Superman: The Movie -- 24th Anniversary

[Ross 1]

. . . .And so, 24 years ago today, December 15, 1978, a movie called Superman: The Movie was released. And John Williams ensured himself a new place in Movie Music History.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the movie. But if 24 years ago Superman hadn't been released, or at least the score hadn't been made -- I'll admit it -- we'd have even less magic sparks behind our ears.

-ROSS, who saw that movie for the first time at 11 and immediately after that bough the score.

[Lurker 5]

I only got the CD in 1990, after having the film on video since 1983. I was a slow learner I guess.

Happy birthday, Superman - The Movie!

Neil

[Melange 448]

jump1 beerchug

HAPPY BIRTHDAY O' MAN OF STEEL

[Morlock 12]

I'll celebrate the soundtrack... the movie was pretty goofy, although Hackman was brilliant as usual.

[ChrisAfonso 237]

Very interesting, Melange

But quite disturbing when I'm currently listening to something... couldn't you make that a link?

[Ross 1]

I just thought of the Superman cast and crew in the present. It's as if the movie was cursed.

1.- Margot Kidder had the -- um -- bushes incident (hilarious scene about it in Family Guy )

2.- Christopher Reeve had the most unfortunate horse accident and is now fighting like the superhero he is to be free from the wheelchair. Go, Chris!

3.- Film editor Stuart Baird wound up directing stuff like Executive Decision and U.S. Marshall.

4.- Richard Donner, well, he made stuff like Scrooged.

5.- The Salkind Brothers . . .Well, what was the last they did? Superman IV?

6.- John Williams . . . .j/k!

-ROSS, who's glad at least Gene Hackman had a career after Superman.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,391]

4.- Richard Donner, well, he made stuff like Scrooged.    

Yes, but also the VERY sucessfull Lethal Weapon series, good/great films, like Maverick, The Goonies and Ladyhawke.

Stefancos- who just ripped the Fanclub Credits from the FOTR DVD.

[King Mark 3,975]

I also got the Superman c.d. a lot later than some others.

K.M.wondering why.

[Melange 448]

1.- Margot Kidder had the -- um -- bushes incident (hilarious scene about it in Family Guy     )

Each to their own, but i dont find somebodys psychological breakdown that amusing.

[King Mark 3,975]

Kidder is in Montreal right now,dooing a show.I guess she's feeling better.

K.M.

[Yoda Claus 0]

4.- Richard Donner, well, he made stuff like Scrooged.    

Yes, but also the VERY sucessfull Lethal Weapon series, good/great films, like Maverick, The Goonies and Ladyhawke.

Stefancos- who just ripped the Fanclub Credits from the FOTR DVD.

He is also the director of the new Micheal Crichton movie - Timeline

I really hope he commissions Mr. Williams to do the score to that one. It would be an awesome score.

-St. Yodes - STILL wowwed....

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 12,391]

Goldsmith is slated for Timeline.

Stefancos- not surprised about this, since Chrichton is producing.

[Lurker 5]

Stuart Baird has just directed Star Trek - Nemesis.

The Salkinds were not brothers. Alexander was the father and Ilya was his son.

Neil

[Morlock 12]

Yes, but also the VERY sucessfull Lethal Weapon series, good/great films, like Maverick, The Goonies and Ladyhawke.

Stefancos- who just ripped the Fanclub Credits from the FOTR DVD.  

I've always liked Donner. He may not have made any of my absolute favorites, but he's made a number of very entertaining movies.

[JoeinAR 1,957]

4.- Richard Donner, well, he made stuff like Scrooged.    

And Scrooged is a wonderful, terrific, satire of a film, with alot of jokes that often go over peoples head. Not for everyone, but I love it.

[Uni 307]

It's not often enough I get a chance to voice agreement with Joe, so I'd better strike....

We were in the midst of doing a stage version of A Christmas Carol when Scrooged came out. Maybe we benefitted from having the original work fresh in our minds, or perhaps we just had the right sort of twisted sense of humor, but the cast and crew (including myself) thought it was a scream. I still do, but that could be a stolidly preconceived bias talking.

Still, even apart from that one, Donner's done some great stuff--although he has had his fair share of stinkers, too. (The worst? Radio Flyers, culminating with one of the most unforgivable plot devices in film history.) I've always respected him, though, and I'm looking forward to Timeline.

Superman is certainly one of the reasons Donner won my favor to begin with. That the movie happened to made during a period whose fashions and altruisms haven't aged particularly well shouldn't be held against it. It's still just about the best transition from comix and T.V. to the big screen any superhero's ever made, with it's character-driven story, great visual effects (for the day), and stylish, wink-and-a-nudge sense of humor.

