How Hollywood Made Superman Run Fast In Movies Before CGI
https://screenrant.com/superman-movies-run-fast-no-cgi-how-explained/
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?share
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.