The fascinating story of the making of one of the first big special effects movies after Star Wars. Petrou covers everything from the beginning of the concept by Ilya Salkind and Mario Puzo's first screenplay all the way through the tumultuous battle between the cost-cutting producers and Director Richard Donner, who was trying to make the movie have a true epic feel. (Thankfully, Donner won the battle, but not without cost: he was fired from Superman II.)

The highs and the lows are covered: from the attempt turning the movie into a comedy by scriptwriter David Newman, to Technical Consultant Tom Mankiewicz's trying to play it straight, to the hiring of Richard Lester by the producers to keep watch on Donner. Marlon Brando's performance, the blackout in the hot summer in New York, and the search for a star...Christopher Reeve.