Superman II : Whose Sequel is it anyway? PAGE II

This report goes through all the scenes which were televised, however we will deal specifically (go into further detail) with Donner-shot scenes, identify which they are, and how they were modified (if at all) by Lester's team when incorporated into the released version of Superman II. This will be based upon information in the 1979 version of the Superman II Shooting Script, Richard Donner quotes, magazines and our tuition. Please Note that there are the TV versions showed different cuts and we have pointed these out as well. Refer to the related links for details on the various extra footage and TV versions.

When this document refers to ABC, we mean that the station was the first to televise the Superman2 extended, albeit edited to fit the 3 hour time slot which included plenty of commerical breaks. ABC have NEVER shown a complete extended cut as edited by the Salkind's company. When we refer to CAN, we mean that a longer cut became widely know much later among us, shown in 1985. Finally, EURO/AUSSIE refers to scenes exclusive to this cut and shown in Europe and Austrailia. This cut is believed to be the one approved as a master edit by Salkind's company. Bear in mind that countries in other continents may have shown the extended cut too.

The following captions and colour refer to scenes or portions of scenes from original 1977 footage filmed by Donner as well as new footage by Lester:

DON77: 1977 scenes or dialogue which were untouched by Lester and found in the theatrical release.
ABC77: 1977 scenes or dialogue which were deleted by Lester and was not included in the theatrical version but are found in the ABC extended version. Sometimes these sections were marked for deletion in the 1979 script outright; other times they were not marked, and were deleted later in the editing process.
CAN77: 1977 scenes or dialogue which were deleted by Lester and was not included in the theatrical version but are found in the 1985 CANDIAN TV extended version. The Canadian TV edit contained ALL the ABC scenes as well. Sometimes these sections were marked for deletion in the 1979 script outright; other times they were not marked, and were deleted later in the editing process.
EURO/AUSSIE77: 1977 scenes or dialogue which were deleted by Lester and was not included in the theatrical version but are found in the 80s EUROPEAN AND AUSTRAILIAN TV versions. The European and Austrailian TV edits contained ALL the ABC and Canadian scenes as well. Sometimes these sections were marked for deletion in the 1979 script outright; other times they were not marked, and were deleted later in the editing process.
DEL77: 1977 scenes or dialog which were deleted by Lester and was included in neither the theatrical nor the extended version. Again, sometimes these scenes were marked for deletion in the 1979 script, other times they were edited out later.

MOD79: Modifications made to original 1977 footage so as to conform to the new script (including voice-overs, etc.)
LES79: New footage filmed in 1979 by Lester to be intercut with original 1977 Donner material. (Make-up and hairstyle differences can be noted as well.)
ABC79: 1979 scenes or dialog filmed by Lester which were edited from the theatrical release but were found in the ABC extended version.
CAN79: 1979 scenes or dialog filmed by Lester which were edited from the theatrical release but were found in the 1985 CANADIAN TV version. The Canadian TV edit contained ALL the ABC79 scenes as well.
EURO/AUSSIE79: 1979 scenes or dialog filmed by Lester which were edited from the theatrical release but were only found in AUSTRALIAN AND CERTAIN EUROPEAN TV SHOWINGS in 1980s. The European and Austrailian Tv edits contained all ABC and Canadian TV scenes.
DEL79: New scenes called out in the script to be filmed by Lester in 1979 but haven't been seen in any TV version or were never filmed at all..

DON77: Travelling in space to Krypton

LES79: The opening scene on Krypton with Non, Ursa and General Zod upto "Guilty"

MOD79: This scene cuts immediately to previous footage filmed by Donner in 1977 but with voice-overs by another actor playing the voice of Jor-El. Marlon Brando's
image is brushed out of pertinent frames.

DON77: The council give their verdict "GUILTY" Close up of Zod & Opening of the Dome.

MOD79: Zod shouting in the Phantom Zone, new voice-over.

DON77: The frames used between the credits were filmed by Donner in 1977, with these two exceptions:

LES79: A 6 second clip of Lara putting baby Kal-El in the Starship and the image of Jor-El's hand laying down the green crystal in Kal-El's ship was filmed by Lester in 1979.

DON77: Opening shot of the Daily Planet exterior.

LES79: Inside the Planet and change to Superman.

