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Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

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Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySidney J. Furie
Screenplay by
Story by
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyErnest Day
Edited byJohn Shirley
Music byJohn Williams
Alexander Courage (adaptation)
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • July 23, 1987 (1987-07-23) (Premiere)
  • July 24, 1987 (1987-07-24) (United States/United Kingdom)
Running time
90 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States[2]
  • United Kingdom[3]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$17 million[4]
Box office$30.2 million[5]

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a 1987 superhero film directed by Sidney J. Furie and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal from a story by Christopher Reeve, Konner, and Rosenthal based on the DC Comics character Superman.[6] The film stars Reeve, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Jon Cryer, Sam Wanamaker, Jim Broadbent, Mariel Hemingway, and Margot Kidder.

It is the fifth film (including Supergirl) in the Superman film series and a sequel to Superman III (1983). It is the first film in the series not to have the involvement of the Salkinds as producers.[7][8] The film also marks the final appearance of Reeve as Superman, who agreed to return in exchange for a large salary and some creative control, where he contributed to a script dealing with nuclear disarmament.[4]

Shortly before the film's production, the film's producer, The Cannon Group, suffered a major financial crisis that forced major budget cuts, and 45 minutes of footage were deleted after negative test screenings.[7][9] The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and fans, citing poor special effects and plot holes. Plans for Superman V were cancelled, and no Superman films were released until Superman Returns in 2006.

Plot

[edit]

Superman saves the crew of a Russian space station before uncovering the capsule that brought him to Earth and retrieving a green Kryptonian energy module. A recording left by his mother Lara reveals the module’s power can only be used once. Returning to Metropolis, he discovers that the Daily Planet has been taken over by tabloid tycoon David Warfield, who replaces Perry White with his daughter Lacy Warfield, who develops a crush on Clark Kent. Meanwhile, Superman seeks guidance in the Fortress of Solitude after learning of escalating tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union over nuclear weapons. He later addresses the United Nations and announces his plan to rid the world of all nuclear arms.

Meanwhile, Lenny Luthor orchestrates a jailbreak to free his uncle, Lex Luthor, from prison. The pair travel to Metropolis, where Lex steals a strand of Superman’s hair to create a genetic matrix. Partnering with black market arms dealers, Lex attaches the matrix to a nuclear missile. When Superman intercepts the missile and hurls it into the Sun, the resulting energy discharge creates Nuclear Man, a superhuman entity. Nuclear Man returns to Earth, aligning with Lex, who reveals that Nuclear Man becomes inactive without sunlight.

Superman stops Nuclear Man from throwing the Statue of Liberty into Metropolis. Superman develops radiation sickness due to a shock from Nuclear Man, but he retrieves the Kryptonian energy module and uses it to heal himself.

Superman confronts Nuclear Man on the Moon in a fierce battle that ends with Superman being driven into the Moon’s surface. With his powers restored, Superman frees himself and creates a solar eclipse by moving the Moon out of orbit, depriving Nuclear Man of sunlight. Nuclear Man kidnaps Lacy and takes her into outer space, but Superman rescues her and ultimately destroys Nuclear Man by trapping him in the core of a nuclear power plant. This converts Nuclear Man into electrical energy for the power grid.

Back in Metropolis, Perry White secures a loan to regain a controlling interest in the Daily Planet, reducing Warfield to a minority shareholder and ensuring the paper’s independence. Superman apprehends the Luthors, placing Lenny in Boys Town and returning Lex to prison. In a closing speech, Superman acknowledges that world peace cannot be achieved overnight but remains committed to guiding humanity toward that goal.

