More never before seen behind the scenes images from the SUPERMANIA collection on location with Superman IV: The Quest For Peace –
The decision to shoot the entirety of the fourth instalment in the Super series in the UK was especially convenient for star Christopher Reeve, who was living in fashionable Chelsea at the time. Having struck a two-picture deal with Cannon Films, Reeve was fulfilling his contractual obligation with Superman before he could work on a more personal project, Street Smart.
As Reeve’s family was also based in England the star had them along on the shoot (bottom pic with Matthew, Alexandra and Mother Gae) and as second unit director, managed to get both of his children in the Tornado rescue scene.
Also on-set was Special Effects supremo John Evans, (third pic down, right with blue sweater and moustache) who would go on to create ‘those wonderful toys’ seen in Warner Bros. Batman feature only three years later…
Enjoy these latest fantastic retro-style wallpapers celebrating the release of Superman III. As usual, Jayce76 has done an awesome reproducing posters and lobby cards in with a convincing vintage sheen . Visit his website for more..!
Concluding this month’s SUPERMANIA special feature on the vintage Laserdisc releases of the Superman series is the franchise denouement/killer Superman IV: The Quest For Peace –
Despite its quaint assessment by Desmond Ryan of The Philadelphia Enquirer as ‘good fun’ (See tagline on US release, third pic down) this final entry proved to be bittersweet but no less controversial than any of its predecessors. Dogged with problems from its conception onward and executed with a fraction of its intended budget, the above is notable for representing both the shortest and longest cuts of the movie before the advent of DVD.
The longest and therefore most coveted is the Japanese import release from King Video distributors (Top & Second pic) which was popular with US fans due to its 93 minute runtime. This, along with its sharp and unique sleeve art made it a serious collectable in its own right until ‘all’ of the lost footage was found and reinserted (as deleted scenes in workprint form) by WB years later for the Deluxe Edition on DVD.
Typically, the Western version was what would only be described as ‘Vanilla’ even back then, with a 90-minute runtime and uninspired presentation (replete with a still from a deleted scene carelessly included on the rear of the sleeve) though the reproduction of Daniel Goozee’s fantastic poster art on the cover is first class.
I hope you have enjoyed this overview of these great pieces of cinematic, now collectable history – please feel free to leave any comments or questions. Until then, a very Happy Easter to you all..!
More scarce Japanese imports from the SUPERMANIA collection – highlighting another double dip for Richard Lester’s Superman III. Though once again beautifully presented there are some curious artwork inclusions here – notice the stills from Superman: The Movie in the gatefold of the first disc (second pic) and the striking cover for the second (third pic down) utilising a frame of Superman smashing through the shield from the opening of the Superman III teaser trailer.
With a first release by Thorn/EMI seemingly covering all the bases again it seems a mystery why there should be a subsequent one by the Weintraub Corporation. I know little of Weintraub’s connection with this film, (save for their ugly logo interfering with what otherwise would be a perfectly uniform set on VHS) but it seems they were eschewed for later releases on different formats. If anybody can clarify Weintraub’s involvement with the Superman series, feel free to leave a comment…
Coming soon, Superman IV…
Exclusive prints from the SUPERMANIA archive depicting location filming for Superman IV: The Quest For Peace in rural England. Shown above is the screen debut of one Alexandra Reeve, daughter of Superman Christopher.
The bulky flying harness apparent around Reeve’s midsection was mistaken by the British press at the time for the actor putting on excess weight, generating headlines such as ‘Superslob!’
Both Reeve children featured in the scene where a tornado started by the fiendish Nuclearman devastates a Kansas farm shown in European cinemas but excised from the US cut. The workprint version can be found on the Superman IV Deluxe edition DVD/Blu-Ray…
