SUPERMAN IS NOW THE MOVIE

Press, 20 December 1978, Page 14

SUPERMAN IS NOW THE MOVIE

Superman, a native of the planet Krypton, reared in Smallville, in the United States, and a resident of Metropolis, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the brainchild of the writer. Jerry Siegel and the cartoonist, Joe .Schuster.

Superman, the movie, va voi;_eived at a sioev. alk cafe in Paris by the father-and-son >n>auc'. r (■am of Alexander and Ilya Salkind »nu the,r I. .nily triend. Pierre Directed bx Richard Donner, who "as --•:-•■•"- sibie for “The Omen,” S’.perm«n .... _a a'moct »wo years to film at locations including New j ' <-uy; oallup. New Mexico; Alberta, Canada; and England’s two major production centres. ’he and Pinewood Studios. .». project began with the development of the story and screenplay by Academy Award winner Mario Puzo, author of “The Godfather.” Then, David and Leslie Newman r Robert Benton did additional work on the' script. When Richard Doni oeca.ne invo’ved he I rjeht in Tom 'lankiewicy "s creative cnnsu’’am. The cast and creati'e • vi contribtt'ed io Sunerman ’■'"••'■•a twelve Academv Awards a-d near'v one hundred nominations. Included are cne_ three-time recipient.

composer-conductor John Williams; and two holders of the “Best Actor” Award, Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman. ' A dual winner (.for "On The Waterfront ” and "'ine Godfather”) and five-time nominee, Brando is almost as much a legend — in his own way — as Superman, He plays Jor-El, Superman’s father and the leading scientist ot the doomed planet, Krypton. “It’s a crucial role ” ■»». plained Donner, “which sets the tone and style ot the film.” The schedule called for Brando to work on the first day of principal photography, but he almost didn't make it. He was suffering a heavy cold, coupled with jet lag, and arrived on the set at the Shepperton Studios, bundled in scarves and sweaters and fortified with kleenex “What happened next wa- amazing.” recalls Donner "We agreed to film the rehearsal, as if it were a take. ’Who knows.’ Marlon suggested. ’we might get lucky’.” In a towering set. surrounded by John Barry’s