SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE

YES, I know you’re probably sick and tired of me writing about superheroes at this point. But I’ve only just begun! The only difference is that this time we will be taking a look at a DC COMICS superhero instead!

created by writer JERRY SIEGEL and artist JOE SHUSTER. He first appeared in “ACTION COMICS #1, a comic book published on April 18, 1938. He appears regularly in American comic books published by DC COMICS, and has been adapted to radio shows, newspaper comic strips, cartoons, T.V. shows, movies, video games/mobile games/apps and he even had his own Broadway musical [which was later turned into T.V. Special]!

Here are some good examples for you as proof:

[COMIC BOOKS,] “ACTION COMICS #1: SUPERMAN [JUNE, 1938]”

[“SUPERMAN’S” very first appearance]

[COMIC STRIPS,] “SUPERMAN #8148” [REMARQUED IN 1982]

[RADIO,] “THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN” [1940-1951]

[One of the show’s ads.]

[ANIMATED THEATRICAL SHORTS,] “MAX FLEISCHER’S SUPERMAN 1941-1942”

[WEEKLY MOVIE SERIALS,] “SUPERMAN [CHAPTERS 1-15]” [1948]

[T.V.,] “THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN” [1952-1958]

[GEORGE REEVES as “SUPERMAN/CLARK KENT”]

[ANIMATED T.V. SHOWS,] “SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES” [1996-2000]

[ANIMATED MOVIES,] “THE DC UNIVERSE MOVIE: THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN”

“THE DC UNIVERSE MOVIE: REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN” [2019]

[“THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN” AND “REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN” are both installments of “A 2-PART DC UNIVERSE MOVIE EVENT!” that is heavily inspired by the DC COMICS graphic novel also called “THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN”.]

[GAMES,] “INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US” [2013]

[LIVE-ACTION FEATURE-LENGTH MOVIES] “MAN OF STEEL” [2013]

[AND THE MUSICAL!] “IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE…IT’S SUPERMAN”

[The original Broadway show poster.]

[An add for the T.V. version!]

Did you know that filmmaker J.J. ABRAMS had his own “SUPERMAN TRILOGY” planned? In the 20 years between “SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE” and “SUPERMAN RETURNS” many parties attempted to revive the damaged Superman brand and all of them failed to get off the ground. However, few failed as loudly and spectacularly as SUPERMAN: FLYBY”.

Written by ABRAMS, the script attracted directors such as BRETT RATNER and McG and was the first in a proposed trilogy. But then the internet got involved. When details of the script hit the still relatively young net, geeks all over the world were appalled by ABRAMS' reinvention of the “SUPERMAN MYTHOS”. “LEX LUTHOR” as a government agent obsessed with UFOs who is secretly an alien? “KRYPTON” not being destroyed and being home to a civil war that “SUPERMAN” gets involved in? The potential of ASHTON KUTCHER putting on the red and blue tights? The fan outcry was enormous and severely tainted the project, but it was McG's refusal to shoot in Australia that ultimately killed “SUPERMAN: FLYBY”.

[ABRAMS on the set of 2009’S “STAR TREK”.]

Did you know that Director RICHARD DONNER was offered the job while he was using the toilet?

Before DONNER got the job Producers ALEXANDER and ILYA SALKIND had hired GUY HAMILTON to Direct both “SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE” and “SUPERMAN 2” back-to-back. But HAMILTON had to back out at the last minute due to some legal issues involving being banned from filming on location in England!

Desperate to find a new Director the SALKINDS decided on “THE OMEN” [1976] Director RICHARD DONNER! In an interview DONNER claimed that ALEXANDER SALKIND offered him the job while he was still on the toilet! Here’s what DONNER said during the interview:

“I was hot. It was just a high point in my life, because I had done a lot of TV and then “THE OMEN”. I was getting a lot of calls and I had no idea where I was going. And then I got this call from Alexander Salkind.

