Der FIlm Programm…
Despite its charmingly vintage appearance, this nicely-presented four-page German programme would seem to originate from 2006 and cost one Euro!
A great little piece of cinema history to add to the collection..!
‘The Collection’ Pt. 2…
Following on from this post celebrating the release of one of the first-ever VHS ‘boxsets’, by Warner Bros – shown above are scans of the original cover sleeves of the ‘Superheroes’ collection.
Note the picture error on the Superman II artwork and the quaint yellow boot-tops in the Superman illustration used throughout the set (artist unknown) and the overbearing Weintraub logo (preventing the set from looking uniform) across the bottom of Superman III.
Also released in the Superheroes line but absent from the boxset was 1984’s Supergirl, a trend that would continue throughout subsequent formats to this day…
Nuclear Reaction…
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…!
“Placed Aboard This Vessel…”
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…
Die Filmstory…
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..?