Opening on krypton where marlon brando plays supermans father, the film follows the man of steel christopher reeve as hes sent to earth where he develops his alterego clark kent and is raised. The richard donner director s cut is a reedited rendering of the legendary superhero film that closely follows the original script and restores the lost footage originally shot by donner in 1977 before he was taken off the project. The second one shows luthor trying to stop superman by the use of heavy arms, fire and ice. Worse, directors cut editor michael thau cant compare to original editor stuart baird supermans just an exquisitely edited film, an aspect i dont think it ever gets. Even so, even i found little that added to the movie with this extended cut. Youll believe a man can fly mildmannered clark kent works as a reporter at the daily planet alongside his crush, lois lane. As a child i originally saw this in 1978 in the cinema and was completely. Every dc comics movie ranked, including batman v superman extended cut photos we have what might be the most important scene in. Special edition as part of a 2film collection from the warner bros archive collection.
The dc character is well known and not just due to its recent reboots. It features a significant amount of lost footage shot by the original director, richard donner, in 1977 before he was taken off the project and replaced by richard lester, who not only completed the remainder of the film for its theatrical release, but also rewrote and reshot a substantial. The movie director richard donner is not happy the film s extended cut is making its way to bluray. Sep 21, 2017 as we await any news on a potential man of steel sequel, the warner archive collection has announced that the threehour extended cut of superman. The first one shows superman in the fortress of solitude, talking to his father jor. Superman changes his mind when he saves lois because she complains too much. Cut from the 1978 theatrical cut, these ladies had the shock of their lives, when they showed up on the abctv two night event in 1982.
While not a perfect film, it felt more in line with the tone of the first superman movie, whereas lester s cut included more slapstick elements. The movie and an extended tv version that runs over. Events are presented chronologically from their cinematic conception to the theatrical and home video releases, television airings and beyond featuring vintage and recent interviews with producers alexander and ilya salkind, pierre spengler, menahem. Clark must summon his superhero alter ego when the nefarious lex luthor launches a plan to take over the world. An independent studio, lippert pictures, released the first. In 2006, however, the original donner footage was retrieved and was combined with lesters footage to create superman ii. The story begins with superman s birth on the doomed planet krypton and follows him on his arrival to earth, his childhood in kansas and his career as reporter for the daily planet. More were seen when donner was able to complete superman ii. Now in the extended cut rediscover superman with nearly 40 more minutes of story unseen in decades. This boxset also contains both the theatrical and directors cuts of the original movie. At the end of this episode, reeve and welling appeared in a short spot inviting people to support the christopher reeve paralysis foundation.
In fact, donner had filmed a large number of scenes and, according to star margot kidder lois lane, shot enough scenes to make his own cut of the film. The film began with a marquee or theatre curtain opening on a black and white projected film, dated june 1938. An international coproduction between the united kingdom, switzerland, panama and the united states, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring marlon brando, gene hackman, christopher reeve, jeff. Even in 1978, everyone knew supermans origin or at least enough to understand the rest of the movie. The richard donner cut, featuring the fall, resurrection and his battle with evil. July, 1983tuesday, july 19, 1983 superman iii uk royal premiere. As with the comics, zorro asserts his influence here as well. The movie as deleted scenes, but the full, 188minute version that. He debuted in cinemas in a series of animated shorts beginning in 1941, and then starred in two movie serials in 1948 and 1950.
An independent studio, lippert pictures, released the first superman feature film, superman and the mole men. Director richard donner had made the first modernera superhero film with the original superman in 1978. Since abcs broadcast, some of the footage included in the extended cut has made its way into previous releases of superman. Get the best deals for superman 2 dvd richard donner at. It is based on the dc comics character of the same name and stars marlon brando, gene hackman, christopher reeve, margot kidder, glenn ford, phyllis thaxter, jackie cooper, trevor howard, marc mcclure, terence stamp, valerie perrine, and ned beatty. Starring the late christopher reeve as the adult version of the titular character, superman ushered in a new era for the man of steel, becoming the first liveaction version of the character since george reeves portrayed him in the 1950s tv series save a oneoff. However, when the producers of the film alexander and ilya salkind were looking to sell the tv rights, abc offered to televise the movie as a pay per minute deal. The original 1980 video release came out at 2 hours and 7mins. Most additions of note were included in the 2001 cut. The original superman is rightfully considered a classic among fans, thanks to christopher reeves iconic performance, the groundbreaking special effects and for bringing the titular hero to life.
