Superman III

Superman III is a 1983 movie that is a sequel to Superman II from 1980.

Extra footage

Superman III was released on June 17, 1983 with a running time of 123 minutes in the United States and 117 minutes in the United Kingdom. The extended cut was first shown on ABC in 1985 with an extra 20 minutes of added footage (thus, making the running time 143 minutes). Just like with the previous two Superman movies, the television edition of Superman III was produced by Alexander Salkind's company. This version continues to be shown today in America as part of the Superman syndication package which also features Supergirl and '. In the United Kingdom, the extended version has been shown about two or three times in the late 1980s.

Related Topics:
June 17 - 1983 - United States - United Kingdom - ABC - 1985 - Alexander Salkind - Syndication - Supergirl

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Broadcast television version

• The credits on the broadcast version are in space (similar to Superman: The Movie and Superman II) and accompanied by an adaption of composer John Williams' Superman theme. The theatrical and home video versions had difficult-to-read titles over an opening slapstick sequence. The main titles for the TV version where exclusively made for it. Its end title score was tracked in and altered to fit in with the end credits.
• The unemployment office scene comes after the credits, with a few extras in the background.
• The Metropolis scenes are not in widescreen and has two extra scenes:
• The thief's bag of loot being accidentally lifted by a construction ladder.
• The thief realizes his newly acquired fortune has disappeared.
• He spots his bag and can't reach it. He yells "stop thief!"
• After Superman rescues the man drowning in his car: A mother places her son on a see-saw; The bag of loot falls off a painting rig; it hits the opposite side of the see-saw that the little boy is on, catapulting him into a tree. Superman takes off from the car and flies over to rescue the boy.
• On the bus approaching the chemical plant fire, Jimmy Olsen says "What a sunset!", Clark replies "At three in the afternoon?"
• Extra shots of the chemical fire and more dialogue with Superman and the fire chief.
• There's a shot of Vera and Lorelei "shaking hands."
• Before Gus goes into Ross's office, he is greeted by Ross' secretary. Gus tries to escape through the executive washroom, but the secretary sends him in when Ross gets impatient.
• Ross explains to Gus why Vera calls him "Bubba." In this scene Lorelei gives Ross one of the burnt penguins from the beginning.
• A longer conversation between Gus and Brad (Gavin O'Herlihy) outside the Smallville Wheat King office.
• While drinking, Brad reveals that his high school nickname was the "Smallville Flash" and Gus thinks that it's a good name for a drink. This is then referenced a couple of minutes later when Gus is dragging Brad into the computer room.
• Expanded scene of the guy at the ATM.
• Gus Gorman's speech about Superman's feats while wearing skis is longer. After Gus describes Superman's heroics, the TV is turned back on and the newspaper says , "Well Superman's done it again."
• A longer sequence with Gus walking across the street in his skies.
• The scene involving Gus posing as a general is longer.
• After Gus shuts off the world's oil, there is a shot of two people not getting oil from a cold pipeline.
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa guy now says "Stupido Superman!"
• Some shots of Ross and Lorelei exercising.
• On some TV/Video versions there is an additional shot of Gus knocking open a utility room and scaring himself in a mirror.
• In the scene where Lorelei is on top of the Statue of Liberty the TV version has the police officer with the megaphone saying "Don't jump... you have everything to live for... trust me I've seen you.", whereas the video release has him saying "Don't jump... please don't jump."
• A scene showing Vera trying to read a book on computers while Lorelei and Evil Superman can be heard fooling around in the next room.
• When Metropolis's power is turned off there is a shot of a surgery room and a little dialogue.
• More shots of the three ballooning down in the Grand Canyon.
• The computer's destruction is longer.
• When Brad see's Clark at the Hotel he says "Kent!"
• Some television broadcasts also have two little extra moments not shown in the theatrical/video release during the scene where Clark gives Lana a diamond ring. Instead of ringing Lana's doorbell, Clark knocks on the door with a "Shave and a Haircut" melody, which is copied by a man knocking on a door behind him. This explains why
• After Clark sends Brad speeding back into an elevator on top of a food trolley, a lady assistant remarks "No wonder they send it back."

The theatricial/home video version

• A mother says "Say thank you" to her son at the photo-booth.
• Pictures of Lorelei Ambrosia are shown at the Daily Planet.
• A shot where Lana is shown exiting a store.
• A shot of Clark bumping into Gus.
• More reactions from the tractor driver who almost killed Ricky.
• Ricky asks Clark for Superman's autograph, Clark responds "If I had a nickel for every little kid."
• A shot of Gus walking down to Wheat King's Smallville office.
• A scene showing the construction of Gus's big powerful computer.
• Lana talks to Brad on the phone and then orders plane tickets to Metropolis.
• Brad says "Son of a bitch" at the hotel when he sees Clark.
• Some of the pan and scan is different from the home video version. In the scene where the Ross, Vera, and Lorelei are ballooning down, Vera says "Out of my way!" In the home video version, both Vera and Lorelei can be seen in the shot, but in the TV version only Vera can be seen at that particular part. And in other bits of the film the tops of peoples' heads are cut off, most noticeable in the scene where Gus is pretending to be the General.