Superman eschews longtime patriot act

The Hollywood Reporter ^ | 6/30/06 | Tatiana Siegel

[Roberts]

Nevermind Superman's sexual orientation. Here's another identity-related question that is likely to spark controversy as the Man of Steel soars into theaters nationwide this Fourth of July weekend in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Superman Returns": Is Superman still American?

Ever since artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel created the granddaddy of all comic book icons in 1932, Superman has fought valiantly to preserve "truth, justice and the American way." Whether kicking Nazi ass on the radio in the '40s or wrapping himself in the Stars and Stripes on TV during the Cold War or even rescuing the White House's flag as his final feat in "Superman II," the Krypton-born, Smallville-raised Ubermensch always has been steeped in unmistakable U.S. symbolism.

But in the latest film incarnation, scribes Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris sought to downplay Superman's long-standing patriot act. With one brief line uttered by actor Frank Langella, the caped superhero's mission transformed from "truth, justice and the American way" to "truth, justice and all that stuff."

"The world has changed. The world is a different place," Pennsylvania native Harris says. "The truth is he's an alien. He was sent from another planet. He has landed on the planet Earth, and he is here for everybody. He's an international superhero."

In fact, Dougherty and Harris never even considered including "the American way" in their screenplay. After the wunderkind writing duo ("X2: X-Men United") conceived "Superman's" story with director Bryan Singer during a Hawaiian vacation, they penned their first draft together and intentionally omitted what they considered to be a loaded and antiquated expression. That decision stood throughout the 140-day shoot in Australia, where the pair remained on-set to provide revisions and tweaks.

"We were always hesitant to include the term 'American way' because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain," Ohio native Dougherty explains. "The ideal hasn't changed. I think when people say 'American way,' they're actually talking about what the 'American way' meant back in the '40s and '50s, which was something more noble and idealistic."

While audiences in Dubuque might bristle at Superman's newfound global agenda, patrons in Dubai likely will find the DC Comics protagonist more palatable. And with the increasing importance of the overseas boxoffice -- as evidenced by summer tentpoles like "The Da Vinci Code" -- foreign sensibilities can no longer be ignored.

"So, you play the movie in a foreign country, and you say, 'What does he stand for? -- truth, justice and the American way.' I think a lot of people's opinions of what the American way means outside of this country are different from what the line actually means (in Superman lore) because they are not the same anymore," Harris says. "And (using that line) would taint the meaning of what he is saying."

But for Superman purists looking for a nod to the big blue Boy Scout's nationalistic loyalties, he is still saving Americans, albeit many with suspiciously Aussie accents. He foils Lex Luthor's nefarious plan to send millions from the nation's heartland to a watery death. And in his most impressive scene, the hero saves the day while a plane hurtles toward a baseball stadium full of fans enjoying America's pastime. Although there is no indication that it is an American baseball game depicted, the scene was one of the few shot on U.S. soil, at Dodger Stadium.

Nevertheless, the long-standing member of the Justice League of America seems to have traded in his allegiance to the flag for an international passport.

"He's here for humanity," Dougherty says.

[GoBucks2002]

It's added to the growing list...(starting with Jane Fonda) of actors, movies etc. whom I won't spend money to see.

I've seen 2 movies in the past five years: National Treasure and Miracle.

Miracle was disappointing in that Herb Brooks seemed to be the only American alive in 1980 who was unaware of the Cold War. He seemed to never see the Russians as anything other than the world's best hockey team. At first I bristled at this portrayal, thinking it must have been added in after Brooks died, but then I remembered that he coached France in one Olympiad.

[nikos1121]

What was National Treasure?

Can us FRs give you a short list of movies to see?

1. The Notebook

[Old Student]

"Something tells me Mr. Dougherty's confusion is a product of a Government education in the public schools."

I doubt that. I grew up in public schools, and then grew a little more in the Air Force. I think his confusion is because he can't understand that he has freedom to make such decisions because a whole lot of other people have given up their freedom to rescue people like him from people who would take all his choices away from him.

As someone else here said, (probably a lot of someones) this looks like a movie to miss.

[theFIRMbss]

>I was going to see this UNTIL . . .