The movie is a 1978 superhero film directed by richard donner, based on the dc comics character of the same name. Dec 02, 2015 15 directors cuts of famous movies way better than the theatrical versions posted on december 2, 2015 december 2, 2015 by andy kubica there are many reasons why movie directors may not have final cut over their own films. Finally released as visionary director richard donner originally conceived and intended, superman ii. New superman ii the richard donner cut blu ray disc super man part 2 movie 1978.
Granted, the source photography often went with an intentionally soft look, but even when i took that into account, the image failed to deliver better than average delineation, so it tended to seem a bit mushy. The current dvd, in addition to containing the 2000 restored directors cut, has 2. The scenes of reeve and welling feature music cues from 1978 s superman. The bluray for the extended cut will be packaged along with superman. The movie in some listings and reference sources is a 1978 superhero film directed by richard donner. Sep 24, 2010 in other words, donner intrudes on the film in progress its kind of like talking during the movie or a big cg jabba the hutt all of a sudden appearing. In reality, i have never seen the full movie until now. The movie, composed by john williams and arranged by mark snow. Sep 26, 2017 in 2006, however, the original donner footage was retrieved and was combined with lester s footage to create superman ii. The caped wonder superman podcast on apple podcasts. The movie received an aheadofitstime makeover for its television premiere nearly 40 more minutes of story, creating a twonight television event.
The thing superman still has going for it, even as its cutting edge youwillbelieveamancanfly effects age, is christopher reeve. Salkind which reached its climax with the debacle called superman ii. W arner brothers recently announced a release that combines both a special edition cut of richard donners 1978 blockbuster superman. In the year 2000 the directors cut of superman was released. Alas, superman was the most famous superhero at the time and the rights were acquired. The movie was an expensive and ambitious production for its era, with donner being. The combination pack houses both discs in a standard bluray keepcase, with no booklets or other inserts. And the re edited donner cut of superman ii, which largely removes some of the sillier aspects of the 1980 theatrical version which is also included. Decades before blockbuster extended cuts were common, superman proved a true man of tomorrow. In the year 2000 the director s cut of superman was released. So, as you can imagine, on tv it was in hideous pan and scan and with several scenes missing.
However, on the 2006 dvd collection, which is the first release to have the original theatrical cut on dvd, the 5. Superman directors cut vol 3 1 superman wiki fandom. The sequel was supposed to be shot at the same time as the first film. If watching richard donners directors cuts have taught me one thing, its donner probably shouldnt have final cut. The movie channel sponsors a superman adventure sweepstakes contest. I had only ever seen the tv version of the original superman movie until i bought the hddvd. Christopher reeve as the man of steel in a bigbudget epic with oscarwinning effects. When it comes to dc comics movies, the words extended cut dont especially bring much excitement, at least lately. The first one shows superman in the fortress of solitude, talking to his father jorel about the advantage of his supernatural powers. The movie director richard donner is not happy the films extended cut is making its way to bluray. The movie extended cut and special edition on bluray decades before blockbuster extended cuts were common, superman proved a true man of tomorrow. A large amount of the additions are due to longer shots showing superman walking to the fortress of solitude for the first time and other similar establishing shots. Superman holds up well after almost 40 years and remains a class act. Here are 10 facts you probably didnt know about superman 1978.
With christopher reeve, margot kidder, gene hackman, marlon brando. Superman is a 1978 superhero science fiction drama film directed by richard donner, based. The fictional character superman, an american comic book superhero in dc comics publications, has appeared in various films almost since his inception. The movie the extended cut made its debut on television, it looks like warner bros. Superman 1978, richard donner, the directors cut the. The anticipation of the tv cut coming to home video was no doubt dulled when warner bros. In 1976 a pair of fatherson producers were trying to find the perfect way to score a box office success. Appearing featured characters superman clark kent supporting characters coming soon villains coming soon other characters coming soon locations coming soon. Every dc comics movie ranked, including batman v superman extended cut photos we have what might be the most important scene in the entire movie for superman as a person. Clark must summon his superhero alter ego when the nefarious lex luthor launches a. The 4 disc special edition is a must have for each fan of this film beacuse its the only dvd release including the director s cut and the theatrical cut as well. Why christopher reeves superman is so hard to forget. The movie received an aheadofitstime makeover for its television premiere nearly 40 more minutes of story, creating a twonight television. Superman appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.
