Supergirl (1984)

Director:

Jeannot Szwarc

Writer:

David Odell (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

21 November 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Her first great adventure.

Plot:

After losing a powerful orb, Kara, Superman's cousin, comes to Earth to retrieve it and instead finds herself up against a wicked witch.

Plot Keywords:

Power | Encounter | Monster | Phantom Zone | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Faye Dunaway	...	Selena
Helen Slater	...	Kara / Supergirl / Linda Lee
Peter O'Toole	...	Zaltar
Hart Bochner	...	Ethan
Mia Farrow	...	Alura
Brenda Vaccaro	...	Bianca
Peter Cook	...	Nigel
Simon Ward	...	Zor-El
Marc McClure	...	Jimmy Olsen
Maureen Teefy	...	Lucy Lane
David Healy	...	Mr. Danvers
Sandra Dickinson	...	Pretty Young Lady
Robyn Mandell	...	Myra
Jenifer Landor	...	Muffy
Diana Ricardo	...	Mrs. Murray
Nancy Lippold	...	Billy-Jo
Sonya Leite	...	Betsy
Lynsey Beauchamp	...	Ali (as Linsey Beauchamp)
Michelle Taylor	...	Amy
Nancy Wood	...	Nancy
Virginia Greig	...	Jodie
Julia Lewis	...	Gloria
Matt Frewer	...	Eddie, Truck Driver
Bill McAllister	...	Billy, Truck Driver
Sally Cranfield	...	Argonian Teacher
Martha Parsey	...	Argonian Citizen
Saskia Ten Batenburg	...	Argonian Citizen
Kelly Hunter	...	Argonian Citizen
Richard Bidwell	...	Argonian Citizen
Desiree	...	Argonian Citizen
Mike Pearce	...	Argonian Citizen
Christian J. Fletcher	...	Argonian Citizen (as Christian Fletcher)
Kevin Scott	...	Argonian Citizen
Karen Hale	...	Argonian Citizen
James Snell	...	Argonian Citizen
Beulah Hughes	...	Argonian Citizen
Jane Sumner	...	Argonian Citizen
Lia	...	Argonian Citizen
Bailie Walsh	...	Argonian Citizen
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Party Guest
Fred Lee Own	...	Party Guest
Gay Baynes	...	Party Guest
Edwin Van Wyk	...	Party Guest
Orla Pederson	...	Party Guest
Ron Travis	...	Party Guest
Joe Cremona	...	Party Guest
Danique	...	Party Guest
April Orlich	...	Party Guest
Russell Sommers	...	Party Guest
Erick Ray Evans	...	Party Guest
Dulcie Huston	...	Party Guest
Zoot Money	...	Party Guest
David Graham	...	Party Guest
Martin Serene	...	Eddie
Keith Edwards	...	Lucy's Friend
Bradley Lavelle	...	Lucy's Friend
Carole Charnow	...	Popeyes Cashier
Shezwae Powell	...	Popeyes Waitress
Glory Annen	...	Midvale Protestor
Sandra Martin	...	Selena's Astral Image
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Derek Lyons	...	Argonian Citizen (uncredited)

Directed by
Jeannot Szwarc

Writing credits
David Odell		(screenplay)
Otto Binder		character: Supergirl (uncredited)
Al Plastino		character: Supergirl (uncredited)

Produced by
Timothy Burrill	....	producer
Ilya Salkind	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Alan Hume		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Malcolm Cooke

Casting by
Toni Howard
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Richard Macdonald		(as Richard MacDonald)

Art Direction by
Terry Ackland-Snow		(supervising art director)
Charles Bishop

Set Decoration by
Peter Young

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus		(as Emma Porteous)

