SUPERGIRL
US, 1984, 111 minutes, Colour.
Helen Slater, Faye Dunaway, Peter O'Toole, Mia Farrow, Peter Cook, Hart Bochner, Simon Ward.
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc.
Supergirl is another space extravaganza produced by the Salkind Brothers. It is based on comic strip characters - the cousin of Superman himself.
Newcomer Helen Slater plays Supergirl and her earthly persona Linda Lee quite attractively. She is surrounded, as in all these films, by a star cast. Faye Dunaway (a bit like Mommie Dearest again!) sends herself up as the wicked witch Selina. Brenda Vaccaro is funny as her associate. Peter O'Toole is the equivalent Alec Guinness role as Zaltar. Other stars appear fairly briefly including Mia Farrow, Peter Cook, Simon Ward. The hero is played by Hart Bochner.
The film is not as lavish as Superman but has its share of special effects and exotic locations. Direction is by Jeannot Szwarc who made such films as Somewhere in Time and Jaws 2.
1. An entertaining adventure spectacle? Pop heroes and heroines? The emphasis on the heroine? Comic strip characters transferred to the screen?
2. Comparisons with the Superman films: style, story, special effects? Stunts? The contrast between the presentation of heroine and hero?
3. The decor and style of Argo City? Space, the future? The special effects especially with the Omega Hedron? The journey to Earth? Supergirl and Zinda Lee - and her feats of strength, attacked by the men in the street, the bulldozer and Ethan? The confrontation with Selina? Selina's castle? The planting of the castle in the middle of the American town? The final sorcery with the embodiment of evil? The desert landscapes for Supergirl and Zaltar? The musical score?
4. Helen Slater's personality as Supergirl? Surrounded by the star cast - 'fooling around'? Impact? Light and good-natured pop comic strip entertainment?
5. The parallels to the Superman story: the planet, the crisis, the mission of Supergirl to Earth, her cover, romance on Earth, combat between good and evil, Supergirl saving the world, the quest with the wise old man? The happy ending and the restoration to order?
6. Zaltar as wise, creative - the tree etc.? Yet the folly of allowing Kara to borrow the Omega Sedron, to break it? The Phantom Zone and his exile? Their encounter? The vortex? The long escape attempt, his death - yet present to help Kara?
7. The lifestyle in Argo City? Kara's parents, her creating and delighting? The accident? The journey to Earth, the quest, the travel, landing, the effect of flying, her vision? Kara looking at Earth before she became part of it?
8. Linda Lee as Kara’s cover? The typical American school, the Head, Lucy and her friendship, sharing the room, the lockers and showers, the schoolgirl talk, sport? The Omega Hedron and her trying to find it, the shadow and evil? The encounters with Ethan, saving him in the town from the bulldozer? Love at first sight? Flight? The confrontation with Selina, her being caught, captured, exile, her escape? Linda and Kara as saviour-figure? Her return, helped by Zaltar? How well did the film differentiate between Kara and Linda - or were they just the same kind of character?
9. Selina as the sorceress: elegant, cruel, tongue-in-cheek, her ambitions, her friendship with Nigel and clashes with him, the advice from Bianca, the search for the Omega Hedron, ageing Kara, the castle of evil, the embodiment of evil and its destroying her? Bianca as her sidekick and chorus - dress, manner, magic, successes and failure, the carnival? Ethan and the potion, catching him, the growing stone, the palace, the police, the battles with the shadow, the Devil - devoured? The actresses and their enjoyment of their roles?
10. Nigel and Peter Cook's Devil style, maths teacher, computers, caught in the power of Selina?
11. Lucy and her being the sister of Lois Lane, roommate, plucky, devoted to Superman? Jimmy Olsen reprising his role from the Superman films?
12. The blend of the fairy tale and the spoof? Universal appeal of the clash between good and evil? The particular appeal of the heroine?