And i have to admit, it s far, far superior to bryan singer s selfindulgent mess of superman returns. In 2006 the last son comic book story arc debuted in action comics, cowritten by superman director richard donner. Director richard donner had input into that cut of the movie, and. Extended cut and special edition 2film collection bluray warner bros.
Find release information for superman the movie 1978 richard donner on allmovie. Forty years ago, richard donner and christopher reeve made superman, a film that directors have been chasing for years, depicting who america was then. Apr 19, 2020 cut from the 1978 theatrical cut, these ladies had the shock of their lives, when they showed up on the abctv two night event in 1982. Jul 08, 2006 superman changes his mind when he saves lois because she complains too much.
While not a perfect film, it felt more in line with the tone of the first superman movie, whereas lesters cut included more slapstick elements. The movie with forty minutes of extra footage is flying up, up, and away to home video. Extended cut of the action adventure directed by richard donner which stars christopher reeve as the eponymous dc comics superhero. Dec 14, 2018 forty years ago, richard donner and christopher reeve made superman, a film that directors have been chasing for years, depicting who america was then or at least who we wished to be. Due to the extreme deterioration of the original sound effects track, the film s sound effects were rerecorded for the 2001 dvd release. The movie 1978 cast and crew just before the destruction of the planet krypton, scientist jorel marlon brando sends his infant son kalel on a spaceship to earth. Sep 19, 2017 the extended version of director richard donner s 1978 superhero classic superman. Despite how much i adored this movie, i could tell they had to leave a lot on the cutting room floor that would have made for a cleaner narrative. Dawn of justice with thirty more minutes, which didnt do much to change opinions on the film, except to the most devoted fans.
The success of superman opened the door for other masked marvels in colorful costumes and 1978 s superman. The warner archive collection has announced the upcoming release of superman. Richard donner, 143 minutes, 127 minutes video, 151 minutes restored and expanded film plot summary. Then they thought of a new way to produce a superhero movie. With his 1978 film superman starring christopher reeve returning to theaters to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, director richard donner recently discussed his plans to included brainiac as one of the villains in his version of superman iii if he had continued to work on superman films. As a child i originally saw this in 1978 in the cinema and was completely blown away from start to finish. The warner archive will soon release the extended cut of superman. Years before extended cuts were a commonplace rerelease for movies, the original richard donner superman movie received a bumper cutnearly 40 minutes longerwhen it aired on tv. Batman v superman extended cut actually makes sense. However, the more than threehour extended cut becomes a slow, lackluster curiosity. The threehour version of the blockbuster that aired on abc in 1982. Starring christopher reeve, margot kidder, marlon brando, gene hackman, valerie.
The extended version of director richard donners 1978 superhero classic superman. The movie is an immensely entertaining recounting of the origin of the famous comic book character. The movie threehour extended cut is finally coming. The extended cut bluray provides mediocre picture and audio but the presence of the special edition version adds value. The richard donner cut is a 2006 reedited director s cut of the 1980 film superman ii. An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive homes first and greatest superhero. Sep 20, 2017 threehour extended cut of the original 78 superman. Blu ray superman 2 ii the richard donner directors. It was decided to film both superman and its sequel superman ii 1980.
The story begins with supermans birth on the doomed planet krypton and follows him on his arrival to earth, his childhood in kansas and his career as reporter for the daily planet. The movie 1978 just before the destruction of the planet krypton, scientist jorel marlon brando sends his infant son kalel on a spaceship to earth. The movie first premiered on december 15, 1978 to over 500 theaters across the usa, the film had a running time of 144 minutes. The richard donner cut directors cut blu ray region free see more like this. Superman director richard donner wanted brainiac in superman iii. In a 1980s abctv version of the film, when superman is trying to get to lexs underground hideout, he is subjected to machine gun fire, a giant blow torch, and is frozen in ice.
Much of this footage was used in superman ii, in the scene where supermans powers are stripped away by the molecule chamber in the fortress of solitude. The movie inspired the kinks 1979 song wish i could fly like superman, when the bands main songwriter, ray davies, watched the film in late 1978. The current dvd, in addition to containing the 2000 restored directors cut, has 2 deleted scenes both of lex babies, and seen in the tv edits in their original context, and alternate audio scoring for 8 sequences including. I just hope that the directors cut is part of the first wave of home releases and not an extra super special edition released a year later. Most of the new material are smaller sequences with plot extensions, but there are two bigger sequences added as well.
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