DON77: The background plate of Metropolis is Donner footage (Where Superman flies from the city of Metropolis)

LES79: Lois in Paris

ABC77: Superman flies past Concorde before showing the next shot of Superman flying into France. This scene was to be part of the original film.

LES79: Superman sees the Eiffel Tower in the distance, saves Lois upto the explosion in space.

DON77: A 5 second clip of the villains in the top corner of the screen.

LES79: Phantom Zone shattered, villains are FREE!

DON77: A 9 second shot in the streets of Metropolis, emphasis on the fruit cart and the Daily Planet.

LES79: Clark hit by the cab and inside the Planet and the orange juice sequence.

DON77: Aside from the exceptions listed below, this entire sequence was filmed by Donner and part of the theatrical release.

MOD79: The voice over response "There's a scratch on it." to Luthor's demanding his Librace record back was added to the footage by Lester (not scripted). The
original response is unknown.

DON77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and marked for deletion in 1979, but were part of the theatrical release anyway:
            (Following Inmate's "There's a scratch on it.")
Otis: "What are you gonna do -- with a guy like that, I mean, he flies around so fast and everything..."

DEL77: Luthor's line "Six pack of Coke." (found in the Superman II shooting script) was excised from the scene. The context for the line is unknown.

ABC77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, were not marked for deletion in 1979, but were cut from the theatrical release. It did make it, however, to the ABC
extended version:
  (Following Otis' "To ski?")
Lex: "Otis, your brain defies any known scientific laws in its infinite capacity to deteriorate."
ABC77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and marked for deletion in 1979, but were part of the ABC extended version:
(Following Otis' "Ahhhhhhhh -- Alpha Waves.")
Lex: "I could have said it tracked Pasta Fagoli, couldn't I."
Otis: "Oh with garlic, Mr. Luthor, and that butter, Oh it's so good."
ABC77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and was not marked for deletion in 1979, but were removed from the theatrical release and found in the ABC extended
                 version:
(Following Luthor's "And when I have his secret, I'll have Superman.")
Lex: "Slasher Fogelstein is a bedwetter."

DON77: Everything on the moon was shot by Donner.

LES79: The Houston control sequence was shot by Lester and intercut with Donner's Lunar attack

ABC79: Extension to dialogue between the 2 operators at Houston Control.

DEL77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and were marked for deletion in the 1979 script:
                (Following Zod's "...the more our dense molecular density gives us unlimited powers!")
              Ursa: "They come from ... earth."
                Ursa (pointing): "There ... (examines NASA buckle) A place called ... Houston ..."

ABC77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and marked for deletion in 1979, but were part of the ABC extended version:
                (Following Zod's "Finally to rule!")
                Zod (to Ursa): "And then you shall have what you want."
                Ursa: "Men. To destroy."
              Zod: "And I will lead."

DON77: This entire sequence was filmed by Donner as seen in the theatrical release.

ABC77: Luthor and Otis extended dialogue and escape. Extended shots of Otis being captured and Luthor disappearing into the night sky.
ABC77: In the ABC version, Superman flies past Concorde before showing the next shot of Superman flying into France. This scene was to be part of the original film.

LES79: This sequence was filmed by Lester in 1979.

CAN79: Extended look at Asian tourists taking photos found in the Canadian TV version and the International broadcast. This scene was not found in the 1979 screenplay.

DON77: Aside from the exceptions listed below, this entire sequence was filmed by Donner and part of the theatrical release.

MOD79: This is a long shot of the balloon sailing through the sky is shown with the following new dialog:
               (Following Luthor's "Is this a philosophy seminar? No. This is a getaway.")
               Eve: "Lex, how could you do that to Otis??"
                Luthor: "What else is ballast for?"

ABC77: The following dialog was not marked for deletion in the script, but was deleted from the final version (the following is the script dialog, the actual dialog filmed
                read differently):
                Luthor: "How would you like to take a little vacation? I mean, you've earned it, you know. You deserve it."
                Eve: "There is some good in you, Lex, after all."
                Luthor: "You'll have to pack quickly."
                Eve: "A bikini! I'll need to buy a new bikini, Lex. C'mon. After being cooped in that prison, haven't you thought about me in a bikini...once
                         maybe?"
                Luthor: "A parka."
                Eve: "You thought about me in a parka? That's sick, Lex. Really."
                Luthor: "North! We're going north, Miss Teschmacher."

LES79: This sequence was filmed by Lester in 1979. All Donner footage scrapped here.

