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Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Christopher Reeve in Deathtrap
'This is Clifford Anderson, my secretary; my friend...'
I've posted about the beauty and handsome face of actor Christopher Reeve many times on the site. One of my favorites was Chiseled. This post and review of Deathtrap, actually was first featured back in 2018, but I thought, given the theme, it needed a return, along with a video clip!
After watching 1982's film version of Deathtrap, I couldn't help but feel it really was better suited for the stage. The Ira Levin written play premiered on Broadway in 1978 on Broadway. The character of Clifford Anderson, played by Reeve in the film, was played by Victor Garber in the original production, a role Garber received a Tony nomination for.
The 'play within a play' framework seems better suited for the stage than on film, and although not necessarily confusing, was not as fun as I imagine it was to see on the stage. That being said, I enjoyed the movie, the performances and Christopher Reeve's brief shirtless scene. Although not as bulked as he was for Superman, Reeve looked amazingly lean and hot. As you can see, Michael Canine's character thought so as well....
Supervillain
'Every villain is only as great as his hero", and I am the villain of the story'
Lex Luthor
I've not loved every actor who has taken on the role of Lex Luthor, but one of my favorite portrayals was that of actor Michael Rosenbaum in Smallville. I know that Homoeroticism is in the eye of the beholder, and maybe seen more by gay viewers, but to me, there was quite a bit of it in Smallville.
In part, it was because Clark was played by former Abercrombie and Fitch model Tom Welling, and shirtless so often. Some of those scenes with Welling as Clark, shirtless and tied up were certainly meant to get a reaction from viewers. I previously posted about Clark's vulnerability and how homoerotic some of the scenes seemed to be. (Leaps & Bounds) I also posted about the Smallville 'nude' scene, which featured not Welling's butt, but the butt of a future Property Brother. (HERE:)
There was something distinctly homoerotic about Lex and Clark's relationship in Smallville, that I believe goes beyond just my imagination and wishful thinking. I think in part, it was intentional, maybe from the writers, but in large part due to Rosenbaum and how he played the role. Although Lex had girlfriends on the show, I challenge most of you to name one. Lex's primary focus on the show, maybe verging on obsessive, was hot young Clark.
Rosenbaum was brilliant in the role, and as dastardly as his deeds could be, he also played Lex, as many did before him, with more than a dash of tongue and cheek. In addition to having Clark has his focus, there were scenes where Lex seemed to treat Clark like property, even subtilling flirting with him from time to time.
I also found Rosenbaum also to be very gay friendly, even flirting with the audience about Lex's sexuality. He seems pretty secure in who he is and gave the role his all. It doesn't hurt that the actor also seems to LOVE dropping trou and showing off is butt as almost any, and every opportunity.
I also think there was something that came seeped through with the casting of openly gay actor John Glover as Lex's father Lionel. It was anything specific really, just another small piece of the show's homoerotic puzzle.
Although Rosenbaum didn't seem to need any particular reason to moon a crowd, one of my favorite Michael moonings came from the 2014 film Back in the Day. (below) In the film, his character gets into a moon off with another driver.
The Kryptonian Queer Connection:
'Well, I've been up to bat twice, and twice I've caught you staring at my ass.'
I thought about leaving Dean Cain out of today's posts, but then decided against it. Although he's Maga, and chomping at the bit to join ICE, he was a big part of my Superman education. I used to love watching Lois & Clark on Sunday nights when I was a teenager and crushed over Cain as Superman. I loved his back and forth with Lois, (Teri Hatcher) and also thought Justin Whalin, (below) and Michael Landes were cute as Jimmy Olsen.
I also had to include Cain as he appeared in one of the gayest projects of any Superman. 2000's The Broken Hearts Club focused on the turbulent lives and loves of a gay clique based in Los Angeles. Cain was believable in his role, especially flirting with Timothy Olyphant. It's hard to believe knowing who he is, and what he's become, he once starred in a film alongside gay icons like Billy Short, John Mahoney and Jennifer Coolidge.
I don't believe actor Tyler Hoechlin has played a gay character, but he's certainly been involved in several homoerotic scenes on screen. For starters, there are almost too many to list just on the supernatural teen drama Teen Wolf. (below) There was also the moment above in the 2018 film Bigger.
I have a soft spot for actor Brandon Routh who I think got the short end of the stick as Superman. He was perfect to play the tight wearing hero and had a beautiful sincerity as Clark Kent. Unfortunately the movie wasn't that great and Routh only got to wear the cape on the big screen the one time in 2006's Superman Returns.
It looked like we might not see Routh again, but he's since made a name for himself on the small screen. In 20212, Routh took a comedic turn playing Wyatt, the boyfriend of Michael Urie's high-strung character Louis on the CBS sit-com Partners. Sadly, as appealing as the cast was, the show last just one season and 13 episodes.
On the big screen, Routh had a small role in the Kevin Smith comedy, Zack and Miri Make A Porno. It was said to have been star Seth Rogen's idea to have Routh and Justin Long play a gay porn couple.
Routh & Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns
Our current big screen Superman, David Corenswet played gay, (or maybe bisexual) in Netflix's The Politician, In the series, River, (Corenswet) has a romantic relationship with Payton Hobart, (Ben Platt(. River is portrayed as Payton's secret lover and political rival in the show. Corenswet also had a few homoerotic scenes in Ryan Murphy's Hollywood.
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