lew@ihuxr.UUCP (Lew Mammel, Jr.) (03/04/84)
Superman's loss of power in order to marry Lois Lane has an obvious inspiration in myth. Gilgamesh's best friend, Enkidu, had superhuman strength as well as the ability to pacify beasts. He was robbed of these powers by being seduced by a harlot. After six days and seven nights of solid sex, he was reduced to normal status. This idea was in THE FORBIDDEN PLANET, where Anne Francis lost her power over animals after falling in love with Leslie Nielsen. I remember her asking Nielsen (the Captain Kirk prototype) why her pet tiger attacked her. He responded incredulously, "You don't know?" I realize the Superman case is different technically, but I think it's really the same concept. Lew Mammel, Jr. ihnp4!ihuxr!lew
hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) (03/11/84)
<it's a bird, it's a plane, it's enkidu!> | This idea (sex=loss of power) was in THE FORBIDDEN PLANET, where Anne L Francis lost her power over animals after falling in love with Leslie e Nielsen. I remember her asking Nielsen (the Captain Kirk prototype) w why her pet tiger attacked her. He responded incredulously, "You don't | know?" Oh, come on! The answer to that one is obvious in the storyline. Her FATHER, Prospero (er, Dr Morbius) was the creator of the animals and completely controlled them via his subconscious mind. Her love for Der Kaptain, being percieved by Morbius' vile subconscious as being rejection of him, motivates the tiger to attack the person who is rejecting him, along with the "thief" who stole his love. The Enkidu idea provides interesting information but it seems rather subtle for the likes of Salkind (who seems to have thought the scene at the end with Lois having her brains sucked out was real elegant.) Actually, the "Woman of Kleenex" idea is a stronger motivation for his actually choosing to lose his powers. Hutch