Interesting. What I heard on TV earlier was from Singer, I think.
Here's the rest of the article from which you posted. I think the context is important.
"'Superman Returns' eschews longtime patriot act
Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:02 PM ET
By Tatiana Siegel
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Nevermind Superman's sexual orientation.
Here's another identity-related question likely to spark controversy as the Man of Steel soars into theaters nationwide this weekend in Warner Bros. Pictures' "Superman Returns" -- Is Superman still American?
Ever since artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel introduced the granddaddy of all comic book icons in 1938, Superman has fought valiantly to preserve "truth, justice and the American way."
Whether kicking Nazi butt 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 his latest film incarnation, screenwriters 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 box office -- 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 Australian-sounding 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.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter"
today.reuters.com
I'm not a movie goer so I hadn't been paying much attention. As I went off looking for some context, I found several things, including lots of chatter about Superman now being gay and lots of other chatter about him being Jesus. Now, there's a combo for your.
Anyway, here are some other interesting bits I found.
"Truth, justice and (fill in the blank)
Erik Lundegaard
Published: June 30, 2006
MINNEAPOLIS In the first screen incarnation of Superman, the Max Fleischer cartoons that ran from 1941 to 1943, each episode's preamble informs us not only of the origin and powers of this relatively new creation (Krypton, speeding bullet, etc.), but also the kinds of things he fights for. It's a shorter list than you think. Before World War II, Superman fought "a never-ending battle for truth and justice." Back then, that was enough.
By the time the first live-action Superman hit the screen - Kirk Alyn, in a 1948 serial - the lessons of World War II, particularly in the gas chambers of Europe, were obvious. That's why Pa Kent tells young Clark he must always use his powers "in the interests of truth, tolerance and justice."
It wasn't until Superman came to television in the 1950s that the phrase became codified in the form most of us remember it: "a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way."
You wouldn't know this from the articles that have been written about the film "Superman Returns," which opened in the United States this week. Many quote the line "truth, justice and the American way" as if it's something Superman always stood for - even though you won't hear it in this film.
Where did that specific phrase come from? According to Mark Waid, a former DC Comics editor, it first turned up on the innovative "Adventures of Superman" radio series, which ran, off and on, from 1940 to 1951. It was the radio show, not the comic book, that introduced many facets of the Superman myth.
Since Superman was a work in progress, it makes sense that the preamble was a work in progress, too. Fans first heard "Up in the sky! Look!" rather than the other way around. Those who did look thought they saw not a bird but "a giant bird." At one point the Fleischer cartoons even scrapped the whole "speeding bullet" business in favor of more weather-oriented metaphors: "Faster than a streak of lightning! More powerful than the pounding surf! Mightier than a roaring hurricane!"
Then, in autumn 1942, fans of the radio show became the first to hear about Superman's battle for "truth, justice and the American way."
At that time the war was not going well. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was sweeping across Africa, and the German Army was driving toward Stalingrad. The Japanese had been turned back at Midway but they were still invading Pacific islands. Americans were all fighting for the American way. Why shouldn't Superman?
As the war turned in our favor, though, the additional phrase didn't seem as necessary. By 1944 it was gone, and for the remainder of the radio show, Superman devoted himself to the fight for tolerance.
It took the paranoia and patriotism of the Cold War era to bring back "the American way" - this time in the "Adventures of Superman" TV series, which ran from 1952 to 1958. Every week, young baby boomers were greeted with the phrase as they sat down to watch the Man of Steel combat crooks and Communist spies.
After the television show, "truth, justice and the American way" became synonymous with the Superman saga; indeed, every Superman since has had to grapple with the phrase's legacy. The 1966 Saturday morning cartoon, "The New Adventures of Superman," tried a strategy of substitution: Children were told Superman's fight was for "truth, justice and freedom."
Others tried omission. In the premiere of the 1993 TV series "Lois & Clark," Lois asks Superman why he's here on Earth. His response - "To help" - isn't good enough for her, and she suggests something more dynamic. "I mean if you said, 'I'm here to fight for truth or justice.'" He nods: "Well, truth and justice. That sounds good."
