa kent...someone to walk up a long road with us, put his arm around us, listen, and tell us how much he loved us..upsetting many of us would slice our arm off for that n that background music gives the feeling perfect!
John Williams anyone? Take away his music and then watch it again. People seem to take his genius for granted and often don't realize that his music goes straight to the heart and boosts any great acting, lensing, framing, directing, to completely new heights. Just listen to that brilliant solo trumpet at the start of the funeral scene. It tells the story of Superman's Earth father: he was a kind man and full of courage. It's the funeral of a hero.
Yes! Those who aren't paying attention think WIlliams only did big, thundering marches and action cues for this film. But this brilliant sequence puts the lie to that. How effortlessly he segues from a tender father-son moment, to tragedy, to eulogy, in often quiet and surprising ways. This was one of his most variegated scores, and he set the tone beautifully.
I didn't appreciate it at the time, but Jonathan Kent spent his last moments having a heart to heart with his son and being looked at with love by his wife. Not the worst way to go by any means
Jarek Gunther He didn't want to be saved, because he knew that his wife and son, and everyone in Smallville, was more important. He gave his life for them, in protecting Clark's secret.
BenTheNerd Matheson It's incredible. Half the people who want to crucify and burn Zack Snyder in effigy would probably be just as big of fans of his films as if they would pay more attention to them. As opposed to using their misinterpretation of his films as reason to hate them.
BenTheNerd Matheson It's like a lighthouse in a sea of flames to find fans of Zack Snyder's DC Films. I much prefer talking to fans because I get bored trying to explain that "No. Jonathan Kent didn't tell Clark to let his school mates drown so he could have a normal life. When I talk to fans, we're talking about philosophical and sociological principles as well as the moral lessons taught in these films, which makes for much better conversation than why films that aren't shit, aren't shit.
In this scene Superman learns at an early age that his powers cannot stop death itself. In Man of Steel, Jonathan Kent kills himself for the family dog.
+CrazyHorseInvincible I always thought he commited suicide. MOS Johnathon Kent was a goddamn psychopath "should I have have let my classmates die"? "maybe"
Kevin Costner is an excellent actor, and I thought he did a good job in Man of Steel, but no one could top Glenn Ford in this scene. He was magnificent as Jonathan Kent. Everything, the music, the writing, the acting, and the direction by Richard Donner, was right on cue, making these scenes truly powerful.
@@Lone432345 Why didn't Clark just reverse the earth's rotation to bring his Dad back? Or use his superhearing or superspeed to hear his heart and then run to a hospital? Seems like you old farts have nostalgia glasses on for even the dumbest moments
@@battlecat403 Because he didn't know he could, here he's a teenager - on this movie he only learns about himself when he seeks the Fortress of Solitude, while on "Man of Steel" Clark knows pretty well how to use his powers. Besides, when 78's Superman reverses the rotation of Earth he's not sure he can, or should, do it, but does anyway because he can no longer endure loss. That's the human part, the best part of the character.
I am a man and I am not at all ashamed to say that this makes me cry every time I watch it. It takes a real man of steel to admit that instead of a coward hiding behind bogus crap like, "Is someone cutting onions in the room?"
I thought this moment was so sad even as a youngster but when I lost my own Father in later years, it hits me even more now than ever. Emotionally as this scene begins, I find it heartbreaking to watch even now. The music especially contributed to this. 😪
A three minute scene that perfectly encapsulates who Clark Kent is and why a god-like alien shows more humanity than most humans do. Between the score, the location, and the cinematography...I still maintain that it is among the most emotional scenes ever committed to film.
It’s really a testament to director Richard Donner, composer John Williams and most importantly Glenn Ford that for his incredibly short screen time, Jonathan Kent is so lovable and his death absolutely brings me to tears every time.
I saw man of steel again yday on TV, and you know what, it seems like Jonathan Kent is even actively trying to damage Clark. 1. Clark :"should I have have let my classmates die"? Jonathan"maybe" 2.Clark gets beaten by bullies at school, Jonathan just stands there and watches. 3. Jonathan drives into a tornado zone, proceeds to "help" himself (even though super powered space son is there), then basically commits suicide for the dog in front of his son. 4. The strange looks that he gives Clark when he's on the swing or when he reveals the ship, looks like someone from a horror movie. Seriously, its like he's thinking "the child must be stopped" or "He is evil". Maybe thts why he killed himself. 5. His parental "advice" basically leads Clark to waste 10 or so years to find himself, as he believes the world would not accept him (or because he is the son of satan and must not realise his potential). Compare it to 78' Superman where he's just a typical middle American farmer with good sense of morals and a lot of love.
Dizzy Blu The way Jon Kent raised Clark in Man of Steel would have taught him to despise humanity, to think that something else was out there where he belonged but not here on Earth. When Zod came with the Kryptonians and offered him kinship, he would have taken it and destroyed Earth himself rather than save it.
I can't even remember any good principles that Ma and Pa Kent instilled in Clark during MOS. Even Ma Kent said "you don't owe this world a thing" . Snyder hates superheros
Jonathan is jealous of Clark. He was so controlling and did not give Clark the opportunity to make his own decisions. He kept telling him what he is not and what he should do.
1:26 - the way he starts to say "but.. I.." still have so much to do he knows what is happening and is reeling against the unfairness of it. such a real human moment
The music in this part of the film is so gorgeous, plainspoken and elegiac, such perfection. One of the biggest reasons why Superman The Movie has my all-time favorite film score. Nobody, not even Bernard Herrman, could out-do John Williams.
Jonathan and Martha are very good down to earth people. They took a big risk finding this young boy and raising him. But ended up having the greatest superhero to walk the earth.
"All those things I can do....and I couldn't even even save him." That makes it so much more emotional because it's natural causes not even Superman can stop. I hated how mos changed it up with the twisters when the whole time Clark could've snatched him and vanished...made no sense.
Yoo Hoo except difference is in mos is wasn’t weather or not he could’ve saved his dad being the issue, it’s that his dad told him not to save him that everyone is pissed off about.
Spent Lizard "There's more at stake here than just our lives, Clark, or the lives of those around us". I feel frustrated when you don't recognize this line. This line is why he uses his abilities to help others in secret, and why he ultimately becomes Superman.
Yeah I won't stop bullies from picking on you. I won't be a hero to you. Be afraid of humanity they'll hate you. Let kids die so you can keep your secrecy. It's no wonder why Clark didn't just join Zod in terraforming the earth.
Matine Yang He never said he should’ve let these kids die. It’s just so much of a difficult situation that he doesn’t have a clear answer for it. Also, your last sentence doesn’t really make sense.
@@robinanwaldt Everything that Clark's father taught him in relation to how the world would treat him would actually push Clark to hate or fear humanity. Why would he want to protect us? He would have actually join Zod in destroying the human race and changing the world to Krypton 2.0. Even Ma Kent told Clark "You don't owe this world anything"
Anyone who has ever lost a parent at a young age, then gone through the pain all over again later in life with a loved one. This film knocks the nail right on the head. John Williams score, as great as ever 👏
Very emotional scene. Rip Glenn Ford. Great actor. When he grabs his arm at first i thought maybe he was having a stroke but it was a heart attack. I was like wow. I hope that does not happen with me. Best superman movie ever. Thanks for posting this.😭
Being from the Midwest and growing up on a farm very similar to the Kent's, this scene has particular poignancy for me. My dad was coming back home with the tractor, parked it in the driveway and walked across the road to get the mail. When he got back to the tractor, he just collapsed. Our neighbor found him lying on the ground, the tractor engine still running. I remember it was a beautiful very quiet November morning, the sun was shining. The countryside depicted in the "Kansas" scenes is exactly like the farm country where I live.
