Superman on Television

Superman: The Unreleased Stuff - Part Two of Two

The Deleted Adventures Continue

Since the 2006 release of "Superman Returns", there's been a juggernaut of Superman-related DVDs from Warner Home Video. The centerpiece of any Superman collector's DVD collection has to be the 14-disc "Superman: Ultimate Collector's Edition" which includes special editions of "Superman: The Movie", "Superman II", "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut", "Superman III", "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace", and "Superman Returns" or for Blu-ray owners, "Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology". As with most films, some of what each of the Superman movie directors shot for their respective movies ended up on the cutting room floor. Each of the movie DVDs and Blu-ray discs contains deleted scenes that weren't included in the theatrical releases of these films. And, in the case of "Superman II" specifically, there was quite a bit of footage shot by the original director, Richard Donner, that sat unreleased for decades until the 2006 release of the "Donner Cut".

Even with the plethora of previously unseen footage included on these discs, there still remains quite a bit of Superman movie footage that hasn't been released by Warner Home Video in any licensed format. With respect to the first three Christopher Reeve films, some of this footage had been seen on the maiden network television airings of the films. Producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind retained the television broadcast rights to the Superman movies. Presumably to increase the revenues from these TV broadcasts, they added about 40 minutes of footage into "Superman", about 20 minutes into "Superman II", and about 15 minutes into "Superman III". These films all made their American network TV debuts on ABC-TV. In addition, some of the films were released on video with slightly longer cuts than the theatrical cuts in certain international markets.

The first "Superman" movie also aired a slightly longer cut in the early 1990s in syndication - known in some circles as the KCOP version as it appears to have aired first on station KCOP in Los Angeles, California (though this version is also known to have run at least twice on WJLA in Washington, DC). This version included the first look at the scene with Reeve's Superman returning to the Fortress to speak to Marlon Brando's Jor-El after his first night of super-heroics in Metropolis. This scene eventually was remastered and included as part of the eight minutes of footage included in the 2001 "Superman" special edition. The 2001 edition and the 1978 theatrical cut are both included as part of the 14-disc "Ultimate Collector's Edition".

In 2017 Warner Archive Collection finally released a Blu-ray collection which included an "Extended Cut" of "Superman: The Movie" which features the 3 hour and 8 minute version which aired on television.

"Superman IV" is the only film in the original Christopher Reeve franchise that wasn't produced by the Salkinds. In the late 1980s, the Salkinds turned their super-attention to "The Adventures of Superboy" and licensed the right to produce "Superman IV" to the now-defunct Cannon Film Group. After a disastrous preview of the film in early summer 1987, "Superman IV" director Sidney J. Furie hastily re-edited the film and cut about 45 minutes out of the movie's theatrical cut. About three minutes of these scenes were added back to the film when it aired on television in syndication and on the international laser disc. Most of the scenes comprising the 45 minutes of cut "Superman IV" footage have been included in the deleted scenes section of the "Superman IV" Deluxe Edition DVD. However, some footage still remains unreleased and largely unseen by the public.

"Superman Returns" paid homage to the original "Superman" movie franchise so it's only natural that the 2006 blockbuster now has its own legacy of unreleased cut footage. Much of what director Bryan Singer shot for "Superman Returns" didn't end up in the film's final cut. Only a portion of those cut scenes were included on the "Superman Returns" special edition DVD in the deleted scenes section. The most infamous cut is what's known as the "Return to Krypton" sequence, which would have been the opening segment of the film. While this sequence was not included on the special edition DVD, it was included on "The Superman Motion Picture Anthology" Blu-ray collection. All of the cut sequences are detailed in the 2006 book "Superman Returns: The Complete Shooting Script". Many of these scenes are also included in the comic book adaptation of the film as well as in writer Marv Wolfman's novelization.

A quick note about 1984's "Supergirl: The Movie". Warners released "Supergirl" on DVD in 2006 at the same time that they released the "Ultimate Collector's Edition". Anchor Bay Video released a two-disc limited edition set a few years earlier, however, that purportedly includes all of the available "Supergirl" footage and I highly recommend this set to Superman completists. It is often available on online auction sites.

This article is part two of a two-part article chronicling Superman and Superman family appearances not yet released on DVD or Blu-ray. Part one of the article, which presents an official compilation of Superman-related cartoons, live-action television shows, specials, musicals, and guest appearances that Warners has yet to release on authorized DVD format, can be read here.

And now onto the Superman movies:

Superman: The Movie (1978)

(1) The Kryptonian security guard who's dispatched to investigate the surplus energy being used in Jor-El's quarters (in the 2001 special edition) is seen traveling to Jor's quarters with the camera focused on the security guard's helmet. As the planet begins to tear itself apart, the security guard's eyes can be seen inside the helmet bulging out with fear.

(2) There is additional footage of the destruction of Krypton than shown in the 1978 theatrical cut or the 2001 special edition. There's additional footage of Jor-El and Lara after they send off Kal-El's rocket. The Kryptonopolis dome is shown collapsing in on itself.

(3) While Pa Kent - played by Glenn Ford -- is changing the tire on the Kent truck, his speech about the strange way they found the baby is slightly longer.

(4) There's deleted footage of the Kents driving their truck away from the crash site, with them leaving the rocket behind. Slowly the light in the rocket fades to black.

