DELETED SCENES

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CLARK VISITS THE KENT’S GRAVE

Clark (Christopher Reeve) visits the Kent’s grave before heading to the farm.
This scene was intended to be the first Smallville scene in the film.
This short sequence has never been seen publicly outside of the test screenings.
This was the very first principal photography scene filmed for the movie.
Differing from SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, the cemetery in this film is adjacent to the farmhouse and barn, perhaps the angles filmed for this scene didn’t depict it this way, and compared to the first film and judging by the cemetery gates in this one, Pa Kent’s grave isn’t facing the same direction as in SUPERMAN THE MOVIE.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
Filmed on September 29, 1986, in Baldock, Hertfordshire, England.

CLARK’S MORNING

When the film was heavily edited for theatrical release several scenes were moved around to fit the new narrative.
Lenny helping Lex escape prison originally followed the subway rescue and proceeded the Daily Planet staff meeting scenes.
The Clark visits the farm sequence was followed by a montage of newly filmed and footage from SUPERMAN THE MOVIE depicting Jor-El and Lara placing the baby Kal-El in the spaceship with the Green Crystal, the destruction of Krypton, and the spaceship heading to Earth with a voice Jor-El voice-over.
Clark wakes up in his apartment to a clock radio reading the news of the arms peace talks breaking down. We realize the Krypton montage was his dream.
The answering machine is blaring with Lois leaving a message not to be late to the very important staff meeting that day. Clark picks up the phone too late.
Clark goes outside to get the newspaper, he’s greeted by an obnoxious neighbor and her attacking dog.
Clark hurries back inside his apartment after fighting off the dog for the paper.
An unused take of the Jor-El laboratory light walls exploding from SUPERMAN THE MOVIE was used in the montage of Clark’s dream.
It is unknown to me who the actors playing Lara and Jor-El are or who did the voice-over.
Neither the script or the comic book adaptation contain the scenes with the neighbor and dog.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
Filmed on 10 at Elstree Studios on December 4, 1986.

VIDEO: Clark’s morning with unfinished FX and temporary music.

THE CHAIN GANG

Just after Lenny flies the guards off in the mechanical car, a scripted sequence has the chain gang prisoners asking Lex and Lenny to set them free. Lex reminds them they’re still criminals.
It is unknown if this was filmed. As scripted, the chain gang sequence was to take place between the subway rescue and Clark arriving at the Daily Planet late for the staff meeting.

JEREMY’S LETTER PART 1

A slight extension to the theatrical scene of Jeremy’s classroom shows the kids making fun of Jeremy and him starting to write the letter to Superman.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
These scenes were filmed at The Sir Frank Markham Comprehensive School, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England on October 3, 1986.

VIDEO: Jeremy’s letter part 1 with unfinished FX and temporary music.

THE MUSEUM

More of Lex at the museum talking to the Superman statue and escaping with Lenny from arriving security guards after stealing the hair was scripted and featured in the comic book adaptation.
No still images or footage from this sequence has ever been seen publicly.
It is unknown if the scene was filmed in its entirety or featured in the test screening version.

JEREMY’S LETTER PART 2

Superman replies to Jeremy’s letter in person.
This short sequence begins after the scene where Clark, Lois, and Lacy read Jeremy’s letter at the Daily Planet.
It was cut from all the theatrical versions.
This scene is supposed to take place days after Jeremy writes the letter, but Jeremy and the other kids in the classroom are wearing the same clothes as the day Jeremy writes the letter.
This deleted scene marks the start of an entire section where the film was heavily edited.
The photo seen below of Superman holding the letter is a processed promotional still for the film and not an actual scene from the movie.
I’ve added the tail end of the letter reading at Daily Planet scene to the video below to give a reference point where it fits in the film.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
These scenes were filmed at The Sir Frank Markham Comprehensive School, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.
The shot of Superman flying past the classroom windows was filmed on October 2, 1986, and the classroom interior on October 3, 1986.

VIDEO: Jeremy’s letter part 2 with unfinished FX and temporary music.

