DC is responsible for some of the most memorable protagonists in comic book history and arguably shaped what the modern “superhero” character looks like. Storytellers’ obsession with mythic heroes can be traced back through classic characters such as Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Tarzan. However, the inspiration for the members of theJustice Leaguedates back even further, as many of these characters can be compared to key figures in mythology. When compared to the other DC heroes,the hero known as “Captain Marvel,”later known asShazam, has a somewhat different backstory; he is essentially a child’s fantasy of what a hero would look like. It turns out that this hero was actually a real person, asShazam was modeled off of the Golden Era film star Fred MacMurray.
Billy Batson, a 14-year-old foster kid, gains the ability to transform into an adult superhero with a single magic word. With the help of his foster brother Freddy, Billy explores his new powers and learns what it means to be a hero. As he faces off against the villainous Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, Billy must master his abilities to save his family and the city from impending doom.
Captain Marvel Was Inspired by Fred MacMurray
Although it took a film based on theShazam!comics far longer to reach the big screen compared to other comic book heroes, the character made his comic debut only shortly after DC successfully introduced the characters of Batman and Superman in the late 1930s. Created by the artistC.C. Beckand comic book writerBill Parker,Shazam first made his debutin an issue ofWhiz Comicsin 1940. While other DC heroes had powers that were inherent,Captain Marvel is the alter ego of the child Billy Batson. Upon speaking the phrase “Shazam!,” Billy has the power to turn into a towering superhero who has the ability to fly, possesses superhuman strength, and can run incredible distances without breaking a sweat.
The moniker “Shazam” draws from six significant figures within mythology. When donning his superhero alter ego, Billy has the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. While the mythological roots were key in identifying the character’s powers, Captain Marvel is a relatable character because he resembles a real person. When first bringing the character to life,the Fawcett Publications artistsdrew inspiration from the Hollywood actor Fred MacMurray’s distinguished appearance.Although MacMurray served as the primary basis for the character, other influences includedthe heroes played byCary Grant.
Although the Captain Marvel name would eventually become the source of a dispute with Marvel Entertainment, Shazam quickly proved to be a fan-favorite character with young readers. While the powers of Superman or incredible wealth of Batman may have felt intangible,the notion of a young child obtaining superhuman abilities based on their strong sense of ethics and kindness was very attractive to youthful audiences.It didn’t take long for Fawcett Comics to capitalize on the characters’ popularity, as they created the 12-part black-and-white serialThe Adventures of Captain Marvelin 1941. Once the rights to the Shazam character were acquired by DC Comics,the anti-hero Black Adam was brought backfrom his sole appearance inThe Marvel Familyto be his archnemesis.
Who Was Fred MacMurray?
Often regarded as one of the more underrated actors ofthe Golden Age of Hollywood,MacMurray was known for playing heroic characters with upstanding moral qualities.While it was his imposing physicality that likely shaped the influence of the Shazam character, MacMurray’s sense of humor was also one of his defining characteristics. Compared to the more serious, contemplative tone of some of the other DC comic book series at the time, theShazam!comics were more humorous, and at times satirical of the genre. They continue to add a welcome “outsider’s perspective” on heroism that shows what being a hero looks like from a child’s point-of-view.
MacMurray first rose to prominence in the late 1930s with roles inHands Across the Table, The Princess Comes Across, Swing High, Swing LowandTrue Confession. Although a majority of his projects were more melodramatic in tone,MacMurray ironically achieved greater popularity after theShazam!stories became more prominent within American comic book culture.MacMurray was given the chance to act “against type” by playing the villainous insurance salesman Walter Neff inDouble Indemnity, a film regarded as bothone ofBilly Wilder’s best worksand one of the greatest neo-noir thrillers ever made.
Given thatShazam!comics were more squarely aimed at younger readers, it’s not entirely unsurprising thatMacMurray began to star in more family-oriented films as his career progressed. 1947’sThe Egg and Iwas a breakthrough movie that showed that his physicality could be perfectly utilized for a romantic comedy, as his chemistry withClaudette Colbertwas widely praised. He wouldlater star in such Disney classicsasThe Shaggy Dog, The Absent Minded Professor, Son of Flubber,andThe Happiest Millionaire.
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Zachary Levi Channeled Fred MacMurray in the ‘Shazam!’ Movies
AShazam!film was certainly a risk for DC Studios, as the notion of a child becoming a superhero seemed somewhat simplistic compared to the darker direction that many DC comic book films were headed. However,David F. Sandberg’s 2019Shazam!provided the “back to basics” approach to the genre that the DC universe needed in the wake of the failures ofBatman v. Superman: Dawn of JusticeandJustice League. It’s not hard to seethe similarities between Zachary Levi’s performance and MacMurray. Both actors have a playful sense of innocence that gives their films a light sense of irreverence;the useless post-credits scene in Shazam!wasn’t even a distraction because the film was so much fun.
Although the first film was a surprise box office hit that signified a new direction for DC’s cinematic outings, its sequelShazam! Fury of the Godswas a critical and commercial disappointmentthat effectively killed the franchise. Now that the DCEU has ended, andJames Gunnis full steam ahead on the DCU,it seems unlikely that Levi will reprise his role in a thirdShazam!film. Should the character eventually be recast for a new iteration, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the influence of MacMurray in the role.
Shazam!is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
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