Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Original movie poster.
Directed by	Sidney J. Furie
Written by	Screenplay: Lawrence Konner Mark Rosenthal Story: Christopher Reeve Lawrence Konner Mark Rosenthal Comic Book: Jerry Siegel Joe Shuster
Produced by	Menahem Golan Yoram Globus
Starring	Christopher Reeve Gene Hackman Jackie Cooper Margot Kidder Marc McClure Mariel Hemingway Jon Cryer
Cinematography	Ernest Day
Edited by	John Shirley
Music by	John Williams Adapted and Conducted by: Alexander Courage
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	July 24 1987
Running time	90 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$17,000,000 (est.)
Box office	$15,681,020

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a 1987 superhero film, the last of the Superman theatrical movies starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel. In this film, Superman battled Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) and his creation, a solar-powered evil clone of Superman called Nuclear Man.

Unlike the previous three movies, which were produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the fourth movie was produced by Golan-Globus's Cannon Films, in association with Warner Bros.

Plot

Clark Kent / Superman learns that the United States and the Soviet Union may soon engage in nuclear war, threatening the survival of the planet. Before taking action, he departs to the North Pole to seek advice from the spirits of his Kryptonian ancestors at the Fortress of Solitude, who warn him to not interfere, but rather flee to other worlds where war is long forgotten. At a meeting of the United Nations, he tells the assembly that he is going to rid the Earth of all nuclear weapons. Over the next several days, Superman takes all the nuclear weapons and gathers them into a gigantic net in orbit above the planet. When he has almost all the weapons, he closes the net and tosses it into the sun.

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor's nephew Lenny helps break Luthor out of prison. The pair steal a strand of hair that Superman had donated to a museum, whereupon Luthor creates a genetic matrix from the strand of hair, and attaches it to the final American nuclear missile. After the missile is fired off into the air, Superman grabs the missile and throws it into the sun. A few moments after the missile explodes on the sun's surface, a ball of energy is discharged from the sun, which rapidly develops into a "Nuclear Man" (Mark Pillow). This Nuclear Man then finds his way to his "father" Luthor, who establishes that while he is indeed powerful, he will deactivate if isolated from the sun's rays or suitably bright artificial light. This resembles the Greek legend of Anateus, a wrestler whose strength came solely from his bodily contact with the Earth.

A worldwide battle soon follows between Luthor's creation and the Man of Steel. While successfully saving the Statue of Liberty, Superman is injured by the radioactive nails of Nuclear Man. To Lois' disgust, The Daily Planet, which has been turned into a tabloid newspaper, blares the headline that Superman is dead. Felled by radiation sickness, Clark staggers weakly to the terrace of his apartment, where he retrieves the last benevolent Kryptonian crystal and uses it to heal himself.

File:NuclearMan2.jpg

Mark Pillow as Nuclear Man

Nuclear Man develops a crush on Lacy Warfield, daughter of the tycoon who has bought The Daily Planet, and threatens mayhem if he is not introduced to her. Superman therefore agrees to take Nuclear Man to Lacy. In an attempt to disable the villain, Superman lures Nuclear Man into an elevator in the building, traps Nuclear Man in it, and pulls the elevator out of the building and flies to the dark side of the moon, heaving the elevator onto the ground there, not realizing that its doors are slightly open. As the sun rises, Nuclear Man breaks out of his makeshift prison and the two resume battle on the moon's surface. At the end of the battle, Superman is driven into the ground by his opponent.

Nuclear Man then returns to Earth, abducting Lacy and flying her into outer space (where she, strangely enough, is unaffected by the lack of breathable atmosphere and air pressure). Meanwhile, Superman pushes the moon out of its normal orbit, casting Earth into a solar eclipse which terminates Nuclear Man's powers. He then rescues Lacy from the arms of Nuclear Man, of whom he disposes by returning him to Earth and sealing him into the core of a nuclear power plant. Superman thwarts Lex and Lenny, returning Lex Luthor to prison while Lenny is taken to Boys Town.

