Superman (1978)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Jerry Siegel (creator: Superman) &
Joe Shuster (creator: Superman) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 December 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

You'll Believe a Man Can Fly!

Plot:

An alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest super-hero.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Superman | Reporter | Newspaper | Earthquake

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Jor-El
Gene Hackman	...	Lex Luthor
Christopher Reeve	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Ned Beatty	...	Otis
Jackie Cooper	...	Perry White
Glenn Ford	...	Jonathan Kent
Trevor Howard	...	1st Elder
Margot Kidder	...	Lois Lane
Jack O'Halloran	...	Non
Valerie Perrine	...	Eve Teschmacher
Maria Schell	...	Vond-Ah
Terence Stamp	...	General Zod
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Martha Kent
Susannah York	...	Lara
Jeff East	...	Young Clark Kent
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Sarah Douglas	...	Ursa
Harry Andrews	...	2nd Elder
Vass Anderson	...	3rd Elder
John Hollis	...	4th Elder
James Garbutt	...	5th Elder
Michael Gover	...	6th Elder
David Neal	...	7th Elder
William Russell	...	8th Elder
Penelope Lee	...	9th Elder
John Stuart	...	10th Elder
Alan Cullen	...	11th Elder
Lee Quigley	...	Baby Kal-El (placed in capsule)
Aaron Smolinski	...	Baby Clark Kent
Diane Sherry	...	Lana Lang
Jeff Atcheson	...	Coach
Brad Flock	...	Football Player
David Petrou	...	Team Manager
Billy J. Mitchell	...	Editor #1
Robert Henderson	...	Editor #2
Larry Lamb	...	Reporter #1
James Brockington	...	Reporter #2
John Cassady	...	Reporter #3
John F. Parker	...	Reporter #4
Antony Scott	...	Reporter #5
Ray Evans	...	Reporter #6
Sue Shifrin	...	Reporter #7 (as Su Shifrin)
Miquel Brown	...	Reporter #8
Vincent Marzello	...	Copy Boy #1
Benjamin Feitelson	...	Copy Boy #2
Lise Hilboldt	...	Secretary #1
Leueen Willoughby	...	Secretary #2
Jill Ingham	...	Perry's Secretary
Pieter Stuyck	...	Window Cleaner
Rex Reed	...	Rex Reed
Weston Gavin	...	Mugger
Steve Kahan	...	Detective Armus (as Stephen Kahan)
Ray Hassett	...	Officer #2
Randy Jurgensen	...	Officer #3 (as Randy Jurgenson)
Matt Russo	...	News Vendor
Colin Skeaping	...	Pilot
Bo Rucker	...	Pimp
Paul Avery	...	TV Cameraman
David Baxt	...	Burglar
George Harris II	...	Patrolman Mooney
Michael Harrigan	...	Hood #1
John Cording	...	Hood #2
Raymond Thompson	...	Hood #3
Oz Clarke	...	Hood #4
Rex Everhart	...	Sergeant Dolan (as Rex Everhardt)
Jayne Tottman	...	Little Girl
Frank Lazarus	...	Air Force One Pilot
Brian Protheroe	...	Air Force One Co-Pilot
Lawrence Trimble	...	Crewman #1
Robert Whelan	...	Crewman #2
David Calder	...	Crewman #3
Norwich Duff	...	Newscaster #1 (as Norwick Duff)
Keith Alexander	...	Newscaster #2
Michael Ensign	...	Newscaster #3
Larry Hagman	...	Major
Paul Tuerpe	...	Sgt. Hayley
Graham McPherson	...	Lieutenant
David Yorston	...	Petty Officer
Robert O'Neill	...	Admiral
Robert MacLeod	...	General
John Ratzenberger	...	Controller #1
Alan Tilvern	...	Controller #2
Phil Brown	...	State Senator #1
Bill Bailey	...	State Senator #2
Burnell Tucker	...	Agent
Chief Tug Smith	...	Indian Chief
Norman Warwick	...	Superchief Driver
Chuck Julian	...	Assistant
Colin Etherington	...	Power Co. Driver
Mark Wynter	...	Mate
Roy Stevens	...	Warden
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David de Keyser	...	Warden (voice)
Kirk Alyn	...	Young Lois Lane's Father on Train (uncredited)
Bruce Boa	...	General (in extended version) (uncredited)
Richard Donner	...	Man in Street - extended version (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Edward Finneran	...	Special Football Player (uncredited)
Noel Neill	...	Young Lois Lane's Mother on Train (uncredited)
Tony Selby	...	Hood (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Donner