Check out this, instead. I rented the DVD a few days ago and really liked it. It was better than most films in the theaters!

[A CA Guy]

There was a lack of Americana in the film for sure.

If I did not know it was supposed to be America, there wasn't much in the film that suggested it was.

The reason for it though IMO is Superman is trying to appeal to a global market and right now America has tons of people either jealous or run by people who are dictators that outright hate us.

The reason for the lack of USA is to get a lot higher profit globally IMO.

If they were thinking like that, I would have preferred they had an original USA version and that they edited it for the global consumption.

[Names Ash Housewares]

This has come up a few times now. I have seen the film, it is quite good.

Superman is an American. He is for the "American Way" which is the way of democracy and freedom, of taking risks and daring great things. He *chooses* to live in America. he could live anywhere.

Hollywood can play their word games, and that is all this is, -word games- to make money over seas.

Everyone KNOWS what the Superman mythos is about.

He is FOREVER linked with America and our way of life. Freedom and justice for all. They cant change that. No matter how hard they twist and squirm their words. He is what he is. They can't change that, ever.

[Frontierman]

It's pretty sad when a fictional comic book reporter is willing to take up for our Military and the "real thing" just won't.

That's a great scan. Nice to see some vintage Superman.

[Arnold Zephel]

Political Spin, "Gay Rights", and the Marxist Way

NO THANKS! I'll pass.

[new yorker 77]

"And all that stuff"?

That settles it. He is super gay.

[new yorker 77]

Press to hear a sound clip of Margot Kidder and Christopher Reeve from Superman: the Movie:

"Truth, Justice, and the American Way"

[sam_paine]

Superman eschews... Gesundheit!

Shoulda known it was you. That actually made me chuckle out loud. Have you already opened Mark's bar early?!

[Screamname]

Pathetic isn`t it? They couldn`t even go so far as to make it "Truth, Justice and Freedom" F- Hollywood, I am so sick to death of these freggin` socialist commie loving terror arse kissing scumbags. To quote Chuck Heston; "Damn them all to hell!"

[Screamname]

I suspect they wanted to use "Truth, Justice and the French way" but then that would have all but confirmed the current "Superman is gay" rumors.

"Save me Superman!"

"Darling, are you kidding? And risk a tear in my lavender velour acsessory purse?"

[GOPJ]

..the caped superhero's mission transformed from "truth, justice and the American way" to "truth, justice and all that stuff."

These writers could never create a movie character that would survive all these years. They've piggy backed on someone else's genius -- and they're not even doing that well.

On their own these "writers" couldn't create something that would last beyond the end of summer -- if that.

What's next? Will a "great" modern artist draw a black line across the Mona Lisa and wants credit for the whole painting?

[Wolfstar]

"We were always hesitant to include the term 'American way' because the meaning of that today is somewhat uncertain," Ohio native Dougherty explains. "The ideal hasn't changed. I think when people say 'American way,' they're actually talking about what the 'American way' meant back in the '40s and '50s, which was something more noble and idealistic."

This is all I need to read to know I'll never spend a cent on this movie. Hollyweird limo-Leftists may hate us, but guess what? Most of us loathe them right back.

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Screamname]

Yeah, Batman was always the ultimate.. I was always a Batman fanatic, especially the 1960`s Batman. One of my earliest memories is watching that Batman show on my parents black and white TV in Queens NYC when I was 3 years old. That opening cartoon with that guitar riff with them running towards the TV screen will never be beat, just the ultimate. POW! SOK! I was so into it that my Mother told me she bought me a Batman costume that had an actual over the head mask (or cowl?) like Batman, but it was too big and I couldn`t see where I was going and would run into walls! LOL!

[Screamname]

Holy internet Batman!! Out of curiousity I went to Youtube.com to see if they had that opening, THEY DO!!! lol!!! Check this out! AWESOME!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQBobrCBTNI&search=batman%20adam%20west

[Huck]

lol. I used to watch that show too. I teach guitar, and recently had a 16 yr old ask me if I knew how to play the Batman them, and could I teach it to him. I do, and I did. :-P Frank Gorshin's Riddler was my favorite villain.

[new cruelty]