TIMELINE
1973
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Ilya Salkind approaches his father, Alexander Salkind, about making 'Superman'.
1974
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August/September
Pierre Spengler and Alexander and Ilya Salkind meet with National Periodical Publications, a division of Warner Bros.,
to discuss purchasing the rights to Superman.
Autumn
Mario Puzo signs on to write the screenplay for 'Superman' and 'Superman II'.
1975
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(Early 1975)
Casting begins.
April
Mario Puzo turns in first draft of the script.
June
Production start date of November, 1975 in Rome, Italy is announced.
October
Mario Puzo turns in second draft of the script.
Robert Benton, David and Leslie Newman sign on to rewrite Mario Puzo's script.
1976
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February
February 29th.- The Salkinds and Pierre Spengler take out a full page ad in Variety saying:
"Happy birthday, Superman. Sorry we couldn't be with you."
Laser show at Battery Park, New York announcing "Coming soon-'Superman The Movie'".
Spring
Flying tests begin in England.
John Barry begins construction of the sets in Rome.
Guy Hamilton signs on to direct.
June
Marlon Brando signs on to play Superman's father, Jor-El.
September
Bruce Jenner auditions for Superman.
December
Due to the drop in the British Lb., the production shifts from Italy to Shepperton Studios in Great Britain.
Director Guy Hamilton drops out of the director role.
Richard Donner signs on for $1 million to direct both 'Superman' and 'Superman II' simultaneously.
Richard Donner recruits Tom Mankiewicz to do re-writes to the script.
March, 1977 start date is announced.
1977
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January
Don Voyne, dentist to Ilya Salkind's wife, is auditioned for the role of Superman.
Tom Mankiewicz begins rewrites of Puzo's and the Newman's script.
February
February 10th.- Christopher Reeve screen tests for the role of Clark Kent and Superman.
February 23rd.- Press conference at Sardi's announcing Christopher Reeve in the role of Clark Kent and Superman.
March
March 10th.- Anne Archer screen tests for the role of Lois Lane.
March 22nd.- Lesley Ann Warren screen tests for the role of Lois Lane.
Monday, March 28th. 8:00 a.m.- Marlon Brando arrives on the Shepperton Studios lot.
Monday, March 28th. 9:00 a.m.- Marlon Brando arrives on the set.
Tuesday, March 29- Marlon Brando and Susannah York film in Jor-El's laboratory on the 'A' stage at Shepperton Studios.
April
April 2nd.- Susan Blakely screen tests for the role of Lois Lane.
April 5th.- Christopher Reeve's first day of filming involves scenes with Marlon Brando for 'Superman II'.
None of Marlon Brando's filmed scenes for 'Superman II' would make it into the theatrical cut of the film.
Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews and Maria Schell film the council chamber scenes.
Marlon Brando, Terrence Stamp, Jack O'Halloran and Sarah Douglas film the trial of the villains.
April 16th.- Deborah Raffin screen tests for the role of Lois Lane.
April 24th.- Margot Kidder screen tests for the role of Lois Lane. It is also Richard Donner's 47th. birthday.
April 30th.- Stockard Channing screen tests for the role of Lois Lane.
Jack Klugman accepts the role of Perry White. Klugman then rejects it.
Eddie Albert accepts the role of Perry White. He too then rejects it.
Kennan Wynn accepts the role of Perry White.
Daily Planet set begins construction on 'E' stage at Shepperton Studios.
May
Christopher Reeve's first days of filming as Superman on the Fortress of Solitude set in 'H' stage at Shepperton Studios.
Gene Hackman and Valerie Perrine arrive to film scenes in the Fortress of Solitude for 'Superman II'.
Margot Kidder signs on to play Lois Lane.
Location work on 'Superman II' set for Washington D.C. is shelved indefinitely.
Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Terrence Stamp,
Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran film their Fortress of Solitude scenes for 'Superman II'.
Mario Puzo visits the Fortress of Solitude set.
Production falls almost two weeks behind schedule.
Richard Donner and Tom Mankiewicz scout locations in Canada.
June
Production moves to Pinewood Studios.
Keenan Wynn arrives to play Perry White and collapses from extreme exhaustion after being rushed to the hospital.
Keenan Wynn is replaced by Jackie Cooper who spends five weeks filming Daily Planet scenes
for both 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II'.
