Superman II **** (1980, Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp, Sarah Douglas, Jack O’Halloran) – Classic Movie Review 2240

Superman II was filmed back to back with the 1978 Superman and was three quarters completed when tensions arose between director Richard Donner and the producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind and a decision was made to stop filming the sequel. With the first film’s huge box-office success, it was immediately decided to finish part II, but without Donner.

Director Richard Lester takes over direction of the series in 1980 with a startlingly entertaining vast improvement on the overblown part one, in which three super-powered villainous Kryptonians (Terence Stamp as General Zod, Jack O’Halloran as Non and Sarah Douglas as Ursa) threaten the Earth and Superman falls for Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) on the way to a battle royal in Manhattan.

Also in the cast are Ned Beatty (Otis), Jackie Cooper (Perry White), Valerie Perrine (Eve Teschmacher), Susannah York (Lara), E G Marshall (The President), Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) and Clifton James (inevitably as the Sheriff) and Shane Rimmer as Controller #2.

The idea of a production designs and visual effects-led big-budget blockbuster entertainment is still there, but it is undercut with an engagingly daft tone of comic-book fun that is just right and Lester’s comedy touch is assured. There are plenty of laughs as well as tongue-in-cheek action with no boring philosophising, but it still remains a grand adventure. And nice Christopher Reeve, the perfect Superman, is back wearing his underwear over his tights to make you believe a man can fly.

So, steel yourself for plenty of entertainment value with a grand story, a handsome production, top visual effects, amusing star turns and of course the perfect Superman in Christopher Reeve. Reeve claimed that Superman II is ‘the best of the series’ and he was right.

Two more films, Superman III (1983), also directed by Lester and produced by the Salkinds, and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), were made before the franchise went into long hiatus. Director Bryan Singer credited the 1978 Superman: The Movie as an obvious influence for his 2006 Superman Returns, and even used restored footage of Brando as Jor-El.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut also was released in 2006.

The Superman franchise was rebooted as Man of Steel in 2013.

Kidder publicly disagreed with the decision of producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind to replace Richard Donner as director of Superman II. It was reported that it was a result of this that Kidder’s role in Superman III is less than five minutes long, though the producers have denied this. Still, her role in 1987’s Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is much more substantial.

Shane Rimmer (1929–2019).

RIP stalwart long-time character actor Shane Rimmer, known for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Superman II (1980) and Gandhi (1982), who died on 29 March 2019, aged 89.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2240

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