3-Hour 'Superman: The Movie' Extended Cut On The Way

When it comes to DC Comics movies, the words “extended cut” don’t especially bring much excitement, at least lately. Zack Snyder padded out “Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice” with thirty more minutes, which didn’t do much to change opinions on the film, except to the most devoted fans. Meanwhile, the ten minutes or so tossed onto “Suicide Squad” also didn’t make much impact. However, both cinephiles and superhero enthusiasts are in for an intriguing treat with “Superman: The Movie.”

Warner Bros.’ Archive Collection is rolling out an official release of the full, 188-minute extended version (!!) of Richard Donner‘s groundbreaking movie. This iteration of the movie first unspooled across two-nights on ABC TV way back in 1982, with a slightly longer version running in 1994, and it features lots footage not seen either the theatrical release or the official director’s cut of the film. Plus there’s more of John Williams‘ score too. So what are some the scenes that you’ll get to see? Well, here’s some excerpts from IMDB which give a pretty good idea of what’s coming:

Two longer versions have been released since the original… one on ABC in 1982 at approximately 182 minutes, and the other on KCOP in Los Angeles in 1994 at approximately 188 minutes. Both contain footage and music not used in the theatrical version, including extensions of the destruction of Krypton, Smallville, Fortress of Solitude, Daily Planet and earthquake scenes. Three longer versions have been released since the original…one is a 188-minute “Salkind International Extended Cut”, originally prepared for worldwide television distribution by Alexander Salkind’s company (this was done to get more money on the sales of the film for television, Alexander Salkind charged stations and networks by the minute in order to earn profit), this version is commonly called the “KCOP Version” because its first known domestic airing was on L.A. station KCOP in 1994; another a 182-minute version aired on ABC (derived from the earlier Alexander Salkind television cut), and the final a digitally restored 151-minute director’s cut prepared by director Richard Donner in 2000 (and released the following year on DVD). The extended versions contain footage and music not used in the theatrical version, but the television edits have more material than the 2000 restoration, including extensions of the destruction of Krypton, Smallville, Fortress of Solitude, Daily Planet and earthquake scenes.

In a 1980’s ABC-TV version of the film, when Superman is trying to get to Lex’s underground hideout, he is subjected to machine gun fire, a giant blow torch, and is frozen in ice. Much of this footage was used in Superman II, in the scene where Superman’s powers are stripped away by the molecule chamber in the Fortress of Solitude. Lex Luthor plays the piano in several scenes.

In the ABC version, after Superman saves Lois at the end and flies off, he’s seen rescuing Miss Tessmacher from the lions’ den where Lex had dropped her in.

In the ABC version, the little girl who sees the teenage Clark running faster than the train is revealed to be Lois Lane, a fact revealed when her parents talk to her by name. This revelation scene is not present in the shorter theatrical release.

There’s no firm release date yet, but it’s expected hit Blu-ray by the end of the year, the package will include Donner’s final cut of the movie as well, and lots of new extras too. [io9]

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