(5) There's a longer introduction to Clark's high school years on the football field. There's more of Lana Lang cheerleading, more of young Clark walking on the field, and more of the football players scrimmaging. Lana tells the other cheerleaders that they've got to "get it together before Saturday."

(6) After Clark takes the pom-poms from Lana, Lana says to Clark: "I think you're the nicest guy in the whole school." Clark replies: "Thanks. Of course it's probably the job, being team manager and all. But I'd do it for you anyway." Lana then invites Clark to Mary Ellen's as in the theatrical version but it's a slightly longer cut of Clark considering whether to go. After Brad overturns all the equipment, the cheerleaders in the car all say something in unison - the second word is indecipherable but it's "Bad ___, bad Brad."

(7) The sequence of Brad driving with Lana and the other cheerleaders is longer than in the theatrical version. There are several close-ups on Lana - she appears visibly upset about leaving Clark behind.

(8) Instead of Billy Haley's "Rock Around the Clock", the music on Brad's radio in the extended sequence is a more generic 1950s tune.

(9) While not exactly a deleted scene, the actor who portrays young Clark, Jeff East, had his voice dubbed over by Chris Reeve. Any subsequent release of the DVD ought to consider releasing a secondary audio track for the Smallville sequences that uses East's actual voice.

(10) There's additional footage of Clark walking to the North Pole after leaving Smallville.

(11) The scenes of the Fortress of Solitude growing in the North Pole are longer, and there are additional reaction shots of young Clark. This leads into a longer version of the scene where Clark enters the Fortress and, as he gets his bearings, notices what appears to be a control panel.

(12) After Jor-El refers to the arctic hideaway as the Fortress of Solitude for the first time, and tells Clark that they can try and find answers together, there's an extended sequence of Jor-El telling Clark what they will contemplate together: "How does a good man live? What is virtue? When does a man's obligation to those around him exceed his obligation to himself? These are not simple questions. Even on Krypton, there is no precise science which provides us with the answers. I can only tell you what I myself believe. And to this end, I tried to anticipate your questions in the order of their importance to you. So my son - speak."

(13) In Metropolis, after Lois and Clark leave the alley where they were mugged, there's an added shot of the pair getting into a taxi. As the taxi pulls away, the camera pans out and we see Lex's assistant Otis for the first time as he bumps into a meter. Otis then crosses the street and stops in the middle of the street to pick up a coin.

(14) There's an introductory shot of the police officer who eventually follows Otis into the subway. The officer is purchasing a hot dog from a street vendor. The vendor asks: "No mustard or sauerkraut?" The officer replies: "Plain, man, plain. Here's a buck. Go buy yourself a trip to Bermuda."

(15) The other police officer, named Armis, beeps the horn calling his partner over from buying the hot dog. There's a brief scene in the car where they call into dispatch that they have a "suspect under surveillance." Then there is a longer shot of them trailing Otis in their car, and then on foot into Grand Central Station. In Grand Central Station, Otis pulls his hat over his head as he walks through a crowd of uniformed police officers. Then Otis tips his hat as he passes by a woman.

(16) The officer who follows Otis into the subway calls in after he reported Otis as heading onto track 22 that it's actually track 23. After Otis disappears behind the hydraulic door, the officer says: "I've watched him and I think I know how he does it. Out."

(17) After Lex and Otis say in unison, "What more could anyone ask?", there's a cut line by Ms. Teschmacher: "Sunshine? A night on the town instead of under it?" This then leads into the deleted sequence included on disc 3 in the "Ultimate Collector's Edition" where Lex has Otis "feed the babies."

(18) After the helicopter rescue, Superman flies over the crowd. There's a reaction shot of the female TV reporter (who, in the theatrical version, says "I can't believe it, he got her") where she's amazed and talking to the cameraman. She then points up as Superman flies by. There's a brief shot of Superman flying away from the Daily Planet building, looking back briefly.

(19) There's a longer introduction sequence to the burglar using suction pads to scale the building. He passes by the executive as he heads up the building (the same executive who'll later utter "Nah" when he just misses seeing Superman catch the falling burglar). As the burglar continues scaling the building, there's a cut sequence of Superman silently flying by and spotting the burglar.

(20) The scene with the little girl trying to coax her cat out of the tree is longer. The little girl says: "Come on down you dumb cat."

(21) After Superman rescues the cat, the little girl says to Superman: "She's such a naughty cat. I always tell her not to . . . ." Superman interrupts her: "Now hold on a minute. Don't be too hard on Frisky, OK. You know something? We all get a little afraid of heights now and again."

(22) There's a longer setup of the dialogue of the Air Force One navigator checking the weather in Metropolis. After they find out that the weather situation doesn't look good, there's a dated exchange between two of the cockpit crew. One says: "The old man hates bumping. Better tell him to get rid of his drink." The other replies: "You mean the old man drinks?" The first one then says: "After a mouthful of peanuts, wouldn't you?" This is of course a reference to President Jimmy Carter who was a peanut farmer in Georgia. The crew laugh and that's when the lightning strikes the plane.

(23) In Lex's underground lair, after they've watched the news report about Superman, Otis asks: "Mr. Luthor, what's a myth?" Lex says: "Something not real. Something not quite human. Something like you Otis." Otis says proudly: "I'm a myth."