Cast

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Production

[edit]

Development and casting

[edit]

Alexander Salkind and his son Ilya, the producers of the Superman series, planned to produce a fourth Superman film if Superman III grossed at least $40 million.[7] The film received an unexpectedly negative reaction but still grossed $80.2 million.[13] Reeve was also hesitant to return to the series as Superman.[7] The Salkinds announced plans for a fourth film regardless, but after the commercial failures of Supergirl and their next film Santa Claus: The Movie caused them financial strain they began to consider if the franchise had run its course.[7][4][13]

After negotiations during the 38th Cannes Film Festival, Ilya Salkind agreed to sell the Superman franchise to Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus of The Cannon Group, Inc. for $5 million in June 1985.[14][4][7] The studio enticed Reeve to return by offering him $6 million, financing for his pet project Street Smart, and approval over the story and director.[7]

Reeve pitched a storyline focused on the nuclear arms race in protest of the breakdown of the Reykjavik Summit and US President Ronald Reagan’s military buildup and skepticism towards arms control.[4] His story was accepted, and he was also considered as the film’s director. Although he was allowed to direct some second unit scenes, he was ultimately deemed too inexperienced for the full-time job.[7] Richard Donner claimed in the commentary for Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut that Cannon unsuccessfully asked him to return to the series, Donner delined his part due to a scheduling conflict with Lethal Weapon.[15] Wes Craven was originally hired by Cannon Films to direct the film, but he and Reeve did not get along well and Reeve demanded that a new director be brought in.[16] Although Reeve recommended Ron Howard, Sidney J. Furie was hired.[7]

Filming

[edit]

Production of Superman IV began in 1986.[17] In his autobiography, Still Me, Reeve described filming the movie:

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. Richard 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.

Rosenthal's DVD commentary cited this scene as an example of Cannon's budget slashing. According to Rosenthal, Reeve and Furie begged to be able to film that sequence in New York in front of the real headquarters of the United Nations because everyone knew how they looked and the Milton Keynes setting looked nothing like them, but Cannon refused. According to Rosenthal, they were "pinching pennies at every step".

Shortly before production began at Elstree Studios on September 27, 1986, Cannon reduced the budget from $36 million to $17 million. Part of the problem was that Cannon financed its films by selling the television and home video rights in advance, which failed with films of a budget of over $5 million.[7] The studio had also gone six years without a major hit. The studio was narrowly saved from bankruptcy after a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to provide $75 million to repay its loans in exchange for distribution rights to its upcoming films, including Superman IV, which provided enough confidence in the studio for a $65 million line of credit from First Bank of Boston.[7] During the production, the filming and special effects crews of the first three films were replaced with cheaper Israeli crews. Principal photography concluded at the beginning of January 1987.[7]

According to Jon Cryer, who played 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 Hackman, Cryer claimed that Cannon ran out of money during the production and ultimately released an unfinished film.[18]

Multiple locations were selected in England including the now abandoned Aldwych tube station for the Metropolis metro train scene used at the beginning of the film.[19] You also have the city of Milton Keynes used to represent the UN in New York.[20]

Deleted footage

[edit]

According to writer Mark Rosenthal's commentary on the 2006 DVD, in the gallery of deleted scenes included on the disc, there are approximately 45 minutes of the film that haven't been seen by the general public. They were deleted following a failed Southern California test screening. The Nuclear Man that appears in the film is actually the second Nuclear Man that Luthor created. Cut scenes featured the original Nuclear Man (portrayed by Clive Mantle) engaging Superman in battle outside the Metro Club and being destroyed by the Man of Steel.[9] The first Nuclear Man was somewhat more inhuman-looking than his successor, and resembled, in both looks and personality, the comic book character Bizarro. Luthor postulates that this Nuclear Man wasn't strong enough, and hatches the plan to create the second Nuclear Man within the Sun as a result.[21]

Not all of the deleted scenes made it to the deluxe edition of the DVD, including a scene depicting Clark Kent visiting the graves of his foster parents. This scene was to have preceded the film's theatrical scene where Clark returns to Smallville to meet the contractor in hopes of selling or leasing the Kent farm. A deleted scene about Lacy Warfield and Clark Kent's romance, showing them dancing in the Metro Club, was also not released on disc.[22]

Music

[edit]
Main article: Superman music

The music for the film was adapted and conducted by Alexander Courage based on existing and new music composed by John Williams.

