logo Sign In

Superman (1941) (Mild-Mannered Edition) (Released) — Page 3

Author
Time
 (Edited)

I got a message from someone who said he thinks the copies of the Fleischer shorts that were on the The Superman Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006 Blu-Ray set are different than the ones on the yellow two-disc Superman: The Fleischer Cartoons: The Complete Series set from Warner Home Video, that maybe some of the issues with the set were corrected. I’m skeptical. Does anyone own this particular set? The shorts were apparently on the Superman II and Superman II Richard Donnor Cut discs (half of the shorts on one, half on the other).

Author
Time

The standalone fixes a few errors but not all. The bds merely replicate the previous SD versions on the DVD box set.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time

davextreme said:

I got a message from someone who said he thinks the copies of the Fleischer shorts that were on the The Superman Motion Picture Anthology, 1978-2006 Blu-Ray set are different than the ones on the yellow two-disc Superman: The Fleischer Cartoons: The Complete Series set from Warner Home Video, that maybe some of the issues with the set were corrected. I’m skeptical. Does anyone own this particular set? The shorts were apparently on the Superman II and Superman II Richard Donnor Cut discs (half of the shorts on one, half on the other).

I own the UK release of the SUPERMAN Anthology 1978-2006 BD set. Only thing which is different are packaging and ratings logos.

Blu-ray ALL America - Warner Home Video
The Superman Motion Picture Anthology
Extras:
DISC ONE

  • “Superman” (Theatrical version)
    Audio commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
    "The Making Of Superman: The Movie" documentary (51:50)
    “Superman And The Mole-Men” TV episode (58:05)
    Cartoons (with ‘Play all’ option - 19:27):
  • “Super-Rabbit” (8:12)
  • “Snafuperman” (4:34)
  • “Stupor Duck” (6:40)
    TV spots and trailers (with ‘Play all’ option - 4:25):
  • TV spot (0:31)
  • Teaser trailer (1:14)
  • Theatrical trailer (2:40)

DISC TWO

  • “Superman” (Expanded Edition)
    Audio commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant/uncredited screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz
    Isolated music score (in Dolby Digital 5.1)
    “Taking Flight: The Development Of Superman” documentary (30:14)
    “Making Superman: Filming The Legend” documentary (30:41)
    “The Magic Behind The Cape” featurette (23:45)
    “Screen Tests” featurettes (with ‘Play all’ option - 22:25):
  • “Superman” (9:21)
  • “Lois Lane” (with optional audio commentary by casting director Lynn Stalmaster - 10:57)
  • “Ursa” (2:06)
    Restored scenes (with ‘Play all’ option - 11:14):
  • “Jor-El And The Council” (3:21)
  • “Security Council Meeting” (0:28)
  • “Baby Kal-El’s Starship” (0:08)
  • “Young Louis With Parents On Train” (0:19)
  • “Mrs. Kent Opens The House” (0:37)
  • “Clark And Jimmy” (0:26)
  • “Jor-El And Superman” (2:23)
  • “Pedestrian And Clark” (0:30)
  • “Fire And Ice” (2:42)
  • “Hollywood Sign Falls” (0:16)
    “Additional Scenes” featurette (3:23)
    “Additional Music Cues” soundtrack excerpts (with ‘Play all’ option - 35:44):
  • “Main Titles” (6:08)
  • “Alternate Main Titles” (3:49)
  • “The Council’s Decision” (7:55)
  • “The Krypton Quake” (2:25)
  • “More Mugger/Introducing Otis” (7:17)
  • “Air Force One” (1:25)
  • “Chasing Rockets” (3:39)
  • “Can You Read My Mind/Pop Version” (3:04)

DISC THREE

  • “Superman II” (Theatrical version)
    Audio commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
    "The Making Of Superman II" documentary (52:15)
    “Superman’s Soufflé” deleted scene (0:40)
    “First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series” featurette (12:55)
    “The Fleischer Studios Superman” cartoons (with ‘Play all’ option - 79:29):
  • “Superman” (10:28)
  • “The Mechanical Monsters” (11:03)
  • “Billion Dollar Limited” (8:36)
  • “The Arctic Giant” (8:35)
  • “The Bulleteers” (8:02)
  • “The Magnetic Telescope” (7:38)
  • “Electric Earthquake” (8:43)
  • “Volcano” (7:58)
  • “Terror On The Midway” (8:21)
    Theatrical trailer (2:22)