(24) As Otis brings Lex his robe, he's distracted by Ms. Teschmacher. Otis says: "Ms. Teschmacher, you look so pretty today. I'm gonna take your picture." He grabs a Polaroid camera and snaps a photo but he appears to be holding the camera the wrong way and the flash goes off in his eyes. Lex calls Otis and he returns to bringing Lex the robe.

(25) Lex admonishes Otis for getting the robe wet as in the theatrical version. As Lex walks out of the pool, he's trailed by Otis who tries to squeeze the water out of the robe.

(26) Immediately after Perry White gives his staff of reporters their assignment to land the first Superman interview, and the reporters run out of his office, there's a brief shot of Perry holding up the Daily Planet with the "Caped Wonder Stuns City" headline and looking it over as a telephone rings. The scene then cuts to Jimmy Olsen standing outside of Perry's office talking to the young "go-fer" in the reddish/orange shirt (with the glasses) telling him that "a good reporter doesn't get great stories, a good reporter makes them great." Perry yells out of his office to Jimmy to get him a coffee "black, no sugar". The "go-fer" laughs at Jimmy. Jimmy then shouts at the "go-fer", "You heard him -- coffee, black, no sugar". Jimmy shakes his head as the go-fer rushes off. Thanks to Superman Homepage reader Anthony Bennett for bringing this scene to my attention.

(27) Lex and his hench-people are preparing to stop the Army Bird XK-101 missile. The remote-controlled car is skidding all over the road because Otis is driving it. Lex says: "Mr. Otis, do you live in England?" Otis replies dimly: "I don't think so Mr. Luthor." Lex then says: "Then why are you driving on the left side?" Lex grabs the remote from Otis and turns his attention to Ms. Teschmacher. Lex says: "Ready Ms. Teschmacher?" She replies: "Have you ever tried running in high heels?" Then she mutters to herself, "He probably has." Lex then snaps his fingers for everyone to get into place.

(28) After the car is overturned, we see the accident from the POV of the soldiers in the convoy. We can hear Larry Hagman's voice talking about getting an ambulance.

(29) Hagman's military officer is giving Ms. Teschmacher chest massage as he counts off "Hut, two, three, four; hut, two, three, four."

(30) Lex's ambulance pulls up to the accident. Ms. Teschmacher pulls away from Hagman's mouth and she says to him: "I'm OK, I'm OK. What'd you have for lunch? Oooh, mama." Lex then says the line from the theatrical version: "Hi, somebody hurt?". Hagman's character says: "Boy that was fast." Lex says in character: "Fast? When this woman's life is at stake?"

(31) Hagman's character calls for the soldiers to get a stretcher. Instead of anyone getting the stretcher, the soldiers keep passing the order down the chain of command. Hagman screams, "Get a stretcher, go on." All the soldiers then run to get the stretcher. Hagman then turns to Lex: "Anything I can do?" Lex replies: "You've already done it." Lex then whispers to Ms. Teschmacher that she's done very well. Eve repeats what he said. Lex says curtly: "I said that."

(32) Otis finishes entering the codes and eats a marshmallow. He wipes the sweat from his brow and leaves a black mark on his forehead from the magic marker ink on his arm. He puts the panel back on the missile and gets his finger stuck.

(33) After Lex asks Otis if he "wants to see a very, very long arm" and attacks him, the back door of the ambulance flies open and Lex is on top of Otis who's been pushed onto a gurney that's hanging out the back of the ambulance.

(34) There's a longer setup to the Navy Bird XK-101 sequence. The camera pans back to the ambulance where a now-beaten-up Otis apologizes over and over to Lex, saying he got mixed up. Lex tells Otis that it's OK because "there's another XK-101 being launched at the same time." Eve repeats what Lex said. Lex says: "I said that." Then Otis says to Lex, "No she said there's another XK-101 being launched at exactly the same time." Lex angrily says: "Don't tell me that." Ms. Teschmacher says: "But there is another XK-101 being launched at exactly the same time." Lex yells: "I told you not to tell me that." Lex slams shut the back door of the ambulance on Otis and Ms. Teschmacher and yells at them to "Shut up in there!" Lex then straightens his toupee and walks away. The back door of the ambulance opens and Otis sticks his head out: "Mr. Luthor, are you mad?" Otis and Ms. Teschmacher continue to fight with Otis saying "He [Lex] always hits me."

(35) In the truck carrying the wide-load house, Otis begs Lex for a second chance to set the controls on the second missile. Otis says: "I've got experience now." Lex says: "Otis, how would you like the heady experience of being thrown from a moving vehicle?" Otis offers Lex a bite of his chocolate bar. Lex hits Otis's hand away. Then, the scene cuts back to the theatrical version with Lex telling Otis to "get it right this time."

(36) After the line about Otis being a diabetic, Lex continues: " . . . and he has to have his insulin." The Navy lieutenant replies: "What's he eating chocolate for?" Lex says: "Well that gives him a lot of sugar."

(37) There's an establishing shot of Jimmy Olsen at the dam taking pictures.

(38) Lois is in the desert driving with the Indian chief where she's investigating the land sale. The Indian chief tells Lois: "No oil, no uranium, no coal, no precious minerals. Hell no water . . . not since the government dammed it all up to service those towns on the other side of the mountain. If we still had water, we would never sell our beloved land." Lois says: "My associate, Mr. Olsen, is taking pictures of that dam now, Chief, but what I don't understand is why you would sell out . . . ." That cuts back into the theatrical version of the film.