Writing credits
Jerry Siegel		(creator: Superman) &
Joe Shuster		(creator: Superman)
Mario Puzo		(story)
Mario Puzo		(screenplay) and
David Newman		(screenplay) and
Leslie Newman		(screenplay) &
Robert Benton		(screenplay)
Tom Mankiewicz		uncredited

Produced by
Charles F. Greenlaw	....	associate producer
Alexander Salkind	....	producer
Ilya Salkind	....	executive producer
Pierre Spengler	....	producer
Michael Thau	....	producer (2000 restoration)
Richard Lester	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird
Michael Ellis
Michael Thau		(2001 director's cut)

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
John Barry

Art Direction by
Ernest Archer
Philip Bennet
Stuart Craig
Leslie Dilley		(as Les Dilley)
Norman Dorme
Tony Reading
Norman Reynolds

Set Decoration by
Peter Howitt

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake

Makeup Department
Jamie Brown	....	makeup artist: Canada
Sylvia Croft	....	makeup artist
Iloe Elliott	....	hair stylist: Canada
Graham Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Kay Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	creative supervisor of makeup & special visuals
Darby Halpin	....	hair stylist: USA
Cathy Kevany	....	hair stylist
Louis Lane	....	makeup artist: USA
Nick Maley	....	makeup artist
Patricia McDermott	....	hair stylist (as Pat McDermott)
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Connie Reeve	....	makeup artist
Phil Rhodes	....	makeup artist (as Philip Rhodes)
Stella Rivers	....	hair stylist
Joan White	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Timothy Burrill	....	production supervisor: North America
Tim Hampton	....	production supervisor: New Mexico
Austen Jewell	....	production manager: New Mexico
Les Kimber	....	production manager: Alberta
Peter A. Runfolo	....	production manager: New York
Robert Simmonds	....	production supervisor
Dusty Symonds	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Barry	....	second unit director
Peter L. Bergquist	....	second assistant director: USA (as Peter Bergquist)
Roy Button	....	second assistant director
Patrick Cadell	....	second assistant director
Michael Dryhurst	....	assistant director
Dominic Fulford	....	assistant director
John Glen	....	second unit director
Bud Grace	....	assistant director: USA
Jerry Grandey	....	assistant director: USA
Michael Green	....	second assistant director
Michael Hook	....	second assistant director
Peter Jacobs	....	second assistant director
Allan James	....	assistant director
David Lane	....	second unit director
Steve Lanning	....	second assistant director
Keith Lund	....	second assistant director
Robert Lynn	....	second unit director
Charles Marriott	....	second assistant director
Simon Milton	....	second assistant director
Michael Murray	....	second assistant director
Kieron Phipps	....	second assistant director
Michael Rauch	....	assistant director: USA
Vic Smith	....	second assistant director
Candace Suerstedt	....	second assistant director: USA
Gareth Tandy	....	assistant director
David Tomblin	....	assistant director
David Tomblin	....	second unit director
Vincent Winter	....	assistant director
André De Toth	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Peter Duffell	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Gerry Gavigan	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ted Ambrose	....	draughtsman
George Ball	....	property master
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist
Ivor Beddoes	....	illustrator
Dennis Bosher	....	draughtsman
Reg Bream	....	draughtsman
Bill Brodie	....	supervising art director: Canada and New Mexico
Roy Carnon	....	illustrator
Jack Carter	....	construction manager
Alan Cassie	....	draughtsman
John Chisholm	....	prop man
Larry Cleary	....	construction manager
Steve Cooper	....	set designer
Tony Dunsterville	....	model maker
Roy Evans	....	assistant construction manager
Cyril Forster	....	model maker
Maurice Fowler	....	supervising art director: England and New York
Eddie Francis	....	props
Ed Gimmel	....	production designer: star ship
Norman Hart	....	decor & lettering artist
Reg Hill	....	illustrator
Stan Jolley	....	art director: USA
Andrew Kelly	....	model maker
Harry Kersey	....	construction manager: USA
Tad Krzanowski	....	model maker (as Tadeusz Krzanowski)
John Lanzer	....	production buyer
Herman Lowers	....	construction manager: USA
Jeff Luff	....	model maker
Peter Palmer	....	production buyer
Michael Redding	....	model construction manager
Terry Reed	....	model maker
Tony Rimmington	....	draughtsman
Gene Rudolf	....	art director: USA
Danny Skundric	....	property master
Ernest Smith	....	scenic artist
Paul Vale	....	painter (as Wiggy Fruntwick)
Frederic C. Weiler	....	set decorator: USA (as Fred Weiler)
Andy Aitken	....	model maker (uncredited)
Gari Bacon	....	props (uncredited)
Paul James	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Peter Mann	....	construction carpenter (uncredited)
Tony Musk	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Beher	....	foley supervisor: 2000 restoration
Max Bell	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Brian Best	....	sound editor (2000 restoration) (as Brian T. Best)
Norman Bolland	....	sound mixer
Pat Brennan	....	assistant dubbing editor (as Patrick Brennan)
Geoff R. Brown	....	assistant dubbing editor (as Geoff Brown)
Lance Brown	....	sound editor: 2000 restoration