DISC FOUR

  • “Superman II” movie (Richard Donner cut)
    Audio commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz
    "Introduction by director Richard Donner" featurette (1:54)
    “Superman II: Restoring The Vision” featurette (13:20)
    Deleted scenes (with ‘Play all’ option - 8:44);
  • “Lex And Ms. Teschmacher Head North” (1:06)
  • “Lex And Ms. Teschmacher Head South” (1:42)
  • “The Villains Enter The Fortress” (1:22)
  • “He’s All Yours, Boys” (1:51)
  • “Clark And Jimmy” (0:55)
  • “Lex’s Getaway” (1:46)
    “Famous Studios Superman” cartoons (with ‘Play all’ option - 67:49):
  • “Japoteurs” (9:08)
  • “Showdown” (8:22)
  • “Eleventh Hour” (8:59)
  • “Destruction, Inc.” (8:34)
  • “The Mummy Strikes” (7:48)
  • “Jungle Drums” (9:02)
  • “The Underground World” (8:14)
  • “Secret Agent” (7:39)

DISC FIVE

  • “Superman III"
    Audio commentary by executive producer Ilya Salkind and producer Pierre Spengler
    "The Making Of Superman III” documentary (49:08)
    Deleted scenes (with ‘Play all’ option - 19:43):
  • “Save My Baby!” (0:47)
  • “To The Rescue” (1:28)
  • “Making Up” (0:29)
  • “Going To See The Boss” (1:14)
  • “Matching The Plan” (1:39)
  • “The Con” (3:24)
  • “Rooftop Ski Resort” (7:43)
  • “Boss Wants This To Go” (0:30)
  • “Superman Honored” (0:26)
  • “Gus’ Speech” (0:28)
  • “Hanging Up On Brad” (1:32)
    Theatrical trailer (3:11)

DISC SIX

  • “Superman IV: The Quest for Peace"
    Audio commentary by screenwriter Mark Rosenthal
    "Superman 50th Anniversary” documentary (48:10)
    Deleted scenes (with ‘Play all’ option - 31:02):
  • “Clark’s Morning” (1:25)
  • “Jeremy’s Letter” (0:32)
  • “Superman’s Visit” (1:09)
  • “Nuclear Man’s Prototype” (5:27)
  • “Metropolis After Hours” (2:31)
  • “Lex Ponders” (1:32)
  • “Flying Seaquence (Extended Scene)” (2:35)
  • “Battle In Smallville” (2:48)
  • “Battle In The U.S.S.R.” (1:12)
  • “Nuclear Arms Race” (2:08)
  • “Superman’s Sickness” (0:59)
  • “Red Alert” (5:24)
  • “By My Side” (0:19)
  • “Clark and Lacey Say Goodbye” (1:02)
  • “No Borders” (1:53)
    Theatrical trailer (1:26)

DISC SEVEN

  • “Superman Returns”
    “Requiem For Krypton: Making Superman Returns” documentary (with ‘Play all’ option - 173:41):
  • “Part 1: Secret Origins And First Issues: Crystallizing Superman” (29:15)
  • “Part 2: The Crystal Method: Designing Superman” (34:05)
  • “Part 3: An Affinity For Beachfront Property: Shooting Superman” (with ‘Play all’ option - 74:17):
    – “Superman On The Farm” (21:14)
    – “Superman In The City” (37:00)
    – “Superman In Peril” (16:02)
  • “Part 4: The Joy Of Lex: Menacing Superman” (21:33)
  • “Part 5: He’s Always Around: Wrapping Superman” (14:30)
    “Resurrecting Jor-El” featurette (4:00)
    “Bryan’s Singer’s Video Journals” featurettes (with ‘Play all’ option - 82:00):
  • “Hello From Sydney” (1:01)
  • “Tamworth Scout” (2:03)
  • “Clark Of The Corn” (2:04)
  • “Up, Up And Away” (2:19)
  • “If You Build It” (2:07)
  • “Sure This Is Safe?” (2:17)
  • “The Call” (7:28)
  • “Extra! Extra!” (2:15)
  • “Big Scary, Lit-Up Director’s Face” (4:00)
  • “To Fly” (2:47)
  • “Clark Returns” (2:15)
  • “Rattle And Roll” (1:38)
  • “Ma Kent: “The Andretti” Of Smallville” (2:08)
  • “Wind Up And The Pitch” (1:49)
  • “Storyboarded” (2:16)
  • “Santa’s Grotto” (2:34)
  • “Untitled” (2:39)
  • “Return Your Tray Tables…” (2:04)
  • “Through The Eyes Of Newton Thomas Sigel” (2:40)
  • “Love Previs” (3:32)
  • “In Graphic Detail” (2:23)
  • “20 Hours In San Diego” (6:21)
  • “Derailed” (2:45)
  • “Stoparazzi” (1:41)
  • “Jimmy Meet Jack” (2:27)
  • “See Plane” (3:09)
  • “Bespoke” (2:58)
  • “Outre” (5:27)
  • “KR 83.80” (2:40)
    Deleted Scenes (HD, with ‘Play all’ option - 21:27):
  • “Return to Krypton” (5:41)
  • “The Date” (1:09)
  • “Family Photos” (1:50)
  • “Crash Landing/X-Ray Vision” (1:40)
  • “Old Newspapers” (2:50)
  • “Are You Two Dating?” (2:40)
  • “Martinis And Wigs” (1:28)
  • “I’m Always Right” (1:01)
  • “Jimmy The Lush” (0:44)
  • “Language Barrier” (0:13)
  • “Crystal Feet” (0:24)
  • “New Krypton” (0:28)
  • “How Wrong wan you Be? (Outtake)” (1:12)
    “Trailers” (with ‘Play all’ option - 3:20):
  • Teaser trailer (1:28)
  • Theatrical trailer (1:52)

