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Superman - Where Did These Scenes Come From??

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Ok, so reading the Superman Returns thread, I remembered a showing of the original Superman quite a few years back. What stuck out at me was that I distinctly remember deleted scenes made their way back INTO the TELEVISION broadcast (most of the time they like it cut short and sweet of course for more commercials). I don't remember these scenes ever being in the original movie, or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. Anyway, it's an extended scene of Superman finding Luthor's lair and going through a lot of extra steps to get there after going underground. I think there may have even been an extra scene of how one of the other characters made it down there at some point too. There were several booby traps that Luthor had installed to keep Superman out that I don't remember being part of the original. There were also I believe a couple other scenes that were new (maybe from the heist?). It really stood out to me and added some depth to the film (also clocked it at nearly 3 hours if I remember--part of it was commercials). I'd like to see this version again--was the footage added back in one of the dvd releases? Which version of the film is this? Thanks!

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I actually just looked up the 2000 director cut on google and one of the first links under "alternate cuts" took me to the answer...it was the ABC extended cut first broadcast in the late 80's...although this was later. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078346/alternateversions

"In a 1980's ABC-TV version of the film, when Superman is trying to get to Lex's underground hideout, he is subjected to machine gun fire, a giant blow torch, and is frozen in ice. Much of this footage was used in Superman II, in the scene where Superman's powers are stripped away by the molecule chamber in the Fortress of Solitude. Lex Luthor plays the piano in several scenes.

In the ABC version, after Superman saves Lois at the end and flies off, he's seen rescuing Miss Tessmacher from the lions' den where Lex had dropped her in.

In the ABC version, the little girl who sees the teenage Clark running faster than the train is revealed to be Lois Lane, a fact revealed when her parents talk to her by name. This revelation scene is not present in the shorter theatrical release.

Only in the ABC version are young Lois Lane and her father seen in the train. In the ABC version, Ned Beatty's walk down the street is longer. Kirk Alyn (the original screen Superman) and Noel Neill (as Lois Lane's parents) have their speaking roles restored. Ned Beatty's walk down the street is longer."

Ok just found out the versions are discussed more here: http://www.supermancinema.co.uk/superman1/general/extrafootage/page2.shtml

There's the ABC Extended cut and the International cut...which is the more worthy of tracking down, and was either ever available to the home theater public?
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Superman Cinema (the link you provided) will explain each of the different versions of the film in exhaustive detail. Use the links in the left-hand menu to access the notes on each film to explore all the individual scenes and which versions they show up in. It's a site well-worth bookmarking.

These scenes were never seen in wide theatrical release, though there have been limited showings of the 2001 Expanded Edition (the official title of the so-called "Director's Cut.")

The so-called KCOP version is the ultimate expanded edition, with the most cut footage restored. It is EXTREMELY hard to come by (I don't have it).

I am the BASF of the film community. I don’t make the films you watch. I make the films you watch better.