William Cawley	....	assistant sound editor (2000 restoration) (as Bill Cawley)
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Bradley Clouse	....	first assistant sound editor: 2000 restoration
Charles Deenen	....	sound designer: 2000 restoration
Des Edwards	....	assistant sound mixer
John Michael Fanaris	....	sound effects coordinator: 2000 restoration
Stan Fiferman	....	sound editor: footsteps and effects
David L. Fisher	....	assistant dubbing editor (as David Fisher)
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	assistant sound editor: 2000 restoration
John Foster	....	sound editor: footsteps and effects
Pat Foster	....	dialogue editor
Tim Gedemer	....	sound design: 2000 restoration
Chris Greenham	....	supervising sound editor
Leonard Green	....	assistant dubbing editor
Graham V. Hartstone	....	assistant dubbing mixer (as Graham Hartstone)
Mike Hopkins	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Hopkins)
Chris Large	....	sound mixer: Canada
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (2000 restoration) (as Daniel Leahy)
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	assistant dubbing mixer (as Nicholas Le Messurier)
Steve Mann	....	sound editor: 2000 restoration
Brian Marshall	....	sound mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound mixer
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kathy McCart	....	digital playback: 2000 restoration
Anthony Milch	....	sound editor (2000 restoration) (as Anthony R. Milch)
Jay Nierenberg	....	supervising sound editor (2000 Restoration)
Tony Orton	....	assistant dubbing editor
Keith Pamplin	....	assistant sound mixer
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer: 2000 restoration
Peter Pennell	....	sound effects editor
Richard Raguse	....	sound mixer: USA (as Dick Ragusa)
George Rice	....	assistant sound mixer
Gary Ritchie	....	digital playback: 2000 restoration
Terry Rodman	....	sound editor: 2000 restoration
Charles Schmitz	....	sound mixer: USA
Jupiter Sen	....	assistant dubbing editor
Otto Snel	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Roland N. Thai	....	sound editor: 2000 restoration
Michael Tucker	....	assistant sound mixer
Tim Walston	....	sound designer: 2000 restoration
Bernard Weiser	....	supervising sound editor: special edition re-release
Peter Desbois	....	sound playback operator (uncredited)
Chris Gurney	....	boom operator: day-play (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Biggs	....	special effects technician
Derek Botell	....	flying effects
Ron Burton	....	special effects technician
Colin Chilvers	....	creative supervisor & director of special effects
Peter Clarson	....	gaffer: special effects, UK
Michael Dunleavy	....	special effects technician
Joe Fitt	....	special effects technician
Rodney Fuller	....	special effects technician
George Gibbs	....	additional model effects
Robert Harman	....	flying effects (as Bob Harman)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects technician
John Inglis	....	flying unit assistant special effects supervisor
Norman Kerss	....	special effects technician
Robert MacDonald	....	special effects: New Mexico
Robert Nugent	....	special effects technician (as Bob Nugent)
Zoran Perisic	....	zoptic special effects
Peter Pickering	....	special effects technician
Frank Richardson	....	special effects technician
John Richardson	....	special effects: Canada and New York
Terry Schubert	....	special effects technician
Roy Spencer	....	special effects technician
Brian Warner	....	special effects technician
Neil Corbould	....	special effects runner (uncredited)
Michael Dawson	....	flying unit assistant (uncredited)
Robert Schofield	....	wire effects (uncredited)
John Thomas	....	special effects (uncredited)
Wally Veevers	....	flying effects (uncredited)
Michael White	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Darrell Anderson	....	additional model photographer: USA
Dennis Bartlett	....	travelling matte supervisor
Les Bowie	....	creative supervisor of mattes & composites
Michael Campbell	....	visual coordinator
Ray Caple	....	matte artist
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Ken Dackermann	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Leslie Dear	....	additional model photographer
Sheldon Elbourne	....	title & special optical sequences photographer
Doug Ferris	....	matte artist
Roy Field	....	creative supervisor of optical visual effects
Mark Freund	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
George Gervan	....	digital roto artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Richard Gervan	....	digital roto artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Martin Hall	....	digital paint artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Peter Hammond	....	matte camera operator
Peter Harman	....	matte camera operator
Maureen Healy	....	digital paint artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Veronica Hernandez	....	digital paint artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Heather Hoyland	....	lead digital compositor: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
John Inglis	....	visual effects supervisor
Bob Kindred	....	additional model photographer
David Lane	....	visual coordinator
Liz Lettman	....	assistant matte artist
Darin McCormick-Millett	....	digital producer (2000 restoration)
Derek Meddings	....	model effects
Sean Morris	....	optical sequences
Harry Oakes	....	additional model photographer
