Taglines: Superman vs. the king of computerized crime!
Superman 3 movie storyline. In mortal enemies, the Man of Steel has no match. Even faced with a trio of sinister super-powered villains from his home planet, Superman saved the day. But can super-strength stand up to the diabolical circuitry of a criminally insane computer? Enter Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor), a genial half-wit who just happens to be a natural-born genius at computer programming.
In his hands, a computer keyboard turns into a deadly weapon… and soon, Superman faces the microelectronic menace of his career. Clark Kent meets his old flame Lana Lang (Annette O’Toole) at a Smallville High School reunion and Superman turns into his own worst enemy after exposure to a chunk of red kryptonite.
Superman III is a 1983 superhero film directed by Richard Lester from a screenplay by David Newman and Leslie Newman based on the DC Comics character Superman. It is the third installment in the Superman film series and a sequel to Superman II (1980). The film features a cast of Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Annette O’Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn, and Margot Kidder.
Although the film recouped its budget of $39 million, it proved less successful than the first two Superman films, both financially and critically. While harsh criticism focused on the film’s comedic and campy tone, as well as on the casting and performance of Pryor, the special effects and Christopher Reeve’s performance as Superman were praised. A sequel, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, was released on July 1987.
Most of the interior scenes were shot, like the previous Superman films, at Pinewood Studios outside London. The junkyard scene was filmed on Pinewood’s backlot. The coal mine scene, where Superman leaves Gus, was filmed at Battersea Power Station, where Richard Lester had previously shot scenes for the Beatles film Help!. Most exteriors were filmed in Calgary, Alberta due to Canada’s tax breaks for film companies. Superman’s drinking binge was filmed at the St. Louis Hotel in Downtown East Village, Calgary. While the supercomputer set was created on Pinewood’s 007 Stage, exteriors were shot at Glen Canyon in Utah.
Cast and Characters
Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent / Superman: After discovering his origins in the earlier films, he sets himself to helping those on Earth. After defeating his arch enemies, Lex Luthor twice and General Zod, Superman comes face-to-face with a new villain: the megalomaniac, Ross Webster, who is determined to control the world’s coffee and oil supplies. Superman also battles personal demons after an exposure to a synthetic form of kryptonite that corrupts him.
Richard Pryor as August “Gus” Gorman: A bumbling computer genius who works for Ross Webster and inadvertently gets mixed up in Webster’s scheme to destroy Superman.
Jackie Cooper as Perry White: The editor of the Daily Planet.
Marc McClure as Jimmy Olsen: A photographer for the Daily Planet.
Annette O’Toole as Lana Lang: Clark’s high school friend who reconciles with Clark after seeing him during their high school reunion. O’Toole later portrayed Martha Kent on the Superman television series Smallville.
Annie Ross as Vera Webster: Ross’ sister and partner in his corporation and villainous plans.
Pamela Stephenson as Lorelei Ambrosia: Ross’ assistant. Lorelei, a voluptuous blonde bombshell, is well-read, articulate and skilled in computers, but conceals her intelligence from Ross and Vera, to whom she adopts the appearance of a superficial, stereotypical klutz. As part of Ross’ plan, she seduces Superman.
Robert Vaughn as Ross Webster: A villainous, super-wealthy industrialist and philanthropist. After Superman prevents him from taking over the world’s coffee supply, Ross is determined to destroy Superman before he can stop his plan to control the world’s oil supply. He is an original character created for the movie.
Margot Kidder as Lois Lane: A reporter at the Daily Planet who has a history with both Clark Kent and Superman. She is away from Metropolis on vacation to Bermuda, which put her in the middle of a front-page story.
Additionally, Gavan O’Herlihy portrays Brad Wilson, Lana’s ex-boyfriend and Clark’s high school rival. Film director/puppeteer Frank Oz originally had a cameo in this film as a surgeon, but the scene was ultimately deleted, though it was later included in the TV extended version of the film. Shane Rimmer, who had a role in Superman II as a NASA controller, has a small part as a state police officer. Pamela Mandell, who played a diner waitress in the same film, appears here as the hapless wife of a Daily Planet sweepstakes winner.
Superman 3 (1983)
Directed by: Richard Lester
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure, Annette O’Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn, Margot Kidder, Nancy Roberts, Gordon Rollings
Screenplay by: David Newman, Leslie Newman
Production Design by: Peter Murton
Cinematography by: Robert Paynter
Film Editing by: John Victor-Smith
Costume Design by: Evangeline Harrison
Set Decoration by: Peter Young
Art Direction by: Brian Ackland-Snow, Terry Ackland-Snow, Bert Davey
Music by: Ken Thorne
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures (United States), Columbia – EMI – Warner Distributors (United Kingdom)
Release Date: June 12, 1983 (Washington D.C. premiere), June 17, 1983 (United States), July 19, 1983 (United Kingdom)
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