Superman II (1980)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Richard Lester
(more)

Writers:

Jerry Siegel (characters) &
Joe Shuster (characters) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 June 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Miraculously freed from eternal orbit, the three outlaws from Krypton descend to earth, for the ultimate confrontation.

Plot:

Superman agrees to sacrifice his powers to marry Lois, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.

Plot Keywords:

Superman | Criminal | Paris | Prison | Phantom Zone

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Lex Luthor
Christopher Reeve	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Ned Beatty	...	Otis
Jackie Cooper	...	Perry White
Sarah Douglas	...	Ursa
Margot Kidder	...	Lois Lane
Jack O'Halloran	...	Non
Valerie Perrine	...	Eve Teschmacher
Susannah York	...	Lara
Clifton James	...	Sheriff
E.G. Marshall	...	The President
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Terence Stamp	...	General Zod
Leueen Willoughby	...	Leueen
Robin Pappas	...	Alice
Roger Kemp	...	Spokesman
Roger Brierley	...	Terrorist #1
Anthony Milner	...	Terrorist #2
Richard Griffiths	...	Terrorist #3
Melissa Wiltsie	...	Nun
Alain Dehay	...	Gendarme
Marc Boyle	...	C.R.S. Man
Alan Stuart	...	Cab Driver
John Ratzenberger	...	Controller #1
Shane Rimmer	...	Controller #2
John Morton	...	Nate
Jim Dowdall	...	Boris (as Jim Dowdell)
Angus MacInnes	...	Prison Warden (as Angus McInnes)
Antony Sher	...	Bell Boy
Elva Mai Hoover	...	Mother (as Elva May Hoover)
Hadley Kay	...	Jason
Todd Woodcroft	...	Father
John Hollis	...	Krypton Elder
Gordon Rollings	...	Fisherman
Peter Whitman	...	Deputy Dwayne
Bill Bailey	...	J.J.
Dinny Powell	...	Boog
Hal Galili	...	Man in Diner
Marcus D'Amico	...	Willie
Jack Cooper	...	Dino (as Jackie Cooper)
Richard LeParmentier	...	Reporter (as Richard Parmentier)
Don Fellows	...	General
Michael Shannon	...	President's Aide (as Michael J. Shannon)
Tony Sibbald	...	Presidential Imposter
Tommy Duggan	...	Diner Owner
Pamela Mandell	...	Waitress
Pepper Martin	...	Rocky
Eugene Lipinski	...	Newsvendor
Cleon Spencer	...	Kid #1
Carl Parris	...	Kid #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	French Officer at the White House (uncredited)
Norman Chancer	...	White House Aide (uncredited)
Richard Donner	...	Man Walking by Diner (uncredited)
Jeff East	...	Teenage Clark Kent in opening montage (archive footage) (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Cop (uncredited)
Glenn Ford	...	Jonathan Kent in opening montage (archive footage) (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	American Soldier (uncredited)
Beth Porter	...	Football Fan (uncredited)
Joe Praml	...	Man with Dark Glasses in Alaskan Bar (uncredited)
Eric Stine	...	Secret Service Agent (uncredited)
Burnell Tucker	...	White House Aide (uncredited)
Joe Walsh	...	Sailor Baby (uncredited)
Terry Walsh	...	KFC Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester
Richard Donner		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Jerry Siegel		(characters) &
Joe Shuster		(characters)
Mario Puzo		(story)
Mario Puzo		(screenplay) &
David Newman		(screenplay) &
Leslie Newman		(screenplay)
Tom Mankiewicz		uncredited

Produced by
Ilya Salkind	....	executive producer
Pierre Spengler	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Thorne

Cinematography by
Robert Paynter		(as Bob Paynter)
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
John Barry
Peter Murton

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow
Ernest Archer
Charles Bishop
Maurice Fowler		(supervising art director)
Norman Reynolds

Set Decoration by
Peter Howitt
Peter Young

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake
Sue Yelland		(as Susan Yelland)

Makeup Department
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Patricia McDermott	....	hair stylist (as Pat McDermott)
Bobbie Smith	....	hair stylist
Joan White	....	hair stylist
Nick Dudman	....	makeup trainee (uncredited)
Graham Freeborn	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Kay Freeborn	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Nick Maley	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Cecil F. Ford	....	production supervisor: Niagara (as Cecil Ford)
Tim Hampton	....	production supervisor: Paris
Allan James	....	unit manager
Vincent Winter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Button	....	assistant director
Raoul Girard	....	assistant director
Robert Lynn	....	second unit director
Terry Madden	....	assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	assistant director (as Chris Newman)
Paul Storey	....	assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	first assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	assistant director
David Tomblin	....	second unit director