Later, in a press conference, Superman declares only partial victory in his peace campaign, stating that "There will be peace when the people of the world want it so badly, that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them". He then flies into space, smiling optimistically.

Cast

Actor	Role
Christopher Reeve	Clark Kent / Superman
Gene Hackman	Lex Luthor Voice of Nuclear Man
Jon Cryer	Lenny Luthor
Mariel Hemingway	Lacy Warfield
Margot Kidder	Lois Lane
Jackie Cooper	Perry White
Sam Wanamaker	David Warfield
Marc McClure	Jimmy Olsen
Mark Pillow	Nuclear Man
Damian McLawhorn	Jeremy
William Hootkins	Harry Howler
Jim Broadbent	Jean Pierre Dubois
Stanley Lebor	General Romoff
Don Fellows	Levon Hornsby
Robert Beatty	U.S. President

Production

The film itself

In 1983, following the mixed reaction to Superman III, Reeve and the producers, father and son team Alexander and Ilya Salkind, assumed that the Superman films had run their course. Reeve was slated to make a cameo in 1984's Supergirl but was unavailable; the film was a box office failure in the U.S. Four years later, Ilya Salkind sold the Superman franchise to Golan & Globus of Cannon Films.

According to Reeve, Golan & Globus did not have a script in mind when they first approached him about doing the fourth installment; they simply wanted him to reprise his role. Reeve himself admitted in his autobiography Still Me that he really wasn't sure that he wanted to do another Superman film, especially if it were going to be treated as a farce, which had been the case with the third film, an approach that Reeve felt was disrespectful to fans and the source material. The new filmmakers then offered Reeve a deal he couldn't refuse – in exchange for starring in the fourth Superman film, they would produce any project of his choosing, and also promised him story input (there was also talk of having Reeve direct a fifth Superman film in case the fourth one proved successful). Reeve accepted, and in exchange, Golan & Globus produced the crime drama Street Smart, in order to give the film a more serious feel to distance itself from the previous film. Unfortunately, Golan & Globus had so many other films in the pipeline at the time that their money was spread too thinly to properly accommodate what became Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, released in 1987, forcing the film's veteran director Sidney J. Furie to cut corners everywhere. The film was panned by critics and fans alike.

In Reeve's autobiography Still Me, he described filming Superman IV as "simply a catastrophe from start to finish". He wrote:

We were also hampered by budget constraints and cutbacks in all departments. Cannon Films had nearly thirty projects in the works at the time, and Superman IV received no special consideration. For example, Konner and Rosenthal wrote a scene in which Superman lands on 42nd Street and walks down the double yellow lines to the United Nations, where he gives a speech. If that had been a scene in Superman I, we would actually have shot it on 42nd Street. Dick Donner would have choreographed hundreds of pedestrians and vehicles and cut to people gawking out of office windows at the sight of Superman walking down the street like the Pied Piper. Instead, we had to shoot at an industrial park in England in the rain with about a hundred extras, not a car in sight, and a dozen pigeons thrown in for atmosphere. Even if the story had been brilliant, I don't think that we could ever have lived up to the audience's expectations with this approach.

Mark Rosenthal's DVD commentary pointed to this scene as an example of Cannon's budget slashing. According to Rosenthal, Reeve and director Furie begged to be able to film that sequence in New York in front of the real United Nations because everyone knew what New York and the United Nations was supposed to look like and that the Milton Keynes setting looked nothing like it. However Cannon refused. According to Rosenthal, they were "pinching pennies at every step" and that it was impossible to look at the location and think of it as the United Nations, but more rather a municipal auditorium, which is, according to Rosenthal, exactly what it was.

Rosenthal has also described the final film as Cannon stabbing Christopher Reeve in the back. He also revealed on the Deluxe Edition DVD that he and writer Lawrence Konner wanted Christopher to play Nuclear Man as well as his dual roles of Superman and Clark Kent in the film as they imagined the villian being a darker version of the hero in the cloning process. This would be financially expensive and was already explored in minor detail in Superman III so Cannon decided to hire Mark Pillow instead for the part of Nuclear Man in the final film.