Roy Pace	....	title & optical sequences photographer
Peter Parks	....	optical sequences
Denis Rich	....	special visual effects designer
Martin Shorthall	....	optical liaison
Brian Smithies	....	additional model effects
Lynn Tigar	....	digital paint artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (2000 restoration)
Ernest Walter	....	visual coordinator
Peter Watson	....	supervising editor of optical & special effects
Paul Wilson	....	model photography
Russ Woolnough	....	assistant editor of optical & special effects (as Russell Woolnough)
Keith Holland	....	visual effects camera operator (uncredited)
Bob Keen	....	model maker (uncredited)
Gary Pearlman	....	titles & optical effects (uncredited)
Philip Sharpe	....	model maker (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Richard E. Butler	....	additional stunts: Canada (as Dick Butler)
George Lane Cooper	....	additional stunts (as George Cooper)
Stuart Fell	....	additional stunts
Richard Hackman	....	additional stunts: Canada
Alf Joint	....	stunt coordinator
Wendy Leech	....	additional stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunt coordinator: New York
Bill Weston	....	additional stunts
Paul Weston	....	additional stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt double: Christopher Reeve (uncredited)
Marc Boyle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ellen Bry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cyd Child	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sue Crosland	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Dean	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Dowdall	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Fisher	....	stunts (uncredited)
Romo Gorrara	....	stunts (uncredited)
Martin Grace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Reg Harding	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Hill	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts: Man in burglar's office (uncredited)
Wendy Leech	....	stunt double: Margot Kidder (uncredited)
Scott Leva	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mark McBride	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bronco McLoughlin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Munt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Pocock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kiran Shah	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)
Johan Thorén	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Walsh	....	stunts (uncredited)
Malcolm Weaver	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Allwork	....	aerial photographer
Howard A. Anderson III	....	camera operator: USA (as Howard Anderson III)
Ronald Anscombe	....	assistant camera
Jack Atcheler	....	additional photographer
Lou Barlia	....	camera operator: USA
Bert Bosher	....	electrician: Pinewood
John J. Campbell	....	assistant camera (as John Campbell)
Mike Chevalier	....	camera operator: USA (as Michael Chevalier)
Ken Coles	....	camera operator
Robert E. Collins	....	additional photographer: New Mexico
James A. Contner	....	camera operator: USA (as Jim Contner)
Trevor Coop	....	assistant camera
Jack Courtland	....	camera operator: USA
John Deaton	....	assistant camera
James Devis	....	camera operator (as Jimmy Devis)
Ray Evans	....	electrician: Lee Electric
Roy Ford	....	camera operator
Mike Fox	....	camera operator: co-first unit
Alan Gatward	....	assistant camera
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator
Maurice Gillett	....	chief electrician: Lee Electric
Geoff Glover	....	camera operator
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (as Ronald Goodman)
John Harris	....	camera operator
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
Brian King	....	video operator
David Lenham	....	assistant camera
Jack Lowen	....	camera operator
Douglas Luke	....	still photographer
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator
Domenic Mastrippolito	....	assistant camera: USA
John May	....	electrician: Pinewood
Stan McClain	....	assistant camera: second unit and aerial USA
Ray Meehan	....	electrician: Lee Electric
John Morgan	....	camera operator
Reginald H. Morris	....	additional photographer: Alberta (as Reginald Morris)
Sol Negrin	....	additional photographer: New York
Rod Parkhurst	....	camera operator: Canada
Bob Penn	....	still photographer
George Pink	....	camera operator
Ronnie Fox Rogers	....	camera operator
Thom Ryan	....	assistant camera: Canada (as Tom Ryan)
Nick Schlesinger	....	assistant camera
Jonathan Taylor	....	assistant camera
Jack Thetford	....	electrician: Pinewood
Alex Thomson	....	additional photographer
John Tythe	....	chief electrician: Pinewood
Peter Versey	....	assistant camera
Chris Warren	....	video operator
Freddie Webster	....	electrician: Pinewood (as Fred Webster)
Micky Wilson	....	best boy
Harry Woodley	....	electrician: Pinewood
Bob Bridges	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Tony Brown	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Wick Finch	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer: action unit (uncredited)
Phillip Grosvenor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Geoff Mulligan	....	aerial camera operator (uncredited)
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Owen Stephens	....	electrician: Lee Electric (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mary Selway	....	casting: English