(39) There's a slightly longer shot of the dogs in Metropolis responding to Lex's ultrasonic message.

(40) Lois drops the Indian chief off back at his reservation. As he gets out of the car, Lois says: "Chief, listen, I promise my friends and I will do all we can to get to the bottom of this." The Chief thanks her.

(41) Missile Control calls the Pentagon. There's a scene of a disbelieving General at the Pentagon. The scene cuts back to Missile Control where an angry Senator is frustrated that, with all the money spent on these missiles, there's nothing they can do to stop this situation. The military officer says, "You got what you paid for." Back at the Pentagon, the General mutters to himself "It can't happen here, it can't happen here." He then picks up the red phone and says "Get me the President."

(42) On a golf course, a secret service agent hears the red phone ring on the Presidential golf cart. He takes the call and runs over to a sand trap and calls down: "Mr. President? Mr. President?" There's a shot of a golf club slicing through the sand. An off-screen voice says, "God damn it, what is it now?" The agent says, "The Pentagon is calling Sir."

(43) Superman tries to catch the Army Bird missile but, because of its deflection system, it circles around him. Superman flies after the missile.

(44) Missile Control realizes the Army Bird missile is headed East. Someone suggests that the bomb is headed to Metropolis. One of the controllers says it's actually headed toward New Jersey. "Jersey? What's in New Jersey?"

(45) As the earthquake begins at the gas station, the nozzle on one of the gas pumps shakes off and gas begins leaking onto the ground. An electrical transformer begins to spark and it's that combination of the gas and the spark that causes the gas station to explode.

(46) There's a deleted sequence of what appears to be San Francisco row-houses falling apart during the quake with frightened people jumping out of windows and running away from the buildings.

(47) As Superman lifts up the San Andreas fault, there's a deleted sequence back at the San Francisco row-houses with the houses setting themselves upright.

(48) There's a deleted establishing shot that shows Superman is out from underground and heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

(49) There's a cut establishing shot of Superman flying toward the train.

(50) The scene of the chaos at the dam and the electrical plant is longer. After Superman flies off, one of the power plant workers says, "Jesus, it's Superman. He must be the one who saved us."

(51) There's a deleted shot of Superman pausing in mid-air with Jimmy Olsen and telling Jimmy to take pictures of the dam. Superman says: "Go ahead. Shoot."

(52) Superman's makeshift dam irrigates the Indian reservation - Superman has changed the course of a mighty river. The Indians celebrate the water coming onto their reservation. This appears to be what Superman is smiling for before he realizes he's forgotten about Lois.

(53) After Superman tells Lois and Jimmy that he has something he needs to do and flies off, Jimmy yells after him, "At least send for a tow truck." Lois and Jimmy have the talk about Superman caring about her, then Jimmy starts to take photographs of Lois. Lois cries out, "Jimmy! My hair!" She fixes her hair and then says "Now." Jimmy snaps shots as Lois poses. Jimmy says, "Front page, Daily Planet?" He pauses, and says, "Ooh gosh, I didn't have any film."

Superman II (1980) & Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006)

(1) On his way to Paris, there's a deleted scene where Superman flies by the Concorde much to the surprise of the supersonic jet's pilot and co-pilot (though it's been suggested that director Richard Donner actually shot this scene for use in the first "Superman" movie).

(2) In Lois's office in the Daily Planet, after Lois tells Clark that he has so much going for him, there's a cut line of dialogue where Lois adds, somewhat cruelly, "Nobody knows it, that's all." Later in the conversation, Clark asks Lois why she isn't using an automatic juicer and Lois tells him that there's an "energy crisis" going on. This line would have been cut because the energy crisis was over by the time "Superman II" was released in 1980 (internationally) and 1981 (USA).

(3) As the NASA scientists discuss the lost signal from the Moon mission, one scientist refers to a curl being what the old Cape Canaveral boys called a comet with an east - west trajectory, and the other scientist responds that he was back in high school in those days. There's then a cut line where the other scientist sarcastically remarks that he's looking good for his age. There's then a discussion between the scientists about the cut signal looking like normal electrical interference (this is included on the "Donner Cut") but there's a deleted line by the other scientist (played by John Ratzenberger): "All right, which one of you guys is using the hairdryer?"

(4) After the three Kryptonian villains destroy the Moon base and discuss their new powers, Zod turns to Ursa and tells her that she will have everything she wants. Ursa replies with zeal: "Men - to kill!" This brief interchange was included on the first two ABC-TV airings of the film.

(5) In the "Donner Cut", there's a scene where Ms. Teschmacher finds what she thinks is a bathroom in the Fortress of Solitude. She says "I found it . . . I think." There's a deleted line afterward by Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor. He repeats matter-of-factly "She found it."

(6) At Niagara Falls, after Clark gets Lois her hot dogs, there's a cut moment where he can be seen leaving cash for the hot dogs. In the movie as released, it appears Clark doesn't pay for the hot dogs.

(7) In the small town of East Houston, Idaho, after the little boy with the horribly disguised English accent asks General Zod to put his Daddy down and Zod complies by dropping him, there's a segment where the boy runs to his horse and rides off to get help. As he's doing this, Zod is addressing the townspeople and tells them no one may leave. Zod hears the boy riding off and says "I said no one leaves". He motions to Non who's still holding the police siren. Non throws the siren with such force that it strikes the boy and his horse like a missile. A woman says incredulously "He was only a boy." Ursa replies sadistically "Who will never become a man." Parts of this scene are included in the documentary "You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman" (which is on disc 13 in the "Ultimate Collector's Edition").

