Christopher Reeve Says Marlon Brando Has Sold Out | Letterman

[@benzykaram]

The honesty and boldness that came out of him; no wonder Robin Williams was his best friend.

[@kargs5krun]

Honesty yes, and BIG COHONES to take on Brando in those days (just look at Lettermans' reactions)!!!

[@brian7333]

Trumpers at heart!

[@arytmis]

Watching the interview, I thought to myself, "Why does he remind me of Robin Williams?" That might explain it! Thanks

[@davidjorgensen877]

@@kargs5krun He was right on the money in confirming the vibe that Brando himself had publicly exuded for some time.

[@christopherpaul7588]

I don't think it's anything new. I've heard stories of how hard Brando was to work with on Apocalypse Now. Refusing to memorize his lines, showing up drunk...

[@dalelawrence85]

I can’t begin to describe how impressed I am with this interview. Wow. The contrast with today’s plastic, insincere world is stunning.

[@peternielsen8601]

Yes, people were so much more honest that time.

[@degsbabe]

Very moving to see him with full mobility. Talking about plane flying, and being able to go where he wanted.. His tragic accident was/is the stuff of nightmares. But he showed great heroism in the awful face of it..

[@D-Fens_1632]

Back when a superhero movie was an oddity and really had to impress. Now they're the bottom feeding force driving Hollywood.

[@lexprime_collectibles]

i was just thiking the same thing. its so nice that even tho they were rich and famous they still were people and would voice their opinions. today is so fake its desgusting :(

[@hyacinthlynch843]

Christopher Reeve was such a class act. He left us way too soon. 😢

[@SirLeDoux]

You took my exact words! What a authentic man. Miss him

[@legendbucwild]

I do think Reeves was a class act of other things he accomplished in his life, but this interview wasn't a great example of that because of how he handled that Brando question. If Brando was right next to him, that'd be one thing, but calling him out like he did here was poor taste.....he could've said something like, "Brando's an icon undoubtedly. I have some differences with his style, but I also don't wanna get whacked." and end it there.

[@thomasdupont7186]

well he's not classy in this clip, regarding what he says about Brando in my opinion. He looks and sound like he is though..... But that's appearances.

[@legendbucwild]

@@thomasdupont7186 Complete agreement....... I must've missed the meeting where everyone got together and agreed that talking sh** about somebody now makes you a class act. ..... if that's the case, every time I bring up my mother-in-law in a conversation, I'm being a real class act.

[@hyacinthlynch843]

@@legendbucwild Reeve is spot on. It's your problem if his honesty offends you.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Its so sad what happened to Christopher Reeve. He was such an outstanding gentleman.

[@dzanier]

He was.

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Agreed mate👍

[@Westyrulz]

Yes you right.Another time another generation.

[@kargs5krun]

One of the best/worst "Fate-screwovers" ever candidate? Could be.

[@GizmoMaltese]

@@kargs5krun His spent a great portion of his life being incredibly good looking and later famous. That's something most of us will never experience.

[@billwhelpley6825]

Holy shit, he really spoke his mind but in a really thoughtful manner.

[@Revelian1982]

Welcome to how things used to be.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

@@Revelian1982 You have made the most underrated comment of the year.

[@reactions5783]

​@@Revelian1982 This was before the mass censorship cancel culture covert dystopia we live in today. I pity those who are either too young, or too far gone to remember how things really were before.

[@mosthated8848]

Yep, when folks were more conservative and, loved their country.

[@DM-kv9kj]

@@mosthated8848 People were more conservative socially, but not politically. The 70s saw an explosion of ultra liberal political views and new discussions for progress and the 90s saw a bit more of that come back into the 00s but then the whole new internet, social media, streaming and app corporate culture takeover started to dominate absolutely everything.

[@Candide1776]

A sincere, honest, genuine gentleman. Mr. Reeve will always be Superman.

[@kaziahmed1424]

He is the ONLY Superman

[@redrick8900]

@@kaziahmed1424 Dean Cain.

[@redrick8900]

@@RichieRichMD Typical millennial reaction to facts you can't refute but hate.

[@RichieRichMD]

@@redrick8900 You seem to have me mixed up, I was refuting someone who deleted his message. I love Christopher Reeves, I stood in line in late summer of 1978 to see Superman I, II & III with my brother, we also stood in line to see “Somewhere In Time” one of my all time favorite films. And btw I am 64 yrs young, not a millennial, and my family and I love Mr Reeves, we still do.

[@RichieRichMD]

@@redrick8900 I see the original comment, general consensus is that Reeves is S not Dean Cain, look it up, it may be your opinion, but it is Not facts.

[@prmaninla]

"Well, he's here tonight Chris" makes me laugh every time.

[@Mirrodin82]

This level of honesty is unheard of in today's entertainment

[@KingCrimson82]

they try to brand honesty as a handycap today. I wonder why..

[@fakesuperhero368]

It has nothing to do with time. This level of candidness is unique to Christopher Reeve and was not common to that era or honestly any. This “back in the good old days” thing is becoming like a default opinion or something.

