Synopsis:

This version of Superman II strives to be a sequel to Richard Donner's masterpiece Superman: The Movie. I've tried to use the best takes of Donner scenes to better tell his story, complimented with a greater use of Ken Thorne's score. Featuring a new opening and ending this edit simply picks up where the original left off and ends unresolved, in the sense that the sequels don't fit into Donner's universe.

Intentions:

Whilst I'm forever grateful that I got to see 'Richard Donner's Superman II', the quality of the assembly was very uneven. I made this fan edit so to hopefully provide a better presentation.

Change List:

KEY: STM=Superman the Movie, DC=Donner Cut, LC=Lester Cut (theatrical) - STM: WB logo - New Christopher Reeve dedication card to match STM style, created by Phineasbg. - DC: Cut trial of the villains re-cap and open the film with missile launch and Superman chasing rockets. - DC/LC: Release of the villains. Cut out the really bad CGI and used LC shots where possible. Inserted two shots created by Booshman which paint out the fake looking planets. Removed Zod’s line "Free" and inserted green crystal shot from the LC to transition into the credits. - DC: For credit sequence Reeve receives top billing followed by Hackman, then Brando. - STM: DC ‘S’ logo has been replaced with the STM ‘S’ logo. - DC: Re-scored the Daily Planet jump with Ken Thorne cue. Sound effects are recreated and the audio has been replaced for Lois screaming and the poorly dubbed Reeve with authentic takes. - DC: Lex in prison. - DC/LC: Villains on the moon. Ken Thorne cue used for the first half of the moon sequence. DC picture but added shot from the LC of Ursa landing in front of the astronaut rather then just sidling onto screen. - DC: Sound effect added when Zod kicks the astronaut on the moon. - DC: End dialogue between those guys in the control room has been trimmed. - DC: Lex escapes. - DC/LC: Niagara Falls exteriors. Cut Lois and Clark entering honeymoon haven. Superman rescues boy, corny dialogue removed. - LC: Added Superman landing behind the stall followed by his explanation with Lois. - DC/LC: Dialogue extended as Lex and Eve head north, "Ice and snow is this your idea of a good time". - DC/LC: Lex and Eve enter the Fortress. Editing is very similar to the theatrical cut. No bickering outside the Fortress or stumbling around. Better dialogue with Eve mimicking Lex is included from the LC. Ken Thorne cue is used right up until Lex inserts the first crystal. - DC/LC: Replaced Lex and Eve’s dialogue relating to the trees poem with the superior takes from the LC. - New scene of villains making havoc on Krypton, scene was created by Red Krypton Son. - LC: "No possibility for parole" is put back in. - DC: John Williams cue added as Lex thinks out loud with toilet flush removed. - DC: Villains landing and Ursa and the snake scenes have been joined. - DC: Blank bullets scene. - DC/LC: Encounter with the Sheriff features additional LC footage and Red Krypton Son audio with "holy skunk sweat" dialogue removed. - DC: Lovers fly north. - LC: Villains encounter with the people of East Idaho features Red Krypton Son audio playing over the first half of the scene. Cut away from "These humans are beginning to bore me" to Superman shows Lois around the Fortress, minus the green crystal being left on the floor. - DC/LC: Television crew show up. Extended with additional LC footage. - DC: Cut from "Where’s Superman, and why doesn’t he do something" to Superman and Lois having dinner. - DC: Non catching rocket, then cut from "Is there no one on this planet to even challenge me" to DC Superman and Lois in bed. - DC: Zod speech with LC audio and Ken Thorne cue. - DC: Fall of the Washington monument. - DC: De-powering scene with Reeve’s delivery of the line "I love her" replaced with the LC take. Also added Ken Thorne cue to make the scene a bit more emotional. - LC: Villains fly over the Whitehouse. - DC/LC: Villains enter the Whitehouse. Used the LC take of Ursa kicking the guy on the floor. Ken Thorne cue used when villains enter the oval office with the "ribbons and jewellery" dialogue cut. - DC/LC: Diner scene fades into LC Clark’s trek to the Fortress. - LC/DC: Re-powering. First half of the scene is LC, minus the reference to mother, then it switches to DC when Clark finds the crystal. Green hue is kept for the entirety of the scene. Trimmed the end part of the scene to remove unnecessary Reeve shaking. - DC: Lex at the Whitehouse. Opens with Ursa playing with the revolving planets gizmo, thus Non's confused reaction with his toy is scraped. Ken Thorne cue plays over the first half of the scene. - DC: Back at the Daily Planet. - DC: Daily Planet invasion with Ken Thorne cue added. - LC: Lex's door knob line is put back in. - LC: "Yeah you could do with a tuck in their yourself sister" to replace inferior DC take. - DC/LC: Tried to use LC Zod dialogue wherever possible. - DC: Lex’s end dialogue, "You ought to have that thing fixed" is removed. - DC/LC: Superman returns uses mostly DC footage but features Ken Thorne cue and "would you care to step outside". - DC: "I’m not a coward Zod" audio has been fixed. - DC/LC: Freezing the tanker with Ken Thorne cue. A few shots from the LC were needed to keep the audio in sync. - LC: Included lady on the ground "Superman help us". - DC/LC: Battle with Zod on the car with Ken Thorne cue added. - DC/LC: Villains return to the Daily Planet. Mostly DC but with LC audio due to the superior Zod and Lex takes. The scene plays more like the theatrical cut which employs much tighter editing. - DC/LC: To the Fortress. Cut the dialogue between Zod and Lex "I trust you are not wasting my time…". - DC/LC: Like the Daily Planet scenes most of Zod and Lex’s dialogue is replaced with the superior LC takes. As a result the fortress scene is edited more like the theatrical cut which again employs much tighter editing. - DC/LC: Superman defeats Zod with LC audio and Ken Thorne cue. - DC: Cut Superman destroying the Fortress. - DC: Break-up scene/Dropping Lois back home. - DC: Back at the daily Planet (go get the pizza) scene. Re-edited to suggest Lois knows Clark's secrete but will continue to play out charade. - DC: Return to the diner with LC audio and Ken Thorne cue. - LC: Superman returns flag using Booshman's restored shot with the fountains moving. - LC Fly over, DC fly bye - DC: End titles with Ken Thorne cue.