Art Department
Terry Apsey	....	construction manager
Larry Cleary	....	construction manager
Peter Dunlop	....	buyer
John Lanzer	....	buyer
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director
Paul Laugier	....	draftsman (uncredited)
Bob Sherwood	....	dressing prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Mike Hopkins	....	dubbing editor
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dubbing editor
Don Sharpe	....	dubbing editor
Paul Smith	....	dubbing editor
Sarah Vickers	....	dubbing editor
Jonathan Andrews	....	front projection unit boom operator (uncredited)
Peter Desbois	....	audio playback operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects supervisor
Robert Harman	....	flying effects (as Bob Harman)
Zoran Perisic	....	special effects director: flying unit
Jimmy Benson	....	special effects (uncredited)
Chris Corbould	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Neil Corbould	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
John Evans	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Tad Krzanowski	....	model effects (uncredited)
Brian Warner	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ivor Beddoes	....	matte artist and illustrator
Richard Dimbleby	....	optical printer (as Dick Dimbleby)
Dave Docwra	....	optical printer (as David Docwra)
Doug Ferris	....	matte artist
Roy Field	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Hammond	....	matte camera operator
Peter Harman	....	matte camera operator
Derek Meddings	....	miniature effects supervisor
Cervin Robinson	....	process stills: New York
David Speed	....	zoptic operator
Peter Watson	....	optical and special effects editor
Paul Wilson	....	visual effects photographer
Janice Body	....	visual effects technician (uncredited)
Martin Body	....	rostrum cameraman (uncredited)
Stuart Freeborn	....	special visuals (uncredited)
Paul Hamill	....	post production assistant (uncredited)
Keith Holland	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John Inglis	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Alf Joint	....	stunt coordinator
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunt double: Christopher Reeve (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Brandon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cyd Child	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Lane Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sue Crosland	....	stunts (uncredited)
Graeme Crowther	....	stunts (uncredited)
Clive Curtis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Dean	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stuart Fell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tex Fuller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hegarty	....	stunts (uncredited)
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wendy Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mark McBride	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Munt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunts (uncredited)
Johan Thorén	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chris Webb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Yorke	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John J. Campbell	....	focus puller (as John Campbell)
Steve Claydon	....	focus puller (as Stephen Claydon)
Denys N. Coop	....	director of photography: flying unit (as Denys Coop)
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator (as Freddy Cooper)
David Garfath	....	camera operator
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator (as Ginger Gemmell)
Ron Goodman	....	photographer: Wescam camera (as Ronald Goodman)
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
John Harris	....	camera operator
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator
John Morgan	....	camera operator
Jeff Paynter	....	focus puller
Jonathan Taylor	....	focus puller
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator (as Chick Waterson)
David Wynn-Jones	....	focus puller
Costas Charitou	....	titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Brian Ellis	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Phillip Grosvenor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Nick Schlesinger	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jon Sorensen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Chris Warren	....	video operator: flying unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Debbie McWilliams	....	casting: England

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Nick Gomez	....	assistant editor (as Nicolas Gomez)
Peter Holt	....	assistant editor
Bob Mullen	....	assistant editor
Colin Wilson	....	assistant editor
Russ Woolnough	....	assistant editor (as Russell Woolnough)

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor (as Bob Hathaway)
John Richards	....	music mixer
John Richards	....	music recordist
Ken Thorne	....	conductor

Other crew
Frans J. Afman	....	financial consultant (as Franz Afman)
Trudie Balen	....	secretary to producer (as Trudy Balen)
Joy Bayley	....	production assistant
Chris Coles	....	coordinator: New York (as Christopher Coles)
Pamela Davies	....	continuity (as Pamela Davis)
Quinn Donoghue	....	promotional consultant
Sue Hausner	....	secretary to the executive producer
Geoffrey Helman	....	production executive
Graham Henderson	....	accountant
Bobbie Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Katya Kolpaktchy	....	assistant continuity
Harry Lange	....	consultant: astronautics
Tom Mankiewicz	....	creative consultant
Doris Martin	....	continuity
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Douglas Noakes	....	production accountant
Pat O'Reilly	....	promotional assistant (as Patricia O'Reilly)
Mahesh Rajguru	....	accountant
Armand Rubin	....	sales consultant
Christine Samways	....	assistant accountant
Elaine Schreyeck	....	continuity
Robert Simmonds	....	production executive
Michele Tandy	....	assistant accountant
Betty Williams	....	accounts secretary
Allan James	....	location manager (uncredited)
Sarah Lucraft	....	junior assistant accountant (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Paul Tivers	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Thanks
Howard R. Schuster	....	special thanks

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1980) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cinema Research
• Howard Anderson Company, The
• Zoptic

Other Companies

• Berman's and Nathan's  costumes
• Camera Effects  main titles
• Flying Pictures  helicopter pilot provided by
• Frank Cooney  furs
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Lightflex America Inc.  special lighting effects
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Samuelson Film Service  camera equipment rental

Also Known As:

Superman 2 (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

127 min | USA:116 min (Richard Donner Cut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (MegaSound encoding) (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 (1980) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Alexander Salkind

Trivia:

The scene where General Zod, Ursa and Non use their super-breath to create a storm in Metropolis was shot over three freezing November nights at Pinewood Studios in England. During that time, director Richard Lester improvised most of the jokes that you see in that sequence.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Superman and Lois fly to the Fortress of Solitude, so after Superman gives up his powers they would have absolutely no way to return to civilization yet they manage to make it back to Metropolis safely.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Krypton guard: Alert, alert, alert.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

Soundtrack:

Pick Up the Pieces

If there was a greater sequel...

