Superman II: Restored International Cut FAQ

Q. The Entertainment Weekly article indicates that you are offering free DVDs, is that true?
A. No, the article is misleading; I categorically deny that I offered free DVDs. The original blurb stated that if you wanted a copy then ask on the message board. I never offered to distribute. Making money off bootlegs is wrong, but Ebayers continually rip off buyers with crap quality; RIC was suppose to offer the best quality available for cents and pence.

Q. What is the Restored International Cut?
A. It's the longest cut of the film, shown in various international territories. It was compiled by the Salkind Company not Warner Bros.! Entertainment Weekly got it wrong!

Q. Is Marlon Brando in this cut?
A. NO! Celebrity Justice thinks that this cut features scenes which have never been shown outside of Pinewood. Scenes like Jor-El committing suicide in order for Superman to regain his powers and the alternate opening, where Lois figures out Clark is Superman. Check this link for full details on the various TV cuts.

Q. Did you produce this?
A. NO! A talented individual spent a long time restoring the long cut using various VHS sources. Each frame was meticulously cleaned, but it's nowhere near a pristine DVD quality.

Q. What was the goal of the project?
A. The main goal was to archive the international cut. The official STM discs features only a few of the deleted scenes available; a lot of material was left out that did make it into the TV versions. We can't expect the WB to save every single frame, but die hard fans don't want that material to get lost either. RIC was saving that material for die hard fans. 20 years after those scenes were broadcast, and it was already incredibly difficult to obtain a reasonable looking copy of this material. Imagine 20 years from now?
There's no guarentee that the studio will even release a Special Edition of Superman 2; so archiving this cut of the picture was important.
Also preserved: Ken Thorne's soundtrack and the making of the film.

Q. What's your connection with this?
A. I'm merely a publicist; It's taken 8 years to get to this position where WB are now taking this seriously; they're considering their options and navigating legal hell so that a product could be released, maybe end of 2006? I've tried to drum up support over the years and now we've finally peaked and magazines are picking up on this.

Q. What's Donner's take on this?
A. I honestly don't know, but support for his work on that film is strong, so maybe he's feeling all fuzzy inside; then again, maybe he thinks I'm an asshole. Seriously, I think he's waiting for WB to ask him to be involved in a potential DVD SE.

Q. Don't you think the RIC has actually hurt the progress of releasing an official product?
A. Put it this way: You think people who have the RIC DVD will not buy an official product? Please, an official product would stamp all over the RIC discs. The editor wants his DVDs to become obsolete. There's no way that a RIC owner wouldn't buy an official product, the project is all about raising awareness albeit a little more aggressively than just talking about it.

Q. So, will there be a re-cut of the film?
A. If there's a re-cut then Lester's film must also co-exist, I don't want the theatrical cut of the film to disappear. Superman 2, in its existing form, is a very good film, but on Donner's paper, a much better film, more in line with the first picture.
I'd be happy with a deleted scenes supplement or a cut of the film featuring placards, highlighting scenes which were not shot. I'd say 75% of the film is available. I'm not in favour of re-cutting the film to accommodate more of the Donner scenes and cutting out some of the Lester scenes.
Superman 2 was directed by Richard Lester and it should stay as such. I don't think Donner would want to come in and hack someone's work because it will never be his 100% Artists are very concerned with how their work is presented.
A re-cut of the film satisfies neither artist.
Remember, Lester never replaced Donner! He replaced Guy Hamilton. Guy couldn't do it cos of tax reasons.

Q. Will the RIC DVD be available again?
A. I don't know. In the greater scheme of things it's not important if WB announce that a legitimate product is coming.
The editor states: "Warner Brothers have let their feelings known, and in accordance with their wishes, RIC is NOT being produced or traded".

Q. Is the RIC illegal?
A. You have to remember, no one raided vaults, all that was used was VHS home recordings sourced from around the world.
I don't see WB zeroing in on the Ebayers who sell the extended cuts of Superman for profit. RIC is and always will be non-profit. Everything on the disc is material which is not available to buy. I'm not an expert on the legal side of things.

Q. What now?
A. Wait and see I guess. Our job is done and judging by the reaction, a legitimate release will be very popular; the market is there.

Q. Will you be involved in a legitimate release?
A. I doubt it.

Q. The articles in the press have been misleading, why?
A. They never asked me any questions or offered me the chance to preview before committing to final print. The press is probably the most powerful organisation in the world; they have the ability to sway opinion with reckless writing and they can ruin these campaigns by misinforming the public. Superman 2 is a delicate matter, so any news journalists should talk to me to make sure that the facts are represented.