I wasn’t born yet, but my Grandfather died in a similar fashion on their small farm in northern Wisconsin. My Mother was just a teenager and after breakfast one morning he walked out to do his chores and my Mom and Aunt found him laying in the barn some time later. He’d suffered a massive heart attack. They sold the property not long after and the barn was up till maybe 10 years ago when it was torn down. This scene hits me too.
There was real grandeur to this film, a scope that has yet to be matched by any other superhero film, even the Avengers. The scene where Martha joins Clark out in the wheat field is beautifully done, and Williams' score is amazine.
THIS one scene is why Glenn Ford is my all-time favorite actor. No one else could have accomplished so much, been so believable, in those few short minutes. And he was never nominated for an Academy award. Sad...
1:55 This long shot leading into the cemetery scene was one of the most astute choices in the film. It lets us see the sadness of the moment without being overwhelmed by the immediate emotion, especially from Martha. Moreover, it emphasizes how small and helpless Clark feels at the moment, leading into the next scene.
I watched this scene when I was a kid and while I didn't understand everything about it, I felt on some level that this was a very special moment. Now I'm back here as an adult. I really like how they didn't give him the typical melodramatic "death speech" as he's slowly dying and Clark is holding him crying over him in the rain and he wheezes out these last words. Instead it is just so simple Everything is beautiful, he's totally fine,, he says something very meaningful, as he probably does every day to his son, he stops, touches his arm, says "oh no", falls down and is dead. This to me feels a lot more true to life, you can go from healthy to sick in what feels like a split second. and reinforces a central theme of the film - the fragility and temporary nature of life. Also it makes the character who he is. He is so powerful, but he can't save his father.
Robert Cowley Thank you. Perhaps, because it reminds us of that fatherly guidance that parents and grandparents offer us. They may be gone, but they live on within.
People would say cinematically it was convenient to have it right after their talk. Not compared to a giant tornado that magically appeared on the plains? What's far more important is the scope. Jon's heart attack is so much smaller and personal. His quiet reaction of "oh,no" shows his fear and disappointment of how his time with his son and wife are now taken from him. A more human death compare to stoic Kevin Costner who goes all martyr like to set an example for Clark to not show off his powers, which he does semi-regularly in the first act anyway so that amounted to nothing. A film simply about "you'll believe a man can fly," that sells itself prominently as extravaganza of impossible feats tackle something so inevitable with humanity. Compared to a Man of Steel about a man told about "keeping his powers a secret" doesn't really seem to follow his father's word, by exposing his powers in rescues on oil rigs or crucifying trucks almost in public and being a "symbol to lead humanity" and have the climax be, for lack of a better word, nothing but 'destruction porn.'
Wedgewood Productions Very well acted. no actors other than glenn ford or phyllis thaxter could have done it better. also i noticed the way jonathan clutched his arm and said "oh no", then tried to call out for "martha" before collapsing and dying and collapsing. i was never sure if he died of a stroke or heart attack, the latter would have you clutch your chest moreso your arm.
The look on Ford's face just before he collapsed was so powerful because it really demonstrated the unfairness of the whole situation. All this man wanted to do was to just simply run a little bit with his son, and in doing so he suffers a heart attack. Something so innocent led to an irreversible tragedy. And unfortunately that type of scenario, where an activity seemingly so innocent leads to tragedy, plays out over and over and over all around the world and there's nothing anyone can do about it. That's another reason why Glenn Ford's version of Jonathan Kent's death is so much more powerful than was John Schneider's Jonathan Kent's death, and more recently Kevin Costner's.
It actually reminds me of MY father. A good and wise man. Also a Farmer, who I couldn't save despite my medical knowledge and skill ('powers')... I am always compelled to watch this scene, and it's always the same...tears.
Ricardo Rebelo I'm reading your comment with tears in my eyes. I didn't even know it. It wasn't till after I was scrolling through the comments that I realised he was running down my cheek. The scene so powerful, and just makes you cry every time. But I have to say three things, Richard Donner, John Williams, and Glenn Ford. Enough said.
its attention to detail, notice the couple standing in the background their stance and the angle of camera shot it looks like a still from a comic. music is amazing and the final scene with his mother in that huge field and the cinematography modern films just havent got that attention to detail, scripts that match or actors that an deliver.
I love this scene. Prior to the death part. I love the talk they have. Superman has a heart in it that no other superhero movie can touch. That’s why it’s my favorite. That’s why it’s the best.
Incredible scene. From THE superhero movie of our lifetime. Truly magical. Nothing today even comes close to the original Superman with Christopher Reeve.
At 1.02 the moment he puts his arm around his dad is wonderful and very touching. The relationship every father and son should have. You can see he loved and respected his dad.
I watched this movie as a very young kid, maybe 3 or 4, and of all the moments in it, this is the only one I clearly remember. Still sticks with me almost 20 years later.
I kind of understand the point they're trying to make in MoS but this here is far more clear and obvious the message being conveyed and yet that's what makes it so effective. Even more it applies to everyone. You may be able to help save someone some day but sometimes you may fail regardless of everything you can do...
Superman The Movie- Jonathan Kent dies because of a heart attack. The moment works because it remind us that death is frequently random and unexpected and because jonathan seems like a nice guy. Man of Steel- Jonathan Kent effectively commits suicide in front of his family under the guise of "protecting" his son.
Because he was. It isn't like puberty or something, as soon as Kal-El came into close proximity to the yellow star and began absorbing its radiation, he began changing. By early childhood he already possessed most of his powers he just didn't fully know how to control them. That being said, his invulnerability is a passive power, meaning whether he focuses on it or not, his body can't be harmed by any normal means. We see young teen Clark pushing a freakin bus out of a river without breaking a sweat. By his late teens, he had already absorbed enough yellow sun energy to be what we consider Superman. The tornado scene was simply lazy writing.
7 лет назад
SGTBizarro Point of tornado scene wasn't that Clark would harm himself, but that people will discover his powers and his very existence alltogether way before Calrk decide himself what to do with his life, which in a way will affect lives of all people that surrounds him. 2.bp.blogspot.com/ExcH1A-Imud7qSihJd9KwLDFi7fOGph9oFixvI1XDa458IMp0NpKgXIN0Oua_1Ch12PvZB9_UYbm=s1600 Adding to that a fact that he is an alien, and that they ,Kents, can't be sure that there is no others like him.
Yoo Hoo I don't think getting his dad away from a twister will make people automatically assume he has super powers. "Hey that kid got his dad away from that tornado" "it's a miracle" "he must have super powers" "wait what?" "That kid must totally be an alien" "all he did was go in and get his injured dad away before the tornado hit, he's seems like a athletic and strong young lad, it makes sense he could run and run out before the tornadoes could suck them both in" "No he must be an alien with God like powers" "Jimmy have you been drinking again?"
Yoo Hoo he was literally 10 seconds away, for god sakes I could have ran in and saved him in time he wasn’t that far away and that tornado sure was taking it’s damn time
Such a beautiful and tragic scene. And a shame that modern storytellers just can't seem to grasp why it defines who Superman is. "All these powers and I couldn't save him."
J Mims He is Peter Parker. He was thinking about using his abilities for personal gain, and someone close to him died for his selfishness. That's not Superman. In Zack Snyder's Modern Age retelling of Superman's story, Clark Kent was a little boy who had these abilities that showed him how bad the world is and it scared him so bad he hid in a closet, but his mother saved him. She told him that he has the power to make the world a safer and better place to live, and he chose to use his abilities to do just that. Snyder's Superman was a hero inspired by heroism. That's what makes him stand out from almost every other Comic Book Movie hero.
