Superman II/Trivia

"Ever heard of parachutes?"
 * Deleted Scene: Many put back for the Richard Donner cut, while others were merely extras.
 * A bunch of scenes were shot for both versions, some of which went unused in both versions, some of which were restored in extended TV cuts, such as a rather chilling scene (from the original theatrical Lester version!) of a young boy (the one who is supposed to be from the American mid-west yet talks with a British accent) being brutally killed by Non when he tries to ride away for help. This scene ends with an old woman exclaiming "He was only a boy!" to which Ursa cheerfully replies "Who will never become a man."
 * Executive Meddling: After almost finishing production on Superman II, director Richard Donner was fired by producer Alexander Salkind, who wanted a lower-budget movie with more Camp. The result on the franchise was disastrous -- many of the stars, including Marlon Brando and Gene Hackman, refused to work with new director Richard Lester or participate in later sequels. It should be noted that however disastrous the result was for the franchise as a whole, the Lester version was still a critically acclaimed box office smash, and even Superman III enjoyed good box office (if not the critical acclaim).
 * Donner had reportedly been at odds with the Salkinds from early on over the tone of the film and reportedly did not get along with Pierre Spengler, a long time friend and frequent collaborator of the Salkinds. Marlon Brando was said to have been cut out of the film altogether because he was too expensive, not just for his paycheck but because he got a big bite of the first film's box office and was entitled to a big bite of the second film's box office as well, which the Salkinds decided they didn't like. Jack O'Halloran, the actor who played Non, later accused the Salkinds of having done a poor job managing the budgets for both films.
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Admiral Motti gets no respect from Ursa, even if he's just reporting the news...
 * The other General ("I answer ONLY to the President!") retired and went into real estate, offering Clark top money for the Kent farm, sight unseen!
 * The newsstand guy is really a cosmonaut.
 * "The big one is just as strong as Damian Thorn!".
 * He doesn't know what "curl" is because he was drinking beer at the bar in those days.
 * His colleague's been too busy saving the world.
 * Popeye Doyle was so famous, he could hire his own voice impersonator!

"He knows where the Eiffel Tower is, Olsen."
 * Detective Friday is looking for Non.
 * Mr. Kent, Uncle Vernon is trying to blow up the Eiffel Tower, in Paris.


 * Zod couldn't kill Jor-El and Supes wouldn't accept his challenge, so Luthor gave him the next best thing.
 * Kneel before Zod! And tell him I'm F***NG COMING!
 * If Superman turned the world too fast, too much, Jimmy Olsen would be erased from his family picture!
 * Don's wife is a bigamist!
 * Hey you smoking that pipe! You were fired! What are you doing coming out of Don's Diner? That will be the day!
 * Cliff Clavin is a cab driver.
 * What Could Have Been: Fans got a taste of this when the Richard Donner cut of Superman II was released (though it obviously wasn't as polished as it would have been had he been able to properly complete it). The "reversing time" trick was originally intended as a finisher for II, but Donner decided to use it as a memorable climax to the first movie. The directors cut restored it as originally planned, though Donner said he would have worked out a new ending if he was kept on.