(8) There's a rather odd scene included in an international release of the film on video where a woman in tight leggings is watching the drama unfolding in East Houston on her television. She's yelling at her husband who is off-screen yelling back at her to leave him alone.

(9) Immediately following the previously described scene, there's another strange scene that's also included in the international video release set in Japan. A young Japanese girl watches the devastation in East Houston on television as her father angrily cuts up fish and complains about violence on television. The girl turns to her father and says "Shut up Daddy!"

(10) In the Fortress of Solitude, after Lois tells Superman she's going to change into something more comfortable, there's a brief deleted scene of Lois looking for a place to change and pulling a nightgown out of her purse.

(11) Most of the villains' attack on the White House is now included between the theatrical release and the "Donner Cut". However, there's a brief scene not included in any official DVD release where, as Zod fires the machine gun, he shoots up a portrait of ex-President Richard Nixon.

(12) When the three villains enter the Daily Planet building, right after Lois hits Ursa, there's a deleted scene not included on either release of the film or in the deleted scenes section of the two "Superman II" DVDs. Jimmy's snapping pictures of the villains and the flashbulb bothers Non. Non grabs Jimmy's camera and crushes it. Jimmy bites Non's hand and hurts his teeth on Non's invulnerable skin. Jimmy says to Non, "Gosh darn it, that's my brand new camera."

(13) In the theatrical cut and the "Donner Cut", after Superman has returned for the fight with the three villains in Metropolis, he flies onto a building and he faces Zod who lands on the scaffolding of a building construction site. Zod calls Superman a coward and chucks the cement wall at Superman, which the Man of Steel vaporizes with his heat vision. In the "Donner Cut", the dialogue between Superman and Zod differs somewhat from the dialogue in the theatrical cut. However, there are two additional lines of cut dialogue that don't end up in either version. Right before Zod says in the "Donner Cut" that "It is extremely likely you are merely a fool", he actually also says "Possibly not" in response to Superman saying he's not a coward. Then, after Zod says Superman's a fool in the "Donner Cut", the next line is "Like father, like son." In the "Donner Cut", that's when Zod fires his heat vision to cut the cement wall from its metallic grapple. However, Superman has a line of dialogue which isn't in the theatrical cut or "Donner Cut" - he tells Zod with a smirk "Somehow I just can't hear you Zod." It's that cut line to which Zod replies "Then die as you deserve to."

(14) Right after Superman heat-visions the cement wall, and the crowd reacts, including the man who says "Man this is gonna be good", there's a deleted cut-away to Lois Lane, Perry White, and Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy says to Perry: "You got another camera?" Perry replies: "No but there is a cup of coffee in there." Lois can be heard saying off-screen "Go get him coffee Jimmy." This scene connects the previously cut scene with Non destroying Jimmy's camera to the later scene in the "Donner Cut" with Lex taking the cup of coffee from Jimmy when he comes back.

(15) In the "Donner Cut", after Lex takes the coffee from Jimmy and says that he's the Chief, there's a cut line from Jimmy: "I should've spiked it."

(16) As Non chases after Superman through the flight around Metropolis, there's a deleted cut-away to Zod where he maniacally says "Kill him", then screams "Kill him" again.

(17) When Superman faces the villains in his Fortress of Solitude, there's a cut line of dialogue from Lois Lane: "This wasn't my idea Superman".

(18) Zod addresses Superman in the Fortress: "Accept your destiny Kal-El. As your father once condemned us, so now do we condemn his misbegotten brat."

(19) After Superman throws the cellophane "S" at Non, Ursa looks confused, turns to Zod, and says "General?" That's when Zod says they should combine their energies.

(20) In the scene where Superman pretends to trust Lex and tells him about the molecule chamber, there's several additional lines of dialogue that were not included in the theatrical version or the "Donner Cut". Lex says: "I don't know what to think anymore. Hey it's not like the old days Superman where it was just you and me. Hey I gotta hand it to you. You always told the truth. A guy always knew where he stood with you. You were totally honest. You wanted to destroy me. It was pure and simple. I respected you for that." Superman replies: "Well perhaps there is some good in you after all Lex Luthor." Lex replies: "I'm full of good. I've never used any of it." Superman concludes: "All right. I guess I'm going to have to take that chance." And that's when Superman tells Luthor about the molecule chamber.

Superman III (1983)

(1) To parallel the previous films, the ABC-TV version has the opening credits set in outer space. It's unclear if this was ever intended or something that was done to simply extend the television broadcast. It's likely that it was the latter as the opening scene on the streets of Metropolis takes place without the credits interspersed but with the same blur where the credits would have appeared.

(2) During the opening scene on the streets of Metropolis, there's a scene not included in the theatrical release or in the deleted scenes on the recent "Superman III" Deluxe Edition DVD. In the theatrical version, the bank robber runs out of the Metropolis Bank with a bag of money. He still has the bag of money as he makes his get-away across the street. The cops fire after him and hit the tires of the car that then skids into the fire hydrant. The next scene in the theatrical version shows the police catching up to the thief but he clearly no longer has the bag of money with him.