Wonderful scene - although I wish you had included the last couple of seconds as they leave the graveyard and the final fade is as the men close the gates to the cemetery. Everything about that close, even John Williams' music, is just perfect.
The comparison between this and Man of Steel is... astoundingly chasmic. Heart, emotion, and everlasting impressions from this scene and it's only minutes in length. Man of Steel tried to accomplish this in what felt like an hour and yet it still couldn't come close. Almost as if it didn't even try.
For this scene, I think they tried, extremely hard too with all the special effects and what not. But they were going in the wrong direction. In their desperation to create something different, they made something infinitely inferior.
VHS , the Pa Kent death scene in this movie was filmed in one take, with no rehearsal. Glenn Ford was a great actor. He brought heart to every movie he was in.
some of the very best father son dialogue ever put to film.. knowing how important his son would he in later years...his mother's reaction and shouting jonathan's name is so heartbreaking...I've grown up with this film through my entire life and I for one think it truly is the greatest superhero film of all time...and such an amazing score from the amazing John Williams.
No matter how Clark gets he realizes he can't stop death. When he says he couldn't even save his father I always reply with tears flooding my eyes and choking me up "Clark, Sometimes there is nothing you can do but remember this: He loved and will always love you very much."
Despite it's ending flaws, I think this is still a very iconic and historic film. I mean however long (perhaps infinitely long) the myth of Superman continues, they'll always look back at these films, that give the characters and story a real impression.
I'm not a Man of Steel hater by any means (I think it's decent) but nothing can top what Christopher Reeve did with the character. Even all these years later, this is one of my all time favorite superhero films with Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, and the Captain America movies.
Man of Steel was a different take on Superman, not comparable to Reeve's. Superman Returns was more of an attempt continuation of Reeve's and it was an epic fail.
The ending makes a lot of sense when you consider this one scene. It may be absurd, immature, selfish, but still got the heart and ultimately the message. You can't save the world and fulfill your maximum potencial without losing something.
I empathize with Clark when he says "All those things I could do. All those powers and I couldn't even save him." Sometimes there's nothing you can do Clark and no matter how powerful you become you can't stop death. Death is a part of life but remember Jonathon loved you very much and will forever be a part of you. The area in Smallville where he's laid to rest so resembles Belt, Montana even though it was filmed in Alberta, Canada. Plus Jonathon's death and Clark's grieving shows he's more human than most people think.
This version of John Kent also admits he was afraid of losing Clark. But teaching Clark to give in to fear and admonishing him for saving lives is horrific.
Lan Nto He isn't doing that. Jonathan Kent was warning his son that, if the wrong person found out about Clark's secret, his school mates would wish he had let him drown. If the federal government caught wind of Clark's abilities, they would raze Smallville in order to find him and control or kill him. Clark says "I just wanted to help" and his father says "I know you did" but for the safety of his family and friends, keeping his secret is absolutely paramount. Jonathan Kent didn't just give his life to protect Clark's secret. He gave his life to protect Smallville.
TheGoldcountry He's been a boring character, because he has had maybe one bad day in his life, and then he is completely flawless. The Modern Age DC Comics, and Zack Snyder's DC Films made him human. He became the boy scout by earning it from a massive uphill climb. I don't think that Superman is boring at all.
I was wondering for years why he was grabbing his arm instead of the usual chest deal myself. Richard Donner explained in his commentary that he questioned Glenn Ford about this and he told Donner that’s what he learned about how people truly react when they have a heart attack and this was perfect to sell the whole verisimilitude attitude Donner had for this film.
I know it's been said countless times in the comments, but, damn it, gonna say it again. This is infinitely more real, moving and devastating than his death in MOS. Helps when you have John Williams in his absolute prime. The first 45 minutes of this film are absolute gold. Shame it cuts off right when Williams takes flight for the coda of this scene :(
One of the most powerful scenes of acting condensed in a few minutes I've ever seen. It chokes me up everytime I see it. The humanity, the sincerity of advice from an older man to a younger one. Reminds me of my grandfather. Everything else has been well said above though I'd also like to highlight the brilliant acting of Phyllis Thaxter (Martha Kent). In a shot that lasts a bare few seconds how you see the blood drain from her face is part of what makes this scene so powerful. So hard to do. Absolutely nailed it. The other powerful acting, emotional scene that resonates with me is in the movie Into The Wild when actor Hal Holbrook suggests adopting Alexander Supertramp to save his name from dying out.
Ah yes heart = not using your superspeed or superhearing to help save your Dad having a heart attack or better yet just spin around the earth even more so and bring your Dad back. Good thing you guys have no clue what a good Superman film is.
"All those powers and I couldn't even save him." And that's why Clark Kent is just plain ole Clark at the end of the day, Superman is just something he does. Clark knows despite all of his powers, he isn't a god, he can't be everywhere and he can't save everyone. In many ways, his true weakness isn't even Kryptonite, it's his humanity and it's also his real strength.
My father passed away the same way in 2020 and I was at Kents age. We also had father/son bonding due to covid lockdown because we didn't have a good relationship but it didn't last for long
Both deaths have a differing goal. STM was to show Clark, no matter how powerful he was, death was a force infinitely more powerful. MoS was Pa Kent actually not saving Clark's secret but rather not knowing if Clark was able to withstand the tornado. He was protecting Clark's life, Clark hadn't flown yet and at no point before that do we see him run superfast.
I started to feel discomfort in my left arm. I took a walk hoping to feel better. Then I washed the dishes, still no better. I lay down to take a nap, an hour later no better. I went to the hospital, they took my blood pressure, it was very high. I then was given an EKG. They told me I'm having a heart attack. I'll pass through a lot of bad stuff but I was rushed in to the catherization lab. They threw aside normal protocals, shot some dye in me, saw the blockage and a stent was placed within maybe a minute. The doctor patted me on the shoulder and said he couldn't believe I survived this. Normally this type, within the time, you die. The ER nurses came up to see me when their shift was over. They had big smiles on their faces and told me I was a rare one. It was a main artery, they call it the widow maker. That was over 9 years ago. If Mr. Kent was standing in a hospital, at that time, he'd still have no chance. There were no stents to help him. I'm beyond grateful.
I love the minimalism of this scene. The point is to show Kal El that despite his super powers, he cannot save everyone, starting with his dad. It was short, sweet, artistic, minimal, and to the point. Unlike Man of Steel where Snyder had to use his too much tendencies for the same scene where Clark let his father die in a tornado.
My grandma always told even if you don't think it don't think your life matters ut dose everyones life matters and everyone is here for a reason no matter what
Glenn Ford is the man. One of the greatest and most underrated actors ever with a film career that spanned from 1937 to 1991. Not many actors can claim such longevity, he could do anything. Drama, noir, comedy and especially westerns. He wouldn’t have fared well in musicals though and probably wouldn’t have wanted to. He was a real man’s Man.
I think the only other scene in a comic book film that hits like this was Bruce’s parents death in Batman Begins. Usually when bad things happen they happen very quickly and without warning.
Amazing acting of Glenn Ford with Christopher Reeves Superman 1978 I remember seeing this movie I just don't know if I seen in theaters or I seen him at home and VHS tape
"People say it’s the yellow sun, but if you want to know where Superman really gets his power, it’s those fields."
Ironically those fields are powered by the sun.
tmzissupergay nobody likes a smartass jimmy
Well said Hylianhero... Well said..!
@@Gorypaladin346 I do
Agreed. Clark comes from a humble background that give him perspective on the lives of ordinary people. He's not from a royal bloodline. He wasn't born into power.
"All the things I can do. All those powers. And I couldn't even save him."
That line gets me every time.
I agree
:(
It’s a nice film
He shouldn't blame himself, although he shouldn't have urged him on, about running and moving fast.