According to Jon Cryer, who played Lex Luthor's nephew Lenny, Reeve had taken him aside just before the release and told him it was going to be "terrible". Although Cryer enjoyed working with Reeve and his on-screen uncle, Gene Hackman, Cryer claimed that Cannon ran out of money five months ahead of time and ultimately released an unfinished movie.

Score

Main article: Superman music

Golan-Globus wanted Superman IV to carry a "music by John Williams" credit, but the composer's commitment to the Boston Pops Orchestra precluded him from accepting the project. Williams selected his longtime friend and collaborator Alexander Courage to score the film and agreed to compose new thematic material as needed. Recording of the score with the Symphony-Orchestra Graunke began in Munich, Germany on May 11, 1987. As the sessions progressed it became apparent that the players were not up to the challenge of some of the complex action cues. After the completion of recording on May 18, the sessions in Germany were canceled and the rest of the score was recorded with the National Philharmonic Orchestra at CTS Studios in England from May 23-June 2. Courage scored 100 minutes of music for the film and also recorded album versions of three new John Williams themes. A soundtrack album was prepared in 1987 by Cannon's musical advisor Jack Fishman, but it was aborted when most of the music selected for it (including three songs by his son Paul Fishman) ended up getting cut from the film. No music from Superman IV was released for over twenty years until the Film Score Monthly soundtrack label presented the complete score as part of their 8-CD anthology Superman: The Music (1978-1988) in 2008.

Reception

The movie was not well received by either the general public or movie critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 11% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 28 reviews. Some critics considered the film to be one of the worst of its year. The movie suffered from poor sound and visual effects, believed to be caused by Cannon using much of the film's intended budget on their other projects. Reportedly, Warner Bros. gave Cannon approximately $40 million to produce Superman IV but in the end, Cannon used only $17 million for Superman IV. Most feel that the first movie had superior effects when compared to the fourth film, despite being nine years old at that point.

The film was released July 24, 1987 in the United States and Canada and grossed $5.6 million in 1,511 theaters its opening weekend, ranking #4 at the box office. It grossed a total of $15.6 million in the United States and Canada.

Of the four Superman films starring Reeve, this one fared the worst at the box office, and the series, as it turned out, went dormant for 19 years. Reeve himself admitted that both this and the third installment were very poor and did not live up to the potential that had been established by the first two films, and his 1995 paralysis made the development of any further sequels involving him in the starring role impossible. Time Warner let the Superman feature film franchise go undeveloped until the late-1990s when a variety of proposals were considered (see: Superman film series#Failed projects), including several that would reboot the franchise altogether with substantially different versions of the characters and setting, rather than attempt to follow up on this film.

The final words in this film, "See you in twenty," proved to be prophetic. The next Superman film, Superman Returns, arrived at cinemas in June 2006, nineteen years after Superman IV premiered at the box office. This film discarded the events of Superman III and IV, continuing where the first two installments left off, although most of Richard Lester's concepts in Superman II are jettisoned as well.

Deleted footage

File:NuclearMan1.jpg

The first Nuclear Man from Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, played by British actor Clive Mantle.

According to writer Mark Rosenthal's commentary on Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Deluxe Edition DVD released in November 2006, and the gallery of deleted scenes included on the disc, there are approximately 45 minutes of the film that have not been seen by the public after they were deleted following a failed Southern California test screening. In fact, the Nuclear Man that appears in the film is actually the second Nuclear Man Luthor created. Cut scenes featured the original Nuclear Man engaging Superman in battle outside the Metro Club and being destroyed by the Man of Steel. The first Nuclear Man was somewhat more inhuman-looking than his successor, and resembled vaguely in looks, and significantly in personality, the comic book character Bizarro. Luthor postulates that this Nuclear Man was not strong enough, and hatches the plan to create the second Nuclear Man inside the sun as a result. The comic book adaptation of the film, as well as the novelization, depicts these scenes and several photos of Superman's battle with the first Nuclear Man can be seen online. Three of the "lost" minutes, consisting of two scenes (the "tornado scene", in which Christopher Reeve's daughter Alexandra plays the girl swept away by the tornado; and the "Moscow" sequence, in which Superman stops a nuclear missile from being launched) were used in the international release by Cannon Films, and in the U.S. syndicated television version prepared by Viacom. At one point the producers of this film considered using all of this footage (and presumably shooting new footage) into a fifth film (see Superman Lives), but the poor box office performance of this film led that idea to be scrapped. Rosenthal commented on the DVD commentary that this showed just how out of touch Cannon was with reality.