As for John's score....well, I'll get to that soon enough.

- Uni

[Morn 8]

I prefer Spiderman.

[Luke Skywalker 2,386]

I prefer Spiderman.

Character, Movie or Score?

the first, i agree

the second, well...

the third, imposible.

I bought the score (superman) this summer and i like it alot. I'm just expecting 23rd of this month to see it the TV. So i could match visuals with music (i have seen that movie many times, but i dont really remember it)

[charlesk 0]

The Love Theme from Superman is one of the most beautiful moments Williams ever delivered.

The counterpoint between the cellos and violins make it like an operatic duet, male and female voices.

Do you know of any updated recording? The original recording is not so good, I always have to use equalizer to make it sound right.

[Hector J. Guzman 1]

Lovely!

I was just gonna say that charlesk. One of the best love themes ever written.

Can you read my mind?

Do you know what is is that you do to me?

I don't know who you are

Just a friend from another star

Here I am like a kid out of school

Holding hands with a god

I'm a fool

Will you look at me

Quivering

Like a little girl

Shivering

You can see right through me

Can you read my mind?

Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?

Wondering why you are

All the wonderful things you are

You can fly!

You belong in the sky!

You and I

Could belong to each other

If you need a friend

I'm the one to fly to

If you need to be loved

Here I am

Read my mind

[JoeinAR 1,957]

Indeed,

I have said all along that the greatest single track by John Williams is the Love theme from Superman.

It is might good stuff.

[Justin 2]

T'is a great cue Joe.

We also can't forget the Helicopter Rescue. Easily one of the greatest scenes ever constructed for cinema, in terms of both film and score.

Justin

[Luke Skywalker 2,386]

The love them is wonderful. Sadly the lyrics are not. ALthough they can be beautiful, they sound like reading not singing.

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

I have always wanted to hear a singing version of Can You Read My Mind, one that is not spoken by Margot Kidder. Is there such a version? My dad thought that Barbara Streisand may have recorded one, but he's not sure.

Ray Barnsbury

[King Mark 3,975]

Do you know of any updated recording? The original recording is not so good, I always have to use equalizer to make it sound right.

It' really nicely recorded on "Star Trak",one of the Kunzel c.d's.

K.M.

[Lurker 5]

Do you know of any updated recording? The original recording is not so good, I always have to use equalizer to make it sound right.

There is the Varese re-recording, as well as a re-recording with John Williams and the Boston Pops and the previously mentioned Kunzel recording.

I have always wanted to hear a singing version of Can You Read My Mind, one that is not spoken by Margot Kidder. Is there such a version? My dad thought that Barbara Streisand may have recorded one, but he's not sure.

Maureen McGovern recorded the song, not Barbara Streisand.

Neil

[Morn 8]

Movie and character.

Score? LOL

[charlesk 0]

Actually, I gave a try to the original recording of the Love theme, which always sounded "older" among other songs in my compilation CDs. I used Cool Edit to try filters and reverb. It seems the recoding is too dry, like done in a small room, pretty similar to the sound of Star Wars EpIV.

I added a medium auditorium reverb effect, and now it perfectly melts with other songs. The same thing happened with Raiders, for instance, trumpets in The Map Room were too strident, and that was because they seem to have been recorded in a small room. When reverb is added, the sound dilutes, the bass improves and it sounds more magnificent.

Thank you for the suggestions of alternate versions of the Love Theme. I'll seek them out as well. I'm also happy I've never heard the version with lyrics. Do you imagine Celine Dion singing it? banghead censored 8O

[Hector J. Guzman 1]

Barbra Streisand sucks!!!

So does Sean Penn and Alec Baldwin, but that's another story

I have a live version on video with Maureen McGovern and John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra. I think this is a timeless version 'coz it's sort of a jazz ensamble/orchestral version. I wish they would have recorded it.

[Rogue_Leader 2]

I still do not see what is the big deal with this film. Its alright but not a classic in any way for me at least.

OH well .....

Oh yeah and Barbara Streisand definately does suck. 8O

[JoeinAR 1,957]

you know these nasty remarks about Barbra Streisand are just mean,

the women has the most amazing voice, better than Celine, better than the lady from AI, better than Whitney, Mariah, Briteny, Skank(Christina Agularia), Madonna, and any current or past pop queen I did not mention.

You don't have to like her, or her films, but there is know denying she has an incredible voice

[Ray Barnsbury 8]

Yes, Barabara has a great voice, but politically . . . well, let's not go there.

I downloaded Ms. McGovern's rendition of the song a couple nights ago, and I really like it. She does it justice with her great voice.

Ray Barnsbury