Release

[edit]

The film had a Royal premiere at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on July 23, 1987, attended by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.[23]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

It was released on July 24, 1987, in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. In the US and Canada it opened in 1,511 theatres and grossed $5.6 million during its opening weekend, ranking fourth at the box office.[24][5] In the UK, it opened on 234 screens and grossed £508,468 ($0.8 million) for the weekend becoming the number one film in the UK for the weekend.[25][26] It failed to retain number one spot for the week, grossing £987,495 compared to The Living Daylights's £1,108,256.[27] It was the eighth highest-grossing film in the UK for the year with a gross of £3,457,959 ($5.5 million).[28] The movie grossed $15.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $14.6 million internationally, for a worldwide box office gross of $30.2 million.[5]

Of the four Superman films starring Reeve, The Quest for Peace fared the worst at the box office, and the series went dormant for the following 19 years.[4] Reeve regretted his decision to be involved in the film, saying, "Superman IV was a catastrophe from start to finish. That failure was a huge blow to my career."[29] Plans were made to make a Superman V, but they never came to fruition.[30] Reeve's 1995 paralysis made any further development of 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, including several that would reboot the franchise with different versions of the characters and settings. Eventually in 2006, a soft-reboot of the series, Superman Returns, was released and disregarded the events of Superman III and The Quest for Peace, though the Arrowverse crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths seemed to indicate that both Superman III and Returns were in the same canon.[31]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 10% "Rotten" score based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Superman series bottoms out here: the action is boring, the special effects look cheaper, and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot's going."[32] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 24 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[33] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C" on an A+ to F scale.[34]

The film received a poor review by Janet Maslin of The New York Times, although she wrote that Kidder's portrayal of Lois Lane was "sexy, earnest".[35] It fared no better with Variety.[36] The Washington Post described it as "More sluggish than a funeral barge, cheaper than a sale at Kmart, it's a nerd, it's a shame, it's Superman IV."[37] Several critics disliked the special effects.[38][39][40]

The film was voted number 40 on a list of 'The 50 Worst Movies Ever' by readers of Empire magazine.[41] It was also nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards, Worst Supporting Actress for Mariel Hemingway (lost to Daryl Hannah for Wall Street) and Worst Visual Effects (lost to Jaws: The Revenge).[42]

Cancelled sequel

[edit]

Before the failure of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Cannon Films considered producing a fifth film with Albert Pyun as director. Cannon's bankruptcy resulted in the film rights reverting to Ilya and Alexander Salkind.[43] The story had Superman dying and resurrecting in the shrunken, bottled Krypton city of Kandor.[citation needed] The premise of Superman's death and rebirth coincidentally predated the 1992 "The Death of Superman" comic book storyline.

Other media

[edit]

In late 1987, DC Comics prepared a comic book adaptation of Superman IV, scripted by Bob Rozakis and pencilled by Curt Swan and Don Heck.[44] This edition included different dialogue from the film and incidents from the deleted scenes of the movie. In place of a voice-over from Lara in the early scene involving Superman finding the mysterious crystal, there is a projection of Jor-El himself, much like in the first film. The comic book features a battle with the failed prototype of Nuclear Man resembling Bizarro and an around-the-world fight with the second Nuclear Man. The adaptation has an alternate ending with Superman and Jeremy flying above Earth, observing that the planet is, in reality, just one world, rather than the divided world one sees on a man-made map. In the adaptation, Jeremy is seen in orbit with a space suit but in the deleted footage he is not wearing any vacuum protection of any kind, as was Lacy Warfield when she was rescued from the second Nuclear Man by Superman. The alternate ending appears in the Deluxe Edition DVD, incorporated in the deleted footage section. There was also a book novelization written by Bonnie Bryant, in which scenes based on deleted footage are included.