The first deleted scene included on the Deluxe Edition DVD only tells part of the story. A woman places her child on a see-saw as the elevated construction workers are overhead. Something falls from their perch - it's the bag of money. What isn't included in the DVD is how the bag of money gets there.

Seen on the ABC-TV showing of the film, the thief hides behind a truck as the police fire at him. As he's standing there, a crew of workers carries a ladder and the end of the ladder hooks onto the bag of money lifting it away from the thief. When the thief realizes his money is gone, he yells "Hey you, stop thief!" The workers who've hooked the money onto the ladder don't realize they've hooked the money onto the ladder. They lift up the ladder and the bag of money falls onto the elevated utility workers' moving unit, which eventually moves over the see-saw, and that's what drops from the unit onto the see-saw propelling the little boy into the tree.

(3) The next deleted scene not included in any official release takes place on the Greyhound bus that Clark and Jimmy are riding in to get to Smallville. Jimmy's droning on about his family. Clark notices the fire on the horizon and points Jimmy's attention toward it. Jimmy says "What a beautiful sunset!" Clark responds "At 2:00 in the afternoon?" Then there's a longer pan over the scene of the fire, which leads back into the theatrical version with the bus pulled over by the State Trooper.

(4) The next scene was thankfully omitted from the Deluxe Edition DVD - I'd guess intentionally so. In Smallville, as Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman prattles on before presenting Superman with the ersatz Kryptonite, he has a very politically incorrect line of dialogue: "Do you want some Arab in white robe telling you that their plastics can whoop our plastics?" The next line is the line in the theatrical version about the President signing a peace treaty with an inferior plastic ball-point pen.

(5) Next is an expanded discussion among the bad guys about Gus's super-computer in Ross Webster's office. After the line where Lorelei hints at her true intellect by being the one who realizes Gus's plans are for a computer, there's a cut line where she resumes her ditzy personality and she adds "-- a hairdryer?" Gus refers to the super-computer as a "super-duper mamma jamma computer. IBM has nothin' like it." Given the real-life corporate reference, it's no surprise this scene wasn't added back into the new DVD's deleted scenes section.

(6) After the oil pumps stop working, there's a brief scene set in Alaska with two oilmen trying to pump oil out of the Alaskan pipeline but no oil comes out.

(7) Before evil Superman flies onto the Statue of Liberty, there's a brief scene of the rescue workers down below. One speaks into a megaphone: "Do not despair. You have everything to live for. I know, I've just seen you."

(8) After evil Superman swoops Lorelei up on the Statue of Liberty (after he asks "what do you have in mind?" and she says "Lots of things"), there is extra footage where he says "Why don't you tell me all about it?", and she replies, "I won't just tell you, I'll show you," before cutting back into the scene as it is in the theatrical cut. After Superman empties the oil tanker, and returns to the penthouse for his rendezvous with Lorelei Ambrosia, there's a cut scene set in Vera Webster's bedroom. Vera sits in bed eating bon-bons and reading a book about computers. She is having a difficult time concentrating because she can hear Lorelei's moans of super-pleasure. She stuffs her ears with cotton to drown out the noise and returns to her reading.

(9) As Superman flies into the Grand Canyon, Vera says something about Superman getting their "skin". Lorelei says wistfully, thinking about her tryst: "He can have mine anytime."

(10) When the super-computer begins to absorb electricity from the power lines because it wants to live, there's a scene set in a hospital with a doctor about to perform brain surgery. The doctor says "All right, we're going into the brain now." Then the power cuts out. "Is that me?" he asks. Incidentally, the doctor is portrayed by legendary puppeteer Frank Oz.

(11) After the super-computer blows up, and Superman saves Gus, there's a cut scene where the oil wells begin to pump again.

(12) Clark's about to knock on Lana's hotel room door and a room service waiter knocks on the door next-door. Clark looks confused.

(13) After Clark ejects Brad from Lana's hotel room, Brad falls onto the room service cart established in the previous cut-scene and the cart rolls into the elevator. In the elevator, a woman looks at the cart with Brad laid out on top of it and says "No wonder they sent it back."

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)

(1) Clark visits his parents' graves at the Smallville cemetery immediately before the scenes at the Kent Farm. It's only a brief scene - given only one sentence in the novelization: "After putting fresh flowers on Ma and Pa Kent's graves, Clark returned to the barn." ("Superman IV" novelization, chapter 1).

(2) The most glaring omission to the deleted scenes included on the "Superman IV" DVD is Clark's and Lacy's date at the Metro Club. In the poorly edited theatrical version, Lacy discusses going to the club with Clark immediately before Lois enters with the letter from Jeremy urging Superman to destroy all the nukes. The deleted scenes included on the DVD show a woman at the Metro Club coming onto the first Nuclear Man (Clive Mantle) and realizing as she unbuttons his shirt that he's not the hunk she was expecting. Her first clue: his mangled chest emits electric sparks. Then Superman emerges from the Metro Club and battles Nuclear Man I. What's missing here is the actual date between Clark and Lacy which is depicted in both the novelization and the comic book adaptation.

In the novelization, Lacy and Clark get right into the club, crossing the red velvet rope, though two honeymooners are unable to get past the Metro Club bouncers. According to the novelization:

That night, a reluctant Clark Kent and an eager Lacy Warfield arrived at the wild party celebrating the opening of the Metro Club - the very event Nuclear Man was scheduled to attend as an uninvited guest.