Makeup Department
Ann Brodie	....	key makeup artist
Nick Dudman	....	makeup artist
Eithne Fennel	....	hair stylist
Paula Gillespie	....	hair stylist: Faye Dunaway
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist: Faye Dunaway
Pauline Heys	....	makeup artist
Colin Jamison	....	hair stylist: Faye Dunaway
Patricia McDermott	....	key hair stylist (as Pat McDermott)
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Terence Churcher	....	production manager (as Terry Churcher)
Chris Coles	....	production manager: USA
Chris Kenny	....	production manager
Jeannie Stone	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bryan Coates	....	assistant director: model unit
Derek Cracknell	....	assistant director
Dominic Fulford	....	first assistant director: second unit
David Lane	....	second unit director
Melvin Lind	....	second assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	second assistant director (as Chris Newman)
Trevor Puckle	....	third assistant director
Gareth Tandy	....	assistant director: model unit
Keith Young	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Robert Aldridge	....	plasterer's laborer
Frederick Bewley	....	supervising plasterer: model construction unit
Walter Blanchett	....	stand-by plasterer
Gavin Bocquet	....	draughtsman
Dennis Bosher	....	draughtsman
Roger Bowles	....	draughtsman
Dave Butler	....	stand-by stagehand
Syd Cain	....	research art director
Sharon Cartwright	....	property maker
Mark Chambers	....	stand-by painter
Keith Cherry	....	stand-by carpenter
Steve Cooper	....	draughtsman
Steve Cooper	....	set designer
Jim Datton	....	stand-by carpenter
Bert Davey	....	associate art director
Tommy Davis	....	chargehand dressing propman
Richard Dawking	....	assistant art director
Keith Dyett	....	stand-by carpenter
Fred Evans	....	sculptor
Martin Evans	....	carpenter: model construction unit
John Fairweather	....	carpenter: model construction unit
Fred Finch	....	stand-by stagehand
Eddie Francis	....	property master
Michael Gaster	....	stand-by plasterer
Dick Graveney	....	supervising painter: model construction unit
Frank Graves	....	scenic artist
Colin Grimes	....	research art director
Reginald Hill	....	sketch artist
Andrew Holder	....	sculptor
Maurice Jones	....	stand-by propman
Bernard Krames	....	sculptor
Katharina Kubrick	....	assistant art director
Dennis Maddison	....	property buyer
Peter Melrose	....	scenic artist
Malcolm Middleton	....	research art director
Jim Morahan	....	assistant art director
Roy Morgan	....	plasterer's laborer
Allan Moss	....	sculptor (as Alan Moss)
Simon Murton	....	assistant to sketch artist
Terry Newvell	....	stand-by stagehand
Syd Nightingale	....	construction manager
Frank Oakley	....	stand-by painter
Keith Pain	....	draughtsman
Andrew Palmer	....	propman (as Andy Palmer)
Wesley Peppiatt	....	propman
Michael G. Ploog	....	illustrator (as Michael Ploog)
Peter Risi	....	propman
Nick Rivers	....	chargehand dressing propman
John Rose	....	illustrator
Ernest Smith	....	scenic artist
Steve Spence	....	draughtsman
Jacqueline Stears	....	scenic artist
Peter Voysey	....	sculptor
Traceylee Webb	....	art department runner
Paul Wescott	....	stand-by painter
Dave Westcott	....	stand-by painter
Stan West	....	assistant construction manager
Michael White	....	sketch artist
Jack Wild	....	supervising carpenter: model construction unit
Mark Hedges	....	dressing prop (uncredited)
Steve Payne	....	stand-by props (uncredited)
Bob Sherwood	....	dressing prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Derek Ball	....	sound mixer
Bruce Botnick	....	sound engineer
Tony Clarke	....	special sound effects
Robin Gregory	....	sound mixer
Graham V. Hartstone	....	dubbing mixer
John Hayward	....	dubbing mixer (as John M. Haywood)
Derek Holding	....	dialogue editor
Jack T. Knight	....	sound effects editor (as Jack Knight)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	chief dubbing mixer
Colin Miller	....	dubbing editor
Graham Nieder	....	sound assistant
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator
Guido Reidy	....	sound technician
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (as Terence Sharratt)
Chris David	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alan Barnard	....	senior special effects technician
Ian Biggs	....	junior special effects technician
Peter Biggs	....	senior special effects technician
Bob Bromley	....	special effects technician
Ron Cartwright	....	special effects technician