(I just couldn't wait for the director's cut, so anything I say here might soon be outdated.)

"Superman II," directed in 1980 by Richard Lester, is probably the best sequel of the first wave of superhero movies. "Superman II" is big, goofy fun, with a sense of action, romance, and humor that wouldn't quite be seen again in the genre until last year's "Fantastic Four." "Superman II" is one of the great sequels, despite its sloppy editing and a controversial back-story worthy of a movie of its own.

We know that "Superman" (1978) director, Richard Donner, was originally supposed to direct the sequel but was fired under highly suspicious and (to this day) unknown circumstances following a dispute with that film's producers, the Salkinds. Supposedly, it began with issues over creative direction. Compounding that, Donner had gone over the originally planned budget for "Superman," and the Salkinds had been rushing the poor man to complete the film. Conversely, Marlon Brando (Jor-El in "Superman"), didn't want to be in the second movie and filed suit over his percentage of that film's earnings. Simultaneously, Donner had also been shooting footage for "Superman II" and had completed somewhere around 75% of it between 1976-1978 before he was fired. But of course, the lore is well-known to those who pay attention to this film's history, and what I just described were probably the biggest reasons for Donner's removal.

Lester was brought in after Donner, scrapped most of Donner's footage, and replaced it with his own material that was filmed between '79-'80 (to the untrained eye, the different footage appears seamless but to those aware of "Superman II's" history, it'll be a lot like a shooting gallery for continuity errors). Only about 25% of the original scenes Donner filmed are in the movie we know today, with jarring transitions between scenes since nearly three years had passed between the two directors' filming of scenes. This all caused a near-mutinous insurrection on the set, and many of the actors (Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve - R.I.P., Margot Kidder, and Terence Stamp) were quite vocal about this; Hackman refused to appear in any of Lester's new scenes and it's easy to tell when a body double is being used.

Original composer John Williams also walked away from the project following Donner's removal, and was replaced by Ken Thorne, who takes material from Williams's score and merely covers it with his own in much the same way Lester did with Donner. Lastly, cinematographer Robert Paynter gave a comic book look to the film that conflicted with the sparkling, epic cinematography of the late Geoffrey Unsworth. What we get, to paraphrase another viewer, is "sloppy seconds," but still an enjoyable and moving experience in its right. "Superman II" still made a box office killing in 1981, so it couldn't have been that bad (?). (Hopefully, this will all be cured by the new Richard Donner cut that's due out on Nov. 28 later this year, which should include more of Donner's original material, more Hackman footage, Marlon Brando, more violence and story dealing with the three Krypton villains' task on Earth, more scenes with Reeve and Kidder, completed special effects, a new opening and ending - ?, and Lester footage to fill in the gaps.)

In "Superman II," the Man of Steel, as Clark Kent (Reeve), is getting serious with Lois Lane (Kidder), and considers giving up being Superman. If he were to do this, however, he will become a normal human being, with no way to restore his powers, and no way to stand up to a diner's bullying customer. This romantic infatuation probably could not have come at a worse time because a nuclear explosion in outer space shatters the Phantom Zone, the eternal prison of three outcasts from Superman's home planet Krypton. The blast frees the traitorous head of Krypton's military forces, General Zod (Stamp), the man-hating Ursa (Sarah Douglas) and the brutish Non (Jack O'Halloran), who then make a bee-line for Earth in a bid for world domination. Once on Earth, they discover they have all of Superman's powers, and then some. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Hackman) manages to escape from prison (with help from Miss Teschmacher, played by Valerie Perrine), leaving a hapless Otis (Ned Beatty) behind, and sets out on a quest to the North Pole to find the Fortress of Solitude using a device he constructed while incarcerated.

What this all climaxes in, is an action-packed (if not somewhat slapstick) special effects bonanza that takes place in the skies over Metropolis, with Superman and the three Krypton villains going head to head. It's really exciting stuff to see Superman grappling with the new experience of fighting three adversaries of his power level.

Is "Superman II" a failure? Yes, because it betrays what was originally laid out by a great director and is probably one of the great, early examples of Hollywood "chopping & screwing." "Superman II" is still highly regarded as a cult classic, and director Sam Raimi makes a few nods with "Spider-Man 2" (2004). I can see that DC Comics is making a comeback; if original Superman co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster could see these films, I bet they'd be proud.

P.S.: R.I.P. - Marlon Brando

10/10