Lacy drew Clark to the head of the very long line waiting outside the club. Two huge men, the club's "bouncers" barred the door, keeping a young couple from entering.

"See, it's our honeymoon, and we just wanted to have one dance here ---"

"--- so I can tell everyone back home. Please? Please?" The bouncers turned a deaf ear to their request, spotting Lacy and Clark. "Good evening, Miss Warfield," one said warmly, allowing them into the club. Clark followed Lacy in. He felt bad about being in a place he didn't want to be while that eager young couple tried unsuccessfully to beg their way in.

The interior of the club was lit with sparkling colored lights that danced off the floor and ceiling. The overwhelming sensation, though, was noise, for music blared from every corner, and people danced in a frenzy on the crowded floor.

"I've never been in a place like this before!" Clark told Lacy.

"This is Metropolis after hours! This is what you'll be writing about. C'mon, let's dance."

Clark joined her on the dance floor, and at once began bumping into everyone around him - or they were bumping into him. It was impossible to tell which. Clark politely said "Excuse me," to each bump until a well-dressed young man cut in on him, asking Lacy to dance.

Clark excused himself from the dance floor, his mind still on the helpless young couple outside. Moving so fast that nobody could even see him, he rushed outside, picked up the young couple, and brought them inside. The bouncers only felt a brief rush of air pass them. The next thing the honeymooners knew, they were standing together on the dance floor, too astonished to move.

"I believe you're supposed to dance," Clark said.

They did.

("Superman IV" novelization, chapter 10).

This scene isn't included in the comic book adaptation -- it's unclear whether or not it was actually filmed or is poetic license by the book's author.

(3) The next scene in the novelization is represented in the comic book adaptation and was filmed - but it's not included on the DVD. This is the scene where, while Lacy and Clark are dancing, Nuclear Man I enters the club, spots Lacy, and immediately falls in love with her. This scene is pivotal to understanding the film's silly plot as it explains why the second Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow), who has all the memories of the first, is so obsessed with Lacy later in the film. According to the novelization:

Clark spotted Lacy on the dance floor and angled through the crowd to reach her.

"Remember me?" he asked. Her glowing smile was her answer.

The music slowed to a romantic number. Clark took her right hand in his left, and put her left hand on his shoulder. They danced the old-fashioned way.

"Don't tell me. You learned to dance at church socials," she said.

"Actually, I had a crash course from my mother the night before my prom."

Lacy smiled. That was almost exactly what she expected Clark to say. He was so wholesome, so kind, so different from anyone she'd ever known before. She liked him. She began to think that perhaps his values were better than the ones her father had taught her.

"I bet you have some freckle-faced girl waiting for you in Smallville," she said.

"Oh, no, there's no one back home, or here for that matter."

That was just what Lacy was hoping to hear. Content, she danced with Clark, oblivious to the noise and the crowd and the arrival of Nuclear Man.

Nuclear Man swept past the bouncers into the club. He was immediately dazzled by the lights and began bumping into the customers. One man, infuriated because Nuclear Man made him spill his drinks, took a swing at the monster. Nuclear Man caught the oncoming fist with his hand and crushed the man's knuckles.

He continued his march forward until he stood on the edge of the dance floor, watching the gyrations. And then he saw Lacy and Clark.

His eyes were transfixed by the beautiful Lacy Warfield. It was as if he had been waiting all of his very short life for this one moment - this one experience. To him then, nothing mattered but Lacy. He was in love with her!

At just that moment, an older woman spotted the very confused Nuclear Man. In the dim and flashing light, she thought him as handsome as he thought Lacy beautiful. She took him by the hand and led him out the back door of the Metro Club.

("Superman IV" novelization, chapter 11). That's where the deleted scenes on the "Superman IV" disc pick up. The woman screams, Clark hears the scream, excuses himself, and changes to Superman.

Superman Returns (2006)

(1) Australian artist Chew Chan, who did storyboards for the film, also worked on the original opening credit sequence, which would have mirrored the opening of the original 1978 "Superman" movie. The curtain would have opened to reveal a comic book and a young boy reading an issue of Action Comics that depicted Superman's origin tale from the 1978 film in comic book form. It would have cut to footage from the 1978 film itself. Then much of Superman's story would be told in Daily Planet headlines, beginning with "Caped Wonder Stuns City" and ending with Lois's "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman" article. It's interesting to note that, among the headlines intended was one reading "Meteor Shower Baffles Scientists", which would have been a nice nod to TV's "Smallville". (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, pages 1-3).

(2) The film would have opened with the Return to Krypton sequence. Superman is flying in a large crystalline ship toward the galaxy where Krypton was. As he gets closer, he is able to tour the remains of Krypton. Large chunks of the planet remain but the planet is destroyed, no life remains, and the remaining debris is now all irradiated Kryptonite. Superman is sickened by the Kryptonite. He is able to mutter "... home" and the ship's computers set a return course to Earth. This explains why Superman is so weak when he gets back to Earth (though if it took three years for him to return to Earth, one has to wonder why he'd still be weakened from Kryptonite exposure after all that time). (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, pages 3-5).

While not included on the Special Edition DVD release, the "Return to Krypton" sequence was included on the "Superman Returns" disc of "The Superman Motion Picture Anthology" Blu-ray collection.