He said, “Do you know who I am?” and I said, “No. Why are you calling me?” He said, “I’ll get to that. I’m a producer. Did you ever see “THE THREE MUSKETEERS”?” I said I did see it, and he said “I produced that.” And I said, “The way I hear it, they tried to release a second picture without paying the actors.” He said, “Well, that’s a long story. I’m making “SUPERMAN”. I don’t have a director and I’ll pay you a million dollars.”

A million dollars! That was like saying, “I’ll give you all the tea in China.” I said, “Oh. How many pictures is it?” He said, ”Two. I have MARLON BRANDO for X number of weeks and I have GENE HACKMAN, and we start shooting on such and such date.” I said, “Whoa, that’s close.” He said, “But we’re all prepared. We’re ready to go.” I said, “What’s your script like?” He said, “Perfect.”

DONNER would later discover that the script was the exact opposite of “perfect”. Speaking of the script:

Did you know that the script was so long and so bad that DONNER demanded that it had to be completely rewritten?

When the SALKINDS began the project, they wanted a high-profile writer to boost the film’s profile, and decided on “THE GODFATHER” Author MARIO PUZO. After spending some time with editors and DC COMICS to familiarize himself with “SUPERMAN” lore, PUZO got to work and produced a massive script spanning two films and 500 pages. The script was later rewritten by DAVID and LESLIE NEWMAN and ROBERT BENTON. When DONNER joined the film, which ALEXANDER SALKIND had assured him was “perfect,” he demanded rewrites.

“It was disparaging,” DONNER recalled. “It was just gratuitous action. I’m reading this thing and “SUPERMAN’S” looking for “LEX LUTHOR” in “METROPOLIS”, and he’s looking for every bald head in the city. And then he flies down and taps a guy on the shoulder and it’s [“KOJAK’S”] TELLY SAVALAS, who hands him a lollipop and says, ‘Who loves ya, baby?’

“I was brought up on “SUPERMAN” as a kid. There was a whole point in my life where I read “SUPERMAN”. So when I was finished with it, I was like, ‘Man, if they make this movie, they are destroying the legend of “SUPERMAN”.’ I wanted to do it just to defend him.”

To “defend” “SUPERMAN”, DONNER called in his friend TOM MANKIEWICZ (“LIVE AND LET DIE”), and the two began reshaping the story.

[A RICHARD DONNER SIGNED COPY OF THE FILMS OFFICIAL SCRIPT!]

Did you know that there are multiple versions of RICHARD DONNER’S “SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE”?

Three versions of this film were produced with over 40 minutes of film that was removed from the original theatrical version! ABC offered to pay the SALKINDS for every minute that was not shown in theaters. This resulted in making a special 2-Night-4-Hours-Long T.V. movie event! [A 2017 Blu-Ray release would shorten it to 3 hours due to having no commercial interruptions!] Eight minutes of the “EXTENDED CUT” were re-added into the film for the “SPECIAL EDITION” 2001 DVD/VHS releaseses.

[THE 1978 “THEATRICAL VERSION”,]

[THE 2001 “SPECIAL EDITION”]

[AND THE 2017 “EXTENDED CUT”.]

All of the sequels, except for “SUPERMAN RETURNS”, also have alternate/extended versions produced for T.V. and one alternate DVD version of “SUPERMAN 2” called “SUPERMAN 2: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT”.

[“SUPERMAN 2: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT”, THE DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASE.]

[“SUPERMAN 2: THE RICHARD LESTER CUT”, THE THEATRICAL RELEASE.]

Did you know that Cinematographer GEOFFREY UNSWORTH mistakenly believed that he had caused the NEW YORK CITY blackout of July 13-14, 1977, by plugging in a spotlight to a lamppost while filming “SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE”?

In fact, many New Yorkers believed it too because of the air conditioning and lights needed to film their scenes. The studio put out an apology just in case, but the Mayor demanded an investigation. It turned out an electrical storm had caused a lightning bolt to strike one of Consolidated Edison's key transmission lines, knocking out all electricity in the five boroughs of New York and Westchester County, and plunging some ten million people into darkness. Filming continued thanks to mobile generators and air conditioned cars.

[UNSWORTH at work.]

Sadly UNSWORTH passed away before the release of “SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE”.

