i mean, i know it was a big thing in the 70s, hell, it still is...but was it SO HUGEW that rather than make a capt america movie/tv show, they just basically made a motocross rider, who happened to have a red white and blue costume. whose bright idea was that?
the 70s were a bad time for superheroes, esp on tv. i remember hw disappointed i was when capt amertica was wearing a motorcycle helmet instead of his cowl. horrible.
I can't really recall [I was only 5]. I would say that they were trying to capitalize on the Evel Knievel thing, but that phenomenon was pretty much over by then.
’Cause there’s thunder in your heart... Every move is like lightning!
Evel Knievel is a factor, but Cap had always been associated with a motorcyle, for transport. Even in the 40's he would commandeer a Nazi motorcycle. He rides a motorcycle in the Republic serial, as well. It allowed for stunts, while it fit the character and was less costly than building an "Americamobile."
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Also, due to advocacy of a group called 'Action for Children's Television' in the late 1960's, TV producers in the 1970's were afraid of doing fight scenes. ACT was partially responsible for networks pulling Superman cartoons and the Wild, Wild West off the air. Because fight scenes were considered risky, TV of the 1970's and early 80's featured a lot of car chase scenes and related stunts. Every episode of CHIPs had at least one airborn crash, same for Dukes of Hazard.
I completely agree... the costume just looks awful. But at least his shield symbolizes the colors of America, ya know Red, Transparent and Blue xD
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum-If You Want Peace, Prepare For War
I said commandeer, not steal. If you actually read the comics of that period, he didn't have his own motorcycle. he usually "borrowed" one from elsewhere.
As for the costume, if you saw the first film, they started with a completely different one. I was in the audience for a panel about adapting comics to film, and vice versa, at a comic convention in Atlanta. On the panel were Julie Schwartz (DC editor of Superman and ambassador at conventions) and Mark Gruenwald (senior editor at Marvel). Gruenwald talked about how Marvel had been in such a rush to try to get their characters on tv that they basically signed away control of how the character was handled. They had no say in the costume change and pleaded with the production company to make it something closer to the comics, which led to the scene at the end where he is in the regular suit (plus helmet with wings). That followed on into this film. Schwartz was stunned that they had no say in the character, pointing out that any fundamental changes to the DC characters required their approval, though not the actual script. Marvel got lucky with the Hulk, where the changes allowed for the smaller tv budget, but kept the fugitive aspect of the character (maybe a little too much of the "Fugitive"). Spider-Man didn't fare to well, though it was relatively close to the comics, minus any costumed villains.
The panel was kind of funny, at the beginning as Schwartz detailed the many DC successes (Fleischer cartoons, serials, Superman tv series, Batman tv series, 70's Superman and Wonder Woman, Burton Batman, upcoming Flash tv series...) while Gruenwald went through the litany of Marvel failures (Cap serial, tv pilots, Spider-Man cancellation, unsold Power Pack pilot, Punisher and Cap films...). The Hulk was their one success (they skipped talk of animation, mostly), though they did announce upcoming major film projects of James Cameron directing Spider-Man and possibly X-Men. This was around 1991. We al know how those projects turned out. Also on the panel was artist Joe Staton, who was an editor at First Comics in the 80's. he witnessed the development of the short-lived Sable tv series, based on Jon Sable, Frelance. At one point, Gene Simmons was involved! Eddie Murphy was also interested in a movie version, at one point. That would have been disasterous! As it was, the tv series has little to recommend, aside from Rene Russo.