CREATING NUCLEAR MAN 1

Following the Jeremy’s Letter Part 2 sequence begins the introduction of a character completely removed from all released versions of the film: NUCLEAR MAN 1, played by Clive Mantle.
Donning radiation suits and working on a nuclear chamber in their Metropolis penthouse, Lenny and Lex have cloned a super being from Superman’s hair.
The Nuclear Man 1 emerges from the radiation chamber, but he is defective, nuclear radiation isn’t strong enough to fully cook him as strong as Superman is.
Lex tests him by having him break a steel bar, unloading a machine gun on his chest, and having him fly… the being rises through the ceiling and crashes down on a glass table.
Lex picks up the Daily Planet to decide where to unleash Nuclear Man 1. He notices an ad for the grand opening of the Metro Club, a new dance spot in Metropolis. Lex shows Nuclear Man a photo of Superman and tells him to “destroy this man”.
From all accounts heard, the entire Nuclear Man 1 sequence was shown in the secret test screenings of the films.
The sequence was musically scored by the film’s composer, Alexander Courage, suggesting it was in the film until at least May 1987.
Numerous shots from the sequence appear in the various theatrical trailers and tv spots.
The photo of Superman that Lex shows Nuclear Man 1 is from the scene at end of the film when Superman drops Lex off with the prison chain gang.
Lex’s line, “And Now, Leonard, your uncle Lex, from this protoplasm that I’ve grown from Superman’s hair cells will duplicate creation itself” that appears in the theatrical version of the film was lifted from this scene.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
Filmed on Stage 6 at Elstree Studios in October 1986.

VIDEO: Creating Nuclear Man 1 with unfinished FX and temporary music.

THE METRO CLUB

In the theatrical version of the film Lacy says she has an idea to do a story on “Metropolis After Hours” and sets up a date with Clark for the “opening of the Metro Club”, this following sequence is the result of her idea.
The sequence begins after the deleted Lex Luthor creates Nuclear Man 1 scene.
As scripted the scene begins with Superman in flight circling the grand opening of the Metro Club.
Clark meets Lacy at the entrance to the Metro Club.
A young couple on their honeymoon are pleading with the bouncers to be let in.
Clark and Lacy walk right in.
Clark and Lacy begin to dance and a man cuts in on Clark.
Clark steps outside and sees the young honeymoon couple standing at the end of the line to get in. Using his super speed he scoops them up and deposits them on the dance floor without anyone realizing how and what just happened.
Clark joins Lacy for a slow dance and he floats them inches off the floor.
Nuclear Man 1 barges in and kills the bouncers.
Nuclear Man 1 bumps into a man holding drinks, the man attempts to throw a punch, Nuclear Man catches the man’s hand and crushes it.
Nuclear Man 1 zeroes in on Lacy and falls in love. This also explains Nuclear Man 2’s fascination with Lacy later in the film, he remembers her from this sequence.
A drunken woman pulls the now in love and confused by his feelings Nuclear Man 1 outside, she unbuttons his short and is shocked by flowing electricity from his body.
Inside the Metro Club Clark’s super-hearing picks up the woman’s scream and he slips away from Lacy while transforming into Superman.
Superman comes out of the Metro Club and Nuclear Man 1 throws a dumpster at him, Superman catches it and throws it off to the side.
Superman follows Nuclear Man 1 around a corner and is met with a punch that send him into a heap of garbage.
Nuclear Man 1 picks up Superman and throws him down the street.
Nuclear Man 1 pushes a row of parked cars toward Superman, Superman pushes them back.
Superman punches Nuclear Man 1 sending him flying back.
After Superman asks him for a truce, Nuclear man 1 picks up Superman and throws him across the street.
Nuclear Man rips a light post from its foundation and brings it down on Superman, Superman catches it, pushes it into Nuclear Man 1’s body and flings it, sending Nuclear Man 1 through the air into an electricity transformer, burning him to ashes.
Superman stands by the electricity transformer staring at the ashes.
Although missing the scene where Nuclear Man 1 throws the dumpster at Superman, the post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the street fight portion of sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
The songs that play in dance sequences of the Metro Club were recorded in September 1986, before the film began principal photography so they could be used onset to set tempo when the sequence was filmed. This leads me to believe that the workprint has the dance music track as it would have been featured had it appeared in the final film, since all the elements were ready. At the time the deleted scenes were prepared for the home video releases the rights to Paul Fishman’s music for the Metro Club interior sequences had not been finalized, this is my opinion on why the sequence was not part of the special features, you just barely hear one of the songs playing from inside the club as Superman walks out of the door to confront Nuclear Man 1 in the scene that was released to home video.
It is unknown how much of this sequence was actually filmed.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
The Metro Club interior was filmed at the Hippodrome Nightclub in London on November 24-26, 1986.
The Nuclear Man 1 and Superman street fight was filmed on the Elstree Studios lot on November 21-23, 1986.

