Just before posts resume from the contents of the ‘Big Red Book’ of storyboards from Superman IV: The Quest For Peace I offer this fantastic vintage article from the pages of Retro-Vision magazine. Besides a thorough chronicle of the Superman series (with an emphasis on the extended editions long before their subsequent discovery and release on DVD) the issue contained this unpublished storyboard set showing the Metro Club exit and Nuclearman 1 battle in its entirety shot for shot. As the only other evidence of this sequence at the time was the comic adaptation and a few grainy photos, this, as you can imagine, was quite the revelation. Enjoy Martin Asbury’s energetic art and rue the fact we have yet to see Superman’s emergence from the Ladies room on film. Part 2 plus cover coming soon…
To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the US release of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace this month in Theatres, I present this archival feature from UK Sci-Fi magazine Starburst #110 with insights from Nuclearman himself, Mark Pillow.
Of particular note is the Superman IV prop exhibition attended by both Mark and leading lady Margot Kidder in London’s Hamleys toy store where the interview was conducted on 22nd July 1987, some two days before the UK premiere. Note Mark’s portrait against what looks like a model of the Soviet Satellite from the opening sequence of the movie –
SUPERMANIA is looking for any more pictures and info from this event – did you attend all those years ago during its seven-week run? I’d love to hear from you…!
SUPERMANIA brings you a comprehensive update on this archive post regarding the above full-size prop re-photographed by me only days ago –
As previously reported, the Baby Kal-El Starship had been mothballed waiting to be researched for exhibition in the London FIlm Museum until its discovery and subsequent identification by a visiting fan. The presumption was that the meteorite was the prop used in Richard Donner’s original Superman: The Movie but upon close inspection I can exclusively reveal it is in fact no such thing. Instead, the prop currently residing in the Great Hall is a relic from the opening scenes of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace.
Proof of this is the orifice in the right hand side of the inner chamber (second pic down) where the ‘Energy Module’ left by Lara as her ‘Last Gift’ to her son Kal-El emerges before being removed. As the crash landing scenes in Donner’s ’78 picture were shot in Canada, it was always curious as to how the ship made its way back to the UK in such pristine state when Part IV’s location work was limited to these shores.
I recommend a visit to the museum to see this piece up close as its remains a well maintained prop and a genuine piece of Movie history. Should the London Film Museum wish to update their plaque to identify the item correctly and with accompanying stills, however, they are more than welcome to contact me…
SUPERMANIA brings you yet another intriguing European collectable – this time with the German Superman IV: The Quest For Peace comic adaptation.
In stark contrast to the hastily produced US standard four-colour version (lacking all the attention lavished on the Superman III issue with its photo covers, etc.) and presented as a colourful, glossy magazine, this publication includes a feature and the godawful German poster (above) as a centrefold. Quite why the European Cannon advertising exec felt the compulsion to decapitate Daniel Goozee’s beautiful one-sheet art so his four-year old child could have a go at painting around it still baffles. That and the questionable publicity for NASA to promote their Nuclear missile..?
Presenting the final set of unpublished photographs taken by ‘ParkStreetParrot’ of the cast & crew on location during the shooting of Superman IV: The Quest For Peace.
Beside his starring duties, Christopher Reeve took story credit (along with Lawrence Konner & Mark Rosenthal) and also second unit direction. From the top, Reeve having fun/practicing his golf swing, Gene Hackman & Jon Cryer rehearsing their escape alongside the camera car and Reeve awaiting his call…
