This fascinating collage of screengrabs culled from the Superman IV; Deluxe Edition DVD represent a very special memory for me as this was irrefutable proof that not only did these scenes exist, but would finally, finally be released –
I remember first reading the news (and nearly falling out of my chair) during a Warner Bros. Q&A about the Ultimate Edition Box Set and the casual announcement that “All the footage from Superman IV had been found” and there “Will be a considerable amount of deleted scenes”. I still refused to believe it until I saw the list of chapters themselves for rating by the BBFC. Then upon the boxset release, SuperFan Sebastian Columbo swiftly sent me the images above.
Considering the footage was the subject of volumes of speculation and debate that would litter the Internet for years, the only agreement across the board was that it would never be seen. A true highlight of my fandom and thanks to WB for making it happen…
From cover to (backward) cover, this quartet of publications above may have text in Japanese but are easily the definitive photo reference for the first three Superman Movies –
From the top; Starlog Publications Superman: The Movie Companion, Japanese Starlog magazine June 1979, Superman II Roadshow booklet and Superman III Companion. Occasionally popping up on popular auction sites for ever-increasing amounts, my recommendation for starting a Superman Collection (besides Series 1 the Topps Trading Cards) will always be Book One…
The Superman exhibit in the Six Flags Movieland Wax Museum Of Buena Park, CA. had the distinction of being the first (and most expensive) installation in the Stars Hall Of Fame for the blockbuster movie of 1978. Christopher Reeve himself attended sittings with renowned sculptor Logan Fleming (second pic) to capture his likeness and the finished figure would stand proudly atop an elaborate custom-made Fortress Of Solitude set in an original costume gifted by Warner Bros.
A top attraction for many years, time and dwindling numbers meant the Museum would close its doors forever in 2005, by which time the Superman figure (in similar fashion to the waxwork figure from London’s Madame Tussauds) had been stripped of its original costume (Bottom pic) before being sold in auction for $16,000 just days after the untimely death of Dana Reeve…
