Category: Superman: The Movie

Though forever American as Apple Pie, Superman’s cinematic seeds were sewn in Europe –

Having secured the rights from DC Comics, infamous producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind had originally planned to shoot the adventures of the Man Of Steel in Italy until a series of unfortunate events and shifting economy steered the production toward the UK.  At once occupying large portions of both Pinewood and Shepperton studios, the Superman series was brought to life by the cream of British technical talent and craftsmen whose talent & dedication lives on through the finished picture…

From the top, more vintage full-page ads from Daily Variety and Screen International dedicated to the BFI and UK Box Office takings (The figure seems laughable now but in adjusted dollars is probably trillions), A personal thank you from the producers to the BFI for their support, a promo for Pinewood Studios in the form of a daily shooting schedule (notice the other ongoing shoots including Moonraker) and finally a dedication to gifted matte artist Les Bowie, one of a trio of irreplaceable British technicians (Geoffrey Unsworth/John Barry) who sadly passed within months of Superman’s release…

The first from a series of vintage full-page ads from Daily Variety starting with the initial artwork presented by the Salkinds when Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger) was in place as Director.

Its interesting to see the film as we know it evolve from these announcements highlighting additions to the cast.  With Hamilton eventually replaced and after a well-publicised and lengthy search it was finally made official that Superman himself would be played by 24 year old ‘newcomer’ Christopher Reeve.  Also of note is Peter Boyle’s casting as Otis in a role eventually filled by Ned Beatty. To date the reason for his replacement remains unknown.

As these prints play an important part in the documentation of the film’s genesis I have removed the yellowing with age in an effort to present them as they were originally intended…

While its legacy remains unquestioned, It may come as a surprise just how many awards Richard Donner’s Superman earned back in the day – A record yet to be surpassed by any other film of the genre?

From Wikipedia;
Superman was nominated for three Academy Awards (Editing, Music (Original Score) and Sound), and received a Special Achievement Award for its visual effects. Richard Donner publicly expressed disgust that Production designer John Barry and cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth had not been recognised.  Superman was successful at the 32nd British Academy Film Awards. Reeve won Best Newcomer, while Hackman, Unsworth, Barry and the sound designers earned nominations. The film won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.  At The Saturn Awards Kidder, Barry, John Williams and the visual effects department received awards, and the film won Best Science Fiction Film. Reeve, Hackman, Donner, Valerie Perrine and costume designer Yvonne Blake were nominated for their work as well. In addition, Williams was given a nomination at the 36th Golden Globe Awards and won a Grammy Award. In 2007, the Visual Effects Society Superman as the 44th most influential use of visual effects of all time.  In 2008, the film also received recognition from the American Film Institute.  Superman was selected as the 26th greatest movie hero of all time. The film was considered for AFI’s 100 Years..100 Cheers, but didn’t make it past the ballot.  In 2009, Entertainment Weekly ranked Superman 3rd on their list of The All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture.  Listed named it the #174 greatest movie all-time on its list of 500.

From the top; Variety trade ad for the BAFTA’s, two rare stills of Christopher Reeve and Gae Exton at the award ceremony (Gae’s card reads; ‘Awarded to Christopher Reeve’) and a short interview with FX guru Colin Chilvers…