The novelization was released in 1987, along with the premiere of the film.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SUPERMAN IV – THE QUEST FOR PEACE (PG)". bbfc.co.uk. British Board of Film Classification. July 9, 1987. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  2. ^ Superman IV: The Quest for Peace at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  3. ^ "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987)". bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Mills, Bart (1987-01-02). "And Now . . . Mighty 'Superman IV' To The Rescue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
  5. ^ a b c "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) - Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  6. ^ Kehr, Dave (1987-07-27). "It's A Bird, It's A Plane -- It's A Bad Film". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  8. ^ a b Easton, Nina J. (1990-02-01). "'Superman' Lawsuit Trial Date Set for April 16". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  9. ^ a b c d Williams, Owen (2013-06-21). "What happened to Superman IV's Nuclear Man? - Yahoo Movies UK". Uk.movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  10. ^ Murphy, Steve (2001-06-14). "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". IGN. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  11. ^ Beck, Marilyn (1986-06-26). "Margot Kidder Flies Back To Superman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  12. ^ "Superman IV: the Quest for Peace (1987)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  13. ^ a b "Superman III (1983) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  14. ^ "UGO's World of Superman — Superman Movies: Superman IV: The Quest For Peace". UGO Networks. 2006. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  15. ^ "24 Things We Learned from the 'Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut' Commentary". Film School Rejects. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  16. ^ Lee Goldberg; David McDonnell (September 1986). "Wes Craven's Deadly Doubleheader". Fangoria. No. 57. pp. 50–53, 64.
  17. ^ Lambie, Ryan (24 November 2014). "A Pilgrimage to the Filming Locations of Superman IV". Den of Geek. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Jon Cryer takes your iReport questions". CNN.com. 2012.
  19. ^ Khaliq, Zahra (20 May 2023). "The abandoned London Underground station that's used in loads of Hollywood films". MyLondon. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  20. ^ Lambie, Ryan (24 November 2014). "A pilgrimage to the filming locations of Superman IV". Den of Geek. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  21. ^ Lentz, Harris M. (February 1989). Science fiction, horror & fantasy film and television credits supplement: through 1987. McFarland. p. 598. ISBN 978-0-89950-364-6. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  22. ^ "Superman on Television". Superman Homepage. Retrieved 6 October 2014. [better source needed]
  23. ^ "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (advertisement)". Screen International. August 1, 1987. pp. 10–12.
  24. ^ "Weekend Box Office". Los Angeles Times. 1987-08-11. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
  25. ^ McFarling, Tina (August 1, 1987). "Superman succeeds in box office quest". Screen International. p. 1.
  26. ^ "UK leaders nationwide". Screen International. August 1, 1987. p. 32.
  27. ^ "UK leaders nationwide". Screen International. August 8, 1987. p. 32.
  28. ^ "UK Top 50 Films in 1987". Screen International. 2 January 1988. p. 10.
  29. ^ Christopher Andersen. Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve. (Hyperion, 2008), p.38.
  30. ^ Zink, Jack (1990-03-04). "Fifth Superman Movie In The Works". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  31. ^ "Crisis On Infinite Earths: Original Superman Movies ARE Arrowverse Canon". ScreenRant. December 10, 2019.
  32. ^ "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 31, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  33. ^ "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". Metacritic. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  34. ^ McClintock, Pamela (August 9, 2015). "'Fantastic Four' Gets Worst CinemaScore Ever for Studio Superhero Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  35. ^ Maslin, Janet (1987-07-25). "Movie: 'Superman IV: Quest for Peace'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  36. ^ "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". Variety. 1987-01-01. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  37. ^ Howe, Desson (1987-07-31). "'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace' (PG)". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  38. ^ Patridge, Tim. "Superman IV: Special Effects Review". Superman Cinema. Dharmesh. Retrieved 25 June 2011.[dead link‍]
  39. ^ Russell, Candice (1987-07-25). "Superman IV Just Too Tired To Fly". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  40. ^ O'Hara, Helen; Plumb, Alastair; De Semlyen, Phil. "The 50 Worst Movies Ever". Empire. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  41. ^ "The 50 Worst Movies Ever". Empire magazine. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  42. ^ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 0-446-69334-0.
  43. ^ Mike White. "Superman: Grounded". Cahiers du cinéma. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  44. ^ "Superman IV Movie Special (1987) comic books". Mycomicshop.com.
  45. ^ Hiller, B. B. (1987). Superman IV. Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Konner, Mark D. Rosenthal. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0-590-41195-0. OCLC 16273073.
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