Synopsis:

The 1979 SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE was plagued with issues during production leading to many changes which resulted in two films being release (Superman and Superman II) which significantly differed from what was originally intended. When the producers started to run out of money, they removed the intended cliffahanger from the first movie leading to the second movie needing so many changes that the director left or was replaced (depending on the acocunts you read). This present the original vision in a truncated form to get into the action with many newly completed deleted scenes, fixes and much much more per the shooting script.

Intentions:

To restore Donners one movie vision in a manageable run time, trus to the shooting script with completed and re-edited deleted material.

Change List:

SUPERMAN THE WRAITH CUT (This is my preferred edit) - Krypton is now PRE TITLES based on S2 DC opening with some fleshing out. - Added a completely new opening using a reversed shot of Krypton from Superman Returns with isolated Brando VO and bespoke shots to establish Jor-el sending Kal-el to Earth - Krypton approach uses a shots from SUPERMAN RETURNS - This is followed y a re-edit of the trial of the villains using shots from multiple versions - Only Kal-els departure and the trial of the villains used. No conflict with council. - The hybrid krypton destruction uses material from SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN RETURNS with a hybrid audio to keep is feeling classic, but more dramtic - Bespoke credits added and re-Ordering of Brando Hackman and Reeve changed to Reeve, Brando, Hackman - Superman is not seen growing up. He is revealed in the Alleyway and we find out his backstory with Lois and Lex - Added custom trip to Earth with shots from multiple versions - Added frozen frames when Jimmy takes picture at Daily Planet, which is also re-edited - Additional TINY trims in Daily Planet - TV Version of Alleyway and Otis to Lex's Lair - Otis trip to lair is a hybrid of TV and TC versions - Additional dialogue (trimmed) of Lex at piano making him more ominous - Helicopter approach to Daily Planet shorter - Additional Superman flying shots post Helicopter scene from TV - Superman now here to fight for "truth and justice" only - Added Lex and Otis with remote from TV re-edited and unused cue used - Added Lex, Otis and Miss T scene arguing after ambulance scene with unused cue. Edited for pacing and comedic impact - Added Lex and Otis in truck cab with un-used cue - Added further extension to Superman's approach to Lex's lair with unused cue - Added scene in missile control room with scoring added - Added Superman TV missile dodge shot, color timed to better match - Added Phantom zone destruction from S2DC when first missile thrown away - Added Superman at PowerStation with scoring - Added material of Jimmy and Lois post Superman fly off, but trimmed so it's not flabby. End of scene Lois speaks ON camera, no as a voiceover when Superman flies off - Jail cuts to Headline "Superman Saves Day" - S2DC cut from here with changes as follows - Lois fall out of window removes AWFULL added dialogue of Clark out of the window - Artemis sequence intro trimmed to allow for shot to be repurposed later - Change to Villains on moon intro - Journey to Pole Lex and Miss T extended with repurposed dialogue to create HD hybrid version - Jor-el dialogue altered (see clip on earlier post) to give the backstory for the truncated krypton sequence - New sequence of Lex and Miss T heading SOUTH created from HD shots, repurposed dialogue and scoring - Exterior at Niagara re-edited - Villains arrival re-edited and sequenced and scoring added - Hotel room reveal re-edited for pace and scored - Extended carnage by villains in town - Lois and Superman dinner re-edited to remove CRINGE factor. Scoring enhanced to facilitate - Superman and Jor-el chat re-edited for clarity and pacing; also re-scored - Clarke walk to pole extended and re-scored - Superman returning is a hybrid and re-scored for better dramatic impact - Added Extended villain fly to fortress but re-edited and re-scored for better flow and continuity - Showdown at fortress score enhancements - Additional Superman flying shots on return to Metropolis - Superman turning back time re-edited to remove Glenn Ford since he is NOT in this version. - Added shots of Jimmy at the dam - Many additional tweaks and scoring enhancements, but too tiny to mention. Enjoy!

Additional Notes:

This edits benefit from improved transitions, correcting continuity error (such as Young Clark racing the train), the addition of HD scenes which enhance and are again true to the shooting script but avoiding any of the campier moments. For instance, there is an extended scene (edited for pace and content) of Lex and Otis controlling the remote car, and the argument at the ambulance BEFORE they drive off for their second attempt to reprogramed the missiles. This has been tightened up, music and foley added and now flows well with the material either side of the scene. The greatest number of changes and additions to get to the shooting script version WITHOUT an intermission. NO Lester material was added, with minimal used where Donner used it.

Other Sources:

CD SCORE Superman Returns Superman II The Donner Cut Superman The Extended TV Version Superman The Special Edition.