Additional Notes:

When comparing the two versions I found that in the case of the Donner scenes that did feature in the theatrical release, the editing and takes used were generally better. I've long suspected that Stuart Baird (the editor of 'Superman: the Movie') would have been rough cutting Superman II whilst Donner was still involved. It's highly likely that some of these cuts were retained even after he was dismissed. So in many instances these scenes are presented near to or the same as in the theatrical cut. Whilst significantly shorter then the theatrical or Donner cut the main reduction in run-time is attributed to a much simplified pre-credits recap where by I've cut the trial of the three villains. Whilst a great scene, it belongs in the original movie and simply isn't needed here. Donner regularly talked up the advantage of part II being that one could simply start with a bang since we already knew these characters. However his cut is bogged down with some eleven minutes of recap and credits prior to the actual film starting. Furthermore when Lex and Eve visit the fortress, Jor-El goes into equal detail about the three villains and their sentencing.

Other Sources:

Superman II - Donner Cut' PAL DVD Additional Material from 'Superman II - Theatrical' PAL DVD.

Special Thanks:

Booshman: For his continued support, feedback & granting me permission to use footage from his fan edit 'Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Redux', including two shots with the planets painted out during the release of the villains & a modified shot featuring the fountains working when Superman returns the flag to the White House. Phineasbg: For creating the Christopher Reeve dedication card as seen at the start of this film. Red Krypton Son: For his recreated footage of the villains war on Krypton as seen when Lex and Eve explore the Fortress crystals and for two portions of audio used to add menace to the villains. Tomahawk: For much valued support and feedback. Neglify: For all his helpful advice and designing the cover art.