@@Mrd9960 That was probably something they had done a hundred times together and more. Typical father-son kidding around. It would not have occurred to either of them at that moment that it would be the last time.
Being Jor-El's son made him superhuman. Being Jonathan Kent's son made him a hero.
Amen. He lives with the understanding life is beautiful, precious, and oh-so-short. 😢
I would say being Jonathan's and Martha's son made him human. Being superhuman was his genetic legacy. Being a hero was his own legacy.
And the real Superman is the friendships we find. Awwwwwwww.
A true hero
DaveConleyPortfolio Those words are poetry Its a fantastic sentiment to 2 solid characters Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford are Hollywood to me
This, THIS right here is why Superman is so great. "All those powers and I couldn't even save him." It is not about punching or buildings falling over, it is about being a good person. He is all-powerful, but he cannot save everyone, but he wishes he could. THAT is why Superman is relevant in any era.
Looking back with Man of steel i feel they did jonathan right as well as he was worrying about clark going to his full potential and wanted to wait until the world was ready for him and when Clark saved his classmates on the bus he was not angry but knew was doing the right thing
I have a marvel OC character. That OC has a good friend but they meet a bit less after he becomes a superhero. One day he discovers that his friend is suicidal and wants to end it all. He ends up flying in super speed (he has electric powers) and tries to catch his friend that jumped from the building only to discover that he actually planned to hang himself by then it was to late and the whiplash killed his friend. He would cut down the body and mourn his fallen friend.
This film is SO MUCH BETTER than Man of Steel. Man of Steel had shoddy writing & reasonings for Pa Kent dying or why he didn’t want Clark to use his powers nonchalantly. And that over-the-top was meh. Christopher Reeve is the GOAT of Superman movies. ‘nuff said.
Boom, there it is. People who say Superman is a boring character aren't paying attention.
It's ironic that Batman is considered the "dark" superhero fueled by pain and sadness and Superman is portrayed as the "light" superhero motivated by Boy Scout honor.
Kal El suffers for the same reason that Bruce Wayne does.
My father always spoke to me this way. Always keeping me grounded, sure footed. He still does so today, and for ever more. Best Superman ever!
the430movie You have a good father. Even if he's not with you anymore, your still lucky.
@@notsure6187 you're
% years later I hope you're doing well
Yeah my Step- Father did the same thing when he was Alive
then he was your father my friend. @@robertrodriguez787
When he grabs his arm like that and says "Oh no...", nobody knew what he was doing. The director stopped the scene and asked him about it. Ford had read up on heart attacks and gone to hospital to talk to people who had one, and found that shooting pain in the arm was a common symptom. He thought it added a little extra of what was constantly asked for "Verisimilitude". The director agreed, and Ford got his way.
That's a great actor, bringing that little extra to the part.
I never knew that, but I’m not surprised. Glenn Ford was such a marvelous actor.
Nice one
Far more realistic and affecting. If he had clutched his chest Fred Sanford-style, it wouldn't have had the same impact.
I'm a little older now myself, and I was trying so hard to remember who I was watching on this original Superman movie - I don't know why I could not remember it, but Ford was such a great actor - and I think director, though I'm not going to look that up now. I'm a little exhausted from reading so much about him at this point. His contribution was short, but still great. For me this was the best of the series, but I did enjoy all of them really. Even when they got corny with Richard Pryor.
@@kevinwells4986 ...
Even Superman IV?
Nowadays movies always want to point out that someone is the chosen one or destined for greatness. I love how Jonathan Kent was going to try to explain the reason why he was here (at the 45sec mark) and he pauses.....and admits he doesn't know. That's a great touch of humanity and great storytelling that never happens now.
That's the same thing Pa Kent said in Man of Steel
This. We already know Clark is destined for greatness because of what he can DO. We don't need other characters in the movie to explicitly say, "you are destined for greatness!" That just comes off like the writer is trying WAY too hard to reach the dummies in the back seats of the theater. Like they could NEVER figure that out without being explicitly told.
I agree. Movies nowadays seem to have really big splashes of hubris. Back then, heroes and protagonists had a sort of humility. This scene also emphasizes Richard Donner's constant mantra throughout the filming of Superman: The Movie-"Verisimilitude." Jonathan Kent didn't purport to know anything. Like in the real world, he can only modestly speculate and hope for the best.
@@KneelB4Bacon He wasn't telling him why . He was reminding him . That he was destined for something great and it wasn't to show off or Kick a football
"All I know is that you're here for a reason, and it's not to score touchdowns."
"Everybody said, 'You can't make a Superman story because if he can do everything then what conflicts are there?' And I thought, well, the emotional conflicts, the biggest ones, the ones we all understand."
- Grant Morrison
More like *"well just write Superman that Can't do everything, for some reason"
Because in both cases of 1978 movie and in All-Star Superman he *FOR NO REASON* can't recover person from heart failure or regrow bottled city of Kandor to normal size, something Superman did in normal comics.
All this "emotional conflict" is a bs and lie, especially when you try to pretend you writing omnipotent character, but only pretend.
Hell, 1978 even violated canon of Superman being able to change history by traveling back in time (in comics they were invisible barriers or universes splitting into parallel if he ever tried that) and in All-Star Grant just invented solar overload just to create story itself, something that even significantly less powerful Post-Crisis Superman never had.
Yep. He can take an atom bomb to the chest without blinking, but one cruel word from Lois Lane can cut him to pieces.
But then there is no reason to make it Superman in the first place. Could just be any average Joe who goes through this.
This scene always choked me up as a kid. Proof perfect that the writers of _Superman: The Movie_ fully understood the importance of humanizing Superman. It's said that Superman is essentially a God and therefore he's not an interesting character; and yet this scene and others demonstrate that our hero shares the same frailty as ordinary human beings: he can be hurt by the loss of the people dearest to him. That's why this movie worked: the audience gets emotionally invested in the character.
YES! YES! YES!
Yeah, to think of Superman as just an alien god misunderstands the character. Being a Kryptonian gives him the ability to do what he does, but Ma and Pa Kent give him a reason to do what he does.
This death scene was so much more powerful than in Man of Steel. His death in Man of Steel wasn't even that sad because it was avoidable.
dude, are you fucking serious? Don't give me "If he didn't run" shit. The reason this scene is infinitely better than jonathans man of steel death is it is showing that even with all of Clark's powers he couldn't save his father from death via a natural cause. Man of steels allegorical theme was that he sacrificed saving his father to keep his powers a secret - a very poor theme in comparison to this scene which hold powerful emotional weight. Why do you think the comics essentially kept jonathans death as natural causes? because that is the most powerful theme, Man of steel deviated from the comics source when it comes to that sense, and It suffers greatly from it. Comics have had thousands of stories, many many decades to refine key tennants in their characters stories so they usually get it right, when comic book movies start to deviate from the source material they end up being bland and shit - hence Man of Steel, Hence Batman V superman. (and yes I know BVS borrowed some themes from Dark knight returns which is a comic book but it only borrowed themes- that's it).
It probably would've been too late to take him to a hospital, or the heart attack would've been too severe. And why would Clark go back in time that far, probably risking destroying the earth, and the fact that so far his life was fine the way it was, just to save his father from a heart attack that would still come by because of fate?
bladebison Clark and his father didn't just protect Clark's secret. They protected his family and friends and the whole town of Smallville, which would suffer the consequences if his secret was discovered. Also, Zack Snyder's Superman didn't need a tragic origin to choose to use his abilities to help others. He did it because his mother saved him in grade school. He chose to be a hero to the world like his mother was to him. "Man of Steel" is not "bland and shit". It shows that even in our world, Clark Kent (an American immigrant boy who wants to use his abilities to help others) can still grow up to be Superman. I don't care if you have me burned at the stake for blasphemy, but "Man of Steel" and "Batman v Superman" are the best Superman films since those directed by Donner.