Filming begins on scenes for 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II' on the Daily Planet set at Shepperton's stage 'E'.
Marc McClure films his Daily Planet scenes for both 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II'.
E.G. Marshall spends three days filming his scenes as the president for 'Superman II'.
Gene Hackman, Terrence Stamp, Sarah Douglas and Jack O'Halloran film the White House scenes for 'Superman II'.
Moon set for 'Superman II' begins construction at Pinewood Studios.
Richard Lester arrives as uncredited "producer".
July
July 2nd., 3rd and 4th.- Production leaves Pinewood Studios for location filming in New York.
Filming the daytime Daily Planet exteriors and lobby at the New York Daily News.
Filming the nighttime Daily Planet exteriors at the New York Daily News.
Filming the mugger off Pike St.
After Peter Boyle is a no-show, Ned Beatty steps into the role of Otis.
Filming with Ned Beatty at New York's Grand Central Station and track 41.
Stuntwoman Ellen Bry films scenes of Lois Lane falling onto a fruit cart intended for 'Superman II's opening scenes.
This filmed sequence would not make it into the theatrical cut of 'Superman II'.
July 13th. 9:38 p.m.- New York City blacks out. Fortunately, the production has its own generator and filming continues.
Filming the robber's chase and their boat escape at Fulton Market.
Filming the robber's boat on Wall Street.
Filming the catburglar and officer Mooney at 9 West 57th. Street's Solow Building.
Mario Puzo visits the Solow Building location.
Filming the Daily planet rooftop helicopter departure at 111 Wall Street.
Tim Hussey and Ed Finneran win the DC Comics 'You Could Be In The Superman Movie' contest.
August
Production moves to Calgary and Alberta, Canada.
Glenn Ford, Phillys Thaxter and Jeff East film their Smallville scenes in Alberta, Canada.
Gene Hackman, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beatty film the XK-101 missile hijack sequence in Calgary, Canada.
Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill film their scenes aboard the Canadian Pacific train.
Their scenes would be trimmed down in the theatrical version of the film but later restored
to both the expanded t.v. airings and the 2001 extended DVD version.
Glenn Ford, Phillys Thaxter and Aaron Smolinski film the Smallville scenes of baby Kal-El.
Location filming in Niagara Falls for 'Superman II' is postponed.
September
Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beatty film in Luthor's lair at Pinewood Studios.
October
Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Valerie Perrine and Ned Beatty film the prison scenes for 'Superman The Movie'
and 'Superman II'.
Jeff East films his Fortress of Solitude scenes on the '007 Stage' at Pinewood Studios.
Gene Hackman films Fortress of Solitude scenes for 'Superman II'.
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder film Don's Diner scenes for 'Superman II'.
Filming on scenes for 'Superman II' are halted until main unit shooting for 'Superman The Movie' completes.
Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder film the balcony scenes on stage 'M' at Pinewood Studios.
Filming the Golden Gate miniature on the Pinewood backlot.
30-mins. promotional reel of the film is viewed by Warner Bros executives at Pinewood Studios' theatre #7.
Friday, October 28th.- End of production reception.
November
Production halted on main unit for three weeks.
December
Richard Donner returns to the set.
1978
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January
Christopher Reeve films the gauntlet scenes.
Filming of the spaceship model and the XK-101 rocket.
Stuntman Paul Weston's wires snap sending him falling forty feet to the ground.
Metal worker Terry Hill is killed after a mock up Air Force One wing collapses on him.
The teaser trailer is released to theatres.
February
February 28th.- Filming the spaceship model melting.
March
Warner Bros. advances Alexander Salkind money against his royalties.
April
April 15th.- Original date for the final print of the film.
Filming Christopher Reeve flying through molten lava and holding up the San Andreas fault.
Reshoots and flying work.
May
Reshoots and flying work.
June
June 11th., 1978- The original theatrical release date before it's moved up to December 15th.
Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder and Marc McClure film the desert scenes in New Mexico.
July
John Williams records the score.
Post-production begins.
October
October 28th.- Cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth dies at age 64, less than two weeks before the movie's premiere.
December
December 10th.- Washington D.C. Special Olympics premiere at The Kennedy Center.
Tickets are:
$1,000 for a party at the home of Sargeant Shriver, reception at the Japanese Embassy
and dinner at the Kennedy Center screening.