The original 2-hour 14-minute preview version has never been seen outside its ill-fated Southern California test screening. There had been rumors that this version, including all the deleted scenes described above, of the film was shown only one known time, on the SFM Holiday Network in 1989. In actuality, another film that co-starred Christopher Reeve was shown on SFM, and this is where the misconception originated. A spokesman for SFM later confirmed that the full version never aired on television.

Warner Bros. confirmed in an early 2006 Internet chat room session that the lost footage was found, and approx. 30 minutes of the footage were included in a "deleted scenes" section of the 2006 DVD box set, Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition. The footage is presumably taken from an original workprint, as visual effects are not complete, music is consisted from stock elements and the first film's soundtrack, and the film is in a very rough state.

The deleted footage on the Special Edition DVD includes:

• Clark having a nightmare involving the destruction of the planet Krypton when he was a baby. This included a voiceover by an uncredited actor who was supposed to play Jor-El, which was established by Marlon Brando in the first film. Due to the low budget and freefall into bankruptcy by Cannon Films, Marlon was not asked to return. Clark then wakes up late with a recorded telephone message from Lois telling him to get to work. A neighbor then greets Clark outside his apartment with her pet dog Godzilla tugging forcefully at Clarks' morning newspaper.
• Jeremy about to write his letter to Superman via The Daily Planet. In the theatrical cut, the schoolgirl that taunts him says "He doesn't even know what's going on." This was dubbed for the release. In this workprint, she really says "He's so spaced out, he wouldn't even notice."
• Superman answering Jeremys' letter in person at his School. Notice this was supposed to be a day or so later due to the delivery of the letter and all the school kids are in the same casual clothing as the day Jeremy first writes the letter.
• The creation of the failed Nuclear Man prototype with scenes of deflecting bullets, breaking an iron bar and unsuccessful flying abilities. The photo Lex shows the prototype of Superman was taken from the publicity stills department at Cannon Films as the shot of Christopher Reeve was taken at the end of the picture at the Prison Quarry where Superman tells Lex how he defeated the second Nuclear Man.
• A fight with Superman and the Nuclear Man prototype ensues outside The Metro Club. This ends in the destruction of the prototype being thrown into a electronic tower and is zapped into ashes. This features a product placement of Burger King in the background, which never had publicity in the theatrical cut.
• Lenny bringing Lex the black ashed remains of the prototype and explaining his plan of baking the remains in the core of the sun to one of his female colleagues. He kept the remains in a dustbuster during this scene.
• An extended flying sequence with Superman and Lois with more aerial footage and Lois flying past Thailand not featured in the theatrical cut.
• Extended footage of the "Around The World" fight sequence with Superman and Nuclear Man. The footage featured on the DVD is the tornado destruction in Smallville, with Superman saving a little girl, played by Christopher Reeve's real-life daughter Alex. (On the international VHS/LaserDisc and U.S. syndicated television releases, this footage is included in its entirety with finished music, visual, and sound effects).
• The attempted launch of a nuclear missile by Nuclear Man in Red Square, Russia. Superman is then punched into the clouds by Nuclear Man after he stops the missile. (On the international VHS/LaserDisc and U.S. syndicated television releases, this footage is included in its entirety with finished music, visual, and sound effects.)
• Lex's rise to power with his nuclear scheme. He convincingly negotiates with the armies to keep their missiles in standby due to the defeat of Superman by the second Nuclear Man. He makes a fortune from this plan which is shown in the final cut with the stacks of cash in his lair.
• Extra footage of Clark's rapid ageing due to the scratch caused by Nuclear Man in the middle of the film.
• A subplot which was not in the theatrical film regarding Nuclear Man's desire to destroy all mankind and return for Lacy, whom he has fallen for which was not mentioned in either the deleted scenes on the DVD or the theatrical cut. Superman also makes an appearance here and uses Lacy as a diversion to stop Nuclear Man. Lex and Lenny also feature prominently in the deleted footage.
• An extra scene of Nuclear Man coming back for Lacy in the Metropolis Tower, where she was originally hiding. This scene was supposed to take place after the fight between Nuclear Man and Superman on the moon.
• A farewell scene between Lacy and Clark, where he shares his very first kiss with someone other than Lois in the series.
• An alternative ending where Superman takes Jeremy up into space to show him that the planet is "One World." Also featured are the astronauts, waving to Superman and Jeremy, who appeared at the beginning of the film.