VIDEO: The Metro Club with unfinished FX and temporary music.

NUCLEAR MAN 1’S ASHES

A short sequence that follows the deleted Nuclear Man 1 and Superman street battle shows Lenny returning to the penthouse with Nuclear Man 1’s ashes and handing them over to Lex, who realizes he needs more power to create an adversary equal to Superman.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation, but depicted on the street where Superman and Nuclear Man 1 battle.
Filmed on Stage 10 at Elstree Studios in October 1986.

VIDEO: Nuclear Man 1’s Ashes.

THE CAFE

After the Fortress of Solitude sequence a short scene filmed but deleted from all releases features Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Mariel Hemingway as Lacy Warfield at a Metropolis cafe having “girl talk” about the different men in their lives. The scene would be followed by Jeremy and Jimmy at the hot dog cart before Superman appears.
It is unknown if the sequence was featured in the test screenings.
Note Kidder and Hemingway wearing the same costumes in the deleted sequence photo as when they abandon the car in front of the United Nations.
Margot Kidder confirmed this scene was filmed in the July 1987 issue of Starlog.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
Filmed at the Avebury Building in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England, on November 12, 1986.

THE TORNADO

This was intended as the first action sequence after Superman and Nuclear Man 2 fly off from Metropolis to start the worldwide battle.
The entire scene was featured with completed music and special fx in the theatrical cut in various countries outside of the U.S., giving that version of the film a running time of 93 minutes.
The Japanese widescreen laserdisc has the sequence within the film with finished fx and music, though oddly cropped to show less of the picture image compared to it as seen in the special features section of the blurays and DVDs.
Early UK and Australian home video releases also contained this scene.
The scene was included in the film when it became available for television syndication distribution from May 1990 until 2000.
Christopher Reeve’s daughter Alexandra Reeve plays Jenny, the little girl swept up by the tornado and rescued by Superman.
The farmhouse seen here is also the Kent farmhouse seen at the beginning of the film when Clark returns to Smallville.
Superfan Tom Soliva reasoned that some theatrical versions contained this scene due to rules for running time minimums in those countries. While not a confirmed fact, it is a possibility.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
Filmed on October 1, 1986, in Baldock, Hertfordshire, England.

VIDEO: The tornado with finished FX and music.

THE KREMLIN MISSILE

This sequence begins after Superman flies off from the volcano rescue to fight Nuclear Man 2 in space and kicking him back to Earth.
Nuclear Man 2 flies over Russia. He sees a military parade happening.
Using his hand flash beams he activates a nuclear missile part of the parade and aims it at the crowd.
Superman flies down, moves the misiile away, and using his super breath he cools the flaming rocket booster.
Superman flies off searching in the clouds for Nuclear man 2, who appears out of nowhere and punches Superman into the sky.
The entire scene was featured with completed music and special fx in the theatrical cut in various countries outside of the U.S., giving that version of the film a running time of 93 minutes.
The Japanese widescreen laserdisc has the sequence within the film with finished fx and music, though oddly cropped to show less of the picture image compared to it as seen in the special features section of the blurays and DVDs.
The scene was included in the film when it became available for television syndication distribution from May 1990 until 2000.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
Superfan Tom Soliva reasoned that some theatrical versions contained this scene due to rules for running time minimums in those countries. While not a confirmed fact, it is a possibility.
Filmed on the Elstree Studios backlot.

VIDEO: The Kremlin missile with finished FX and music.
VIDEO: The Kremlin missile with unfinished FX and temporary music.

LOIS CALLS CLARK

A short sequence where Margot Kidder as Lois Lane angrily calls Clark before she barges into Mr. Warfield’s office with the “SUPERMAN DEAD?” headline newspaper was scheduled to be filmed, whether it was or not is unknown.
This sequence was featured in the comic book adaptation.
Scheduled to be filmed on November 12, 1986, on the 5th floor of the Avebury Building in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.