DISC EIGHT
"Look, Up in the Sky! The Amazing Story of Superman" documentary (HD - 110:30)
“You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman” documentary (89:24)
“The Science of Superman: National Geographic Channel special” documentary (HD - 51:01)
“The Mythology of Superman” featurette (19:34)
“The Heart of a Hero: A Tribute to Christopher Reeve” featurette (18:00)
“The Adventures Of Superpup” TV pilot (21:34)
Subtitles:
Theatrical Version: Danish, English HoH, Finnish, French, German HoH, Italian HoH, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin), Swedish
Expanded Edition: Danish, English HoH, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin)
Aspect Ratio:
2.40:1
Picture Format:
1080p 24fps AVC MPEG-4
Soundtrack(s):
Theatrical Version
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Surround
Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
German Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Portuguese Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Spanish (Castilian) Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Spanish (Latin) Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Expanded Edition
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French Dolby Digital 5.1
German Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish (Castilian) Dolby Digital 5.1
Case type:
Special Case
Notes:
Packaged in a digi-pack.
The bonus disc includes optional English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin (Traditional), Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Castilian), and Spanish (Latin) subtitles.

Absolutely no idea if the WB DVD release for the cartoons are different at all.

Author
Time

Hey just a quick note to say that I’m over halfway done now!

Did any one attempt to make a video restoration of the Fleischer Superman cartoons? Davextreme’s project looks like more of a audio restoration.

The video from the Warner set is in very good shape. I did find a few spots on “Terror on the Midway” where the colors could use a little more work.

Or do you mean artificially upscaling it?

The proper next step would be for someone to raise the money to scan prints of the films. My dream would be to put together a Kickstarter to do just that but I simply don’t know enough to even start.

Author
Time

davextreme said:

Hey just a quick note to say that I’m over halfway done now!

Did any one attempt to make a video restoration of the Fleischer Superman cartoons? Davextreme’s project looks like more of a audio restoration.

The video from the Warner set is in very good shape. I did find a few spots on “Terror on the Midway” where the colors could use a little more work.

Or do you mean artificially upscaling it?

The proper next step would be for someone to raise the money to scan prints of the films. My dream would be to put together a Kickstarter to do just that but I simply don’t know enough to even start.

Are you using the Blu-ray discs or what?

Author
Time

The Blu-Ray versions of the movies aren’t HD as far as I’m aware.

Author
Time

davextreme said:

The Blu-Ray versions of the movies aren’t HD as far as I’m aware.

The serials or the Fleischer/Famous Studios shorts? You lost me.

Author
Time

My understanding is that the Blu-Ray copies of the Fleischer shorts that are on the Superman and Superman II discs are not HD. They’re the same as the DVD sets.

I know of one Blu-Ray set that is in HD but it’s a bad upscale.

Author
Time

davextreme said:

My understanding is that the Blu-ray copies of the Fleischer shorts that are on the Superman and Superman II discs are not HD. They’re the same as the DVD sets.

I know of one Blu-Ray set that is in HD but it’s a bad upscale.

Yeah they’re either AVC or VC-1 but SD quality. At least it’s better than MPEG2.

