Superman (1978).  Director: Richard Donner.  Starring: Christopher Reeves, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty.

There are those that would argue that SpiderMan 2 or The Dark Knight or Iron Man represent examples of the best superhero movies ever made.  But to me, there can only be one "best" superhero movie, and that's 1978’s Superman: The Movie starring Christopher Reeve and directed by Richard Donner.

I could go into great detail as to why I think this is the case, but let me put it succinctly: This film had everything.  I truly believe Donner and company threw everything (including the kitchen sink) at the screen, giving us a film that is in turns operatically grand and low-brow slapstick funny, heavy science fiction and down to (Kansas) earth emotion, a film that bridges a gap between high drama and Batman-TV era camp (remember, at the time of the film's release the Batman television series was only a decade old).

 Hell, the film even had a musical interlude ("Can You Read My Mind?)!!!

In short: Superman The Movie was a very ambitious project, a successful attempt, in my opinion, to give audiences an honest to god show, without skimping on anything.

However, those who have even a cursory knowledge of the film know that the production was troubled.  Producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind, who had previously simultaneously produced The Three Musketeers and The Fourth Musketeer attempted to do the same with Superman.  Thus, while filming the first movie Richard Donner was simultaneously filming the second.

But there was friction between the producers and the director and actors.  As the schedule to film both Superman and its sequel grew too difficult, the decision was made to focus on finishing the first film properly, with the idea that Donner and crew would return afterwards to finish off the sequel.  By that point, and although figures vary, its clear the sequel was more than fifty percent completed.

As it turned out, focusing on the first film proved both a blessing and a curse, for Donner and company were able to complete what I've already said was perhaps the most brilliant superhero film ever.  However, it was also a curse because after the first film was done the producers decided to jettison their director and bring in someone else to finish off the sequel.

I first became aware that there was a much longer cut of Superman The Movie from friends who watched the film when it first aired on TV.  The movie, already quite long, was considerably longer in this TV version.  Included were scenes such as Superman traversing Luthor’s elaborate gauntlet of fire, ice, and bullets, the appearance of Lois Lane as a little girl, flanked by her parents (played by one time Superman Kirk Alyn and one time Lois Lane Noel Neill), Luthor’s deadly pet, and more Kryptonian scenery.

As with other DVD releases, when it came time to release a “super special” (ahem) version of the film, the decision was made for Donner and company to return to their beloved film and clean up some of the effects shots (Superman is noticeably green in some of the flying scenes) and, more importantly, add back some of the cut scenes and create an “expanded edition" of the film.

When I heard they were doing this, I was very excited.  However, once I saw the end result, I was somewhat disappointed.

Part of my disappointment stems from the fact that many years ago I managed to pick up a copy of the TV version of the film.  I'm not sure where this cut of the film comes from, but it feels like Donner's first major workprint.  It also feels complete, like this was the way he originally wanted the film to be, but decided afterwards to trim it down mostly because it was too long.

For the life of me, I can't understand why they didn't give us that complete cut.

Instead, we get things like this: There is a scene in the "extended edition" featuring Trevor Howard, as the 1st Elder, deciding enough was enough with Jor-El's (Marlon Brando's) prophecies of Krypton's doom, which are causing anxieties among the masses.  He summons a Kryptonian police officer to arrest Jor-El and bring him before the council.  In the "extended edition" of the film, that's the first and last we see of the Kryptonian cop, because seconds later Krypton faces upheavals and we see Jor-El sending the young Kal-El to Earth moments before the planet explodes.

What's missing from the "extended edition" is the conclusion to the whole Kryptonian policeman's scene.  In the TV cut, we see the police officer heading to Jor-El’s place (the camera angle is on the police man's mirrored glasses).  En-route there, the policeman is killed by one of the falling columns that signify the beginning of Krypton’s end.

Why include the one scene but not the other?  Truly, it makes no sense.

Another curious non-addition is a wonderful transition between Clark and Lois and the introduction of Luthor's right hand man, Otis.  In the TV version, immediately following the scene where Lois and Clark are mugged in the alley (and Clark/Superman snags the bullet meant for Lois in mid air), the two walk out of this alley, catch a cab, and are driven off.  Without cutting, the camera turns a little and from the left side appears Otis, walking down the sidewalk.  The camera follows him as he is in turn followed by FBI agents and, eventually, makes his way to Luthor's lair.

I absolutely loved that little bit of transition, which even featured a good musical transition yet, mysteriously, the sequence was cut as Clark and Lois drove off.

Another famous deletion, Luthor's vicious “pet” (Luthor tries to feed the lovely Ms. Teschmacher to the pet after realizing she betrayed him) was also not included in the "expanded edition" of the film.  However, in that case we were given these scenes in the “deleted scenes” segment.

To be fair, the one big scene I most wanted to see restored to the film, Superman going through Luthor’s gauntlet, is stitched back into the film.  It's the only time we see Superman having a barrage of bullets bounce off his chest, and its a dandy.  I have to admit, thought, that scriptwriter Tom Mankiewicz was right when he noted, in the director/screenwriter comments, that this scene was redundant.  By that time, the audience knew Superman was impervious to what Luthor threw at him.

Anyway, these are just a few examples of many.  My real gripe with the "extended edition" of Superman The Movie is that it didn't go far enough.  Somewhere out there is a workprint/TV edition with all these scenes woven together.  Why not give us that, rather than this patchwork "extended" version?

In conclusion, the theatrical cut of Superman The Movie remains my all time favorite film.  The "extended edition", while interesting (better to get something rather than nothing!), is worth a look, but I still hold out hope of getting a nice, clean digital copy of the full version.

Maybe one day.

Meanwhile, in 1981...