Superman III (1983)

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

David Newman (screenplay) and
Leslie Newman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

17 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

If the world's most powerful computer can control even Superman...no one on earth is safe.

Plot:

Synthetic kryptonite laced with tobacco tar splits Superman in two: good Clark Kent and bad Man of Steel.

Plot Keywords:

Kryptonite | Computer | High School Reunion | Smallville | Villain

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Christopher Reeve	...	Superman / Clark Kent
Richard Pryor	...	Gus Gorman
Jackie Cooper	...	Perry White
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Annette O'Toole	...	Lana Lang
Annie Ross	...	Vera
Pamela Stephenson	...	Lorelei
Robert Vaughn	...	Ross Webster
Margot Kidder	...	Lois Lane
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Brad
Nancy Roberts	...	Unemployment Clerk
Graham Stark	...	Blind Man
Henry Woolf	...	Penguin Man
Gordon Rollings	...	Man in Cap
Peter Wear	...	Bank Robber
Justin Case	...	Mime
Bob Todd	...	Dignified Gent
Terry Camilleri	...	Delivery Man
Stefan Kalipha	...	Data School Instructor
Helen Horton	...	Miss Henderson
Lou Hirsch	...	Fred
Bill Reimbold	...	Wages Man
Shane Rimmer	...	State Policeman
Al Matthews	...	Fire Chief
Barry Dennen	...	Dr. McClean
Enid Saunders	...	Minnie Bannister
Kevin Harrison Cork	...	D.J.
Robert Henderson	...	Mr. Simpson
Paul Kaethler	...	Ricky
R.J. Bell	...	Mr. Stokis
Pamela Mandell	...	Mrs. Stokis
Peter Whitman	...	Man at Cash Point
Ronnie Brody	...	Husband
Sandra Dickinson	...	Wife
Philip Gilbert	...	Newsreader
Pat Starr	...	White Coated Scientist
Gordon Signer	...	Mayor
John Bluthal	...	Pisa Vendor
George Chisholm	...	Street Sweeper
David Fielder	...	Olympic Runner
Robert Beatty	...	Tanker Captain
Christopher Malcolm	...	Miner #1 (as Chris Malcolm)
Larry Lamb	...	Miner #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roy Alon	...	Man Trapped in Car (uncredited)
Stan Edmonds	...	Applauding Man (uncredited)
Les Kimber	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Grant Lowe	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Derek Lyons	...	Commuter (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	Woman in Elevator (uncredited)
Aaron Smolinski	...	Boy at Photo Booth (uncredited)
Geoffrey Steele	...	Man in Elevator (uncredited)
David Winning	...	Commuter (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Lester

Writing credits
David Newman		(screenplay) and
Leslie Newman		(screenplay)
Jerry Siegel		(creator: Superman) and
Joe Shuster		(creator: Superman)

Produced by
Ilya Salkind	....	executive producer
Robert Simmonds	....	associate producer
Pierre Spengler	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Thorne

Cinematography by
Robert Paynter

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Debbie McWilliams

Production Design by
Peter Murton

Art Direction by
Brian Ackland-Snow
Terry Ackland-Snow
Bert Davey

Set Decoration by
Peter Young

Costume Design by
Evangeline Harrison

Makeup Department
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist
Stuart Freeborn	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair department head

Production Management
Michael Dryhurst	....	production supervisor: Alberta
Les Kimber	....	production manager: Alberta
Doug MacLeod	....	unit manager: Alberta
Michael Skeet	....	unit manager: Alberta
Vincent Winter	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Higgins	....	first assistant director: second unit
David Lane	....	director: flying unit
David Lane	....	second unit director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director
Dusty Symonds	....	first assistant director
Keith Young	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard Holland	....	set designer
Robert Jackson	....	carpenter
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist
Wesley Peppiatt	....	props
Michael G. Ploog	....	illustrator
Michael G. Ploog	....	storyboard artist
Denis Rich	....	illustrator
Andrew Semple	....	painter
Bob Sherwood	....	dressing prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roy Charman	....	sound mixer
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dubbing editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rocky Phelan	....	dubbing editor
Don Sharpe	....	dubbing editor
Paul Smith	....	dubbing editor
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	director of miniatures
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects director
Chris Corbould	....	special effects senior technician
Ian Corbould	....	special effects
Neil Corbould	....	special effects technician
Paul Corbould	....	special effects
Ricky Farns	....	special effects
Dave Ford	....	special effects
Ginger Gemmel	....	camera operator: model unit
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects supervisor
Garth Inns	....	special effects
Peter Netley	....	special effects
Zoran Perisic	....	front projection consultant
Roy Quinn	....	special effects
Neil Trifunovich	....	on set effects
Brian Warner	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Ken Baker	....	assistant director: process unit
Dennis Bartlett	....	matte supervisor: process unit
Charles Bishop	....	art director: model unit
Janice Body	....	assistant matte artist
Martin Body	....	optical and matte camera
John Deaton	....	focus puller: model unit
Roy Field	....	supervisor of optical and visual effects
Peter Harman	....	optical and matte photography
John Harris	....	photography: process unit
Keith Holland	....	cameraman
Nick Laws	....	second assistant director: process unit
Peter Melrose	....	matte artist
Harry Oakes	....	photographer: model unit
Terry Reed	....	supervising modelmaker
Charles Stoneham	....	matte artist
Steve Wright	....	digital animator: video game computer animation, Atari Inc.
Alan Buchan	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Peter Donen	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Dion Hatch	....	optical cameraman: CRC (uncredited)
Derek Meddings	....	additional model effects (uncredited)
Paul Wilson	....	additional model photography (uncredited)

