Superman: The Movie (CASTING the Characters)

[smurfthumper]

It just occurred to me that Clark/Superman sets himself up for the Peter Pan line. Smooth.

[net200910]

I have to say Christopher Reeve will always be Superman. The guy has the look, charm and confidence that makes him the boyscout Superhero.

[zimmcat]

what was the age difference between them?



[jagbravo]

Supersudado...jajajajaja

Super Sweaty

[coolcat20million]

I'm in love with Lesley Ann Warren!...and Anne Archer!

[asantos]

check out his armpits. lol.

[banner74]

Very interesting,that first Lois at 2:40 is Holly Palance,daughter of Jack and most remembered perhaps for either co-hosting with her dad the 80's series "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" or portraying the nanny who hangs herself in the original "The Omen".

[banner74]

Very interesting,that first Lois was Holly Palance,daughter of Jack and most remembered perhaps for either co-hosting with her dad the 80's series "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" or portraying the nanny who hangs herself in the original "The Omen".

[sonnyandbilly]

Couldnt everyone see that Margo Kidder was at least 10 years older than clark kent? She must have given some really good head to get that part. How you cast a cute guy like Christopher Reed against this milf?

[Sweetmervs]

@sonnyandbilly Margot Kidder was born in 1948, while Christopher Reeve was born in 1952, so there is like a 4-year age gap. What ten-year gap are you talking about? Do some research.

[mcgurkryans]

I love Lois' "largeness" line 4:02 and then a shot to Superman's superman!

[jackbyrnes86]

Do you like pink? I like pink very much Lois! LOL

[sp4nd3x]

rizzooooo

[anton1990]

Superman, now there is one entertaining movie!

[JaimeRoxy1]

I think they got the right Lois.

[SgtTravisBickle]

Wow, Stockard Channing would have been good as well.

[wheelinthesky300]

I beleive that's Holly Palance in the initial screen test with Chris Reeve.

Come to think of it, she would have made a good Lois Lane.

[wheelinthesky300]

Stockard Channing needed to be kept as far from the part of Lois Lane as possible.

No beauty there.

I could see Anne Archer, Deborah Raffin, or Lesley Anne Warren in the part.

I hear Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) of Gilligan's Island also auditioned.

[kataisa3]

Wow, this is a great video! Even in the screen test Christopher Reeve WAS Superman. You couldn't cast otherwise.

[DanZackIsrael]

Did you see that pizza under hes arms?????

[Markco1]

Margot Kidder looks like the damn Joker.

[DannyLovesOregon]

I got this on dvd along with the casting crew

[Mysterwright]

I like how this movie actually reflected the comic book's heritage in that part of it was Canadian and the other American. Superman had two creators, Joe Schuster and Jerry Siegel. One creator came from Canada and the other USA. Reeve and Kidder both came from Canada but Superman: The Movie was an American film. Metropolis too, as I understand is supposedly a composite of Toronto and Chicago. In classic rock terms that'd be like Rush and Blue Cheer sharing a stage. Though pc yuppies would scoff.

[sweiland75]

@Mysterwright Christopher Reeve was American. He was born in New York City.

[bluestrapsify]

They also Probably picked Margot because Stockard Channing was too well known as well as Lesley Ann Warren. I never knew either of them screen tested either.

[jamalnasir1975]

The casting of `Superman' was just perfect..

Every character had a meaningful & substantial portrayal, relevant with the script..

Kidder was the best choice for Lois Lane & so was Reeve for Superman/Clark Kent..

[bbasher79]

Anne Archer would have been fantastic. Margot Kidder was a chain smoking hag and lacked the class of Lois.

[darrellkaiser11285]

I wish that they would release all of the screen tests in their COMPLETE form. I'd like to see Margot's from beginning to end. I do agree that she was the right one out of them all. She has that sweet smile and I like how her hair in the test resembles the 50's Lois from the comics. All she needs is the pillbox hat!

[lebbing64]

They should have take Deborah Raffin for Lois Lane.

[Archangel101576]

The screen tests revealed that Stockard Channing was the most talented actress to play Lois Lane, but she lacked spontaneity. Anne Archer was dull, and Lesley Ann Warren was too silly. The apparently left Margot Kidder, and the rest was history.

[th3tracer]

1 Stockard Channing.

2 Anne Archer

[bbiz20]

I would have liked to see Anne Archer in the role. But I can see why they picked Margot, she has a certian quality about her that hard to define.

I think she plays the wit of Lois very well. I think Stockard would have been a bit too tough and Lesley a bit too excited and giggly.

That's why I would have shosen either Margot or Anne.

[vernellhartwell]

one of the best films ever! i love it. you can watch it here

newWATCHmovies(dot)com.

[taquitotexano09]

I love Margot Kidder but I can't help but wonder what could have been if the marvelous Ann Archer or the fantastic Stockard Channing. Ugh, Stockard Channing would heve been a great Lois Lane!

[skinwalkerxxx]

no way. Channing is not sexy enough. Lois need to be a dream girl too so the relationship is believable.

[taquitotexano09]

@skinwalkerxxx to tell you the truth, Margot Kidder wasn;t really that much of a knock out. I think it was the yellow smoker teeth.

[skinwalkerxxx]

Good point, Kidder wasn't a hot babe. But I think Channing is too austere. Kidder had a bossy personality but with her size, she wasn't too over-bearing. Making her boss things around was kind of cute. It wouldn't have worked with a tough cookie like Channing.