Well said my friend
That's the power of music from John Williams
It's sort of incredible how much better this scene is compared to Man of Steel's death scene. Quieter, subtler, it humanizes the characters so well, and the editing and direction by Richard Donner is so deft in that it allows this entire sequence from the speech to the death to the funeral to tell you so much visually in just a few shots. It's arguably one of the best scenes in any superhero movie by far.
Same way in smallville
The dialogue along with the score makes this scene my second favorite in the film behind the helicopter sequence.
Ezzzactly. No need for CGI tornadoes or convoluted writing. Just a kid learning the simple hard lessons of life, the way everyone needs to at some point.
Mario Rodas But nooo... someone has made a superman with a dark setting and a unnecessary tornado death scene.
JediFan421 I totally agree with you on this. I enjoyed Man of Steel but its death scene completely missed the point. The reason why John's death worked in the Donner movie is because it was an aspect of life and death that Clark has no power whatsoever over. It showed him that no matter how powerful he gets, he's still mortal in some ways.
Such a great scene.
Still remember from when I was a kid watching it in the theater.
When Glenn Ford says "Oh no", it is so clear that he meant, "Oh no, I need more time, I haven't finished raising my son", not "Oh no, I am going to die".
Yes. Exactly.
Everyone deserves a dad like pa kent...someone to walk up a long road with us, put his arm around us, listen, and tell us how much he loved us..upsetting many of us would slice our arm off for that n that background music gives the feeling perfect!
I get so sad cause he knows hes going to die and he won't be able to say goodbye to his wife and son
@@nicktroisi6347 All of that. He just wants to say goodbye and fate has decided otherwise.
John Williams anyone? Take away his music and then watch it again. People seem to take his genius for granted and often don't realize that his music goes straight to the heart and boosts any great acting, lensing, framing, directing, to completely new heights. Just listen to that brilliant solo trumpet at the start of the funeral scene. It tells the story of Superman's Earth father: he was a kind man and full of courage. It's the funeral of a hero.
+Christian Schonberger Damn. This post makes me cry as much as the scene does.
Until this gets rebooted and Jonathan Kent dies in a tornado LOL
Yes! Those who aren't paying attention think WIlliams only did big, thundering marches and action cues for this film. But this brilliant sequence puts the lie to that. How effortlessly he segues from a tender father-son moment, to tragedy, to eulogy, in often quiet and surprising ways. This was one of his most variegated scores, and he set the tone beautifully.
I didn't appreciate it at the time, but Jonathan Kent spent his last moments having a heart to heart with his son and being looked at with love by his wife. Not the worst way to go by any means
Glenn Ford was the man. They don't make actors like him anymore.
The only made one of him. Not multiples.
He still rules!
Thank you for posting this. I cannot believe this wasn't online until now. This is possibly one of the best scenes in any superhero film.
Superman: All my powers and I couldn't save him.
Man of Steel: All my powers and he didn't want me to save him.
Jarek Gunther He didn't want to be saved, because he knew that his wife and son, and everyone in Smallville, was more important. He gave his life for them, in protecting Clark's secret.
Winter Naomi Vera Finally someone perfectly explains this
BenTheNerd Matheson It's incredible. Half the people who want to crucify and burn Zack Snyder in effigy would probably be just as big of fans of his films as if they would pay more attention to them. As opposed to using their misinterpretation of his films as reason to hate them.
BenTheNerd Matheson It's like a lighthouse in a sea of flames to find fans of Zack Snyder's DC Films. I much prefer talking to fans because I get bored trying to explain that "No. Jonathan Kent didn't tell Clark to let his school mates drown so he could have a normal life.
When I talk to fans, we're talking about philosophical and sociological principles as well as the moral lessons taught in these films, which makes for much better conversation than why films that aren't shit, aren't shit.
Winter Naomi Vera he could've just zipped in there in saved him in 1 second without anyone noticing that he was superman
In this scene Superman learns at an early age that his powers cannot stop death itself.
In Man of Steel, Jonathan Kent kills himself for the family dog.
+CrazyHorseInvincible I always thought he commited suicide. MOS Johnathon Kent was a goddamn psychopath
"should I have have let my classmates die"?
"maybe"
+Austin Creed fan yas i agree and Martha kent
+Austin Creed fan I still prefer Glenn Ford but John Schneider was really good too.
+Austin Creed fan watch smallville it's the best superman show
+Naruto Uzumaki i took smallville for granted. nowadays we have crap like the flash and arrow
Kevin Costner is an excellent actor, and I thought he did a good job in Man of Steel, but no one could top Glenn Ford in this scene. He was magnificent as Jonathan Kent.
Everything, the music, the writing, the acting, and the direction by Richard Donner, was right on cue, making these scenes truly powerful.
You're wrong, the best Superman is Sylvester Stallone.
Well i can't Blame Kevin Costner for a shitty script.
@@Lone432345 Why didn't Clark just reverse the earth's rotation to bring his Dad back? Or use his superhearing or superspeed to hear his heart and then run to a hospital? Seems like you old farts have nostalgia glasses on for even the dumbest moments
You haven't seen John Schneider as pa Kent in Smallville I'm guessing
@@battlecat403 Because he didn't know he could, here he's a teenager - on this movie he only learns about himself when he seeks the Fortress of Solitude, while on "Man of Steel" Clark knows pretty well how to use his powers.
Besides, when 78's Superman reverses the rotation of Earth he's not sure he can, or should, do it, but does anyway because he can no longer endure loss. That's the human part, the best part of the character.
You are here for a reason.
Rest in peace Richard Donner
I am a man and I am not at all ashamed to say that this makes me cry every time I watch it.
It takes a real man of steel to admit that instead of a coward hiding behind bogus crap like, "Is someone cutting onions in the room?"
I thought this moment was so sad even as a youngster but when I lost my own Father in later years, it hits me even more now than ever. Emotionally as this scene begins, I find it heartbreaking to watch even now. The music especially contributed to this. 😪
From the opening credits, this film holds you by the heart - and that's precisely why it remains the best superhero film of all time.
TayInTheWay Congratulations on the best comment in the whole section. Couldn't agree more. Simply put, a human superhero movie.
I love this movie to death but it ain't the best superhero flim ever let's not get dumb now
@@jaysanders1386 Yes it is and Superman Returns is the second best!
A three minute scene that perfectly encapsulates who Clark Kent is and why a god-like alien shows more humanity than most humans do. Between the score, the location, and the cinematography...I still maintain that it is among the most emotional scenes ever committed to film.
Agreed.
It’s really a testament to director Richard Donner, composer John Williams and most importantly Glenn Ford that for his incredibly short screen time, Jonathan Kent is so lovable and his death absolutely brings me to tears every time.
Great Scene: Explains very simply why Superman is who he Is!!!
Zack Snyder: tOrNaDo!
I saw man of steel again yday on TV, and you know what, it seems like Jonathan Kent is even actively trying to damage Clark.
1. Clark :"should I have have let my classmates die"?
Jonathan"maybe"
2.Clark gets beaten by bullies at school, Jonathan just stands there and watches.
3. Jonathan drives into a tornado zone, proceeds to "help" himself (even though super powered space son is there), then basically commits suicide for the dog in front of his son.
4. The strange looks that he gives Clark when he's on the swing or when he reveals the ship, looks like someone from a horror movie. Seriously, its like he's thinking "the child must be stopped" or "He is evil". Maybe thts why he killed himself.
