The Tragedy

It was sad to hear about what went down with Gene Hackman, his wife and their dog recently.

Yesterday morning, it was revealed that the bodies of Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and the pet had been found dead at their New Mexico home.

The two-time Oscar winner was ninety-five years old.

As I grew up technically a child of the 70s (by a few months), it should come as no surprise when I state that my introduction to Hackman's work was as the villainous Lex Luthor in the Superman films.

I have obviously seen some of his other movies. I even won a DVD of The Royal Tenenbaums on TalkSport radio back in the early 2000s. 

So yes - the Superman franchise is what I'll remember the most about Hackman. However, I also have a very random movie of his that I have been thinking a lot about since hearing yesterday's news.

It's a Vietnam war film titled, Bat 21, which was adapted from a book by William C Anderson. 

I recall my dad renting the film from a video shop and we watched it the following morning before we had to take it back.

Bat 21 must have been released around the time when Superman IV: The Quest for Peace was also available from the shop. I recall thinking how much his character was a direct opposite to Lex Luthor.

Whatever happened to Hackman, Betsy Arakawa and their pet is tragic. Unfortunately their deaths become another chapter in the tragedy that has become of many stars from the Superman franchise.