[Quick Summary: After Kal-El is sent to Earth, he becomes Clark Kent and saves humanity from Lex Luthor's schemes.]
THINGS I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT SUPERMAN 1 & 2:
- They were shot back to back. (Part 1 for this week's blog. Part 2 next week.)
- Director Richard Donner, a Superman fan, had this reaction to a previous draft: "[The first draft script] was disparaging. It was just gratuitous action....I was like, ‘Man, if they make this movie, they are destroying the legend of Superman.’ "
- He hired writer Tom Mankiewicz and instructed him: “The most important thing when you look at it is this: make a love story. And prove a man can fly.”
It is fitting that the first time we see Superman fly is in service of the love story.
The writers were clever to have him reveal his hidden super-powers to save Lois (which earns our sympathy) rather than fight a bad guy (which isn't as compelling).
Also, I like this scene because it never cuts Superman a break. He still faces real obstacles (wrong phone booth) and interruptions (pimp).
EXT. METROPOLIS STREET
The CROWD grows rapidly in size, staring up, pointing excitedly. CLARK arrives on the scene, looks up as well, eyes widening in horro.
ANGLE ON LOIS - CLARK'S POV
The helicopter dangles half-over the edge of the roof.
BACK TO CROWD
Determined, CLARK pushes his way through the crowd, looking for something.
ANGLE ON PHONE BOOTH - CLARK'S POV
A phone booth stands on the corner - but this is a modern booth - it covers only the top half of the body.
BACK TO CLARK
CLARK shrugs in disgusted frustration, heads for a nearby alley, runs for it.
INT. HELICOPTER
LOIS looks up past the unconscious PILOT to the edge of the roof. She has only one chance. She unbuckles her safety belt, tries to crawl over him. As she moves, the helicopter shifts position, swings out farther over the roof.
INSERT SHOT - CABLE
The cable jerks with the weight. Sparks fly. It holds together by a thread.
BACK TO LOIS
LOIS tumbles back with the movement, falls out the door, grabbing her unbuckled seatbelt at the last minute on the way out.
EXT. STREET - ANGLE ON LOIS - CROWD'S POV
The CROWD screams. LOIS dangles from the roof, holding on to her seatbelt for dear life.
EXT. ALLEYWAY
An incredibly garish BLACK PIMP exits an alley doorway, stoned, stops in awe as he sees: SUPERMAN in full costume, heading toward him, determined.
PIMP: Say, Jim! That is a bad outfit! Who's your tailor, baby? Who cuts your threads?
SUPERMAN: Excuse me...
With a burst of energy, SUPERMAN rises from the ground, flies up into the night sky.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The writers created the best motive one would need to fly (love) and thus did convince me that this man could fly.
Superman (1977)(Mar. 1977, shooting script, revised)
Story by Mario Puzo
Script by Mario Puzo and David Newman and Leslie Newman & Robert Benton (& Tom Mankiewicz (uncredited))
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