(3) The flashback sequence with young Clark is a bit longer than in the film and includes a bit more than the scene included in the deleted scenes section of the DVD. After Clark discovers he can fly and doesn't need his glasses, he finds the secret hiding place where the Kents have stored his rocket ship and he finds and examines the Father Crystal. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 12).

(4) There's a brief scene where Clark takes a shovel out to the ship and digs the shovel into the ground. This scene precedes the scene in the theatrical version of the film where Clark tells Ma Kent, "Don't worry, I buried it this morning".

(5) The scene where Ben Hubbard shows up and Clark realizes that Ben is dating his mother is longer than included in the deleted scenes section of the DVD. What isn't included is the subplot where it's revealed that Ma Kent is selling the farm and moving to Montana with Ben Hubbard. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, pages 18-19).

(6) When the villains enter the Fortress of Solitude, Kitty Kowalski notices a piece of the Fortress missing. She asks if that's the "garage". Lex replies: "You're not so far off, Kitty. The leading theory is that he took off in a futile attempt to find his homeworld." According to the script, Kal Penn's character, Stanford, stifles a laugh. Lex continues: "If so, even he would have to rely on a craft of some kind, and I'll bet Gertrude's last dollar that's exactly what used to be parked there." Kitty asks Lex if Superman did indeed leave Earth to look for Krypton. Lex answers: "Well . . . we gave him a little push." This is the first indication that Lex and Stanford are responsible for the astronomers' reports that they found Krypton. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, pages 23-24).

(7) Paralleling the scene in "Superman" where Reeve's Clark Kent arrives by taxi at the Daily Planet building for the first time is a similar scene where Routh's Clark Kent arrives by taxi at the Daily Planet. The cab driver tries to lift Clark's suitcases and remarks how heavy they are but of course Clark can lift them easily. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 26).

(8) Clark Kent is off and running to change into Superman when he realizes the shuttle launch is in jeopardy. In the movie, Clark rips open his shirt and there's Superman's costume. This was likely added by computer. As it was originally shot on the streets of Sydney, Australia, Clark rips open his shirt to reveal Routh's bare chest. It had previously been established that the costume was in his suitcase as he was still deliberating whether or not to return as Superman or whether the world had moved on without him. There's then a scene where he returns to the Daily Planet to retrieve his costume from his suitcase in the Daily Planet storeroom. Clark puts on the costume and catches a glimpse of himself in the suit. He's still wearing his Clark Kent glasses. He takes them off, slips them back into the store room and speeds off to Lois's rescue. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 44).

(9) Following Lex's statement in the theatrical version of the movie that Lex doesn't care if the instructions to the device that Stanford and the other henchmen stole are in Russian, Stanford says to Lex: "You know what I mean, Lex. He's [Superman] not stupid. How long do you think it's going to take him to trace all that stuff back to me - and you. He was supposed to die up there, Lex." Lex replies: "Stanford, you worry too much." (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 57).

(10) There's voice-over by Superman as he flies into the Fortress of Solitude that isn't included in the film. Routh's Man of Steel can be heard saying: "Father . . . It's been a long time since I've come to you . . . But I've never felt so alone." (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 89). That's when Superman realizes the crystals are missing.

(11) It's unclear if Singer shot this scene or not but it does show up in the shooting script and in the comic book adaptation as well. It feels like it would've been a little overkill though. And that's Lex throwing an explosive device in the room with the trapped Lois and Jason before he leaves them on the ship. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, pages 108-09).

(12) Superman and Perry talk briefly after Superman catches the Daily Planet globe. He's reminded by Perry that Lois is missing. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 112A).

(13) Lois pries open an air vent and throws the bomb into it. The bomb still explodes, blowing a hole in the ship, but it blows up far enough away from Lois and Jason that they buy themselves a few more minutes of potential life. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 113). Richard White arrives. It appears the shooting script may not reflect what was actually shot in this case as it indicates that Richard jumps into the water and rescues a drowning Lois as Jason has an asthma attack. Then the growing crystal column pierces the ship, the room again fills with water, and Lois is knocked out by the closing door, leaving the three in danger of drowning until Superman arrives.

(14) Right after Lex compares the crystals' ability to inherit the traits of the minerals around them to a son inheriting the traits of his father, Lex admits that he was responsible for creating the facts that sent Superman looking for Krypton. Lex says: "Look buddy, we sent you there to die, but ya' had to come back . . . Oh yeah. All those photos? Those stories about Krypton still existing? It was me. And him." Lex looks toward Stanford. "Thankfully, the press doesn't check facts like they used to. Hey you took away five years of my life. I just returned the favor." (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 119A).

(15) This isn't exactly a deleted scene but Ma Kent is at the hospital with the crowds and she's with her boyfriend Ben Hubbard (James Karen). In the theatrical release, a small portion of his face can be seen to the right of Martha Kent. Had his storyline not been cut from the film, it appears Singer had a cut of Martha and Ben Hubbard standing in the crowd together. (Superman Returns: The Shooting Script, page 133). In addition, while there isn't any dialogue in the script between Martha Kent and Lois, the Topps cards seem to lend credence to the theory that Ma may have offered some words of wisdom to Lois as she passed by. (Superman Returns Topps trading card number 86).

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While this compilation intends to be as complete as possible, it's extremely likely that something may have been missed. Please email Steve Younis if you're aware of any additional scenes in any of the films, where they occur, and the dialogue if any.

Thanks to Barry Freiman for writing most of this article.