So far I have covered the first half of Mario Puzo’s first draft script for Superman, and while it does not feel like a finished script, we can see the groundwork being laid for what will become the final film. Granted, not everything is fully represented in this first draft, and there are a number of gaps throughout the draft. As is the case with any writer, Puzo left out a number of elements in this first draft that he would go back and fill in later.

One thing that Puzo had some difficulty with in this first draft is character identification. Specifically, the characters of Morgan (Martin) Edge and Luthor Lux bear little resemblance to their original comic book versions in name and appearance, and through the script Puzo frequently alternates between Morgan Edge and Martin Edge. This is something that would have to be fixed in later drafts.

Another thing that slows down the pacing of the script is a lot of exposition, particularly in the Arctic Circle sequences and on two occasions a lot of football byplay involving Steve Lombard. The written word doesn’t always translate to the silver screen accurately, and what might be good on paper might not work on screen.

Finally, the ensuing melee in Iran appears to be less than exciting, as it involves Jimmy Olsen and Steve Lombard coming to the rescue of Superman and Lois Lane. One respondent to the blog suggested how, if the sequence had remained as was in Iran, the entire film would have been received at the time of the Iranian hostage crisis in 1979. Art imitating life, and life imitating art, indeed.

But no matter how you may look at some of these holes and inconsistencies, one thing remains: the first half of Mario Puzo’s script begins to set up the events of the first film.

Which leads to looking at the second half of the script, which will lay the groundwork for the events of Superman II, both the final theatrical version directed by Richard Lester and released in 1980-81, and the 2006 recut as conceived and directed by Richard Donner in 1977. So we come back to the question: which Puzo elements survived into the final films? Let’s address them scene by scene.

Beginning on page 111, we find Superman back at the Fortress of Solitude consulting with the computer programs of Jor-El and Lara about the kryptonite that has landed on Earth. Jor-El advises him that the only protection against the radioactive properties of the kryptonite is to construct a suit of lead. He also informs his parents that he suspects Lois Lane knows this and may start to suspect that Clark Kent and Superman are one and the same. This is a thread that carries through the later drafts and into both versions of Superman II.

Back in Metropolis, Lois puts her plan in motion and invites Clark to her apartment for a romantic dinner date. As they share a drink together, she leans over and kisses Clark, informing him that she suspects him to be Superman.

Lois then attempts to trick Clark with the suitcase containing the kryptonite-laden belt that she brought back with her from their adventure in Iran, noticing how Clark always disappears whenever Superman shows up. This is a trait that survives all the way into both films. She continues to trick him, ultimately wearing the kryptonite belt under a trench coat and causing Clark to pass out on the sofa. This is when Lois finally knows the truth, and Clark can’t hide it any longer.

Later at the Fortress, Superman—now stripped of his Clark Kent persona—shares a romantic champagne dinner with Lois.

They express their feelings for one another, and it is then that Superman informs Lois that he is willing to give up his Kryptonian powers to share his life with her. He leads her to the Kryptonian memory banks and consults one of the interactive programs from his parents. Among the files that he accesses is a home movie of his life on Krypton as an infant. This is a moment that never makes it through to the final film.

But in the next moment we then see Jor-El make a very grim statement that does make it all the way through into filming:

Lara then advises Kal-El, “My darling, if ever you hear my voice, know that I love you and out of that love I beg you, do not become mortal on Earth.”

Jor-El then gives Superman instructions on how to construct a machine that will strip away his powers, along with a safeguard that if he changes his mind after ten days, his powers can be restored. If not, his powers will be gone forever.

It’s interesting to note that in this draft, both Jor-El and Lara advise Superman not to go through with this decision. As we know, Jor-El advises him in the Richard Donner Cut of Superman II, while only Lara advises him in the Richard Lester theatrical version. One fan by the name of “Booshman” recut the scenes together into his own hybrid cut and posted it to YouTube a couple of years ago to some fans’ approval.

Superman then tells Lois that he began constructing the machine six months earlier, when he knew that he loved her. Then he goes through with it and relinquishes his powers. In this draft he is laying down on a table in the glass booth, as opposed to standing up in the crystal chamber in both versions. A minor quibble at that.

After the deed is done and Superman is now a powerless mortal, Lois decides to test her theory and punches him in the stomach so hard that it really hurts him. This moment comes off a bit comical as they both laugh about it, and then the mood becomes more sensual as they make love together. It’s not explicitly described, but we get the hint.

So much of what Puzo has written in these scenes of this first draft would make it not only into the Newmans’ 1976 and 1979 drafts, and the Tom Mankiewicz script in 1977, but also into both versions of the film. This is one of the strongest moments that Puzo emphasized in his script that would become an important part of the Superman production history.

Next time, I’ll address the aftermath of Superman’s loss of powers, another scene that is added to the groundwork of Superman II, and the return of Luthor Lux and his next plot for world dominance.

(Some of the screenshots in this blog are courtesy of CapedWonder.com.)