The British Are Coming…

Though forever American as Apple Pie, Superman’s cinematic seeds were sewn in Europe –

Having secured the rights from DC Comics, infamous producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind had originally planned to shoot the adventures of the Man Of Steel in Italy until a series of unfortunate events and shifting economy steered the production toward the UK.  At once occupying large portions of both Pinewood and Shepperton studios, the Superman series was brought to life by the cream of British technical talent and craftsmen whose talent & dedication lives on through the finished picture…

From the top, more vintage full-page ads from Daily Variety and Screen International dedicated to the BFI and UK Box Office takings (The figure seems laughable now but in adjusted dollars is probably trillions), A personal thank you from the producers to the BFI for their support, a promo for Pinewood Studios in the form of a daily shooting schedule (notice the other ongoing shoots including Moonraker) and finally a dedication to gifted matte artist Les Bowie, one of a trio of irreplaceable British technicians (Geoffrey Unsworth/John Barry) who sadly passed within months of Superman’s release…

 

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