5. His parental "advice" basically leads Clark to waste 10 or so years to find himself, as he believes the world would not accept him (or because he is the son of satan and must not realise his potential).
Compare it to 78' Superman where he's just a typical middle American farmer with good sense of morals and a lot of love.
#5 is the plot of an episode of rick and morty, where morty has to raise a Gazorpazorp kid.
Dizzy Blu The way Jon Kent raised Clark in Man of Steel would have taught him to despise humanity, to think that something else was out there where he belonged but not here on Earth. When Zod came with the Kryptonians and offered him kinship, he would have taken it and destroyed Earth himself rather than save it.
I can't even remember any good principles that Ma and Pa Kent instilled in Clark during MOS. Even Ma Kent said "you don't owe this world a thing" . Snyder hates superheros
Jonathan is jealous of Clark. He was so controlling and did not give Clark the opportunity to make his own decisions. He kept telling him what he is not and what he should do.
What a stupid unobservant comment ...
1:26 - the way he starts to say "but.. I.." still have so much to do
he knows what is happening and is reeling against the unfairness of it. such a real human moment
The music in this part of the film is so gorgeous, plainspoken and elegiac, such perfection. One of the biggest reasons why Superman The Movie has my all-time favorite film score. Nobody, not even Bernard Herrman, could out-do John Williams.
wildsmiley It really is perfect. I think I read that John Williams was channeling Aaron Copland with his "Leaving Home" theme.
+wildsmiley Boy is that the truth. Williams is a genius. We won't take the full measure of his talent until after he's gone.
Jonathan and Martha are very good down to earth people. They took a big risk finding this young boy and raising him. But ended up having the greatest superhero to walk the earth.
Such amazing acting and pacing. Glenn Ford has just a few minutes of screentime, but it feels like we've known him for years.
My thoughts exactly.
“There’s one thing I know for certain son and that is you are here for a reason.”
Whenever I get depressed I think back to this quote.
"All those things I can do....and I couldn't even even save him." That makes it so much more emotional because it's natural causes not even Superman can stop. I hated how mos changed it up with the twisters when the whole time Clark could've snatched him and vanished...made no sense.
matt krug Clark wasn't that fast considering even as an adult, he couldn't move faster than the eye can see.
matt krug Clark wasn't that fast considering even as an adult, he couldn't move faster than the eye can see.
Yoo Hoo except difference is in mos is wasn’t weather or not he could’ve saved his dad being the issue, it’s that his dad told him not to save him that everyone is pissed off about.
@@zhengyingli, Clark could’ve still gone over to him and protected him from the blast of the tornado.
@@kamdan2011 How would Clark know that he's invulnerable against a tornado?
"What was I supposed to do? Just let them die?" "Maybe."
Spent Lizard "There's more at stake here than just our lives, Clark, or the lives of those around us". I feel frustrated when you don't recognize this line. This line is why he uses his abilities to help others in secret, and why he ultimately becomes Superman.
Yeah I won't stop bullies from picking on you. I won't be a hero to you. Be afraid of humanity they'll hate you. Let kids die so you can keep your secrecy. It's no wonder why Clark didn't just join Zod in terraforming the earth.
Matine Yang He never said he should’ve let these kids die. It’s just so much of a difficult situation that he doesn’t have a clear answer for it. Also, your last sentence doesn’t really make sense.
@@robinanwaldt Everything that Clark's father taught him in relation to how the world would treat him would actually push Clark to hate or fear humanity. Why would he want to protect us? He would have actually join Zod in destroying the human race and changing the world to Krypton 2.0. Even Ma Kent told Clark "You don't owe this world anything"
Matine Yang I meant your sentence „It’s no wonder he didn’t join Zod“ What you probably meant to say was „It’s a wonder he didn’t join Zod.“
Glenn Ford was such an incredible actor and sooo handsome. Even at an old age.
Right before Jonathan's death he was giving Clark Kent some good advice
Sounds like Uncle Ben
@@mrsportsguy134 And Harold Howard 🐺
1:25 The look says "No God no. Not yet, he still needs me..."
日本人です。
リチャード・ドナー監督の神演出。
全てが完璧！全てが理想的！
数あるヒーロー映画にこれを超えるシーンはありません！
何度でも永遠に見ていられる、感涙シーンです。
Anyone who has ever lost a parent at a young age, then gone through the pain all over again later in life with a loved one. This film knocks the nail right on the head. John Williams score, as great as ever 👏
Very emotional scene. Rip Glenn Ford. Great actor. When he grabs his arm at first i thought maybe he was having a stroke but it was a heart attack. I was like wow. I hope that does not happen with me. Best superman movie ever. Thanks for posting this.😭
The instant John realizes he is dying and utters the Oh No...brilliant
These 3 minutes are better than the entire DCEU.
Being from the Midwest and growing up on a farm very similar to the Kent's, this scene has particular poignancy for me. My dad was coming back home with the tractor, parked it in the driveway and walked across the road to get the mail. When he got back to the tractor, he just collapsed. Our neighbor found him lying on the ground, the tractor engine still running. I remember it was a beautiful very quiet November morning, the sun was shining. The countryside depicted in the "Kansas" scenes is exactly like the farm country where I live.
I wasn’t born yet, but my Grandfather died in a similar fashion on their small farm in northern Wisconsin. My Mother was just a teenager and after breakfast one morning he walked out to do his chores and my Mom and Aunt found him laying in the barn some time later. He’d suffered a massive heart attack. They sold the property not long after and the barn was up till maybe 10 years ago when it was torn down. This scene hits me too.
There was real grandeur to this film, a scope that has yet to be matched by any other superhero film, even the Avengers. The scene where Martha joins Clark out in the wheat field is beautifully done, and Williams' score is amazine.
I really like how they talk in the 70s. Favorite superhero ever
Still moves me after all these years; Thanks.
THIS one scene is why Glenn Ford is my all-time favorite actor. No one else could have accomplished so much, been so believable, in those few short minutes. And he was never nominated for an Academy award. Sad...
1:55 This long shot leading into the cemetery scene was one of the most astute choices in the film. It lets us see the sadness of the moment without being overwhelmed by the immediate emotion, especially from Martha. Moreover, it emphasizes how small and helpless Clark feels at the moment, leading into the next scene.
one of the BEST acted death scenes ever. All his love, fear and helplessness for his family and himself at that moment, truly an amazing scene.
Ca
I watched this scene when I was a kid and while I didn't understand everything about it, I felt on some level that this was a very special moment. Now I'm back here as an adult.
I really like how they didn't give him the typical melodramatic "death speech" as he's slowly dying and Clark is holding him crying over him in the rain and he wheezes out these last words.
Instead it is just so simple
Everything is beautiful, he's totally fine,, he says something very meaningful, as he probably does every day to his son, he stops, touches his arm, says "oh no", falls down and is dead. This to me feels a lot more true to life, you can go from healthy to sick in what feels like a split second. and reinforces a central theme of the film - the fragility and temporary nature of life. Also it makes the character who he is. He is so powerful, but he can't save his father.
Sweet god. This reminds me of my grandfather. I miss him so much. :( Richard Donner is a master.
Robert Cowley I'm watching this now because of my grandfather who passed of heart failure only a few weeks ago.
I'm sorry to hear that. This scene, while sad, brings a sense of nonstalgic memory back to me. Weird how that works.
Robert Cowley Thank you. Perhaps, because it reminds us of that fatherly guidance that parents and grandparents offer us. They may be gone, but they live on within.
Same here bro. I lost my maternal grandfather to his 5th heart attack November 12, 1990. This scene so gets me in tears everytime I see it
People would say cinematically it was convenient to have it right after their talk. Not compared to a giant tornado that magically appeared on the plains?