[@julianmarsh8384]

@@fakesuperhero368 I would disagree but you do have to look into it a bit to find instances of actors and actresses and other people in the entertainment field, who were as candid as Christopher Reeve...Myrna Loy comes to mind...

[@fakesuperhero368]

@@julianmarsh8384 you’re more than welcome to find instances which challenge what I say. I will say I haven’t really found many which leads me to believe that it wasn’t really commonplace at all. I also don’t think that one other person constitutes it being commonplace at all. A few good gems like that are indeed rare.

[@julianmarsh8384]

@@fakesuperhero368 Loy on working with Jimmy Steward (as I remember) "Jimmy is a nice man but he is not a generous actor...he tries to make every scene about himself...as I said, a nice man but not a generous actor." Joel McCrae on the possibility of working on a second movie with Veronica Lake: "Oh no...life is too short to be in two movies with Veronica Lake." There's a lot of stuff like that out there....granted, not on Reeve's level of trying to take into account the whole persona of an actor but still, honest comments.

[@blackhawkswincup2010]

Damn. Smart, articulate, and never ducks the tough questions. And gracious, even when calling Brando out.

[@blackhawkswincup2010]

@@SkyNetGeneral- I have. CBS News correspondent Charles Kuralt detailed Brando's petulance while supposedly campaigning for Native Americans' fishing rights in Washington State back in the 60s in his autobiography "A Life on the Road." Kuralt felt he was much more dedicated to Scotch whiskey and getting laid more than peoples' rights. As for 'campaigning for fishing rights, he was trying to get arrested by catching a fish in the river. Problem was, as Kuralt pointed out, the fish weren't bowing to his celebrity; he couldn't catch one, no matter how hard he tried. Finally, the paparazzi left out of sheer boredom, and once they left, so did he. And when he refused his Oscar for the Godfather, that was a complete surprise to everyone, unlike George C. Scott two years earlier, who told everyone beforehand he wouldn't accept it if it were given to him. Brando didn't want to hurt his own chances of winning, so he could make a big splash, and he recruited Maria Louise Cruz to take the "Sacheen Littlefeather" stage name, even though her "Native American" ancestry was debunked.

[@AdrianChristian]

Agree with all here and yes, Brando was a fine individual who looked out for the oppressed. But Reeve's articulate commentary was about Brando's acting specifically at that point in his career, which is understandable for those of us who remember this.

[@BucolicPoet]

@@SkyNetGeneral- greatest actor ever? its your opinion. he did a great acting as don corleone but most of his are average

[@railsplitters79]

@@SkyNetGeneral-Brando was a degenerate fraud. And a sleezball. He treated everyone he work with terribly. His activism was a con job. His “token Indian” was a fake. This has been confirmed by her entire family. Classic Hollywood entitled wacko with one memorable credit (the Godfather) to his name.

[@Madagon367]

It's weird that only 40 years ago people actually just said what was on their mind on these shows. These days after two rehearsed pre interviews with two publicists in attendance you only get these weird over produced segments.

[@dzanier]

This interview is beyond refreshing.

[@FastEddie86]

Rehearsed pre interviews? Really?

[@vandykebeard2216]

@@FastEddie86 don't care if they are rehearsed/pre-interviewed when one actor openly expressed his/her opinion about another actors/actress/director/movie. It didn't happen after Letterman.

[@keefriff99]

@@FastEddie86 For sure. It's so obvious sometimes...Fallon/Kimmel/Colbert, they all do it. The PR teams practically script everything that's said. The celebrity just has to sit there and be fed their questions. It's really disheartening...at a certain point, I just stopped bothering with the whole charade. I'd rather watch interviews from 40 years ago because they at least FELT like an actual conversation.

[@williamshaw9047]

@@FastEddie86 When people go on talk shows, they are pre-interviewed by the producer or someone on the production staff so they can figure out what stories will make the guest entertaining. It also lets the host asking leading questions like "I hear you're into sailplaning..."

[@rupertsmith5815]

I love how old talk shows people had laid back conversations rather than doing dumb jokes , dancing and forced smiles.

[@robert4039]

Or nonstop Trump jokes (not a Trump fan, just saying find something new). Otherwise it’s like you mentioned, silly Fallon or James Corden nonsense. The American people are literally a lot dumber now. That’s not me being cynical, it’s just the objective, measurable truth.

[@Kevmaster2000]

Dumb jokes and dancing is more far more entertaining.

[@rupertsmith5815]

@@Kevmaster2000 And It is dumb and cringe we aren’t watching a musical comedy It is a TALK show not a comedy and dance show

[@evancain4906]

@@Kevmaster2000more embarrassing than entertaining

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

You don't want to see David Letterman and Christopher Reeve singing to each other and then dancing around like in real life?

[@vincentpaul835]

I liked how David allowed Christopher to finnish his thoughts. So often in today's late night shows the host is always trying to land the next joke. It becomes about how funny the host is and not about the guest.