Chris Corbould	....	special effects technician
Peter Dawson	....	senior special effects technician
Michael Dunleavy	....	special effects technician (as Mike Dunleavy)
Gary Evans	....	junior special effects technician
John Evans	....	special effects supervisor
Ken Gittens	....	special effects technician
Robert Harman	....	flying effects specialist (as Bob Harman)
Brian Lince	....	special effects technician
Ray Lovell	....	special effects technician
Brian Mann	....	special effects editor
Kenneth Morris	....	senior special effects technician (as Ken Morris)
Peter Pickering	....	special effects technician
Gillie Potter	....	special effects secretary/runner (as Gillian Potter)
Frank Richardson	....	special effects technician
Brian Warner	....	senior special effects technician
Mark Meddings	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jonathan Angell	....	model maker
Dennis Bartlett	....	travelling matte consultant
Janice Body	....	graphic artist: optical unit
Martin Body	....	matte camera operator
Peter Chiang	....	graphic artist: optical unit
Richard Dimbleby	....	optical printer
Richard Dimbleby	....	optical printing supervisor (as Dick Dimbleby)
Dave Docwra	....	optical printer
Peter Dorme	....	trainee model maker
Fred Evans	....	modeler
Doug Ferris	....	matte artist
Roy Field	....	optical visual effects
Cyril Forster	....	senior special effects technician: model unit
Anthony Freeman	....	modeler
Nigel Gostelow	....	floor runner: model unit
José Granell	....	model maker (as Jose Granell)
Peter Harman	....	matte camera operator
Antony Hunt	....	assistant optical printer
Edward Jaffrey	....	grip: model unit
Andrew Jeffery	....	optical assembler
Bernard Krames	....	modeler
Tad Krzanowski	....	mechical model engineer (as Tadeusz Krzanowski)
Lynden Lewis	....	optical printer
Stephen Lloyd	....	model maker
Derek Meddings	....	special visual effects
Mark Meddings	....	senior special effects technician: model unit
Digby Milner	....	senior special effects technician: model unit
John Morgan	....	camera operator: model unit
Karl Morgan	....	video operator: model unit
Allan Moss	....	modeler
John Pakenham	....	model maker
Terry Reed	....	special effects model supervisor: model unit
Robbie Scott	....	model engineer (as Robert Scott)
Roy Scott	....	model designer
Rodger Shaw	....	technical model maker
Karl Simmonds	....	special effects models runner
Roy Spencer	....	senior special effects technician: model unit
Martin Stoneham	....	assistant matte artist
Charles Stoneman	....	matte artist
Nigel Stone	....	focus puller: model unit
Jonathan Taylor	....	focus puller: model unit
Jack Thetford	....	supervising electrician: model unit
Peter Voysey	....	modeler
Ron Walden	....	model maker
Tim Walton	....	graphic artist: optical unit
Paul Wilson	....	visual effects photography
John Inglis	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunt double: Helen Slater
Alf Joint	....	stunt coordinator
Dickey Beer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Cade	....	stunts (uncredited)
Greg Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Michael Scott-Law	....	stunts (uncredited)
Helen Slater	....	stunts (uncredited)
Johan Thorén	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Atkinson	....	trainee assistant camera
George Beavis	....	grip
Tommy Brooker	....	grip
Freddie Cooper	....	camera operator
Joseph Doyle	....	stand-by rigger (as Joe Doyle)
Peter Field	....	assistant camera: rostrum camera
Tim Field	....	assistant camera: rostrum camera (as Timothy Field)
Joe Finn	....	stand-by rigger
Ian Foster	....	clapper loader
Mike Frift	....	camera operator
Godfrey A. Godar	....	camera operator (as Godfrey Godar)
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: process backgrounds (as Ronald Goodman)
Reg Hall	....	grip
Margaret Herron	....	assistant camera: process backgrounds
Martin Hume	....	focus
Simon Hume	....	focus
W.C. 'Chunky' Huse	....	grip (as Chunky Huse)
Ronnie Hutton	....	chargehand electrician
Tony Jackson	....	clapper loader
Bob Penn	....	still photographer
Reg Smith	....	stand-by rigger: flying
John Tythe	....	supervising electrician
Joe Welsh	....	stand-by rigger
Tony Woodcock	....	focus puller
Steve Birtles	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Costas Charitou	....	titles: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
Vince Goddard	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jack Lowin	....	cinematographer: screen tests (uncredited)

