2001 Movie News Archives
March 28, 2001: Superman Warner Home Video Press Release
SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE
HIGH-FLYING DVD and SPECIAL EDITION VHS
DEBUT MAY 1
DVD LOADED WITH NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN EXTRAS, 3 BEHIND-THE-SCENES DOCUMENTARIES, PLUS SCREEN TESTS AND FEATURE-LENGTH DIRECTOR COMMENTARY
New Digital Transfer and Re-Mixed Dolby Surround 5.1 From Restored Elements
Superman II, III and IV Also To Be Available For the First Time on DVD
Burbank CA, March 27, 2001: The ultimate superhero, the long-awaited "Man of Steel," is back. Superman: The Movie, one of the most treasured and successful films in the Warner Bros. library, will be available for the first time on DVD May 1. This classic, award-winning film, directed by Richard Donner, launched the career of Christopher Reeve and includes an all-star cast of Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman and Margot Kidder among others. Reeve, Brando and Hackman appear in an additional nine minutes of film not seen in previous theatrical engagements or on video. The DVD will have a new digital transfer, remixed Dolby Surround 5.1 sound and a host of features and enhancements.
Concurrently, WHV is releasing the three Superman sequels - Superman II, Superman III, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace - for the first time on DVD. All four titles will also be available on VHS, and Superman: The Movie Special Edition VHS will include the never-before-seen Superman and Lois Lane screen tests and two original theatrical trailers.
The packed DVD of Superman: The Movie includes four behind-the-scenes features:
Additional features on the Superman: The Movie DVD include:
ABOUT THE ORIGINAL FILM
Superman: The Movie Special Edition blends elements of science fiction, action, thrills and romance with Christopher Reeve in the dual role of Superman and mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. The film made Reeve an instant, international star.
The film won an Academy Award for Special Achievement in Visual Effects and was nominated for Oscars in three other categories: Best Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Sound. Reeve won the Best Newcomer Award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and John Williams won a Grammy for his score.
Marlon Brando portrays Jor-El, Superman's father from the planet Krypton and Gene Hackman is the dreaded Lex Luthor, mankind's worst enemy. Also starring in memorable supporting roles are Ned Beatty as Otis, Luthor's bumbling assistant; Jackie Cooper as Perry White, frenzied editor of Metropolis' The Daily Planet; Glenn Ford and Phyllis Thaxter as Jonathan and Martha Kent, surrogate parents to Superman on Earth; Trevor Howard as the First Elder on Krypton, Margot Kidder as The Daily Planet's ace reporter Lois Lane, who is smitten with Superman and his heroics but remains indifferent to the awkward advances of his alter ego Clark Kent; Valerie Perrine as Luthor's sexy but disloyal girlfriend Eve, Maria Schell as Vond-Ah, Terence Stamp as General Zod, and Susannah York as Lara, Superman's biological mother. Christopher Reeve stars in all four Superman movies and Gene Hackman appears in all except Superman III which co-stars Richard Pryor.
FURTHER HISTORY OF THE "SUPERMAN" PHENOMENON
The Superman phenomenon dates back to the early 1930s when it first surfaced as a science fiction story, then as a comic book, a comic strip, a radio program, a movie serial, seven early feature films and a television series starring the late George Reeves. Superman merchandising has been a billion-dollar cottage industry throughout the world. "Supermania" hit its peak with the production of Superman: The Movie, produced for $55 million (a huge budget for the 1970s including a $3.7 million salary going to Brando for his legendary two weeks of work). The film took in a domestic box office gross of almost $135 million and a worldwide gross of more than $300 million.
An Alexander Salkind presentation of a Richard Donner film, Superman was directed by Donner from a story by Mario Puzo. The screenplay was by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman and Robert Benton. Tom Mankiewicz was creative consultant. Ilya Salkind was executive producer and Pierre Spengler produced the film. John Williams composed and conducted the music. Superman, an Alexander and Ilya Salkind production, is distributed by Warner Bros.
Superman: The Movie will sell for $24.98 SRP on DVD (VHS: $14.95 SRP). The three sequels will each sell for $19.98 SRP for the DVD and $9.94 VHS. The complete four-film Superman collection will sell for $79.92 SRP for the DVD and $39.92 SRP for the VHS.
All four Superman movies are rated PG. With additional footage, Superman: The Movie Special Edition is 151 mintues. Superman II runs 127 minutes, Superman III runs 125 minutes and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace runs 90 minutes.
Contacts:
Ronnee Sass
Warner Home Video
(818) 954-6439
Murray Weissman, Adam Levbarg, Dick Delson
Weissman/Delson Communications
(818) 760-8995
2001 Movie News
Listed below are all the Movie News items archived for 2001.- January 24, 2001: “Superman: The Movie” Re-Release Test Screening
- February 6, 2001: Superman DVD Release Date and Specifications
- February 6, 2001: Superman Lives Pre-Production Rumor
- February 8, 2001: “The Indian Superman”
- February 17, 2001: More on the Superman DVD and VHS release
- February 20, 2001: Superman DVD Spoiler Information
- February 21, 2001: More Superman DVD Spoiler Information
- February 26, 2001: Superman DVD Update and San Antonio Information
- February 27, 2001: Extended Scenes in the Special Edition of “Superman”
- February 27, 2001: Your Chance to be at the Special Press Screening of “Superman”!
- March 1, 2001: Superman Soars
- March 12, 2001: “Superman” Special Edition Credits
- March 21, 2001: Superman Re-Release Trailer!
- March 22, 2001: Warner Bros. Squash Negative Superman Re-Release Report
- March 22, 2001: Superman Lives Greenlighted
- March 26, 2001: Superman DVD Review
- March 26, 2001: Superman - San Antonio News Articles
- March 28, 2001: Superman Warner Home Video Press Release
- March 29, 2001: Superman San Antonio Report
- April 1, 2001: Superman DVD - “Total Movie” Article
- April 15, 2001: Donner and Mankiewicz Sign Superman DVD
- April 19, 2001: Superman Lives Lives On!
- April 23, 2001: Win Superman DVDs!
- April 28, 2001: Superman Movie Cast Reunion!
- May 11, 2001: Superman DVDs Feature in Top 10
- May 25, 2001: Warner Sued Over Superman DVDs
- June 13, 2001: Warner Home Video Superman Movie Website
- July 1, 2001: New Superman Movie Rumors
- July 1, 2001: Egyptian Theatre to Screen “Superman” Special Edition
- July 2, 2001: Special Edition “Superman” to Screen in Minnesota
- July 16, 2001: Superman Movie Suit and Hair Piece Up For Auction
- July 29, 2001: 60th Anniversary of the Fleischer Superman Cartoons
- August 4, 2001: Superman Movie Items Sold at Auction
- August 8, 2001: World's Finest on the Big Screen?
- August 15, 2001: Rumor Control - John Travolta
- September 3, 2001: Superman Comes to Somerdale
- September 9, 2001: “Superman” Stars Join to Honor Margot Kidder in L.A.
- September 11, 2001: Cain to Return as Superman?
- September 20, 2001: “Superman II” DVD Release Postponed in UK
- September 28, 2001: “Superman: The Movie” on Encore in October
- October 15, 2001: McG to Direct Superman?
- October 18, 2001: Richard Donner “Superman II” DVD Petition
- October 22, 2001: “Superman Lives” Pre-Production Artwork
- October 25, 2001: “Superman” Special Edition on the Big Screen (Update)
- November 16, 2001: Superman/Batman Movie Rumor!
- December 16, 2001: George Reeves: The Movie
- December 31, 2001: Superman in “Spider-Man” Movie
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