THE INVESTORS

Even though the scene where Lois talks to Lacy after telling her dad to “stuff it” is not in the script, a short sequence was written where Lois is greeted at the elevators by a man named Bill Compton, a bank investor visiting the Daily Planet to see Perry White. This pays out later in the film when Perry announces he has majority stockholding in the newspaper.
It is unknown if this sequence was filmed, but the movie’s end titles prominently featuring Dennis Creaghan as Bill Compton suggests that it most likely was.

LEX AT PENTAGON AND KREMLIN

Immediately following the deleted investors scenes, a lengthy sequence featuring Lex Luthor visiting the Pentagon and Kremlin was filmed but ultimately not used in any released version.
The shooting script features a third similar scene taking place in Paris, and photos featuring Lex wearing a French flag colors name tag suggests the scene may have been filmed.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.

VIDEO: Lex at the Pentagon and Kremlin with unfinished FX and temporary music.

THE UMBRELLA

Although there’s no official confirmation whether it was filmed or not, a scripted line ending the scene where Lex fires the arms dealers has Nuclear Man 2 replying “destiny” after Lex asks “what’s to fear?”. Upset hearing this, Lex reaches for an umbrella behind him, opens it, and shades Nuclear Man 2.
This sequence was most likely filmed, considering Gene Hackman prerecorded all the Nuclear Man 2 lines in the script ahead of filming to be played back and lip synched by Mark Pillow.
This scene has never been released.
Filmed October 21, 1986, on Stage 6 at Elstree Studios.

NUCLEAR MAN 2 WAKES UP

Nuclear Man 2 waking up and seeing Lacy on the Dily Planet newspaper cover begins the second longest whole sequence cut from the theatrical version of the movie, more than six minutes in length.
Nuclear Man 2 wake up, he sees and picks up the newspaper with Lacy, which then catches on fire in his hand (notice the last shot in the theatrical version that there’s smoke coming from below frame).
Lex walks in and tells Nuclear Man 2 that he’s going to hold the world for ransom.
Nuclear 2 uses his heat vision to burn Lex’s pile of money. Lex cries.
Nuclear Man 2 tells Lex he will return with the woman and flies off.
It is unconfirmed if this sequence was filmed, but still images from the scene suggest it was.
Filmed late October 1986 on Stage 6 at Elstree Studios.

NUCLEAR MAN 2 MISSILE

Continuing the deleted scene above takes us to Lacy and her father walking through the Daily Planet offices as Nuclear Man 2 bursts through the ceiling and kidnaps her. This scene was restructured in the theatrical version and plays there after Nuclear Man 2 buries Superman on the Moon.
Nuclear Man 2 takes Lacy back to Lex’s penthouse.
Nuclear Man 2 decides to become a missile and set off the world’s defenses and nuclear missile launches and flies off into the sky.
Superman appears at Luthor’s penthouse.
Superman asks Lacy if she’ll help defuse Nuclear Man 2, she agrees.
Intercut in this sequence are scenes of the Kremlin and Pentagon readying their missiles to fire at each other.
Superman flies over the ocean with Lacy, as they spot Nuclear Man 2 Superman drops Lacy.
Nuclear Man 2 changes course to catch Lacy.
The Kremlin and Pentagon halt their countdown.
As Nuclear Man 2 dives for Lacy, Superman strikes him and sends him flying uncontrollably.
Superman catches Lacy and returns her to Metropolis with Nuclear Man 2 following.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.

ALTERNATE ENDING

During the press conference at the end of the movie Superman mentions how he wishes we could see the world the way that he sees it, he then thinks for a moment and flies off to Jeremy’s school, where he finds him during a football game practice. Superman and Jeremy fly off together, with Jeremy reporting back that there’s no borders from the sky, it’s just one world.
When the film was heavily edited for theatrical release several scenes were moved around to fit the new narrative. As originally intended, Superman catches Lex and Lenny Luthor first, has the press conference, and then this scene was to occur and end the film.
Several shots of various cultures listening to Superman’s speech intercut during the press conference were filmed but also deleted from all theatrical releases.
The man seen in the football game crowd and in the behind the scenes photo with Reeve also served as extra in the subway scene at the beginning of the film.
The post-2006 DVD and bluray releases contain the sequence in widescreen with temporary music and unfinished fx as a special feature in the deleted scenes section.
This was filmed on the fourth day of principal photography, October 2, 1986, at The Sir Frank Markham Comprehensive School, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.

VIDEO: Alternate ending with unfinished FX and temporary music.