CAN79: Before Superman and Lois are walking hand in hand, there is a scene of a man messing with his camera, found in the Canadian TV version.

This is one of the most complicated intercutting of the film. In the original sequence, it is Jor-El alone who appears, not Lara or the Kryptonian Elder. In addition, Jor-El was to appear as a large disembodied ghostly face (as he did in Superman), whereas Lara and the Elder were implemented as normal-sized standing images to save costs. You will also note that Hackman and Perrine are looking up (as they are supposed to be viewing the large face of Jor-El), despite the fact that Lara is standing at eye level to them.

The script note beginning this sequence reads as follows:

"(NOTE: The following sequence is composed of three elements:
    a. new voice-over material for Luthor and Eve
    b. new material for Lara and the various Elders who appear on crystals in the Fortress
    c. previously shot material for Luthor and Eve in the Fortress.
The first section below is new dialogue to be laid over the previously shot LONG SHOTS of Luthor and Eve on the snowmobile moving across the arctic landscape.
The middle section, inside the Fortress, consists of a scene already shot showing Luthor and Eve wandering around the place, finding crystals, etc.
Following that, beginning with the materialisation of Krypton Elders on the crystals, we combine new material with old. The key is simply this: all lines and reactions by Luthor and Eve have been previously shot and are to be intercut with the new material. For purposes of clarity, we have retyped these already shot lines again.
The final sequence consists of new dialogue to be laid over the previously shot LONG SHOT of Luthor and Eve, seen from behind the Snowmobile.)"

ABC77: The original Donner footage of Lex and Eve approaching the Fortress via snowmobile was removed from the theatrical release but was seen on the ABC extended version, but cuts away before Lex and Eve stop and talk.

CAN77: Lex and Eve appear from a tunnel and stop before the water. The Fortress is seen in the distance. Here is the dialogue:
                  Luthor: "Aha! What have we here?"
                  Eve: "Ice. Snow. Your idea of a good time."
                  Luthor: "Fool! It’s his home! His home! Whatever there is to learn about that piebald buzzard, Miss Teschmacher, we’ll find the answers down there!...."

Then they travel on water in their snowmobile and stop at the foot of the Fortress
                   Eve: His home? All the way up here? You must be wrong, Lex.
                   Luthor: Wrong? Lex? We do not use these words in the same sentence.
                   Luthor: There’s the needle - right on target.
                   Eve: It was ... open all the time, Lex. Isn’t that funny?
                   Luthor: An open door is not funny, Miss Teschmacher. Funny is a person trying to smile without her teeth.

Inside the Fortress
                   Luthor: This place is a work of genius! It lacks nothing.
                   Eve: Wrong.
                   Luthor: I beg your pardon?
                   Luthor: Well why didn’t you go before we left?
                   Eve: Two days ago?
                   Eve: I think it’s boring in here. Everything’s white. Why doesn’t the guy put up a couple of prints? Bullfight posters, or something.

It's plain obvious that a lot of dialogue in the 1977 screenplay was changed on the set.
Lex and Eve climb up and get into the Fortress, there is no actual door as the 1977 script states. It's a little confusing, isn't it? Since different TV version featured           edits, we'll try not to confuse here :)

MOD79: The theatrical release contained the following voice-overs lifted from Donner's footage and used in the new 1979 footage:
                Luthor: "Mush! Mush!"
                Eve: "Look at this! Snow. Ice. Your idea of a good time."
              Luthor: "A good time! Is that all you care about?"

DEL77: The following lines were filmed in 1977, and were marked for inclusion in the 1979 script, but were deleted from the theatrical release:
(Following Luthor's "A good time! Is that all you care about?")
Eve: "I wouldn't know. I've never had one."

DEL79: The 1979 script called for two elders to appear, the first "Kron-Dar" was either never filmed or edited out after filming. The following scene appears right after the "It's not ice/It looks like a crystal" lines and just before the "Second Elder" appears to read "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. Note that the dialog of both Elders is virtually identical to Jor-El's lines filmed in 1977 with only minor alterations. Note also that a male Elder was needed, as Lara would not do, given Luthor's previously filmed statement "He's not here, it's a voice from the past." Most of this scene does not survive into the theatrical release.

Footage already filmed from 1977 is represented in green and the new material in orange.