[@GregDowns]

It helps that Reeve was an articulate speaker who didn't have to pause to gather his thoughts. I watch a lot of snippets of current US talk shows on KZbin. It's striking how few of the guests are able to speak continuously for longer than a few seconds. It's into those gaps that 21st century talk show hosts seem to feel they have to jump in with a joke, which usually further derails (or stops) whatever the guest was trying to say.

[@chr970]

@@GregDownsgood point I absolutely agree.

[@robcat2075]

A lot of that is that Dave is not a skilled interviewer at this point. The show has only been on a few months here. You can see Dave fumbling for the next question so the guest is going to finish his thought whether he has a finish or not.

[@steez3103]

@@GregDowns it's also about the questions. most talk show now get really personal sometimes, not everyone is comfortable in front of a live camera. people back then didn't need to act and trying to not say some things that the media will then ruin their reputation for some irrelevant opinion. you can't really put the blame on the actors

[@mcd3379]

Great actor, and a brilliant human being. Christopher Reeve was a true star before his horse riding accident, and proved just how incredible an individual he was after it. Smart, funny and a genuine inspiration. He is sorely missed.

[@michaelfinnegan3805]

Too bad he was a major creep.

[@television1088]

Why do the worst things happen to the best of us? And people like Trump get everything in the world handed to them.

[@jwookie25]

He had balls calling out Brando. Then again he was and always will be Superman.

[@kb9788]

Especially Brando the way he was treated with kid gloves and all the acclaim from fan boy actors. Truth was he was a freak, ego maniac and lazy slob. His brilliance in a handful of movies should not have given him a pass.

[@dougreed2257]

Montgomery clift was greater than brando!!

[@ratsorizzi]

Cliff was better than Brando? How?

[@dougreed2257]

@@ratsorizzi how? I could ask the same question really? OK, "from here to eternity" "judgement at nuremberg" "a place in the sun". "I confess" you are a typical Marlon brando "worshiper" of course he was a gifted amazing actor, but he was sloppy and lazy, and careless 'acting wise' later on, yes his best work was captured at the start, but like James Dean, he 'exists mostly because of his legend, and I don't consider James Dean to be anywhere near the quality of brando, dean(sadly) died young, his reputation lives in with his' immortality' never growing old, I honestly don't think he would have had that much longevity if he'd lived!!! A tad overrated in my opinion, again, of course he could act, he wasn't terrible by any stretch, but I think his "legend" is far bigger than his 'total ability' brando, no where near as much though for me had that 'sainted' attachment, honestly, I like brando, some of his early films are amazing, it's just monty clift gets overlooked quit a lot when brando and Dean are mentioned, despite his obvious success, paul Newman does also. Look, it's all subjective, I like brando, clift, Newman, but Dean, not as much, regards.

[@ratsorizzi]

@@dougreed2257 I agree that Brando became lazy and read cue cards and he probably would admit that. If another actor/actors did it and gave great performances, then that's all that matters. I never stated that I worshipped Brando but I see that you put that in quotation marks so we can have a laugh with that. I believe that Brando had range, depth and up to Apocalypse Now played a variety of roles. He changed the approach to acting. There was acting pre-Brando and then post-Brando just like rock changed after the Beatles hit the scene and music videos changed after Michael Jackson. That doesn't mean that every Beatles song was great or every Jackson song/video was either but it's still the overall body of work and new direction to the craft and the same applies to Brando. I have nothing against Montgomery Clift and will definitely look into some of the titles you mentioned. I look at the acting approach before Brando and then his influence after all the way to the present in the same way we can look at rock music before and after the Beatles and videos before and after Michael Jackson. It doesn't mean every Brando movie, Beatles song or Jackson video/song is great but it is the overall body of work that mattered and the three aforementioned mentioned subjects all had depth, range and weren't trying to do the same thing over and over again. Thanks for responding 👍🏽.

[@WSStreit]

Wow, so impressed by Christopher’s candor. What a man who was so full of life. So sad that he was injured so severely at so young an age and then taken from all of us. But a blessing that we were able to witness his great talent. So happy this memory is preserved. Rest In Peace.

[@Lolucomedy]

This is Superman. Likeable, layered, dignified and humble. No one has come close ever since

[@terencethomas7599]

Superman doesn't exist by the way....... Its geared and aimed at a children's market....... Christ, grow up!!!!!!

[@highwaystar3780]

@@terencethomas7599 Really??

[@jacobneumann9388]

Both Reeves and Cavill 👍

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

@@terencethomas7599 : Well for something that doesn't exist it sure is making a lot of money and employing a lot of people.

[@BajaJonny]

Reeve may have lost respect for Brando, but wow ... my respect for Reeve just went way up. An honest gentleman. People don't talk like this anymore.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

People that talk like this today are cancelled.

[@pulmon66]

Reeve passed three months after Brando.

[@KatharinaK117]

@@SurpriseMeJT yep...

[@TheObserver83]

The world was a lot more civilised back then.