Here are some quick little fun facts from IMDb just for you!:

1- MARLON BRANDO was paid $3.7 million, plus a percentage of the gross, for twelve days of shooting. The payment also covered the sequel, which was shot at the same time. Brando did not appear in the sequel, because he'd sued ILYA SALKIND, claiming Salkind had not paid him his percentage of the profits. He ultimately received about $14 million for ten minutes of screentime. The footage shot for the sequel was used in “SUPERMAN RETURNS” (2006). [Some of BRANDO’S footage can also be seen in “SUPERMAN 2: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT”.]

[BRANDO AS “JOR-EL”]

2- According to ROGER MOORE’S autobiography, he witnessed CHRISTOPHER REEVE walking through the canteen at Pinewood Studios in full Superman costume, oblivious to the swooning female admirers he left in his wake. When he did the same thing dressed as Clark Kent, no one paid any attention!

[ROGER MOORE AS “BOND, JAMES BOND” - I am not sorry for using that line!]

3- To obtain the musculature to convincingly play Superman, CHRISTOPHER REEVE underwent a bodybuilding regime supervised by DAVID PROWSE, the man who played Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy. [PROWSE also originally auditioned for the role of “SUPERMAN/CLARK KENT”. But he was turned down for being to british!]

[PROWSE AS “LORD VADER”.]

4- STEVEN SPIELBERG was offered the chance to direct this film. Producers balked at the salary he asked for. They decided to see how “JAWS” (1975), which he had just completed, did at the box-office. That movie was a huge success, and Spielberg went on to other projects.

[SPIELBERG AT “THE 79TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS”.]

5- During the scene in which Superman and Lois go flying together and then Superman flies away, there is no cut between Superman flying away and Clark showing up at Lois' door. This was done using a pre-recorded movie of Superman flying away on a screen, with Lois standing in front of it. Then, as she walks away from the balcony, she crosses from the screen to the set with her apartment, where she opens the door to reveal the real-time Clark Kent.

[“CLARK KENT” transforming into “SUPERMAN” [CHRISTOPHER REEVE] from the movie “SUPERMAN 3”. I couldn’t find the right images for the scene we were talking about, but it does fit in with our next fact!]

6- CHRISTOPHER REEVE proved to be an even greater asset than anticipated after being cast. Reeve flew gliders as a hobby and used his experience as a pilot to make Superman's flying feel more believable. His performance as both Superman and Clark Kent was roundly praised in making the superhero's secret identity seem surprisingly convincing.

7- To obtain the "glowing" effect of the clothing on Krypton, the wardrobe department spent weeks sewing tiny glass balls on to each actor's apparel. If the "material" was accidentally touched, the oils on the actor's hands would interfere with the lighting effect, leaving a dull patch on the costume.

[THE KRYPTONIAN COUNCIL]

8- When the young “CLARK KENT” races the train, he is said to be eighteen years old, while “LOIS LANE”, who is inside the train, appears to be considerably younger. MARGOT KIDDER, who played the adult “LOIS”, was four years older than CHRISTOPHER REEVE, who played the adult “CLARK”. This can easily be explained from the comic book source material where “SUPERMAN” has been shown to have a slower metabolizim and ages much slower than human. This is either due to not being human at all, or from the abilities given to him by earths yellow sun.

9- The Kryptonian costumes were made of Scotchlite, a material used to make movie screens and reflective clothing. It was also used for the light-saber blades in the Star Wars franchise, and as the lettering on expressway signs.

[A couple of “STAR WARS” “LIGHTSABERS”.]

10- The film of the black-and-white sequence that opens the movie is shown in reverse. The sequence was filmed starting with a close-up of the Daily Planet panel followed by a zoom-out. Then the child's hand turns each page left-to-right, then closes the cover. (As the child turns each page and then closes the cover, notice that the corners fold in the opposite direction of how they should fold.)

[An image from the films opening scene.]

Well, that’s all I have for this entry. in the semingly immortal words of “SUPERMAN”: “UP, UP AND AWAY!” [FFWWOOSSHH!].