                Kron-Dar: "Crystal 914. Cogitations of the Elder Kron-Dar. The virtuous spirit has no need for gratitude or approval..."
                Luthor: "What the---?"
                Kron-Dar: "Only the certain conviction that what has been done is right....."
                Luthor: "Are you here?"
                Kron-Dar: "The greatest virtue is that which ignores any thought of personal aggrandisement or reward..."
                Luthor (catching on): "Ahhhh, he's not here! He speaks from the past! Cute, very cute..."
                Kron-Dar: "If we accept that that which serves the general good invariably serves the individual as well..."
                Luthor (yanking the crystal out): "So much for Moral Rearmament. Give me another one."
LES79: The Second Elder appears and performs the "Trees" dialog. Again, this dialog was almost identically read by Brando in 1977.
LES79: The Lara sequence is intercut with the Luthor dialog. Lara's script dialog is virtually the same as Jor-El's filmed in 1977. The Luthor line "I didn't ask him
                anything" was noted to have the word "him" replaced by a voice-over of "her". In the film release, the "him" was simply cut out altogether and "her" was not
                looped in.

DEL79: Following Lara's line "The first of these three was General Zod...", the script called for repeating on crystal the opening scene of the movie of General Zod being
                found guilty. However, this was never put into the released version.

ABC77: We see Lex speak the following lines in the TV version:
Luthor: Think of it. Three, count ‘em, three Super Villains! All three with his powers, all three totally dedicated to corruption, violence, and evil ...        They’d need a contact on Earth, of course. Someone who felt the same way they did, someone with that same wonderful contempt for life and decency ... But it’s all too good to be true, right? Miss Teschmacher? Miss Teschmacher!
Eve's Voice: (from somewhere)Found it! I think ... -Eve finds a toilet.

CAN77: Lex and Eve appear from the distance in their snowmobile and stop in front of the camera:
               Eve: I mean when a girl reaches a certain point in her life she starts to think about these things, you know? So we’re not married. "Who cares?" I used to ask
                    myself. Got that? I used to ask........ Listen, Lex. I don’t want to push you into anything....
               Luthor: I’ll push you into something if you don’t shut up.........
                    Luthor: It can’t be...but it is.... it’s unbelievable...but its true!
                     Eve: You broke your box.
                     Luthor: Kryptonian Alpha Waves! Three sets of them!
                    Eve: I didn’t know Superman had a family....
                    Luthor: It’s them! The villains! The incorrigibles! Those three little sweethearts are on their way! Do you realise what this means? They can give me the world!
                 Eve: What do you want with the world? You don’t even like the world.
               Luthor: The world, Miss Teschmacher, is a lot of real estate.
                    Eve: Land, land, always land ....
                    Luthor: Which they’ll develop for me! As soon as they get rid of Superman and we take over, I’ll put them to work! A super construction crew! No, a destruction crew!                       Levelling forests, moving mountains, creating coastlines!
                   Eve: Here we go again ....
                   Luthor: And who do we have to thank for it? Superman! For setting them free! Ah, Lex, you’re one hell of a fellow. Even when you lose, you win. South, Miss
                    Teschmacher! South! To victory!

Lex thinks that the first XK101 rocket that Superman threw iinto space freed the villains!

MOD79: The ending dialog of "That explains those three new Alpha Waves..." was composed of 1979 voice overs on top of pre-existing 1977 long shots of Luthor and
Miss Teschmacher on the snowmobile.

LES79: These sequences were filmed by Lester in 1979.

EURO/AUSSIE79: We see a scene of a young woman watching the football game, only to have the game interrupted by a newsflash from East Houston, covering the villains destruction of the town. The women attempts to ring the TV station to try and get the game back on. Her husband’s voice can be heard in the background.
EURO/AUSSIE79: This is followed by a young Japanese girl viewing the villans destruction of the town on TV. Her father is cutting what appears to be fish. He attempts to rebuke his daughter for watching the TV, due to the excessive violence. Her reply "Shut up!". These two scenes were present in the 1979 shooting script (although scripted differently), but were removed from the final film.

DON77: A short 20-second clip is utilized in the ABC extended version: Superman and Lois flying at night to the Fortress. This scene is lifted from the flying sequence
from the first film and retracked with Ken Thorne music. Both the Tom Mankiewicz script and the Richard Lester rewrite do not contain such a scene at this point; therefore it cannot be considered a true extended clip from "Superman II".