[@Mayhap34]

Frankly as awesome of an actor Marlon was, this is a very honest and accurate take of what he became.

[@Magneticlaw]

Just ask Val Kilmer......

[@mattneff1262]

He was honest yet still respectful, a genuine person.

[@layna-heyhey]

Reeve was a smart man. So sad he is no longer with us. He could have been an excellent teacher of acting, public speaking, Script/play analysis, even how to give a good interview. What he said here really could have been taken differently, as more of an insult, but he says it and was firm in what he said. HE had balls and class basically lol.

[@apap1586]

This man was my childhood hero. The man who made us believe a man could fly.

[@armandogavilan1815]

My pot dealer had the same effect on me

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

George Reeves, the first Superman on TV, had the same effect on me. Of course, I was only 4 years old.

[@daviddelaney6757]

​@@armandogavilan1815 nah

[@coach_yo]

Christopher Reeve is a pure gentleman and so glad he embraced Superman. His perforce is enduring and timeless and will always be my favorite portrayal of Superman. Thank you Chris and RIP in the Sky

[@acarnold]

Reeve was very much in control of this interview.

[@roddyboethius1722]

Before Dave started cutting everyone off

[@oolala53]

It was interesting to see Reeves reach out and touch Dave's arm a couple of times. A commanding kind of familiarity but gentle as well.

[@Gemmarose9012]

@@oolala53*Reeve

[@jake1994rock]

The 70s and 80s are just the golden era of talk shows. Carson, Cavett, Letterman era where you had unfiltered interviews with everyone from the then older stars of the silver screen to the then 'upcoming' legends of now. Class era 👏

[@Art_Martial]

This guy had charisma coming out of his ears....

[@cockoffgewgle4993]

Really? He seems like a giant block of wood to me. I'd consider him a fire hazard.

[@Art_Martial]

@@cockoffgewgle4993 ....you sound like a Trumphead

[@fernandomaron87]

Yeah, they've all learned from the OG Brando, the first, the best.

[@Gemmarose9012]

@@fernandomaron87Brando is overrated.

[@alimohammedabd]

A true gentleman and a brilliant actor.

[@neneshubby]

I love how genuine he sounds. He doesn’t sound jealous or bitter or like he’s trying to use Brando to make a name for himself. He sounded genuinely disappointed. It’s true, never meet your heroes.

[@datsun210]

That is real honesty that you never see anymore.

[@erina2027]

Also loved that he said it in the most professional, mature, and classiest way possible when he was being honest

[@Magneticlaw]

It will come back...

[@nattyps3160]

I love his honesty about Brando. This man had it all. Looks Body acting brains ( he went to Columbia then accepted into Juliard which is so hard to get into ) a great athlete at any sport he tried & a great piano player. Then instead of wallowing in self pity when he got hurt so seriously & if he wanted to wallow its so understandable instead he he starts a foundation to help so many people like him. In the news papers they do cartoon drawings about all kinds of things. When he passed the cartoon had superman standing at reeves grave w/ a thought bubble saying " you're my hero " I cried. Another was him as superman free fling away & a wheelchair in left in the phone both. Omg chills. R.i.p. Chris.

[@alohajoe98]

Cornell, not Columbia.

[@dillionoshea7535]

In fairness- Brando went through Hell in his upbringing and instead of using his fame to self indulge he used his status for Civil Rights, LGBTQ and Indian Rights WELL before it was popular to do so (today it’s mainstream to do it). Also I think by the time Reeve met Brando Brando had already despised Hollywood (understandably so)

[@nattyps3160]

​@@alohajoe98right just a typo

[@hallas7584]

The comments about labeling presidents to murderers only gets more true as time passes. I’m really digging the insight of these old Letterman interviews. They are such a departure to current late night interviews.

[@trekkiejunk]

I know this was 40 years ago, but it's so nice to see someone tell it like it was about Brando. Instead of kissing his ass, an actual peer saying openly that Brando doesn't care and was phoning it in. "He took the 2M and ran," is my favorite sentence from this.

[@jedijones]

And with that, Brando's chances of agreeing to appear in Superman 3 and 4 evaporated.

[@Kermit25-f8x]

@@jedijones Brando wasn’t in Superman 2 as well.

[@pouetpouetdaddy5]

@@jedijones he was barely in the first one...pretty much 8 minutes. Reeves had balls to tell it like it is

[@Yousaf_Yunes]

@@Kermit25-f8x He was...it was leftover footage from S1..

[@Kermit25-f8x]

@@Yousaf_Yunes That was in Superman returns. They used Susannah York as is mom for Superman 2.

[@bn3121]

"The directors say: does he have potential. Then the public says: is he interesting. Then the media says: how do we label him" - perfect succinct insight. Christopher Reeve was a very intelligent and wise person.

[@mojo_guru4448]

Have to appreciate the genuine honesty in his answers.

[@toddsalkowski448]

Unbelievable that he was so candid about Marlon Brando. That takes massive balls.