[taquitotexano09]

@skinwalkerxxx I see your point. But then again, we'll never know.

[thefloacist]

@skinwalkerxxx That's ridiculous. Lois Lane was never written as some sort of knock out vixen. Clark liked Lois for her intelligence personality, her charm, wit, attitude.

If a woman has to be "sexy" for the relationship to be believable than you may be a little immature about relationships.

[skinwalkerxxx]

@thefloacist Superman is the "uber person" of the two, no doubt. But Lois should be every comic fan's dream woman. She doesn't need to be hotter than Superman but she should be attractive. I think the Fleischer cartoons had that part right.

[McLarenMercedes]

@skinwalkerxxx

Back in the 60's and 70's it was a time of women's liberation and in more classy movies they decided to cast actresses that fit the role, not just eye-candy that looked nice but couldn't act for crap. They good looking eye-candy women ended up in shows like Charlie's Angels and Buck Rogers in the 25'th century.

Superman the movie was made NOT ONLY for comicbook fans, but as a movie even real people could enjoy.

So cut that comicbook geek fan's opinion out.

[skinwalkerxxx]

@McLarenMercedes Yea right like comic fans are the only ones that wants to see babes. Somehow I don't think the current popularity of Natalie Portman is based on her acting(i'M not talking about Black Swan). Furthermore Lois was based on female actress of the time(in the 40s) so it's not like they made her nice-looking just because she was in super-hero fantasies. Kidder was not a model but she was ok for the role. Going for Stocking Channing would have been too much as far as "not based on look

[aegisgfx]

PITS!

[jksonny]

I don't think it was nerves that caused the sweating. The suit, especially the one used in the tests, was like a sauna.

[imranbsb3]

4:02 hahahahhah

her eyes on supermans thing lol

[marceloribeirobarros]

Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Buddlesful]

The narrator's comment that they "resisted the temptation to cast a box office name" isn't true according to legendary screenwriter William Goldman in his memoirs. Goldman was offered the screenwriting job, but he turned it down because, "I knew no major star would risk looking stupid in those tights and cape." Warren Beatty told Goldman that was the reason he turned it down. So only after every major star turned down the part did they resort to surrounding an unknown with supporting stars.

[Mikez4]

@Buddlesful Interesting, dont forget a lot of actors say they turned various big parts down when maybe all they got was a passing comment from a publicist. All I can say is thank God Warren Beatty 'turned it down' otherwise we would never have got Reeve.

[scottdevries]

I'd love Lesley Ann Warren to stare at my bulging trunks. Wow

[cochranexyz]

Ooo. Leslie Ann Warren. I can see her as Lois Lane.

[TommyBoy249r]

thank you SO much for posting this!!! What DVD is this on? I really enjoyed it, almost as much as I enjoy the Superman series! (minus 3 and 4) :-P

But thanks again!

[CliffmountPictures]

You are Welcome, :-)

This segment is from a documentary called;

Look, Up In The Sky: The Amazing Story Of Superman

it came out in 2006, and I found it in the Superman 13 disc Ultimate Collection.

Have a Good One :-)

[Retrofan]

@CliffmountPictures That documentarywas also released individually, to appease those who did not want to pay the high price for the 14 disc collection.

[Sweetmervs]

@CliffmountPictures Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology Blu-Ray is set to be released on June 7, 2011. It includes the 1978 movie with the Richard Donner theatrical release, expanded release in DTS-HD Ma 5.1, Superman with both Richard Lester and Richard Lester movie in DTS-HD 5.1. Superman III is on DTS-HD 5., while Superman IV is on DTS-HD 2.0.

‎

[Sweetmervs]

@TommyBoy249r This from the remastered 1978 Superman the movie DVD. It has that 4 disc with the theatrical version, Richard Donner version, the making of Superman the movie. You will love it....

[Sweetmervs]

@TommyBoy249r Superman: The Motion Picture Anthology Blu-Ray is set to be released on June 7, 2011. It includes the 1978 movie with the Richard Donner theatrical release, expanded release in DTS-HD Ma 5.1, Superman with both Richard Lester and Richard Lester movie in DTS-HD 5.1. Superman III is on DTS-HD 5., while Superman IV is on DTS-HD 2.0. It also includes the 2006 Superman movie.

[TheComedyfan123]

The narrator sounds like Kevin Spacey. Is it?

[CliffmountPictures]

Yes, it is :-)

[Assur10]

That's 'cause that IS Kevin Spacey.

[Milky111wtf]

Lol, the sweat. XD

[ZABRISKIEPOINTER]

actually I liked Lesley Annn Warren the best, I had also heard that they wanted Goldie Hawn for Lois, but she was already attached to the move "Foul Play"

[TitaniumByFire]

The other women over acted, Margo brought a balance, a warmth, and realism to the character.

[BearP89]

Superman, one of the best movies ever made!

Perfect casting too...they sure had a lot of Lois Lane's.

[HelloMisterYellow]

I would've liked to have seen Lesley Ann Warren as Lois.

[HanziSuperman]

wow! that's amazing, thanks for posting mate!

RIP Chris

[brkitdwn]

also worth checking out:

watch?v=kH4XzHG2czQ&feature=ch­annel_page