$500 with the reception cut out.
$125 for the dinner and screening.
December 11th.- New York premiere at The Ashton Theatre.
December 13th.- London Royal Premiere.
Thursday, December 14th. 7:30 p.m.- Hollywood premiere at Mann's Chinese Theatre.
December 15th.- 'Superman The Movie' opens in nearly 700 U.S. theatres with a running time of 144-mins.
1979
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March
March 15th.- Richard Donner is fired as director for the completion of 'Superman II'.
April
Sunday, April 9th.- The Academy Awards:
Win:
Special Achievement in Visual Effects-
Les Bowie, Colin Chilvers, Denys Coop, Derek Meddings and Zoran Perisic.
Nominations:
Editing - Stuart Baird
Original Score- John Williams
Sound- Gordon K. McCallum, Graham Hartstone, Nicholas Le Messurier and Roy Charman
June
June 1st.- Production designer John Barry dies at age 44 from infectious meningitis.
Principal photography continues on 'Superman II' with Richard Lester as director.
'Superman The Movie' is released on home video in a condensed 127-min version.
1980
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March
Monday, March 10th.- Principal photography wraps on 'Superman II' under Richard Lester's direction.
ABC airs 'The Making of Superman The Movie' hosted by Christopher Reeve.
October
HBO premieres the theatrical version of 'Superman The Movie'.
Sunday, October 12th.- 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 16th.- 7:30-10:00 p.m.
Monday, October 20th.- 9:00-11:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 25th.- 3:30-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29th.- 11:30 p.m-2:00 a.m.
December
December 4th.- 'Superman II' is released in Australia and South Africa more than six months before the U.S. release.
1981
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'Superman The Movie' is released on home video with its theatrical running time of 144-mins.
April
Thursday, April 9th.- 'Superman II' opens in London.
Sunday, April 12th.- 'Superman II' opens in the rest of the U.K.
June
June 19th.- 'Superman II' is released in U.S. theatres with a running time of 127-mins.
Richard Lester is credited as director though some footage filmed by Richard Donner is used.
1982
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February
Sunday, February 7th. 9:00-11:00 p.m.- ABC airs part 1 of 'Superman The Movie' with footage not seen in theatres.
Monday, February 8th. 9:00-11:00 p.m.- ABC airs part 2 of 'Superman The Movie' with footage not seen in theatres.
August
Principal photography begins on 'Superman III' under Richard Lester's direction.
ABC airs 'The Making of Superman II'.
November
Sunday, November 14th. 8:00-11:45 p.m.- ABC re-airs 'Superman The Movie' with footage not seen in theatres.
December
Helen Slater is cast as Supergirl.
1983
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January
HBO premieres the theatrical version of 'Superman II':
Saturday, January 1st. 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 8:00-10:15 p.m.
Monday, January 3rd. 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 4th. 4:20-6:30 a.m.
Monday, January 5th. 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 6th. 12:00-2:15 p.m.
Sunday, January 9th. 1:30-4:00 p.m., 10:00 pm-12:15 p.m.
Friday, January 14th. 12:00-2:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.-12:14 a.m.
Sunday, January 22nd. 6:30-9:00 a.m.
Monday, January 23rd. 2:10-4:25 a.m.
Thursday, January 27th. 10:00-12:30 p.m.
Friday, January 28th. 12:00-2:15 a.m.
June
Friday, June 17th.- 'Superman III' opens in U.S theaters.
July
Tuesday, July 19th.- 'Superman III' opens in London.
Thusday, July 21th.- 'Superman III' opens in the rest of the U.K.
Wednesday, November 23rd. 8:00-10:15 p.m.- Showtime airs the theatrical version of 'Superman II'.
1984
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February
Monday, February 20th. 8:00-11:00pm- ABC airs 'Superman II' featuring footage not seen in theatres.
Some of the added footage include scenes filmed by Richard Donner.
