This fall, it’s going to be a different kind of return for Superman, as Warner Home Video. re-releases–or releases for the first time, depending on how you look at it–Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut on DVD.
The special edition boasts never-before-seen footage, including a new opening, a reconfigured soundtrack, and all-new as well as different scenes than what has come before. The disc hits stores on November 28th.
Casual moviegoers may be scratching their heads over how and why this special edition came to be. But hardcore devotees of the Man of Steel have long been aware of another version of the 1981 super-sequel–reels and reels of film forever locked in cold storage as a result of a bitter feud–until now.
It’s a complicated story, but it goes something like this: Production of the original 1978 film Superman: The Movie, directed by Richard Donner (who was hot off the success of The Omen and would go on to direct the Lethal Weapon series, as well as the recent 16 Blocks), actually involved two movies in one: both the first installment and the sequel were filmed concurrently, in what was still an unprecedented move in the pre-Lord of the Rings days. Such a decision saved untold millions and eased scheduling headaches.
But something happened on the way to the multiplex. Donner and his producers, Ilya and Alexander Salkind, who controlled the franchise, had a serious falling-out. After enough footage was completed to turn out the first film, Donner wasn’t asked back–despite its box office success. In his place, Richard Lester, the British director behind such popular films as A Hard Day’s Night and The Three Musketeers, was brought in to complete the sequel.
But despite the fact that a large portion of the sequel was already in the can, the Salkinds made the curious decision to scrap much of what was already done, and assign Lester to re-shoot, and in some cases, completely reconceive many critical sequences. And the final movie, which featured the escape of three Kryptonian villains, each with powers to rival Superman, was not only seamless, but a huge success. Thanks to bigger action and stronger romance, it actually remains a fan favorite.
But over the years, word began to spread about the missing footage, and cinephiles with a critical eye began to carefully scrutinize home video versions, finding hints here and there of behind-the-scenes jockeying–hairstyles and film stock vary within a scene, and Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor sounds different from take to take (possibly even overdubbed by another performer). Word spread of fighting behind the scenes, and pieces began to fall together. As curiosity peaked, fans began an online petition, insisting that Warner Bros. release the footage.
And so this fall, there will be proof once again that Hollywood does occasionally listen to the fans. Not only will the footage be released, but a special DVD edition of the film has been cut together, re-integrating the missing material back into the movie. Warner Bros., which until now had barely acknowledged the row between Donner and his producers, is still mum on the details. But the studio now stands by its once-fired director, and said in a statement, “Richard Donner has become the first director in history to be able to complete a film he left during production.”
Donner, along with the DVD’s producer Michael Thau, previewed the disc at the San Diego Comic-Con this summer. Talk about targeting your audience: A crowd of thousands burst into cheers at the sight of the late Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, looking so young, again filling the roles of bumbling Clark Kent and plucky Lois Lane.
Also on hand were Marc McClure, who played Jimmy Olsen, and Jack O’Halloran, who played the hulking non-speaking Non, right hand man to the evil General Zod, and Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane opposite George Reeves in the 1950s TV series The Adventures of Superman and made a guest appearance as the young Lois’ mother in the first Donner film (she can also be spied as Lex Luthor’s aged sugar mama in the recent Superman Returns).
“You’re going to be able to see Superman III [in a way] which will remind people of how great Richard Donner was as a director, how great Chris [Reeve] was and how great Superman was,” said McClure, who, despite some flecks of grey in his hair, still retains a boyish charm and enthusiasm. He recalled what it was like to see new footage of himself onscreen with Reeve and Kidder. “It was almost like an out-of-body experience watching it, because I remember shooting it, but never saw it. It had just been sitting somewhere. It’s brilliant, brilliant stuff.”
O’Halloran was just as pleased. And although he said he enjoyed the most recent installment, and star Brandon Routh, who filled the cape quite admirably, he insists the original films can hold their own with many of today’s blockbusters.
“It was such a great film,” said O’Halloran, in a soft-spoken voice that belies the menacing character he portrayed onscreen years ago. “I mean, it stood the test of time and even with all the CGI that they’re doing today, I still don’t think they can top what we did in Superman II.”
