Superman (Salkind films) him to contradict Jor-El's orders to avoid altering human history, time traveling to save her from dying. Superman instead takes the advice of Jonathan Kent, his father on Earth. One of the most important aspects in the first and second films was the romantic relationship between the two main characters; Clark was hopelessly in love with Lois and even gave up his powers in order to be with her as depicted in "Superman II". The character and the portrayal by Christopher Reeve has garnered positive reviews by film critics and many other journalists. American Film Institute ranked Reeve's take on
Christopher Reeve Robert Allan Ackerman. Later in the year, Reeve played a disabled Vietnam veteran in the Broadway play "Fifth of July". In his research for the role, he was coached by an amputee on how to walk on artificial legs. After "Fifth of July", Reeve stretched his acting range further and played a homicidal novice playwright trying to kill his lover and mentor Michael Caine in Sidney Lumet's dark comedy film "Deathtrap" based on the play by Ira Levin. The film was well received. After "Superman II", Reeve portrayed partially corrupt Catholic priest John Flaherty in "Monsignor". Reeve felt this gave