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor & additional design
Elvira Angelinetta	....	wardrobe assistant
Austin Cooper	....	wardrobe assistant
Barbara Gillett	....	wardrobe assistant
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe assistant
Ruth Morley	....	additional costumes
Eddie Silva	....	wardrobe assistant
Janet Tebrooke	....	wardrobe assistant
Colin Wilson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
George Akers	....	assistant editor
Elaine C. Andrianos	....	first assistant editor: special edition 2000
Olivier Assayas	....	editorial intern
David Beesley	....	assistant editor
Neil Farrell	....	assistant editor
Tim Jordan	....	assistant editor
Christopher Morris	....	assistant editor
Bob Mullen	....	first assistant editor
Mike Round	....	assistant editor
Gary Shepherd	....	assistant editor
Colin Wilson	....	assistant editor
Steve Pickard	....	assistant plate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Garrett	....	music editor: 2000 restoration
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Ken Ross	....	assistant music editor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
Eric Tomlinson	....	music mixer
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recordist
Angela Morley	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Patti Allen	....	production assistant: Canada
Diane Appleby	....	production assistant
Gordon Arnell	....	publicist
James Aspinall	....	zoptic operator
Bob Bailin	....	process plate photography: New York
Trudie Balen	....	secretary to producer (as Trudy Balen)
Sally Ball	....	production assistant
Joy Bayley	....	production assistant
June Broom	....	publicity assistant
Patricia Carr	....	production assistant (as Pat Carr)
Patricia Carr	....	production coordinator (as Pat Carr)
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot: New York
Chris Coles	....	location manager: New York
Denys N. Coop	....	creative director of process photography (as Denys Coop)
Jane Cox	....	special unit secretary
Rita Davison	....	additional continuity
Jane Dixie	....	special unit secretary
Mike Drew	....	zoptic operator
Michael J. Duthie	....	production coordinator (as Michael Duthie)
Sue Edwards	....	special unit secretary
Norman Enfield	....	additional script material
Jeanne Ferber	....	executive assistant to Richard Donner
Dominic Fulford	....	flying unit coordinator
Josie Fulford	....	additional continuity
Norma Garment	....	production assistant
Yves Gaumont	....	trainee director
Ann Green	....	production assistant
Liz Green	....	production assistant
Jean Hall	....	production assistant
Robert Harman	....	flying effects
Sue Hausner	....	secretary to the executive producer
Norma Hazelden	....	production assistant
Geoffrey Helman	....	production executive
Graham Henderson	....	assistant accountant
Katya Kolpaktchy	....	assistant continuity
Adeline Leonard Seakwood	....	production assistant: USA (as Adeline Leonard)
Richard Liebegott	....	production assistant: USA (as Dick Liebegott)
Tom Mankiewicz	....	creative consultant
Angela Martelli	....	additional continuity
Doris Martin	....	continuity
Jennie McClean	....	special unit secretary
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Douglas Noakes	....	production accountant
Betsy Norton	....	continuity: USA
Pat O'Reilly	....	publicity assistant
Kay Rawlings	....	continuity
Denis Rich	....	title designer: main titles
Cervin Robinson	....	process stills: New York
Waldo Roeg	....	trainee director
Bill Rudgard	....	trainee director
Alexander Salkind	....	presenter
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity supervisor
David Speed	....	zoptic operator
Charles Staffell	....	process systems
Jeannie Stone	....	production assistant
Paul Storey	....	trainee director
Wally Veevers	....	flying systems & process projection
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot: New Mexico
Stanley Bielecki	....	publicity and marketing (uncredited)
David Prowse	....	physical trainer: Christopher Reeve (uncredited)

