Was there ever a more striking iconic image to help define pop-culture of the 1970’s?
The only images that spring to mind are Farah Fawcett’s smiling poster and the cover of the ‘Grease’ album. There had been long speculation in the press at the time that ‘newcomer’ Christopher Reeve was ‘too skinny’ for the role so the Producers response was to send Reeve on special photo shoots in New York to pose on the banks of the East River and overlooking Central Park to prove the Man Of Steel was indeed real. The first hint that the production was a serious take on the legend is the fact Superman is presented here without a hint of irony in a contemporary setting in broad daylight looking as if he’s just walked off of the front page of his own comic book. Reeve’s steely gaze in the spectacular new Superman costume is the kind of cover editors dream of and so was used repeatedly all over the world to announce his arrival on the big screen…
This latest release on physical media is surely the most definitive presentation of the Superman movies to date.
As a recent convert to the Blu-Ray format (after a great deal of persuasion to convince me of its superiority!) I will state categorically that the series has never looked or sounded better and is therefore infinitely superior to DVD. That being said, the updated format lacks all the fun of DVD’s (no animated menus) and having been spoiled rotten by the sheer glory of the Ultimate Edition DVD steel tin and interior packaging, The flimsy cardboard case with pedestrian layout & generic artwork leaves much to be desired.
With a far more-manageable 8-disc collection rather than 13, content-wise everything is retained and there are some nice new additions, most notably the ‘Return To Krypton’ deleted scene from Superman Returns. As fantastic and in-depth reviews of the features can be found online all I will add is that this set was remarkably affordable and absolutely worth making the leap in a single bound from DVD…
From the top; various views of the Superman Motion Picture Anthology Blu-Ray Boxset and HMV UK ad…
A long-overdue continuation of this magnificent collage – apologies to those who have been waiting patiently!
Further additions to complete the set are upcoming but for now, enjoy..!!
More cast-aside pieces rescued from the Pinewood Studios skip now residing in a private collection.
From the top; shot taken during rehearsals of the Flying Unit at Pinewood, ‘marble’ busts and Presidential shield from the set of the White House, sign from the East Houston Diner and pattern for the Daily Planet flags (visible on the building exterior during the climactic battle).
Thanks to SuperFan Steve Cambden for sharing images from his archive…
More rescued treasures from Richard Lester’s Superman II –
covered extensively in the vintage Making of Superman II special (available on DVD and Blu-Ray), the Metropolis Street set and corresponding miniature were a necessary (and expensive!) evil built at Pinewood Studios to accommodate the colossal battle between the Man Of Steel and his adversaries. Though somewhat of a dying art in special effects today, no amount of CGI could replicate the stunning detail on show in the images above nor the craftsmanship that executed it.
My sincere thanks to Steve Cambden for providing these photographs from his archive. If you want to read more about Steve’s time at Pinewood during the making of Superman II plus his adventures in Doctor Who I recommend his amazing memoir ‘The Doctor’s Affect’
