About Superman IV: The Quest for Peace

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is a British-American superhero movie released in 1987, and it is the fourth installment in the original Superman movie series starring Christopher Reeves. The movie is directed by Sidney J. Furie and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal. The plot focuses on the Superman's efforts to save the world from nuclear annihilation, while also contending with a powerful genetically-engineered clone called Nuclear Man.

Plot and Summary

The movie starts with the iconic superhero, Superman taking a vow to eliminate nuclear weapons from the globe after receiving a letter from a schoolboy. However, Lex Luthor, the arch nemesis of Superman, creates a new threat dubbed Nuclear Man who draws his energy from the sun. The plot further unravels as the man of steel faces off against his nuclear nemesis in a fight that takes them from the cityscape of Metropolis to the Moon.

Making / Production

The movie was produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus from a screenplay by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal and story by Christopher Reeve, Lawrence Konner, and Mark Rosenthal. Despite the film’s aim to deliver a powerful message about nuclear disarmament, it was hampered by budget cuts and production issues. It was the last Superman movie starring Christopher Reeve as Superman.

Actors and their Roles

• Christopher Reeve as Superman/Clark Kent - Reeve portrays the iconic dual role with the same charm and charisma that made him synonymous with the character.
• Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor - Hackman embodies the role of the super-villain Lex Luthor, showcasing his intelligence and sophistication with menacing charm.
• Margot Kidder as Lois Lane - Kidder, as the audacious reporter Lois Lane, provides a strong emotional anchor for the film's tumultuous events.
• Mark Pillow as Nuclear Man - Created by Luthor to defeat Superman, the role is portrayed by Pillow with intensifying hostility and power.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• This was the final film in the original Superman series that starred Christopher Reeve.
• The movie's production budget was significantly slashed during development, causing many planned scenes to be rewritten or removed entirely.
• There are two versions of nuclear man in the scenes which were deleted from the final movie serial due to various reasons.

Quotes

• "And there will be peace. There will be peace when the people of the world, want it so badly, that their governments will have no choice but to give it to them" - Superman
• "You'd risk world wide nuclear war for your own personal financial gain. Nobody wants war. I just want to keep the threat alive" - Lex Luthor

Music and Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by Alexander Courage, taking over from the series' usual composer John Williams, and the iconic Superman theme by Williams is still used in this film.

Awards

Despite its high profile cast and a message promoting global peace, Superman IV did not win any major awards and faced negative criticism for its special effects and storyline.

Note: While the information provided above is accurate to the best of our knowledge, please refer to an official source if required for details and purposes like scholarly or research work.