What's far more important is the scope.
Jon's heart attack is so much smaller and personal. His quiet reaction of "oh,no" shows his fear and disappointment of how his time with his son and wife are now taken from him. A more human death compare to stoic Kevin Costner who goes all martyr like to set an example for Clark to not show off his powers, which he does semi-regularly in the first act anyway so that amounted to nothing.
A film simply about "you'll believe a man can fly," that sells itself prominently as extravaganza of impossible feats tackle something so inevitable with humanity.
Compared to a Man of Steel about a man told about "keeping his powers a secret" doesn't really seem to follow his father's word, by exposing his powers in rescues on oil rigs or crucifying trucks almost in public and being a "symbol to lead humanity" and have the climax be, for lack of a better word, nothing but 'destruction porn.'
Wedgewood Productions Very well acted. no actors other than glenn ford or phyllis thaxter could have done it better. also i noticed the way jonathan clutched his arm and said "oh no", then tried to call out for "martha" before collapsing and dying and collapsing. i was never sure if he died of a stroke or heart attack, the latter would have you clutch your chest moreso your arm.
The look on Ford's face just before he collapsed was so powerful because it really demonstrated the unfairness of the whole situation.
All this man wanted to do was to just simply run a little bit with his son, and in doing so he suffers a heart attack. Something so innocent led to an irreversible tragedy.
And unfortunately that type of scenario, where an activity seemingly so innocent leads to tragedy, plays out over and over and over all around the world and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
That's another reason why Glenn Ford's version of Jonathan Kent's death is so much more powerful than was John Schneider's Jonathan Kent's death, and more recently Kevin Costner's.
This scene makes me cry...every .....single......time
me too man, me too...
Ditto
It actually reminds me of MY father. A good and wise man. Also a Farmer, who I couldn't save despite my medical knowledge and skill ('powers')... I am always compelled to watch this scene, and it's always the same...tears.
Me too. Cant believe its almost 40 years old
Ricardo Rebelo I'm reading your comment with tears in my eyes. I didn't even know it. It wasn't till after I was scrolling through the comments that I realised he was running down my cheek.
The scene so powerful, and just makes you cry every time. But I have to say three things, Richard Donner, John Williams, and Glenn Ford.
Enough said.
its attention to detail, notice the couple standing in the background their stance and the angle of camera shot it looks like a still from a comic. music is amazing and the final scene with his mother in that huge field and the cinematography modern films just havent got that attention to detail, scripts that match or actors that an deliver.
I love this scene. Prior to the death part. I love the talk they have. Superman has a heart in it that no other superhero movie can touch. That’s why it’s my favorite. That’s why it’s the best.
Isn’t that Christopher Reeves voice dubbed in? Looks/Sounds like it. 0:12
Incredible scene. From THE superhero movie of our lifetime. Truly magical. Nothing today even comes close to the original Superman with Christopher Reeve.
At 1.02 the moment he puts his arm around his dad is wonderful and very touching.
The relationship every father and son should have.
You can see he loved and respected his dad.
I watched this movie as a very young kid, maybe 3 or 4, and of all the moments in it, this is the only one I clearly remember. Still sticks with me almost 20 years later.
For the first time we see the real weakness of superman: death. Until that moment he did not know in his flesh what was the death of a loved one
Great editing here. That moment he's down and for a moment nobody notices...
I kind of understand the point they're trying to make in MoS but this here is far more clear and obvious the message being conveyed and yet that's what makes it so effective. Even more it applies to everyone. You may be able to help save someone some day but sometimes you may fail regardless of everything you can do...
Superman The Movie- Jonathan Kent dies because of a heart attack. The moment works because it remind us that death is frequently random and unexpected and because jonathan seems like a nice guy.
Man of Steel- Jonathan Kent effectively commits suicide in front of his family under the guise of "protecting" his son.
Superman got killed by humanity in BvS, so Jonathan was right to protect a 17-year-old Clark.
Way way WAY better than "STOP INVINCIBLE SON"
How do you know Clark was invincible at that age?
Because he was. It isn't like puberty or something, as soon as Kal-El came into close proximity to the yellow star and began absorbing its radiation, he began changing. By early childhood he already possessed most of his powers he just didn't fully know how to control them. That being said, his invulnerability is a passive power, meaning whether he focuses on it or not, his body can't be harmed by any normal means. We see young teen Clark pushing a freakin bus out of a river without breaking a sweat. By his late teens, he had already absorbed enough yellow sun energy to be what we consider Superman. The tornado scene was simply lazy writing.
SGTBizarro
Point of tornado scene wasn't that Clark would harm himself, but that people will discover his powers and his very existence alltogether way before Calrk decide himself what to do with his life, which in a way will affect lives of all people that surrounds him. 2.bp.blogspot.com/ExcH1A-Imud7qSihJd9KwLDFi7fOGph9oFixvI1XDa458IMp0NpKgXIN0Oua_1Ch12PvZB9_UYbm=s1600
Adding to that a fact that he is an alien, and that they ,Kents, can't be sure that there is no others like him.
Yoo Hoo I don't think getting his dad away from a twister will make people automatically assume he has super powers.
"Hey that kid got his dad away from that tornado"
"it's a miracle"
"he must have super powers"
"wait what?"
"That kid must totally be an alien"
"all he did was go in and get his injured dad away before the tornado hit, he's seems like a athletic and strong young lad, it makes sense he could run and run out before the tornadoes could suck them both in"
"No he must be an alien with God like powers"
"Jimmy have you been drinking again?"
Yoo Hoo he was literally 10 seconds away, for god sakes I could have ran in and saved him in time he wasn’t that far away and that tornado sure was taking it’s damn time
Such a beautiful and tragic scene. And a shame that modern storytellers just can't seem to grasp why it defines who Superman is.
"All these powers and I couldn't save him."
J Mims He is Peter Parker. He was thinking about using his abilities for personal gain, and someone close to him died for his selfishness. That's not Superman.
In Zack Snyder's Modern Age retelling of Superman's story, Clark Kent was a little boy who had these abilities that showed him how bad the world is and it scared him so bad he hid in a closet, but his mother saved him. She told him that he has the power to make the world a safer and better place to live, and he chose to use his abilities to do just that. Snyder's Superman was a hero inspired by heroism. That's what makes him stand out from almost every other Comic Book Movie hero.
Jonathan kent was a great dad.
Agree
Wonderful scene - although I wish you had included the last couple of seconds as they leave the graveyard and the final fade is as the men close the gates to the cemetery. Everything about that close, even John Williams' music, is just perfect.
The comparison between this and Man of Steel is... astoundingly chasmic. Heart, emotion, and everlasting impressions from this scene and it's only minutes in length. Man of Steel tried to accomplish this in what felt like an hour and yet it still couldn't come close. Almost as if it didn't even try.
For this scene, I think they tried, extremely hard too with all the special effects and what not. But they were going in the wrong direction. In their desperation to create something different, they made something infinitely inferior.
That's Zack Snyder, the Michael Bay for hipsters.
Eh, it's two different films with two different approaches and points of view as it regards the Clark-Jonathan relationship.
Peter P21
Yes, and this one is good, the other one is bad. Simple as that.
VHS , the Pa Kent death scene in this movie was filmed in one take, with no rehearsal. Glenn Ford was a great actor. He brought heart to every movie he was in.
some of the very best father son dialogue ever put to film.. knowing how important his son would he in later years...his mother's reaction and shouting jonathan's name is so heartbreaking...I've grown up with this film through my entire life and I for one think it truly is the greatest superhero film of all time...and such an amazing score from the amazing John Williams.