Thanks
John Bodimeade	....	in memory of
Terry Hill	....	in memory of
Geoffrey Unsworth	....	dedicated with love and respect to (as Geoffrey Unsworth, O.B.E.)

Production Companies

• Alexander Salkind (presents)
• Dovemead Films
• Film Export A.G.
• International Film Production

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1978) (UK) (theatrical)
• Adams Filmi (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1986) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS) (Special Edition)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Creative Design (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (4-disc special edition)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia (1979) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Obshchestvennoye Rossijskoye Televideniye (ORT) Video (19??) (Russia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Anvil Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Barneys  Clark Kent's wardrobe furnished by
• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes by
• Camera Effects  titles and opticals
• Canadian Pacific Railway  thanks
• Cartier  jewellery
• Cineflex Ltd.  optical sequences
• Cinema Research  optical sequences
• Continental Camera Systems  special sequences
• Delecluse Realisations  optical sequences
• Flying Pictures  helicopter pilot provided by
• General Mills  Cheerios by
• General Screen Enterprises  optical sequences
• Gillie Potter Productions Ltd.  optical sequences
• Howard A. Anderson Company  special sequences
• J.V.C.  audio
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• National Screen Service  optical sequences
• New Mexico Film Commission  thanks
• NovaStar Digital  digital restoration (2000)
• Oxford Scientific Films  optical sequences
• Pacific Title and Art Studio  2000 restoration
• Pinewood Studios  sound mixed at
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recorded at
• R/Greenberg Associates  main title credits by
• Rank Post Productions Ltd.  optical sequences
• Samuelson Film Service  camera equipment
• Steve Frankfurt Communications  main title credits by
• Timex  watches by
• Van der Veer Photo Effects  optical sequences
• Vee Films  optical sequences
• Wescam USA  aerial camera sequences

Also Known As:

Superman - Le film (Canada: French title)
Superman: The Movie

MPAA:

Rated PG for peril, some mild sensuality and language.

Runtime:

143 min | USA:127 min (1980 video release) | USA:151 min (2000 restoration)

Country:

Canada | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (2001 expanded edition) | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:11 | Norway:12 (1978) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Alexander Salkind

Trivia:

Mario Puzo's scripts proved to be too epic and too expensive so the team of David Newman and Robert Benton was brought in to hone them down. Benton was committed to directing The Late Show (1977) so Leslie Newman - David's wife - came on board, mainly to write Lois Lane's dialog. Their rewrite was more campy than Puzo's and even included a cameo appearance by Kojak, the popular TV detective.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the earthquake, the gap in the railroad tracks is wider than the length of Superman's body. When he is in place, the gap is much smaller.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jor-El: This is no fantasy - no careless product of wild imagination. No, my friends. These indictments that I have brought to you today, specific charges herein against the individuals. Their acts of treason, their ultimate aim of sedition. These... are matters of undeniable fact. I ask you now to pronounce judgement on those accused.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Teenage Superhero Pregnancy Scare (2005)

Soundtrack:

ONLY YOU

Superman Takes Off On The Big Screen

It's interesting that another re-make is coming out this year. Man, time flies because I vividly remember when this movie came out and the excitement it caused. This was the first Superman anyone had ever seen with modern-day special effects, so it was pretty cool, to say the least.

It's still very entertaining, and the more I watch this the more I'm amused with the villain (Gene Hackman as "Lex Luthor") and the lines he delivers. He's a funny guy. Christopher Reeve, meanwhile, was always a popular "Man Of Steel" and the special effects are still fun to watch, from the long opening scenes showing the end of the planet Kryton all the way to the ending credits. There's a solid soundtrack to this, too.

Personally, I didn't care for Margot Kidder as Lois Lane but then again, Lane's character in the 1950s TV series was a bit annoying, too. I guess it comes with her character. However, being a kid growing up with that series with all its innocence (it's now on DVD, by the way, and worth a purchase), it was just too weird hearing Lois ask Superman what color her panties were!

Anyway, this is simply great entertainment. As a superhero, Superman has always been THE MAN. Three sequels followed this film, the second one being the best in my opinion.