Not to be out-stunk by its sequel, 1983s Superman III did more than its part to drive the nail in Supermans cinematic career for almost twenty years. While the obvious choice for this list might be the centerpiece moment of the chemical plant fire, we have chosen to go with another level of excitement: the epic slapstick opening credit sequence. In a series of event all stemming from vampy polka dot vixen Lorelei Webster, wife of the films villain, all manner of comedic troubles unfold. Toy penguins catch fire, a seeing-eye dog escapes leaving its master to wander blindly through the streets. Telephone booths fall down in a row and Jimmy Olsen get squirted with mustard. It has everything someone might want. The payoff to the sequence, which inexplicably comes in the middle of it, is when Superman rescues a man from drowning as a fire hydrant begins filling his car rapidly with water. This scene ranks as more exciting than the chemical plant sequence for a few reasons. One, that the effects and editing of this film are so bad that none of the more serious action pieces work in an adequate manner. Two, this is the one of only two scenes involving Superman that shows any true passion or energy - of the cast, only Richard Pryor constantly delivered on screen. Three, it set the tone for the film as more campy and comedic, a direction that proved to the world that Superman, as a franchise, needed some serious redirection.
David Wagner is an author/musician who splits his time between Oakland, CA and Istanbul, Turkey.
David has published two novels, both available on his website, and as a fan of movies, comics, and genre television, he is happy to be working with WhatCulture as a regular contributor.