No matter how Clark gets he realizes he can't stop death. When he says he couldn't even save his father I always reply with tears flooding my eyes and choking me up "Clark, Sometimes there is nothing you can do but remember this: He loved and will always love you very much."
Despite it's ending flaws, I think this is still a very iconic and historic film. I mean however long (perhaps infinitely long) the myth of Superman continues, they'll always look back at these films, that give the characters and story a real impression.
I'm not a Man of Steel hater by any means (I think it's decent) but nothing can top what Christopher Reeve did with the character. Even all these years later, this is one of my all time favorite superhero films with Dark Knight, Spider-Man 2, and the Captain America movies.
Man of Steel was a different take on Superman, not comparable to Reeve's. Superman Returns was more of an attempt continuation of Reeve's and it was an epic fail.
The ending makes a lot of sense when you consider this one scene. It may be absurd, immature, selfish, but still got the heart and ultimately the message. You can't save the world and fulfill your maximum potencial without losing something.
I empathize with Clark when he says "All those things I could do. All those powers and I couldn't even save him." Sometimes there's nothing you can do Clark and no matter how powerful you become you can't stop death. Death is a part of life but remember Jonathon loved you very much and will forever be a part of you. The area in Smallville where he's laid to rest so resembles Belt, Montana even though it was filmed in Alberta, Canada. Plus Jonathon's death and Clark's grieving shows he's more human than most people think.
Mr Sunday Movies, brought me here.
This version of John Kent also admits he was afraid of losing Clark. But teaching Clark to give in to fear and admonishing him for saving lives is horrific.
Lan Nto He isn't doing that. Jonathan Kent was warning his son that, if the wrong person found out about Clark's secret, his school mates would wish he had let him drown. If the federal government caught wind of Clark's abilities, they would raze Smallville in order to find him and control or kill him. Clark says "I just wanted to help" and his father says "I know you did" but for the safety of his family and friends, keeping his secret is absolutely paramount. Jonathan Kent didn't just give his life to protect Clark's secret. He gave his life to protect Smallville.
@@WinterGirlRules shut up
finally some one with sense
People often say that "Superman" is a boring character. If you just focus on his powers, yes.
TheGoldcountry He's been a boring character, because he has had maybe one bad day in his life, and then he is completely flawless.
The Modern Age DC Comics, and Zack Snyder's DC Films made him human. He became the boy scout by earning it from a massive uphill climb. I don't think that Superman is boring at all.
Could this be one of the best and most subtle depictions of a heart attack on film? No over-the-top chest grasping here.
I was wondering for years why he was grabbing his arm instead of the usual chest deal myself. Richard Donner explained in his commentary that he questioned Glenn Ford about this and he told Donner that’s what he learned about how people truly react when they have a heart attack and this was perfect to sell the whole verisimilitude attitude Donner had for this film.
I know it's been said countless times in the comments, but, damn it, gonna say it again. This is infinitely more real, moving and devastating than his death in MOS. Helps when you have John Williams in his absolute prime. The first 45 minutes of this film are absolute gold. Shame it cuts off right when Williams takes flight for the coda of this scene :(
The music and cinematography in this film is perfection.
One of thw most beautiful heartbreaking scenes... when the man of steel is reminded to always be a MAN first
One of the best character actors of our time... Glenn Ford...
One of the most powerful scenes of acting condensed in a few minutes I've ever seen. It chokes me up everytime I see it. The humanity, the sincerity of advice from an older man to a younger one. Reminds me of my grandfather. Everything else has been well said above though I'd also like to highlight the brilliant acting of Phyllis Thaxter (Martha Kent). In a shot that lasts a bare few seconds how you see the blood drain from her face is part of what makes this scene so powerful. So hard to do. Absolutely nailed it. The other powerful acting, emotional scene that resonates with me is in the movie Into The Wild when actor Hal Holbrook suggests adopting Alexander Supertramp to save his name from dying out.
So much Heart in this Movie...unlike man of steel.
That film is aptly named. That Man of Steel needed a heart.
Agree. Man of Steel was "cool, yet soulless."
Ah yes heart = not using your superspeed or superhearing to help save your Dad having a heart attack or better yet just spin around the earth even more so and bring your Dad back. Good thing you guys have no clue what a good Superman film is.
@@battlecat403 MARTHA
@@BonusEggs4Sale BUCKY
This scene alone has more heart than all of Man of Steel.
Music in this part of the film is so epic, just brings me to tears.
2:45 And THERE is the burden of Kal-El of Krypton: he can save ANYONE, but can't save EVERYONE.
"All those powers and I couldn't even save him." And that's why Clark Kent is just plain ole Clark at the end of the day, Superman is just something he does. Clark knows despite all of his powers, he isn't a god, he can't be everywhere and he can't save everyone. In many ways, his true weakness isn't even Kryptonite, it's his humanity and it's also his real strength.
My father passed away the same way in 2020 and I was at Kents age. We also had father/son bonding due to covid lockdown because we didn't have a good relationship but it didn't last for long
I loved Man of Steel, but this film had a far deeper and superior death scene.
Both deaths have a differing goal.
STM was to show Clark, no matter how powerful he was, death was a force infinitely more powerful.
MoS was Pa Kent actually not saving Clark's secret but rather not knowing if Clark was able to withstand the tornado. He was protecting Clark's life, Clark hadn't flown yet and at no point before that do we see him run superfast.
I started to feel discomfort in my left arm. I took a walk hoping to feel better. Then I washed the dishes, still no better. I lay down to take a nap, an hour later no better. I went to the hospital, they took my blood pressure, it was very high. I then was given an EKG. They told me I'm having a heart attack. I'll pass through a lot of bad stuff but I was rushed in to the catherization lab. They threw aside normal protocals, shot some dye in me, saw the blockage and a stent was placed within maybe a minute. The doctor patted me on the shoulder and said he couldn't believe I survived this. Normally this type, within the time, you die. The ER nurses came up to see me when their shift was over. They had big smiles on their faces and told me I was a rare one. It was a main artery, they call it the widow maker. That was over 9 years ago. If Mr. Kent was standing in a hospital, at that time, he'd still have no chance. There were no stents to help him. I'm beyond grateful.
❤ how old were you at that time?
@@robertcox7504 I was 53.
I love the minimalism of this scene. The point is to show Kal El that despite his super powers, he cannot save everyone, starting with his dad. It was short, sweet, artistic, minimal, and to the point.
Unlike Man of Steel where Snyder had to use his too much tendencies for the same scene where Clark let his father die in a tornado.
The two aren't comparable enough to be called the same scene.
i always loved how we can feel his frustration for not being able to save his father even being as powerful as he is
My grandma always told even if you don't think it don't think your life matters ut dose everyones life matters and everyone is here for a reason no matter what
Such a small role, to this day i remember his scenes. What a great father figure.
Glenn Ford is the man. One of the greatest and most underrated actors ever with a film career that spanned from 1937 to 1991. Not many actors can claim such longevity, he could do anything. Drama, noir, comedy and especially westerns. He wouldn’t have fared well in musicals though and probably wouldn’t have wanted to. He was a real man’s Man.
I think the only other scene in a comic book film that hits like this was Bruce’s parents death in Batman Begins. Usually when bad things happen they happen very quickly and without warning.
Bruh, this scene still hits
Amazing acting of Glenn Ford with Christopher Reeves Superman 1978 I remember seeing this movie I just don't know if I seen in theaters or I seen him at home and VHS tape
I liked Glenn Ford, he was a natural, r.i.p.
I like the detail here where he gets a pain in his arm, the first symptom of a heart attack
This Scene + John Williams = 😢😪💔
This Superman Movie = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Richard Donner's SUPERMAN is a big part of why I love comic book movie's. This scene always chokes me up.
Rest in peace, sir.