April
HBO and Cinemax premiere the theatrical version of 'Superman III':
Sunday, April 1st.- 12:00-2:30 p.m., 8:00-10:10 p.m. (Cinemax)
Monday, April 2nd.- 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 8:00-10:00 p.m. (HBO)
Wednesday, April 4th.- 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 8:00-10:00 p.m. (Cinemax)
Saturday, April 7th.- 12:00-2:10 p.m., 11:30 p.m.-1:40 a.m. (Cinemax)
Sunday, April 8th.- 12:00-2:30 p.m., 8:00-10:15 p.m. (HBO)
Friday, April 13th.- 8:00-10:15 p.m. (Cinemax)
Thursday, April 19th.- 9:00-11:15 p.m. (HBO)
Saturday, April 21st.- 8:00-10:30 a.m. (HBO)
Sunday, April 22nd.- 12:20-2:30 a.m. (HBO)
July
Friday, July 20th.- 'Supergirl' opens in the U.S. with a running time of 106 mins.
Some international releases run almost 10 mins longer.
1985
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May
Thursday, May 30th.- 'Supergirl' is released on home video.
December
Friday, December 27th.- Alexander and Ilya Salkind's 'SantaClaus The Movie' opens in the U.S.
1987
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January
'Superman The Movie' airs on The Movie Channel.
July
Friday, July 24th.- 'Superman IV- The Quest for Peace' opens in the U.S. with a running time of 90 mins.
Some international versions run 4 mins. longer.
November
Wednesday, November 25th.- 'Superman IV- The Quest for Peace' is released on home video.
1988
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November
Tuesday, November 22nd. 8:00-11:00 p.m.- KCOP L.A. airs the theatrical version of 'Superman The Movie'.
1989
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November
Thursday, November 23rd. 8:30-11:00 p.m.- CBS airs the theatrical version of 'Superman II'.
1990
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'Superman The Movie' is released for the first time in widescreen on laserdisc.
1992
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May
Monday, May 14th. 7:00-10:00 p.m.- WPIX New York airs the theatrical version of 'Superman The Movie'.
Wednesday, May 16th 7:30-10:00 p.m.- WPIX airs 'Superman III'.
Wednesday, May 16th 8:00-10:00 p.m.- WPIX airs 'Superman IV- The Quest for Peace'.
1994
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May
KCOP L.A. airs the longest version of 'Superman The Movie' with over 45-mins. of footage not seen in theatres.
November
Sunday, November 6th. 2:00-5:00 p.m.- KCOP L.A. airs the theatrical version of 'Superman The Movie'.
1996
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'Superman II' and 'Superman III' are released in widescreen on laserdisc.
1998
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August
Tuesday, August 11th.- Anchor Bay Home Entertainment releases the full-screen, 124 min. international version of 'Supergirl'.
2000
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August
Tuesday, August 11th.- Anchor Bay Home Entertainment releases a 2-dics, widescreen DVD set of 'Supergirl'.
The DVDs include the international version and a never before seen 138 min. Director's Cut.
2001
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May
Tuesday, May 1st.- The Superman movies are released on DVD.
'Superman The Movie' is an extended 152 min. version with newly restored soundtrack.
2006
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June
June 28th.- 'Superman Returns' opens in the USA.
November
Tuesday, June 28th.- Warner Bros. Home Video releases Superman- The Ultimate Collection DVD box set.
The box set includes the theatrical version of 'Superman- The Movie' and ''Superman II- The Richard Donner Cut.
2007
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May
Thursday, May 10th. 8:00-11:00 pm- ABC Family airs the theatrical version of 'Superman- The Movie'.
June
Saturday, June 16th. 6:00-9:00 pm- ION airs the theatrical version of 'Superman- The Movie'.
Sunday, June 17th.- U.K. channel 5 airs the theatrical version of 'Superman II'.
TRIVIA
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'Superman The Movie' took three years of planning and eighteen months of filming- including scenes for 'Superman II'.
Marlon Brando received $3.7 million, 11.75% of the dosmetic gross and 5.65% of the foreign gross
for thirteen days of filming on 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II'.
Gene Hackman received $2 million to play Lex Luthor in both 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II'.
Christopher Reeve received $250,000 for 'Superman The Movie'.
'Superman The Movie' grossed $134,218,018 domestically. It's complete budget is an estimated $55 million.
'Superman The Movie' was at one time the biggest one week money grosser in Warner Bros. history.
At the height of production of 'Superman The Movie' over one thousand people were employed.
Filming took place in three studios, eight countries and three continents for 'Superman The Movie'.
Eleven seperate film units were shooting at one time on 'Superman The Movie'.
