Narrated by Kevin Spacey, Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman is a comprehensive feature-length documentary containing interviews, rare footage and extensive information about "The Man of Steel."

Although Superman first appeared 1938, he almost never made it to comic book pages. The character’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, met in 1931 while students at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio. As described in this film, the two were loners who became fast friends because of their mutual interest in science fiction, adventure stories, and comic strips. Siegel was a reporter for the school newspaper and Shuster was an artist. Siegel began using Shuster's artwork to accompany his stories, thereby forging a legendary partnership.

In 1932 the pair worked on and produced their own 8-10 page magazine called Science Fiction which they shipped out by post. In January of 1933, their magazine published a story called “The Reign of Superman.” The title character was an insane villain who used telepathy to try and destroy Earth.

Siegel and Shuster took a second look at the character and decided to make him into a force for good, someone who relies only on physical powers and has dual identities (plus a costume modeled after the kind used by circus acrobats). With this approach, Superman was born! Feeling they had a sure thing, Shuster and Siegel attempted to have their comic strips published. But they met with constant rejection.

Fortunes changed when Shuster and Siegel became  employees of National Allied Publishing (later known as DC Comics) in 1936. The pair worked on a few titles before the publisher faced a dilemma two years later. A new title called Action Comics was to be introduced, but editors could not come up with a compelling character to anchor the book and bring in repeat readers. Siegel and Shuster dusted off Superman and used their previously written comic strips, which National Allied Publishing accepted and printed. The rest, as they say, is history.

Superman was so popular that in 1939 the publisher made the unprecedented move to create a comic book solely devoted to his adventures. At the time, this was considered risky as it had never been done before. In 1940, Superman was given his own radio show. The first mention of Kryptonite and its power to weaken Superman was made on this program. 

When World War II broke out, Superman became a moral crusader and supporter of our allies. While comic book covers often featured Superman and our enemies, the stories themselves would never touch on real life events, thoughts, or emotions about the war. The publisher felt that a fictional character in a comic book could not begin to solve the world's problems, so why try? During the war, Superman fans were encouraged to buy War Bonds and recycle scrap paper. Many of these early Superman comic strips and books are a rare find and highly valuable.

In 1948, a 15-part Superman serial, starring Kirk Alyn, made its debut. However, George Reeves, a classically trained actor who appeared in Gone with the Wind, became television’s first and best known Superman in 1953. Reeves' career had been in a downward spiral when he became Superman, and he played the role for nearly seven years after appearing in a 1951 feature film entitled Superman and the Mole Man. In 1959, Reeves was found dead, apparently a suicide. 

While watching this excellent documentary, viewers will be surprised at footage from a never before seen television pilot called Super Pup in which Superman is a puppy/reporter and other characters, even Lois Lane, are cats, dogs, mice and rodents -- with little people in masks doing the voices.

Viewers will also see screen tests for Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Lesley Ann Warren, Stockard Channing and other actors who auditioned for the Superman and Lois Lane roles in the 1978 Richard Donner film. Also of interest are the film's many interviews with writers, illustrators, comic book legends, and additional actors.

Spacey's perfect narration adds considerably to an already stellar production rendered by director Kevin Burns. Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman was the closing film at this year's Hot Docs: Canadian International Documentary Film Festival. This documentary is a must-see for Superman fans and for those likely to be converted by director Bryan Singer's Superman Returns later this month.

(Released by Warner Home Video; not rater by MPAA.)

Review also posted on www.movie-critiques.com.