As one of the loved comics, superman comes with visual effects applied on a larger scale. Some of the effects were created before the era of digital technology. Some of the visual effects were created using a number of models such as the model of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Krypton Council Dome and the Hoover Dam. One feature- the Fortress of Solitude was created as a full scale set and designed with matte paintings. It was constructed at the Shepperton Studios at Pinewood’s 007 stage.
Background
The first film’s principal photography started in 1977 with the Krypton scenes and it was considered as the most expensive film at that time. The filming of Superman and Superman II was carried out simultaneously and they took about 19 months, although it was set to be finished within 9 months. The footage of Krypton made the Warner Bros to start distributing the film to North America as well as other foreign countries. The filming was marred with complications and problems, and Warner Bros acquired the television rights.
Locations
New York City was Metropolis while and the New York Daily News was the location of the Daily Planet Offices. The Filming of Superman in New York went on for five weeks during the New York City Blackout of 1977. The scenes set in Smallville, the production team went to Alberta Canada. The cemetery scene was at the Canyon of Beynon Alberta, the Kent farm construction was at Blackie Alberta and the high school football scene was at Barons, Alberta. Other scenes included Gallup, New Mexico, Grand Central terminal and Lake Mead.
The main problems of the filming of superman were the increasing production budget and the shooting Schedule. The solution offered was to stop filming superman II so as to focus finishing Superman. All in All, the film was released without a premier and became the sixth highest earning film at that time as well as the most successful for Warner Bros at that time.