[@knownpleasures]

Unbelievably correct 👍 as well

[@clinicalpsychologist]

Balls of Steel

[@Gpob89]

@@clinicalpsychologist read my mind

[@redrick8900]

Not really. Brando was a common joke in the 80's.

[@wet-read]

​@@redrick8900 But he came back with a vengeance in the 90's with Dr. Moreau

[@loveinspired7]

WOW. Mad Respect for Christopher Reeve; 👍 Speaking straight words without being vicious! He was a good egg.

[@chriskrausesmovie]

dont be mad

[@loveinspired7]

@@chriskrausesmovie ???? Mad about what?

[@FleagleSangria]

Takes some cojones to say that about Marlon Brando. But was right. Some may see Reeves as rather rude or "who does this kid think he is?". But I really think Reeves respected his profession and knew that Brando was the greatest actor of all time and hated the fact that his talent was withering away. Is Reeves young and talking a bit big for his britches? Yes. But I think his motivation and heart were in the right place. He simply wanted Marlon Brando to get back out there and make some great films again.

[@alanmaldonadojr.3285]

Totally agree. And he was honest. Much respect. Hollywood now, there all sold out. All they do is influence on whatever the agenda is in the main stream media. And a bunch of pervs lol. Rip Chris.

[@gheller2261]

What made Brando the "greatest actor of all time"? Because he had a cool name? He was not even in the same league as men like Daniel Day Lewis, Gary Oldman. Sean Penn, DeNiro, Denzel.

[@glp329]

Chris said it perfectly. Not only about Brando but the critics.

[@vandykebeard2216]

@@gheller2261 Brando is a cult whose acting is still copied by many actors, and whose films have influenced many cinema directors. I respect the names you mentioned but saying he was great because of his name, and not giving credit to his body of work is disingenuous.

[@eruption257]

He definitely had reason to be less than enthused by Brando's performance given that he notoriously refused to memorize any of his lines for Superman. Much like in The Godfather, they had to place cue cards in creative places so Marlon would still look naturalistic while, say, reading a tearful farewell to his son off of a baby's diaper. He also insisted on filming the rehearsals - in his words, to seem more naturalistic, but rather obviously a way to cash in on a multi-million dollar paycheck with as little work as possible.

[@kevinoconnor4102]

Read somewhere that when Christopher had his accident Robin Williams who was his friend gave the hospital a blank cheque to the hodpital to pay for Christopher's treatment and rehabilitation. Robin never boasted about it and it wasn't revealed until much later.

[@clarebell5926]

That’s beautiful! ❤️❤️❤️

[@piovillanueva3980]

I'm always left smiling after seeing interviews like this one where the guest, oftentimes a rich, famous, and talented individual, comes in and just has a normal conversation with the host. What I mean is it's a nice surprise from our end (the viewer) to realize we've been won over by how "genuine and real" some celebrities are in stark contrast to the persona/image created by most. By just being who they truly are and saying what they really think, whether or not you agree with them or not, you have to undeniably respect these people who, just from their authenticity alone tells me at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is to live a life that brings joy and meaning. How and why do we make life so difficult and painful when its goal is so beautiful in it's simplicity?

[@danimart3374]

Wow. Kinda amazing to hear Christopher Reeve saying he was NOT excited to work with Marlon Brando on Superman.

[@LloydBraun11]

Brando himself was very open about how he had lost his interest in acting and was only doing it for the money. It had to have been a frustrating experience for Reeve, and I admire his honesty very much.

[@quakethedoombringer]

Imagine you are 20-30 something who is starting in a major blockbuster with a major movie star, only for said guy to act like Steven Seagal on set. Reeve just says the ugly part out loud while the press keeps inflating Brando's ego

[@mainemceachern1521]

Christopher Reeve, what an authentic, insightful and talented soul.

[@mediascribble]

This interview is about 13 years before his accident. What a fateful moment. His life didn't end with the accident, but rather transformed into life devoted to survival and wisdom. We all do it, but Chris had to do it another way. I love some of his non-Superman roles. Somewhere in Time is his and my favorite.

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

I loved him in Noises Off. Brilliant.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

13 years. That's pretty random and not close.

[@purplemist7]

​@@mikekillagreen9432Was there supposed to be a point to your comment?

[@mikekillagreen9432]

@@purplemist7 Is there a point to yours?

[@UmbrellaWatch]

Somewhere in time is still and one of my most beautiful choices...

[@seattlegolfer]

Back when celebrities and talk show hosts had actual meaningful conversations.

[@s.t.3181]

Christopher Reeve was absolutely 100% about Marlon Brando. Refreshing to see a great interview where an actual conversation is taking place and as a viewer you come away with some true insights and perspective. Reeve was a classy, real genuine person.

[@firenze5555]

I respectfully disagree. I bet Reeve would had a different perspective on Brando as a 53 year old man (Reeve lived to 52 years). Reeve was talking as an idealistic young man here. Whether Brando did method or phone it in, his acting commanded the attention of the audience whenever he was on screen. Reeve just didn't understand Brando's level of talent or his introversion. Not everyone wants to be a teacher.

