Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

Director:

Sidney J. Furie

Writers:

Christopher Reeve (story) and
Lawrence Konner (story) ...

Release Date:

24 July 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Nuclear Power. In the best hands, it is dangerous. In the hands of Lex Luthor, it is pure evil. This is Superman's greatest battle. And it is for all of us.

Plot:

The Man of Steel crusades for nuclear disarmament and meets Lex Luthor's latest creation, Nuclear Man.

Plot Keywords:

Explosive | Statue Of Liberty | Creation | Disarmament | Telekinesis

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Christopher Reeve	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Gene Hackman	...	Lex Luthor / Voice of Nuclear Man
Jackie Cooper	...	Perry White
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Jon Cryer	...	Lenny
Sam Wanamaker	...	David Warfield
Mark Pillow	...	Nuclear Man
Mariel Hemingway	...	Lacy Warfield
Margot Kidder	...	Lois Lane
Damian McLawhorn	...	Jeremy
William Hootkins	...	Harry Howler
Jim Broadbent	...	Jean Pierre Dubois
Stanley Lebor	...	General Romoff
Don Fellows	...	Levon Hornsby
Robert Beatty	...	U.S. President

Also Known As:

Superman IV (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

90 min (theatrical version) | USA:134 min (original cut) | Finland:93 min (1987)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Italian | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:PG | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

At one point, when the development of Nuclear Man came about, Christopher Reeve was approached to play that part as the polar opposite or a darker version of Bizarro. However, the budget cut of the film wouldn't allow the action.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: It can't be daylight in China, New York, Italy and Russia at the same time.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Cosmonaut Captain: [in Russian] You can sing later comrade Sinatra.
Cosmonaut: [in Russian] Back at home they told me to sing in space.

Movie Connections:

References "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962)

Soundtrack:

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

Crashing down to Earth

* (1 out of 5)

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

Directed by: Sidney J. Furie, 1987

Perversely bad. With major budget cuts (from $28 to $16m) and story problems, the moviemakers suddenly found themselves cutting corners in all areas. And it shows. Completely lacking in awe, fun and excitement, Superman IV most of all feels like a bad joke.

The fact that it comes across more cartoonish than the previous three is hardly intentional, as everything - from effects to dialogue - just seems oddly rushed and second-rate.

The only highlight is Gene Hackman - who returns in high spirits as Lex Luthor. Christopher Reeve co-scripted this time and he again personifies the Man of Steel. But most of his co-stars are either wasted (Mariel Hemingway) or hysterical (John Cryer).

The new villian, Nuclear Man (as played by Mark Pillow), looks like a Swedish showwrestler in a home-made Halloween suit, complete with mullet hair and horrendous over-acting mannerisms.

Director Sidney J. Furie (the man behind the otherwise taut thriller The Entity) seems unable to create any sparks and Superman IV falls completely flat, head first. Game over.

Note: Certain scenes had to be borrowed from the previous movies, most notably Superman and Lois on their romantic evening flight above the Manhattan skyline. How they even managed to make this scene look worse than in the original is really mind-boggling.