Author
Time

The BD features are identical to the 2006 DVD set. The individual yellow case release fixed one or two audio errors but nothing else.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time

Friends, I could use some help. I’ve noted before how often the closing of these videos doesn’t have the right audio. I’ve found, I think, that none of the versions of “The Mummy Strikes,” which I’m working on this week, has the right audio. Each of them has a different issue. There’s more info and a video here:

https://mmsuperman.tumblr.com/post/163565872645/the-mummy-music-mystery

If you have a copy of this particular short that has different closing music, please let me know on Twitter by replying to this tweet: https://twitter.com/davextreme/status/891340819076198400

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Hmm…I’ll have to check my Image disc when I get home tonight. My guess would be that the horn line should fade into the closing theme but perhaps the frames went missing over time or the closing logo was standardized and meant to be inserted at the end.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time

Thank you. Yeah, it just doesn’t sound right on any of my copies. I can hear in my head how I think they would have arranged it.

Author
Time

By the way great Tumblr site, somehow I had missed you were doing this and publishing the results. After seeing that I’m fully convinced that my previous assumption was right, and what Warner has done was to utilize the negatives and mucked up the intircate differences by trying to standardize openings/closings and frame gaps to cut back on workflow. This is a common practice and can even be seen on the Batman '66 restoration where the opening and closing titles were simply done once and a repeated for every episode. (There’s a noticeable frame wobble) But at least there they got it right and have the appropriate different titles for the season three episodes.

Also, the Bosko release was to have been derived from the best available 35 mm print sources whereas most of the others are all derived from show prints, Worn prints or 16mm reductions. That’s why the Warner negative sourced disc and the Bosko 35mm sourced disc are relatively similar and why I’ve always felt the Bosko is the best overall reference despite being from aged materials.

I kind of really want to obtain the original Bosko release to see if there are any differences, though I really doubt it. It was done for VHS, and I’m pretty sure the DVD is a straight transfer of that but of far better quality much like the image DVD is a direct port of the laser disc.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time

The archive.org version is identical to the Image release right down to the visible upper right frame edge and cue mark. It appears someone posted the Image version.

The Image disc is literally an LD port right down to early DVD era conversion stuff and video issues like I’ve seen on crummy LD to DVD conversions. Pretty good though and it seems an approximation of what older releases on tape looked like.

I think I might have some of my childhood public domain tapes around somewhere.

VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Gotcha (and thank you!) I went ahead and ordered a copy of Image just so I’d have it. When the video goes up Friday I have a roundup of all the sound effects that are added into that version, too. It’s quite bizarre.

Author
Time

How have I not seen this thread before?! This is some very fine work. Unfortunately, I only own the GoodTimes DVDs, which aren’t good at all (and the archive videos because I have a USB drive that looks like Superman so I thought that’d be neat to have). I’ll definitely be keeping up with this project. 👍

.

Author
Time

HI all. The project is now complete. I posted a “Welcome” message to the main site with basic info. Please share with any friends who might be interested!

https://mmsuperman.tumblr.com/post/164860117140/welcome

If other sources become available I might do another version. The real next steps would be to start acquiring prints of the movies but I don’t have the funds, equipment, or expertise to really do that. 😃

Author
Time

Oh, and the complete set is up on MySpleen now.

Author
Time

davextreme said:

Oh, and the complete set is up on MySpleen now.

Is the version that you have uploaded on Tumblr the same as the one that you have on MySpleen? It is as complete?

Also, do you have any plans to release a DVD version with menus?

Author
Time

hbenthow said:

davextreme said:
Is the version that you have uploaded on Tumblr the same as the one that you have on MySpleen? It is as complete?

Yes. Same files.

Also, do you have any plans to release a DVD version with menus?

No. I don’t even own a DVD player anymore. Nor Blu-Ray. 😃

Author
Time

davextreme said:

Yes. Same files.

Thank you for clarifying.

No. I don’t even own a DVD player anymore. Nor Blu-Ray. 😃

Out of curiosity, why not?

Author
Time

Out of curiosity, why not?

I went all digital years ago. I watch everything on iTunes or Netflix. No menus and FBI warnings to wait through. No having to find a disc. No chance of my kids losing the disc or scratching it. Can start on one TV, finish on iPad, etc. I don’t by physical CDs or Switch or DS games, either. I’m aware I’m losing some quality over Blu-Ray but the tradeoffs, for me, are tremendously worth it.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

davextreme said:
I’m aware I’m losing some quality over Blu-Ray but the tradeoffs, for me, are tremendously worth it.

I see. For me, it’s the opposite. There’s something about physical items that I can hold in my hand or put on a shelf that, with few exceptions, I like much more than digital items.

By the way, I’ve updated an article that I wrote about Superman’s creation and proliferation to include your Mild Mannered Edition versions of the Fleischer cartoons under the Superman Resources section of the page. I’m not sure about the etiquette of posting links to such things in the forum, so I sent you a private message with the link.