[@spiceweasle3945]

Have nothing but respect for Chris's honesty.

[@JHallenbeck]

Fully agree with Reeve on Brando. It's fine to not take your profession as seriously as some other actors, who think they are more important than they really are. But when you constantly undermine the work that other people are doing in the way Brando did - his blasé attitude and indifference to productions he was in, and his fighting with directors - it is disrespectful to everyone working on the set. I think Brando's ego had grown too big and he could command huge salaries for little work and, as a result, he thought he was above everyone else and could get away with half-assing his job. Reeve called him out in a way few people ever dared to do. And that's what makes him Superman.

[@astrodax2753]

Has anyone else noticed that people on talk shows in the 80s spoke much faster and somewhat more articulate than now? It was like if it was rehearsed

[@tristramcoffin926]

People could think faster back then and weren't worried whether the audience could follow along.

[@astrodax2753]

@@tristramcoffin926 that's true. Also cocaine!

[@KentBuchla]

@@astrodax2753 you’re a dunce

[@dennishickey7194]

No. The level of articulate, coherent speech was expected. The ability to think on your feet was too. Compare that with Trump,Biden, Pence, Harris. Think back on the last two Presidential primary debates of both parties. There was a large field. Who stood out for ideas well-spoken?

[@astrodax2753]

@@dennishickey7194I mean I could think of a few well spoken candidates on the democratic side. Trump and Biden however are from the same generation as those guests on 80's talkshows. One is stupid and the other is demented, and Republican politics is based on incoherent garbage so I wouldn't say it's a fair argument

[@domtam6571]

He really is a SUPERMAN. Reeve was a better person than any character he ever played.

[@jedijones]

Can't imagine the firestorm this would create if an actor said something like that in an interview today. The Don't Worry Darling cast didn't say anything nearly this harsh about each other and it's created a controversy.

[@nross3101]

Quelle chance par You Tube de revoir Christopher Reeve, jeune, beau, talentueux et surtout authentique dans ces années 80 sans censure. Il parle très justement du caractère "spécial" voire fainéant de Brando. Franchement masterclass. Christopher a vécu pleinement et heureusement dans vie. Il aurait pu faire tellement de choses encore pour l'industrie cinématographique. Je n'ose imaginer ces années de calvaire après son accident mais il a tenu bon. Il est un modèle. Il me manque beaucoup. ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@Trick-Framed]

This interview is AMAZINGLY timeless.

[@kaiiii611]

I love both Brando and Reeve. Thanks for posting this

[@Kabra2012]

Man, seeing the man behind the character makes it so clear why he was a perfect Superman. He was in real life what he was when he wore the Cape. RIP to a true gentleman

[@IcyBandicoot]

Wow. Next level charisma. Letterman looks in awe.

[@Kyle7K]

The world could use more of that kind of honesty. That was great!

[@carlosanayamantilla7154]

Christopher Reeve a very honest man...he doesn't belong to this world 🌎 God bless you, Superman 🙏

[@tadgh123xx]

Wow I never got to see what a sincere genuine man Chris was ...and his attitude to acting and life..inspiring...I guess so many years after his death he's still inspiring

[@kamuelalee]

Reeve was Superman. Greatly missed.

[@jodycarter9677]

What a gentleman. Class act willing to say what he thinks.

[@BishopWalters12]

A great actor and I'm glad that he gave some facts about Brando.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

What "facts"? He gave his opinions. And Brando did a fine job in that picture, so I don't know what Reeve is talking about.

[@burlhorse61]

@@Cosmo-Kramer he's not talking about his acting-just his attitude in general.Brando was kind of weird.But most ppl knew that anyway

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@burlhorse61 No, he said he "phoned it in". By "it", he meant his acting performance.

[@danesetner7408]

Did you think Brando’s performance looked phoned in? Of course you didn’t. And your saying Reeves was the great actor lol. Totally ridiculously biased comment.

[@danesetner7408]

@@burlhorse61 Weird? Weird because he didn’t care about a trophy from Hollywood? That instead he used the platform for a cause instead of the crying acceptance speech. Acting was his gift..he didn’t need the adulation and acceptance of other actors. Weird because he bought an island and didn’t bother a soul and was happy? Maybe everyone else is weird trying to acquire material things and working in jobs they don’t love…and are never truly happy. To label a person as weird because they don’t see things as others do or live an independent life is extremely ignorant.

[@hellocousteau6771]

Always makes me sad to watch interviews with this guy because he genuinely looks like a good human being.

[@Steppenwolf3]

Such a genuine young Man.

[@gubernatorial1723]

Didn't realise how bright and perceptive he was.

[@GUISNIP]

He was bang on with his take on Brando!

[@citizenchris099]

the honesty is refreshing! Love it.

[@j.h.lester922]

The videos title says “Christopher Reeves says Marlin Brando has sold out” but that’s not what he said at all. He said “ Marlin Brando has “copped out” which means something totally different from someone saying someone has “sold out”.