Ownership and rights

File:Superman4newdvd.jpg

2006 DVD rerelease.

As a result of prior contracts, different entities own different components of Superman IV. Warner Bros. co-produced the film and handled North American theatrical distribution, while Cannon Films handled distribution outside North America. Due to legal snags, the film was not issued on DVD for many years until WB bought back key rights to the film, thus allowing it to be released on DVD in the U.S. in 2001. The international DVD rights were not settled until 2005 and WB has since released IV outside the U.S. on home video. WB also handled worldwide distribution of IV when it was reissued in late 2006 as part of the 14-disc Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition box set.

CBS Paramount Domestic Television (owners of the television rights to Cannon's library, and successor company to Viacom Enterprises) formerly held television rights to the film. However, Warner Bros. Television Distribution--since it and ION Media Networks announced a deal on June 27, 2006 that provided the rights to broadcast movies and classic TV shows from the Warner Bros. library on the ION Television network--has now assumed TV rights for Superman IV and its predecessor Superman III from CBS Paramount Television.

Meanwhile, all other theatrical and television rights in certain territories, including partial copyright, are owned by MGM/Sony/Comcast (successors-in-interest to Cannon Films). Ironically enough, CBS Paramount Television is also the successor-in-interest to the TV division of Paramount Pictures, the studio that released the 1940s Superman cartoons made by Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios.

Special powers

See also: Powers, abilities and equipment of Superman

This film shows the Man of Steel using several powers which had never been seen before in the films. Superman restores part of the damaged Great Wall of China by gazing at it, apparently using telekinesis. This power was never ascribed to Superman in the comics. The issue was avoided altogether in the comic adaptation, where Superman repairs the Great Wall manually. He uses the same ability during the street battle with Nuclear Man, when he lowers several suspended policemen to the ground just by looking at them.

Comic book adaptation

In late 1987, DC Comics prepared a comic book adaptation of Superman IV. This edition had inserted different dialogue from the movie and other footage, which fits with the deleted scenes of the movie. The comic book features a battle with the failed prototype of Nuclear Man and an around the world fight with the second Nuclear Man. The adaptation even has an alternate ending with Superman and Jeremy flying above Earth, observing the planet being just one world. In the adaptation, Jeremy is seen in space with a spacesuit but in the deleted footage he is not wearing any protection of any kind, like Lacy Warfield when she was rescued by Superman from the second Nuclear Man. The alternate ending appears in the Special Edition DVD, but it was incorporated in the lost footage section.

External links

• Superman IV: The Quest for Peace at IMDb
• Superman Cinema - Superman IV
• The DVD Journal | Quick Reviews: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
• Superman Homepage: Superman IV - Movie Synopsis/Review/Critique
• 12 Cool Things About 'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace'
• The Superman Super Site - Superman IV: The Quest for Peace