My dad says that when I saw this in the theatre as a kid, I leapt out of my seat and yelled when Superman flew for the first time.

Watching it on the big screen again 40 years later, I believe it. Even though the digital image quality at this 40th anniversary screening wasn’t the best, the sound was good. And, as in so many other movies, John Williams’ score is half the special effect — just hearing it fill the auditorium had me soaring again. (Christopher Reeve’s ability to turn himself into Superman, even without the costume, is the other half of the effect.)

Also, like the preposterous ending, I find Lois’ goofball poem more endearing as time goes by — part of the magic that no other superhero movie has even come close to capturing.