[@gabifgt]

he controlled the entire interview, what a masterclass

[@andyroo9381]

I was about 10 or 11 yrs. old when I saw Superman. That movie left me with the biggest crush on Christopher Reeve. I didn't know what it was, at the time, but I still think he is such a handsome man. His riding accident was so unfortunate. My first "Celebrity Crush".

[@bernardoschmidt]

How funny, kind and brilliant was this man....

[@GaryRPeters]

I don't think Christopher Reeve said anything about Brando that Brando wouldn't say about himself at that point. He'd likely scoff at the idea that he could be a leader or that anyone needed a leader. But, for better or worse, Brando, by that, point, saw acting as an ignoble occupation, but felt obligated to continue to pay the bills that way because it was what he knew.

[@robertcarr4172]

This guy was Superman. No one has come close

[@lmc2664]

Love his honesty.

[@sinwithsebastian]

It’s so rare to see somebody speak to truth are the real little pinion nowadays. Respect for that

[@mistressindistress32]

2023 and Christopher Reece is still the sexiest most beautiful man inside and out that has ever walked the Earth ❤

[@starchild101]

Brutally honest. Good for him.

[@luatala8008]

There’s never been another superman even close to Reeve. Spot on re Brando. If people want pay you 2million just for saying a few lines then why not just do it.

[@burlhorse61]

i think it was 10million

[@thuydoan7496]

Christopher Reeve was right about Marlon Brando.

[@cornellharvey6546]

Not only was he (Brando) a great actor but he also was involved with the plight of helping those who were less fortunate. He fought for the rights of Native Americans and played an influential role in the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s. Yes he had his issues but he put those aside and did something to help others which to me was more important than his career as an actor.

[@Brisingam]

No one inspired more actors than Brando did! He inspired greats! And so he deserved peace instead of what Reeve wanted.

[@DarksaberForce]

I always felt while Brando loved acting he hated all the b.s. and fakeness of Hollywood. Another actor I can think of the same mindset is Christian Bale.

[@willcardona7712]

@@DarksaberForce Brando never loved acting. He saw it as useless and meaningless. He even called the job dull, boring, and neurotic. He just did it for the money and the massive vacation times it gave him. Don't believe me? Read his book.

[@ktoth29]

He lived in a bubble and was high on his own farts. Saying he cared for the plight of natives is like saying Michael Jackson really cared for sick kids…it’s probably true but also sad and pathetic.

[@pikebishop8516]

​@@willcardona7712 true. I'm lying for a living, I had just found people crazier than myself whom are paying for that.pure brando!

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

Certainly proving that he's not just a pretty face or buff body... he was sharp as a tack and witty. And he had Brando's number.. who was an outstanding talent that let his fame dull his edge.

[@isuriadireja91]

ironic that Reeve loved being high in the air...then had his accident while on the ground, riding a horse. The guy's a real life daredevil. RIP.

[@chrismlone]

He really was thee PERFECT Superman casting.

[@selfiekroos1777]

1:55 "Until something else happens" 4:54 "You go up and hope you come down again in one piece" 5:06 "Superman crahes" Damn Marlon sure made all this come true

[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

Wow, such honesty, you don't see that nowadays. Even celebrities and talk shows were better back then.

[@Brisingam]

Richard Donner: "When I first came on the picture and I heard how much Marlon Brando was paid for it, I was really upset, because it seemed like much more money than anyone is worth. But then working with him and seeing him on film, to me, he is underpaid.”

[@sekarpertiwi4077]

Thats show how great brando acting in this movie

[@thelaurels13]

I appreciated his honestly. What a wonderful guy who left us way too soon.

[@JakeSmith-rv1hm]

I admire Reeve's authenticity here. However, as a big Richard Donner Superman fan, Brando nailed Jor-El. He was perfectly cast.

[@JakeSmith-rv1hm]

@@gloppyplop7511 oops

[@painkiller1968]

Watch the behind the scenes stuff of Brando. What it took to get him to read his lines. Way over payed.

[@fuferito]

I liked Brando in _Superman,_ but the man insisted on calling it Krypt'n. It's “Krypt-on.”

[@IrishCarney]

Meh, any authority figure actor could have done Jor-El just fine. Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Cary Grant (if you could have lured him out of retirement), and those are just some huge names. You could just as easily cast a nobody with gravitas.

[@OvercookedOctopusFeet]

That unafraid honesty is so rare, then and now.

[@Skoora]

It’s when we can speak openly and honestly like this, without fear of offending is when real humanity exists. The very reason he surmised that Brando didn’t care, from having his ass kissed and praised no matter what he did over the years is exactly why Brando needed to hear what he said. Who knows if he heard it and it made him think about his state of mind and possibly get re-invigorated to find a way to care about it again. This is why we need honest talk among adults without fear of cancellation or internet reprisal. Imagine if Chris Hemsworth had had the same experience with Anthony Hopkins in Thor and said it just like that. We would have had an ocean of clickbait videos and articles about Chris Hemsworth destroying or humiliating Hopkins. “Thor calls Odin a Hasbeen!” Damn, our current culture is just depressing.