Stunts
Roy Alon	....	stunts
Ken Barker	....	stunts
Dickey Beer	....	stunts
Marc Boyle	....	stunts
Sue Crosland	....	stunts
Clive Curtis	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts
Richard Hammatt	....	stunts
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Billy Horrigan	....	stunts
Wendy Leech	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunts
Colin Prescott	....	balloon stunts arranger
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts
Mark Stewart	....	stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter stunt pilot
Rick Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Green	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dick Hancock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Doug Robinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunts (uncredited)
Les White	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen Claydon	....	focus puller
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator
John Deaton	....	focus puller
David Garfath	....	camera operator
Jeff Paynter	....	focus puller
Derek Suter	....	clapper loader
Matt Tundo	....	director of photography: Alberta scenes
David Wynn-Jones	....	camera supervisor
Costas Charitou	....	titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Trish Robinson	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Barbara Ann Schoemaker	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Peter Hollywood	....	associate editor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist

Music Department
Robert Hathaway	....	music editor
Ken Thorne	....	conductor
Ken Thorne	....	music arranger

Other crew
Joy Bayley	....	production assistant
Pauline Couteleno	....	production executive
Susie Ford	....	accounting assistant
Robert Harman	....	flying effects technician
Bobbie Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Mark Mostyn	....	runner
Sally Pardo	....	production assistant
Christopher Reeve	....	production consultant
Philip Seber	....	location and firefighter support
Tana Tocher	....	caterer
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot
Frans J. Afman	....	financial consultant (uncredited)
Howard R. Schuster	....	financing (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Cantharaus Productions N.V.
• Dovemead Films
• Film Export A.G.
• International

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1986) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Cannon Screen Entertainment (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by

Also Known As:

Superman III (Canada: French title)
Superman vs. Superman (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Brazil:10 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Cantharaus Productions N.V.

Trivia:

The original title was to be "Superman vs. Superman". The producers of Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) threatened a lawsuit over the similarity however, and refused to believe the Salkinds' explanation that it was intended as a play on the various "Superman vs..." comic stories and not Kramer vs. Kramer. Eventually Pierre Spengler suggested that "Superman III" would be a more sensible title anyway, and the issue was dropped.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening credits, we can clearly see mustard on Jimmy's left lapel, later on in Perry Whites office it has moved to his right lapel.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Unemployment Clerk: Next. Name?
Gus Gorman: Gus Gorman.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in BASEketball (1998)

Soundtrack:

Rock On

The first of two extremely weak sequels

I'll be frank: SUPERMAN III is NOT a good film. Having heard both from people who loved the movie and hated the movie, I watched it with an open mind, but in the end it was clear to me that this movie is weak. Very weak.

Half of the movie revolves around Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor!), a dim-witted computer programmer who becomes involved in crime when he begins working for millionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn). The other half of the film revolves around Superman (Christopher Reeve), as he is reunited with high school sweetheart Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole) and becomes evil when exposed to synthetic kryptonite.

One can't help but wonder what David and Leslie Newman, who co-wrote the previous two SUPERMAN films, were thinking when they wrote this film. It opens with a cringe-worthy slapstick sequence, and gets worse from there. Any and all scenes involving Richard Pryor are completely out of place in this film, making it seem more like an unfunny comedy than a superhero film. Director Richard Lester tries his best to make the movie work, but ultimately, it doesn't, thanks in part to the absence of Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor and the near-absence of Margot Kidder as Lois Lane (Kidder has a total of about three minutes on-screen). Christopher Reeve, however, is excellent as always, and Annette O'Toole is a good fit for the part of Lana Lang; interestingly, she portrayed Clark's mother, Martha Kent, on the hit Superman TV series SMALLVILLE.

SUPERMAN III is mediocre at best, a failed attempt to continue an excellent series. While it couldn't hold my attention for the 125 minute runtime, I can think of worse movies to watch late at night with a bowl of popcorn and a Coke. Superman fans may want to check it out; all others, steer clear.