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FEATURED SUPERVIDEOS
SUPERGIRL FIRST FLIGHT- U.S. THEATRICAL VERSION
SUPERGIRL was released worldwide outside of North America in July 1984 and throughout the summer, with a running time of 124 minutes. By the time the film reached U.S. theatres in November, it had undergone a drastic cut to its length, and what American audiences saw was and almost 20 minute shorter version, featuring alternate music and dialogue, different takes and new shots.
The most obvious cuts were in the arrival of Supergirl on Earth sequence, with the discovery of her powers by crushing a rock and making a flower bloom with her heat vision scenes excised, and numerous flying shots shortened, as well as the deletion of her landing and posing against the sunset at the end of the sequence.
At a running time of 2 minutes 8 seconds, this sequence runs 2 minutes, 36 seconds shorter than as seen in the 124 minute International Version and 138 minute Director’s Cut.
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE 2001 Expanded Edition theatrical trailer.
SUPER TRIVIA
The SUPERMAN III and SUPERGIRL photos were taken within nine months of each other and on the same stage, the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios in 1982 and 1983.
YESTERYEARS NEWS TODAY!
47 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II-
Friday, May 4, 1977. H Stage, Shepperton Studios.
Director Richard Donner films the Fortress of Solitude interior for both films.
VIDEO: Behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews.
29 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN IV-
Wednesday, May 4, 1994.
The international version airs on WGN.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Friday, May 3, 2024
45 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
May, 1979.
Christopher Reeve is voted greatest build in a “Super Shapes” competition sponsored by The Diet Workshop.
PICTURED: Article from the time.
36 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Tuesday, May 3, 1988.
The film airs on WSBK.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
35 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Wednesday, May 3, 1989.
The film airs on WZTV.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
34 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN III-
Thursday, May 3, 1990.
The extended TV version airs on WXIN.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
33 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN III-
Friday, May 3, 1991.
The extended TV version airs on WDZL.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
47 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Tuesday, May 1, 1977.
The first photos from the production appear in the press. The most common used photo is of Marlon Brando holding Lee Quigley as baby Kal-El with Susannah York’s image cropped out.
PICTURED: Production photos and article from date.
34 YEARS AGO TODAY-
CHRISTOPHER REEVE-
Tuesday, May 1, 1990.
Christopher Reeve hosts THE WORLD’S GREATEST STUNTS documentary on FOX.
The show was first aired on ABC on November 3, 1988.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
23 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Tuesday, May 1, 2001.
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE is released on DVD with 8 minutes of director approved added footage, a newly created sound mix, and numerous special features, including three new documentaries, deleted scenes, screen tests, unused music cues, and an audio commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz.
Widescreen editions of SUPERMAN II–IV, containing only the theatrical trailers as a special feature, are also released on DVD.
This marks the first time the fourth film has been available in widescreen on home video in the U.S.
The four films are also sold separately and in a box set on DVD and in full frame on VHS, with the SUPERMAN THE MOVIE VHS containing the theatrical trailer before the movie and the Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve screen tests after the feature.
PICTURED: Magazine ad and article from the time.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
47 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II-
Saturday, April 30, 1977. Shepperton Studios
Stockard Channing screen tests for the role of Lois Lane
PICTURED: Screentest footage.
36 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Tuesday, April 30, 1988.
The film airs on KMSP.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
33 YEARS AGO TODAY-
SUPERMAN III-
Tuesday, April 30, 1991.
The extended TV version airs on WFLX.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
33 YEARS AGO TODAY!
CHRISTOPHER REEVE-
Saturday, April 27, 1991.
Christopher Reeve guest stars on CAROL & COMPANY.
Reeve would begin filming NOISES OFF with Carol Burnett the following month.
PICTURED: Television guide articles.
32 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN IV-
Monday, April 27, 1992.
The international version airs on WPHL.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Friday, April 26, 2024
32 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN IV-
Sunday, April 26, 1992.
The international version airs on KTLA.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
28 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Friday, April 26, 1996.
The film airs on KPIX.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
34 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN III-
Wednesday, April 25, 1990.
The extended TV version airs on WFLX.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Monday, April 22, 2024
32 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN II-
Wednesday, April 22, 1992.
The theatrical version airs on WPIX.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
38 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN III-
Sunday, April 20, 1986.
ABC premieres the extended tv version of SUPERMAN III from 8-11pm.
Following the tradition of previous airings of the Superman films on ABC, this showing featured some 19 minutes of added footage that was cut theatrically, including a newly created opening credits sequence, giving the film a 141 minutes running time.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
VIDEO: ABC TV spots and intro.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
41 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERGIRL-
Monday, April 18, 1983. Pinewood Studios.
The film begins principal photography.
PICTURED: Director Jeannot Szwarc, Helen Slater, executive producer Ilya Salkind, producer Timothy Burrill.
31 YEARS AGO TODAY!
CHRISTOPHER REEVE-
Sunday, April 18, 1993.
THE SEA WOLF premieres on the TNT cable network.
PICTURED: Television guide ad
Friday, April 12, 2024
47 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and SUPERMAN II-
Monday and Tuesday, April 11 and 12, 1977. B Stage, Pinewood Studios.
Marlon Brando spends two days filming his Krypton trial scenes with Sarah Douglas, Jack O’Halloran and Terence Stamp.
VIDEO: Behind the scene footage and cast and crew interviews.
45 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Thursday, April 12, 1979.
The film is playing in theaters everywhere.
VIDEO: Newspaper ad.
43 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN II-
Sunday, April 12, 1981.
The film opens across the UK.
VIDEO: Newspaper ads.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
41 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN III-
Monday, April 11, 1983.
The 55th Academy Awards are held in Los Angeles, and Christopher Reeve and Susan Sarandon are presenters to Luis Gossett Jr. for Best Supporting Actor in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.
Out of curiosity, one of the other nominees is John Lithgow for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP, a role Reeve later said he regretted turning down due to pressure from people around him, and here is Lithgow getting a nomination for the part.
Margot Kidder is also in attendance, her film, TRENCHCOAT, was playing in theaters.
SUPERMAN III is just over two months from its U.S. theatrical opening.
PICTURED: Images and articles from the time.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
45 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN THE MOVIE-
Monday, April 9, 1979.
The 51st Academy Awards are held in Los Angeles, and Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder are in attendance to represent SUPERMAN THE MOVIE’s various nominations.
Reeve confirms he has settled his lawsuit with the producers of Superman and will be returning for SUPERMAN II.
-WIN-
Special Achievement in Visual Effects: Les Bowie, Colin Chilvers, Denys Coop, Derek Meddings and Zoran Perisic
-NOMINATIONS-
Editing: Stuart Baird
Original Score: John Williams
Sound: Gordon K. McCallum, Graham Hartstone, Nicholas Le Messurier and Roy Charman
PICTURED: Various images from the evening.
43 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN II-
Thursday, April 9, 1981.
The film opens theatrically in London.
PICTURED: Newspaper ads.
Monday, April 8, 2024
43 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN II-
Wednesday, April 8, 1981.
The film has its London premiere with Sarah Douglas, Terence Stamp and Margot Kidder in attendance.
PICTURED: Various images from the evening.
40 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERMAN III-
Sunday, April 8, 1984.
The theatrical version airs on the HBO premium cable channel.
PICTURED: Television guide ad.
39 YEARS AGO TODAY!
SUPERGIRL-
Monday, April 8, 1985.
The 106 minute U.S. theatrical version and SUPERGIRL- THE MAKING OF THE MOVIE are released on home video in North America.
PICTURED: Home video ads and articles.