Casting Department
Esta Charkham	....	casting
Leonie Cosman	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Barnes	....	wardrobe assistant
Marina Drecker	....	wardrobe assistant
Jean Fairlie	....	wardrobe assistant
Helen Gill	....	wardrobe assistant
Renee Heimers	....	wardrobe assistant (as Renee Heimer)
June Kirby	....	wardrobe assistant
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sue Wain	....	wardrobe assistant
Colin Wilson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Rita Ackland-Snow	....	assistant editor
Alan Corder	....	assistant editor
Sarah Ellis	....	assistant editor
Joe Gallagher	....	assistant editor
Matthew Glen	....	assistant editor
Andy Stears	....	assistant editor (as Andrew Stears)
Margaret Thompson	....	assistant editor
Mark Mostyn	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Eric Tomlinson	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Basil Brown	....	unit driver
Tony Deitch	....	unit driver
Fredric Golding	....	unit driver (as Fred Golding)
Ron Jackson	....	unit driver
John Newey	....	unit driver
Bob Stimpson	....	unit driver
Tom Weldin	....	unit driver

Other crew
Gordon Arnell	....	publicity director
Brian Bailey	....	production accountant
Kate Barton	....	secretary to producer
Gillian Bates	....	production assistant
June Broom	....	publicist
Elaine Burt	....	production assistant
Pamela Carlton	....	continuity
Sue Cook	....	masseuse
Pauline Couteleno	....	production executive
Brenda Coxon	....	accounting assistant
Dave Coyne	....	stand-by stage operator
Jane Dixie	....	secretary to director
Sheldon Elbourne	....	main and end titles
Val Farmer	....	assistant accountant
Tricia Fisher	....	secretary to executive assistant
Antony Ford	....	production office runner
Susie Ford	....	assistant to associate producer
Lena Granstedt	....	accounting assistant
Marguerite Green	....	production coordinator
Sue Hausner	....	personal assistant: Ilya Salkind
Barry Isaacson	....	personal assistant: Ilya Salkind
Cheryl Leigh	....	continuity
Tim Lewis	....	production office runner
Doris Martin	....	continuity
Maria Monreal	....	executive assistant to producers
Terry Needham	....	location manager
Pat O'Reilly	....	secretary to executive producer (as Patricia O'Reilly)
Betty Parsons	....	assistant accountant
Ray Parsons	....	assistant accountant
Claire Simmons	....	accounts secretary
Shawn Slovo	....	story editor
Chris Warren	....	video coordinator
Marc Wolff	....	helicopter pilot: process backgrounds
Lonnie Ramati	....	production business affairs (uncredited)
Adam Samuelson	....	louma crane technician (uncredited)
Pierre Spengler	....	consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Artistry Limited
• Investors In Industry PLC
• Robert Fleming Leasing Limited
• St. Michael Finance Limited
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia-EMI-Warner (1984) (UK) (theatrical)
• Canal+ Droits Audiovisuels (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical) (German re-edit)
• TriStar Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1987) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Avid Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (198?) (USA) (video)
• USA Home Video (II) (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Works Editora (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Optical Film Effects (optical effects)

Other Companies

• Lynn Stalmaster, Toni Howard & Associates  casting
• Moores & Griffin  front projection
• Camera Effects  main and end titles
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recording
• U.S. Jet Corporation, Englewood, CO  helicopter for U.S. flying sequences supplied by
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  music played by

Also Known As:

Supergirl: The Movie

Runtime:

124 min (international version) | USA:105 min (theatrical version) | USA:138 min (director's cut) | USA:150 min (original cut) | Germany:89 min (Video Version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Germany:6 (re-rating) (2006) | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:LH | South Korea:12 (2006) | Netherlands:9 | Australia:PG | Denmark:A | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Norway:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Black Park Country Park, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Artistry Limited

Trivia:

The film's opening credits cost almost $1 million dollars to shoot.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the fight with the Invisible Monster in front of the girls' school, Supergirl gets thrown towards the lamppost she later uses to defeat the monster. She is clearly 1 or 2 feet from the lamppost, yet she bounces like she hit it, and falls to the ground.

Quotes:

Bianca: I think you're blowing this thing out of proportion if you want my opinion.
Selena: No, this box is definitely getting bigger... And uglier.
Bianca: All I'm saying is, you can't go nuts over a landscape guy and a teenager in a blue suit.
Selena: She flies. Can you get that through your thick skull and into your tiny little brain, Bianca? The girl can fly.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Killer Drag Queens on Dope (2003)

Soundtrack:

NEW SONG

Helen Slater is Superb, Faye Dunaway is Delicious, and Warner Bros. are MIFFED!

First of all, I am sick of all the bad reviews people seem to say about this exceptional film. For starters, the film had over the top special effects, a GREAT cast, BEAUTIFUL heroine, breathtaking musical score, good direction, and all else that goes with it! I saw this film as a young child during the whole war in early 1990, and let me tell you it was an experience that I haven't yet forgotten! The film deals with young Kara, from Argo City, the survivors of krypton. She loses the omegahedron, a power source of importance to her argo city. As she knows the consequences of the lost source, she travels to earth to retrieve it, but it has fallen into the hands of the world domination hungry Selina, who will consider nothing less. Supergirl arrives on earth and the battle begins between good and evil. Supergirl faces a demonic force made from pure energy of evil, travels to a dangerous phantom zone. The film was panned for no reason what so ever, it has intellect and gracefullness, which the ruthless money driven critics obviously chose to ignore. The real root to this film's problems is not the critics, but rather the studio and producers which finished this film. First, they didn't like Helen Slater. Ilya Salkind hath many a time mentioned the regret he feels that they didn't get some pretty girl who couldn't act (Brooke Sheilds) to do the part. Then, he and his father dumped the film for god knows why! Next in line, Warners hailed to the Salkinds for giving them a good Superman, and who could blame them, but in this case, because of their doubts, they just gave up on the film altogether. This film is piece by piece what superhero movie making is all about. It cost $50 million to make, and the crew are still proud of it! DON'T HINDER SOMEONE'S ART! Last but not least the cast are powerful and Helen Slater is the best choice, no one care's what Ilya Salkind thinks! Faye Dunaway, who is very much proud of this film, gives a tounge in cheek performance in a campy way! TRI-STAR, who picked this film up chopped the film up and distributed it horribly. Now, Warners are miffed and trying to speak up for it, but that's a different story. All in all, The film was a GREAT film from the start, and remains to this day thusly! Thank you to AnchorBay for recreating my innocence and happiness. Sad though, the irony of it is lost in today's generation. A 10/10!