Superman III (1983)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

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

Release Date:

17 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

If the world's most powerful computer can control even Superman...no one on earth is safe.

Plot:

Synthetic kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.

Plot Keywords:

Kryptonite | Computer | High School Reunion | Smallville | Villain

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Christopher Reeve	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Richard Pryor	...	Gus Gorman
Jackie Cooper	...	Perry White
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Annette O'Toole	...	Lana Lang
Annie Ross	...	Vera Webster
Pamela Stephenson	...	Lorelei Ambrosia
Robert Vaughn	...	Ross Webster
Margot Kidder	...	Lois Lane
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Brad
Nancy Roberts	...	Unemployment Clerk
Graham Stark	...	Blind Man
Henry Woolf	...	Penguin Man
Gordon Rollings	...	Man in Cap (as Gordon Rawlings)
Peter Wear	...	Bank Robber
Justin Case	...	Mime
Bob Todd	...	Dignified Gent
Terry Camilleri	...	Delivery Man
Stefan Kalipha	...	Data School Instructor
Helen Horton	...	Miss Henderson
Lou Hirsch	...	Fred
Bill Reimbold	...	Wages Man
Shane Rimmer	...	State Policeman
Al Matthews	...	Fire Chief
Barry Dennen	...	Dr. McClean
Enid Saunders	...	Minnie Bannister
Kevin Harrison Cork	...	D.J.
Robert Henderson	...	Mr. Simpson
Paul Kaethler	...	Ricky
R.J. Bell	...	Mr. Stokis
Pamela Mandell	...	Mrs. Stokis
Peter Whitman	...	Man at Cash Point
Ronnie Brody	...	Husband
Sandra Dickinson	...	Wife
Philip Gilbert	...	Newsreader
Pat Starr	...	White Coated Scientist
Gordon Signer	...	Mayor
John Bluthal	...	Pisa Vendor
George Chisholm	...	Street Sweeper
David Fielder	...	Olympic Runner
Robert Beatty	...	Tanker Captain
Christopher Malcolm	...	Miner #1 (as Chris Malcolm)
Larry Lamb	...	Miner #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Alon	...	Man Trapped in Car (uncredited)
Stan Edmonds	...	Applauding Man (uncredited)
Les Kimber	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Grant Lowe	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Commuter (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	Woman in Elevator (uncredited)
Aaron Smolinski	...	Boy at Photo Booth (uncredited)
Geoffrey Steele	...	Man in Elevator (uncredited)
David Winning	...	Commuter (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
Jerry Siegel		(characters) &
Joe Shuster		(characters)
David Newman		(screenplay) and
Leslie Newman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Ilya Salkind	....	executive producer
Robert Simmonds	....	associate producer
Pierre Spengler	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Thorne

Cinematography by
Robert Paynter

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Debbie McWilliams

Production Design by
Peter Murton

Art Direction by
Brian Ackland-Snow
Terry Ackland-Snow
Bert Davey

Set Decoration by
Peter Young

Costume Design by
Evangeline Harrison

Makeup Department
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair department head

Production Management
Michael Dryhurst	....	production supervisor: Alberta
Les Kimber	....	production manager: Alberta
Doug MacLeod	....	unit manager: Alberta
Michael Skeet	....	unit manager: Alberta
Vincent Winter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Higgins	....	first assistant director: second unit
David Lane	....	director: flying unit
David Lane	....	second unit director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	first assistant director
Keith Young	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard Holland	....	set designer
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist
Wesley Peppiatt	....	props
Michael G. Ploog	....	illustrator
Michael G. Ploog	....	storyboard artist
Denis Rich	....	illustrator
Andrew Semple	....	painter
Bob Sherwood	....	dressing prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dubbing editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rocky Phelan	....	dubbing editor
Don Sharpe	....	dubbing editor
Paul Smith	....	dubbing editor
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	director of miniatures
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects director
Chris Corbould	....	special effects senior technician
Ian Corbould	....	special effects
Neil Corbould	....	special effects technician
Paul Corbould	....	special effects
Ricky Farns	....	special effects
Dave Ford	....	special effects
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator: model unit
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects supervisor
Garth Inns	....	special effects
Peter Netley	....	special effects
Zoran Perisic	....	front projection consultant
Roy Quinn	....	special effects
Neil Trifunovich	....	on set effects
Brian Warner	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Ken Baker	....	assistant director: process unit
Dennis Bartlett	....	matte supervisor: process unit
Charles Bishop	....	art director: model unit
Janice Body	....	assistant matte artist
Martin Body	....	optical and matte camera
John Deaton	....	focus puller: model unit
Roy Field	....	supervisor of optical and visual effects
Peter Harman	....	optical and matte photography
John Harris	....	photography: process unit
Keith Holland	....	cameraman
Nick Laws	....	second assistant director: process unit
Peter Melrose	....	matte artist
Harry Oakes	....	photographer: model unit
Terry Reed	....	supervising modelmaker
Charles Stoneham	....	matte artist
Steve Wright	....	digital animator: video game computer animation, Atari Inc.
Alan Buchan	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Peter Donen	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Dion Hatch	....	optical cameraman: CRC (uncredited)
Derek Meddings	....	additional model effects (uncredited)
Paul Wilson	....	additional model photography (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy Alon	....	stunts
Ken Barker	....	stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunts
Marc Boyle	....	stunts
Sue Crosland	....	stunts
Clive Curtis	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Wendy Leech	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunts
Colin Prescott	....	balloon stunts arranger
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts
Mark Stewart	....	stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter stunt pilot
Rick Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Green	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Hancock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Les White	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen Claydon	....	focus puller
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator
John Deaton	....	focus puller
David Garfath	....	camera operator
Jeff Paynter	....	focus puller
Derek Suter	....	clapper loader
Matt Tundo	....	director of photography: Alberta scenes
Costas Charitou	....	titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Trish Robinson	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Barbara Ann Schoemaker	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Peter Hollywood	....	associate editor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor
Ken Thorne	....	conductor
Ken Thorne	....	music arranger

