How many versions of Superman II are out there? Let’s count them all up…

First, there’s the theatrical version of the film that was released in 1980-81 (also unofficially and colloquially known in fan circles as The Richard Lester Cut.

Then there’s the extended TV cut that was shown three times on ABC in 1984, 1985, and 1987. There were also other versions which featured additional footage and were shown in overseas markets including (but not limited to) Canada, Denmark, and Australia.

Then in 2004 we were given the Restored International Cut, which brought together all of the footage from all versions of the film in one high-quality fan-produced cut. (Check out my blogs for the full story behind the Restored International Cut.)

That led to the release of the 116-minute version of the Richard Donner Cut on DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray, which followed closely to the original intentions that Donner and screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz had devised in 1977.

And in 2015 we saw an even longer version of the Richard Donner Cut released to Vudu and Amazon Prime which ran 122 minutes in length. This had been the original pre-release version of the film that was submitted to Donner for approval prior to the final edits that were made before it’s release on home video.

But now we have to go back to the beginning, back to the very first version of Superman II that existed, and it is what I call the Mario Puzo Cut. As we begin our journey through the second half of the second draft script, we can see what has changed, what has been added, and what has remained the same from the first draft script, especially considering that we have about 185 pages to go. If the previous script was, in essence, the original theatrical version, then this draft would be the extended version.

So without any further ado, let’s dive in!

Picking up on page 125, we find Superman consulting the Kryptonian memory banks for any information about protection against kryptonite. Jor-El and Lara tell him that the only way is to construct a lead-lined suit to protect himself.

Which is what Superman begins to do.

So far, no changes to the script at all.

Then we see Lois preparing dinner at her apartment. The script describes her place as “the apartment of a forceful career woman of good modern taste. Lois is arranging settings for two on a table in a small alcove-type dining room that looks over the city.” This concept of her apartment overlooking Metropolis is something that makes it all the way into the final film.

And as in the previous script, she’s out to prove that Clark Kent is really Superman, first by kissing him, then by bringing out the kryptonite belt that Lex Luthor trapped him in in Iran. But she doesn’t know that Clark is wearing the lead-lined clothes underneath his own clothes to protect him from the effects of kryptonite.

It is here that Puzo expands upon the dialogue between Clark and Lois. She says, “It’s funny being alone with you. Do you know you’ve never given me that look that men give women all the time?”

“What look?” Clark asks.

“You know. Men looking at women as if they are undressing them with their eyes.”

Puzo then describes how Superman uses his x-ray vision to look at Lois from top to bottom, seeing all the way through to her skeleton. Notice that Puzo refers to him as Superman, even though we can see that he is in his guise of Clark Kent and not Superman.

Lois asks, “Like what you see?”

“You’re very beautiful,” Clark responds. He then asks, “When you were a child, did you have a fracture in your left arm?” An observation like that should have tipped Lois off right away, but Puzo makes no mention of it in the script.

The script then continues with their dinner together, and Clark saying that he should get going. Lois then tricks him again by wearing the kryptonite belt under a trench coat, and this time Clark collapses as a result of the effects of the kryptonite.

“When did you first know?” Clark asks.

“When I kissed you.”

From there, the scene then shifts to the Fortress of Solitude, and the romance kicks into high gear.

Next time: Mr. and Mrs. Superman?

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