{"id":15556,"date":"2011-12-02T07:09:36","date_gmt":"2011-12-02T12:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/?p=15556"},"modified":"2012-11-01T11:33:29","modified_gmt":"2012-11-01T15:33:29","slug":"history-of-the-comic-book-film-good-superman-versus-bad-superman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.filmbuffonline.com\/FBOLNewsreel\/wordpress\/2011\/12\/02\/history-of-the-comic-book-film-good-superman-versus-bad-superman\/","title":{"rendered":"HISTORY OF THE COMIC BOOK FILM: Good SUPERMAN Versus Bad SUPERMAN"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a multi-part series, Comic Book Film Editor William Gatevackes will be tracing the history of comic book movies from the earliest days of the film serials to today\u2019s big blockbusters and beyond. Along with the history lesson, Bill will be covering some of the most prominent comic book films over the years and why they were so special. This time, we\u2019ll explain why there are two Superman II\u2019s<\/strong> and what happens when the Salkinds eventually get their way.<\/em><\/p>\n

Superman <\/strong>was a hit. Richard Donner had already filmed part of Superman II<\/strong>. So how did Richard Lester become director of the latter? Well, you see\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Donner and the Salkinds had an acrimonious relationship, to say the least, during filming. The Salkinds had an issue with Donner going over budget and taking longer to shoot than necessary. They did have a point, even if Donner said he was never informed of the budget or schedule. The Salkinds were angry as they saw more and more control over the film slip away as Warner Brothers put more and more money into it. And Donner had 75% of Superman II <\/strong>filmed <\/strong>by the time Superman <\/strong>was done, yet the release date of Superman <\/strong>had to be moved from the summer to the winter due to filming issues. One can assume the one had something to do with the other.<\/p>\n

Donner\u2019s beef with the Salkinds was over the tone of the movie. The Salkinds were fighting for a more campy tone much like the original script. Donner was holding out for the more serious and respectful tone he developed with screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz. If you look at the film, you can see where some concessions were probably made. Mankiewicz has stated that no line of dialogue from the Puzo\/Benton\/Newman\/Newman script remained, but there were campy elements in the final film. The scenes with Luthor, Miss Tessmacher, and Otis were pretty much comedy scenes. And while Lois\u2019 \u201cYou\u2019ve got me? Who\u2019s got you\u201d is a witty line, Superman being complemented by a street hustler who says \u201cThat\u2019s one bad outfit\u201d is a jarring and out of place bit of camp.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The situation got so bad that eventually Donner and the Salkinds stopped speaking to one another. Richard Lester, a director with his own issues with the Salkinds over payment issues dealing with him directing The Three Musketeers <\/strong>and The Four Musketeers<\/strong>, was brought in to act as a mediator under the promise that he would be made right financially. Lester promised Donner he would remain hands off during the filming, but the Salkinds hoped he would be a back-up in case Donner didn\u2019t work out.<\/p>\n

Donner did work out and the first Superman <\/strong>was a hit. But Donner refused to return to finish shooting the sequel unless he could be left alone. The Salkinds told him his services were no longer necessary and installed Lester in the director\u2019s chair and charged him with completing Superman II<\/strong>.<\/p>\n