As you probably already know, the Superman Blu-ray Box Set that just came out is the must-own item for movie lovers right now. It features all five Superman movies, plus an extended cut of Superman: The Movie and the legendary "Richard Donner Cut" of Superman II.
I recently had a conversation with the very entertaining Richard Donner. In addition to discussing the first time he ever heard John Williams' score, we talked about how he was first to treat a comic book movie with reverence, and if he had any message for his old colleague Shane Black.
Jordan Hoffman: Superhero movies are the engine that’s driving Hollywood, let’s face it. And the first Superman picture was really the one to take it seriously. It was essentially your idea to do it that way. How vindicated do you feel when you see these billboards all throughout the country?
Richard Donner: I feel. . .well, I feel like I should be getting 10% on every picture! No, just kidding, but it’s gratifying. I don’t see it in the exact terms that you put it, but it totally is gratifying. We made a movie, never thought it was going to turn out to be what it did. You just make a movie and you've got to put your heart in it, but it’s a good feeling. Now that you ask the question, yeah it feels great.
Jordan Hoffman: The legend is that when you first saw the script, or what was existing of the script, from the producers, they wanted to make the first Superman film very tongue in cheek, very silly, and you just put the kibosh on that from the get-go, correct?
Richard Donner: Well tongue in cheek I would’ve accepted. Silly and not too clever is more what I’d say.
Jordan Hoffman: Was there great resistance to treating it seriously? Because I guess back then people thought “ah it’s for kids, it’s comic strips, nobody cares about this.”
Richard Donner: Well you’re right. A lot of people that were involved in this project maybe looked at it as something you get out there and make some quick money on, and that’s it. I don’t think Ilya Salkind, the son, did. I think in his heart, he wanted to make a good picture, but I think we was kind of stuck that he had the [Alexander Salkind] family, people that control the money and everybody was on his case to make the movie fast and quick, and . . .and I'm sorry I forgot your goddamn question.
Jordan Hoffman: I’m talking about treating the material it more seriously, understanding that comics can actually have real drama.
Richard Donner: Tom Mankiewicz was the reason I made the film because if he hadn’t said yes I probably wouldn’t have done it. But our mission was to not allow Superman to be. . .have this one opportunity and have him destroyed, so we stepped up.
Jordan Hoffman: You have had a long time working relationship with Shane Black, obviously he wrote Lethal Weapon, and now has the reins on Iron Man 3, so I don’t know how often the two of you speak, but as someone who can perhaps work as a go-between, do you have any message you’d like to give Shane Black - as an elder statesman with regards to superhero films, since Mr. Black is about to direct his first one?
Richard Donner: I had lunch with Shane the day he got the message that he was going to direct that. I couldn’t say anything more than I said to him, except give him a big damn hug, wish him all the love and luck in the world. I say of all the people in the world, he’s totally capable. I thought what he did. . .what’s the name of that picture he directed?
Jordan Hoffman: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Richard Donner: Yeah, I thought it was wonderful. I thought it was brilliantly done, and knowing Shane and having spoke to him, he did it under some very adverse conditions of hierarchy that were somewhat controlling him. But he stood up to protect the cast in that picture. He stood up for so many things, I give him all the credit. He’s going to knock your socks off I promise you.
Jordan Hoffman: And if the phone rings and he’s got a question, you’re there to help him out.
Richard Donner: Are you kidding?