800,000 gallons of water were used on the Fortress of Solitude set.
Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone, Nick Nolte,
Burt Reynolds, James Caan, Ryan O'Neal, John Voight, Sam Elliot, John Beck, Perry King, Jeff Bridges, Jan-Michael Vincent,
David Soul, Robert Wagner, Paul Rudd, Lyle Wagner and Kris Kristofferson were all considered for the title role of Superman.
Barbra Streisand, Jessica Lange, Jill Clayburgh, Liza Minnelli, Shirley McClain, Natalie Wood and Carrie Fisher
were all considered for the role of Lois Lane.
The uncredited little girl on the train in 'Superman The Movie' is named Kathy Painter.
Over 1,250,000 feet of film was shot during production of 'Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II'.
'Superman The Movie' was the first film to feature a split 6 channel surround soundtrack.
'Superman The Movie' was #1 at the box office for thirteen weeks.
Birthdays
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January
-----------
9th, 1941
Susannah York- "Lara"
19th., 1932
Richard Lester- Director ('Superman II' and 'Superman III')
30th, 1930
Gene Hackman- "Lex Luthor"
February
-----------
4th., 1937
David Newman- Screenwriter: ('Superman The Movie', 'Superman II' and 'Superman III') (D: June 27th., 2003)
28th., 1933
Sidney J. Furie- Director ('Superman IV- The Quest For Peace')
March
-----------
31st., 1957
Marc McClure- "Jimmy Olsen"
April
-----------
1st., 1924
Marlon Brando- "Jor-El" (D: July 1st, 2004)
1st., 1954
Annette O'Toole- "Lana Lang" ('Superman III')
8th., 1943
Jack O'Halloran- "Non"
14th., 1959
Mark Pillow- "Nuclear Man 2"
16th., 1965
Jon Cryer- "Lenny Luthor"
24th., 1930
Richard Donner- Director ('Superman The Movie' and 'Superman II- The Richard Donner Cut')
29th., 1954
Gavan O'Herlihy- "Brad": ("Superman III')
May
-----------
1st., 1916
Glenn Ford- Jonathan 'Pa' Kent" (D: August 30th., 2006)
29th., 1921
Clifton James- "Sheriff" ('Superman II')
31st., 1929
Menahem Golan- Producer ('Superman IV- The Quest For Peace')
June
-----------
1st., 1942
Tom Mankiewicz- Executive Consultant ('Superman The Movie" and 'Superman II')
2nd., 1921
Alexander Salkind- Producer ('Superman The Movie, 'Superman II and 'Superman III') (D- March 8th., 1997)
3rd., 1957
Clive Mantle- "Nuclear Man 1"
14th., 1919
Sam Wanamaker- "David Warfield" (D: December 18th., 1993)
18th., 1914
E.G. Marshall- "The President" ('Superman II') (D: August 24th., 1998)
July
-----------
6th., 1947
Ned Beatty- "Otis"
22nd., 1939
Terrence Stamp- "General Zod"
25th., 1930
Annie Ross- "Vera Webster"
27th., 1947
Ilya Salkind- Executive Producer ('Superman The Movie', 'Superman II' and 'Superman III')
September
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3rd., 1943
Valerie Perrine- "Eve Teschmacher"
15th., 1922
Jackie Cooper- "Perry White"
25th., 1952
Christopher Reeve- "Superman", "Clark Kent" and "Kal-El" (D: October 10th., 2004)
29th., 1913
Trevor Howard- "1st. Elder" ('Superman The Movie") (D: January 7th., 1988)
October
-----------
15th., 1920
Mario Puzo- Story and Screenwriter ('Superman the Movie" and 'Superman II') (D: July 2nd., 1999)
17th., 1948
Margot Kidder- "Lois Lane"
27th., 1957
Jeff East- "Young Clark Kent"
November
-----------
20th., 1921
Phillys Thaxter- "Martha 'Ma' Clark Kent"
22nd., 1932
Robert Vaughn- "Ross Webster"
22nd., 1961
Mariel Hemingway- "Lacy Warfield"
December
-----------
1st., 1940
Richard Pryor- "Gus Gorman" (D: December 10th., 2005)
4th., 1949
Pamela Stephenson- "Lorelei Ambrosia"
12th., 1952
Sarah Douglas- "Ursa"