[@viktorkopinc4055]

Well said. Only thing I'd add that Hopkins is an institution in this case, not Brando, Americans lacked great acting skills so they made a God out of Brando, who would openly address social problems that were not talked about while at the same time not being there to actually stand for that idea as if he wasn't truly interested in the first place. Fed up with publicity so he did things to make them mad. Can't remember reading of Hopkins being problematic or pushing his terms like that.

[@viktorkopinc4055]

@@SkyNetGeneral- glad that you was there to witness it. Find me a article where those natives praise him the way I can find articles where they felt let down by Marlon for firstly risking his life and career only to put them in the same basket as the people who wanted to earn on his name. Like an article that isn't run by the media of the juice. You know real journalism, the thing your people know nothing about. Has it crossed your mind that you don't have the right to talk about disgusting since U.S. is the mass murderer of the world? If I was American, I'd shut the fack up. Since you have magically set foot on the surface of the moon, I don't buy your phony heroism, saving the world etc. But very American of you the way you felt being fabricated to lecture. My ass.

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

Wow, REALLY nice interview. Thank you Christopher Reeve. Thank you for being wonderful. May you be with God.

[@Whoknowsuknow]

For an actor that didn't care, Brando was a great Jor-El. Brando didn't owe anybody anything, he started to dislike the business, and regularly talked it down. After that Native American woman was booed at the Oscars, who can blame him? In the end, he was right about Hollywood and how phony it all was.

[@Brisingam]

No one inspired more actors than Brando did! He inspired greats! And so he deserved peace instead of what Reeve wanted.

[@AM-jm5ux]

Yea but don’t take the job then and make 2 million, let someone else who really wants to work take the job, because all you do with your negativity is bring everyone else down and make the experience a bad one as you can see by Christopher’s response. Very selfish. Sorry doesn’t get a pass cause you were once talented.

[@Brisingam]

@@AM-jm5ux Richard Donner: "When I first came on the picture and I heard how much Marlon Brando was paid for it, I was really upset, because it seemed like much more money than anyone is worth. But then working with him and seeing him on film, to me, he is underpaid.”

[@Brisingam]

@@hotrox2112 Pacino met his hero Brando and was happy. Also director of Superman Richard Donner said: "When I first came on the picture and I heard how much Marlon Brando was paid for it, I was really upset, because it seemed like much more money than anyone is worth. But then working with him and seeing him on film, to me, he is underpaid.” So it's Reeve problem, not Marlon's.

[@dillionoshea7535]

@@AM-jm5ux I respectfully disagree sir. Brando was ALWAYS talented- On the Waterfront, The Godfather ect. He was also VERY dedicated towards Civil Rights, Indian Rights, LGBTQ (at a time where it was UNPOPULAR to do so). I find Mr. Brando to be a better humanitarian and actor than Mr. Reeve could’ve hoped to be.

[@barbarakauppi9915]

What an unapologetically decent, genuine, and interesting human being. What a glaring contrast to the regurgitated plastic corporate hype-machines of today. He deserved so much better..

[@dreamawake2670]

Reeve was for more gentle than the headlines here.

[@Josue166]

He was one of favorite actors ever!!! Loved how green behind the ears he was.. So honest and no bothered by the Hollywood machine

[@PC-lu3zf]

Reeve was a fine actor such a loss if only he hadn’t had that accident he could still be here at 70 acting and entertaining us still.

[@joaniekeyser4036]

Ikr, it's my opinion that had he been alive and able bodied when they started casting for Man of Steel that he would have been a good choice for the role of Jor-El. And he would have definitely done it way better than Brando imo. He would have actually memorized his lines instead of reading them of strategically placed cue cards, I can tell you that.

[@PhillipCummingsUSA]

@@joaniekeyser4036 fantasy land must be an awesome place

[@joaniekeyser4036]

@@PhillipCummingsUSA just my opinion, bruh. Crowe was good as Jor-El, believe me, but I stand by my previous comment.

[@darkknightwithanidea1845]

WOW !!! Chris Reeve … so honest & so great .. they lost a true gem when he passed. A valuable human being.

[@marycahill546]

It feels so odd hearing him speak like this before his fall off the horse and paralysis. We all take the future for granted, don't we?

[@wrennewman6868]

Christopher Reeve unapologetically you are my Superman. ♥

[@andrewgonzalez6208]

How did the best guy ever have to leave us early. And so tragically.

[@facetina]

I dont know why they call this guy Christopher Reeve, this is obviously Clark Kent with contacts.

[@simransidhu3444]

I think acting was so damn easy for Brando that perhaps he didn’t fully respect his own gift. But that irreverence is also a part of why his performances are so f**king great. So, it’s a package deal. Brando “phoning in” Jor-El is still better than most actors going full tilt.

[@IcyBandicoot]

Fair

[@rawheadrex1972]

Amen. Well stated.

[@Stanleyt1107]

He was witty and funny, "It's the highest you can get, legally." 😂