Other crew
Joy Bayley	....	production assistant
Pauline Couteleno	....	production executive
Susie Ford	....	accounting assistant
Robert Harman	....	flying effects technician
Bobbie Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Mark Mostyn	....	runner
Sally Pardo	....	production assistant
Christopher Reeve	....	production consultant
Philip Seber	....	location and firefighter support
Tana Tocher	....	caterer
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot
Frans J. Afman	....	financial consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cantharaus Productions N.V.
• Dovemead Films
• Film Export A.G.
• International

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by

Also Known As:

Superman III (Canada: French title)
Superman vs. Superman (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Brazil:10 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Cantharaus Productions N.V.

Trivia:

According to the writers, the original choice to play Ross Webster was Alan Alda. They wanted an actor who could be ruthless without losing any charm. Executive producer Ilya Salkind said in the DVD commentary that his choice was Frank Langella. Langella later starred as Perry White in Superman Returns (2006).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: At approx. 49min 50sec of the film, when Gus programs the Vulcano Satellite, he enters the coordinates of Colombia 75ºS 5ºW. These coordinates corresponds to Peru. Colombia is more like 73ºS 4ºW

Quotes:

[first lines]
Unemployment Clerk: Next. Name.
Gus Gorman: Gus Gorman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zodiac Killer (2005)

Soundtrack:

No See No Cry

"I hope you don't expect me to save you..."

Despite the overwhelming hatred for Superman III, I gotta say that I think it's an excellent film. One of the two best of the whole Superman saga, actually. The other, of course, is the original film. But Superman III is so much fun, and a great example of how it's possible for Superman to have enemies OTHER than Lex Luthor. The guy's been the main villain in, how many is it, FOUR of the now FIVE Superman films? I liked Gene Hackman's Luthor (far superior to Kevin Spacey's), but you gotta take a break at some point. No, Superman III is a refreshing change of pace, not only in that respect, but in several ways.

Most noticeable, and much to the chagrin of many people, is the slightly more comedic tone of the film, centered mainly around Richard Pryor's character, August 'Gus' Gorman. I thought Prior was great. He plays an over-the-top character in a movie series about an over-the-top character. I hear people complain all the time that they hate the comedy that Prior brought to the film because Superman is supposed to be, and these are actual quotes, "gritty" and "realistic". NO, he's not. Superman is not gritty, and he's not realistic. Never was, never will be. Richard Donner's original doesn't even come CLOSE to playing it straight. Just look at how he portrays Clark Kent. In the comic books and 1950's television series, the "mild-mannered" Clark Kent is treated with respect and professionalism. He basically co-exists amongst his peers at the Daily Planet. In "Superman: The Movie", Richard Donner has taken the character straight out of the old comics and TV series, with all the same mannerisms and morals, and placed him in a very modern 1978. This is a set-up for much of the films adequate amount of comedy relief. "Superman: The Movie" is not a comedy. Neither is "Superman III", but they both have comic relief. The Clark Kent character is slightly more serious in this one, thus, you have Gus. A funny little man, with an interesting power. A savant-like intellect that gives him complete control over any computer system.

I especially like how Clark Kent, Superman's alterego, is fleshed out more as he returns home to Smallville. This is a great follow-up to Richard Donner's brief exploration to Superman's early years in Smallville. The inclusion of Lana Lang as Clark's high school crush was great, even better in that they chose the lovely Annette O'Toole to portray the character. I LOVE Margot Kidder, but I think Lana is a very important character in Superman's backstory.

All the delving into Clark Kent's character and background leads us to one of the greatest scenes in motion picture history... Clark Kent vs. Evil Superman. I could sit here and expound on the scene's metaphoric implications all day long, but simply put, I found it jaw-dropping. Christopher Reeve was always perfect as Superman, but his best work is here in this scene. Evil Superman is a very physical representation of everything Clark/Superman has ever repressed, and obviously we're talking about a lot of repression here. It's great stuff. I still wanna cheer every time the victorious Clark Kent opens his shirt to reveal his famous insignia, which, by the way, is differentiated by Evil Superman's in that it's excessively bright, where as his was really dark and dingy looking. Having been a Superman fan since I was a kid way back in the day, that's one of those scenes I'll remember 'till the day I die. I remember it from my childhood, but it's actually more relateable for me now as an adult.

Superman III is one of the greats. If you haven't seen it yet, I only ask that you watch it with an open mind and not look for grit or realism where it has no place being. Instead, just believe a man can fly... again.