The most recent incarnation to use the 1950s phrase was the 1978 Christopher Reeve movie, "Superman." When Lois asks the Man of Steel why he's here, he responds straight-faced: "I'm here to fight for truth, justice and the American way." It's the first time Superman himself uses the phrase - a bold move considering how cynical America had become after the Vietnam War and Watergate.
Some people are now objecting to the fact that "Superman Returns" omits the phrase. But there's no reason to be upset. Superman is right back where he began: fighting a never-ending battle for truth and justice. That should be enough to occupy any man. Even a Superman.
MINNEAPOLIS In the first screen incarnation of Superman, the Max Fleischer cartoons that ran from 1941 to 1943, each episode's preamble informs us not only of the origin and powers of this relatively new creation (Krypton, speeding bullet, etc.), but also the kinds of things he fights for. It's a shorter list than you think. Before World War II, Superman fought "a never-ending battle for truth and justice." Back then, that was enough.
By the time the first live-action Superman hit the screen - Kirk Alyn, in a 1948 serial - the lessons of World War II, particularly in the gas chambers of Europe, were obvious. That's why Pa Kent tells young Clark he must always use his powers "in the interests of truth, tolerance and justice."
It wasn't until Superman came to television in the 1950s that the phrase became codified in the form most of us remember it: "a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way."
You wouldn't know this from the articles that have been written about the film "Superman Returns," which opened in the United States this week. Many quote the line "truth, justice and the American way" as if it's something Superman always stood for - even though you won't hear it in this film.
Where did that specific phrase come from? According to Mark Waid, a former DC Comics editor, it first turned up on the innovative "Adventures of Superman" radio series, which ran, off and on, from 1940 to 1951. It was the radio show, not the comic book, that introduced many facets of the Superman myth.
Since Superman was a work in progress, it makes sense that the preamble was a work in progress, too. Fans first heard "Up in the sky! Look!" rather than the other way around. Those who did look thought they saw not a bird but "a giant bird." At one point the Fleischer cartoons even scrapped the whole "speeding bullet" business in favor of more weather-oriented metaphors: "Faster than a streak of lightning! More powerful than the pounding surf! Mightier than a roaring hurricane!"
Then, in autumn 1942, fans of the radio show became the first to hear about Superman's battle for "truth, justice and the American way."
At that time the war was not going well. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was sweeping across Africa, and the German Army was driving toward Stalingrad. The Japanese had been turned back at Midway but they were still invading Pacific islands. Americans were all fighting for the American way. Why shouldn't Superman?
As the war turned in our favor, though, the additional phrase didn't seem as necessary. By 1944 it was gone, and for the remainder of the radio show, Superman devoted himself to the fight for tolerance.
It took the paranoia and patriotism of the Cold War era to bring back "the American way" - this time in the "Adventures of Superman" TV series, which ran from 1952 to 1958. Every week, young baby boomers were greeted with the phrase as they sat down to watch the Man of Steel combat crooks and Communist spies.
After the television show, "truth, justice and the American way" became synonymous with the Superman saga; indeed, every Superman since has had to grapple with the phrase's legacy. The 1966 Saturday morning cartoon, "The New Adventures of Superman," tried a strategy of substitution: Children were told Superman's fight was for "truth, justice and freedom."
Others tried omission. In the premiere of the 1993 TV series "Lois & Clark," Lois asks Superman why he's here on Earth. His response - "To help" - isn't good enough for her, and she suggests something more dynamic. "I mean if you said, 'I'm here to fight for truth or justice.'" He nods: "Well, truth and justice. That sounds good."
The most recent incarnation to use the 1950s phrase was the 1978 Christopher Reeve movie, "Superman." When Lois asks the Man of Steel why he's here, he responds straight-faced: "I'm here to fight for truth, justice and the American way." It's the first time Superman himself uses the phrase - a bold move considering how cynical America had become after the Vietnam War and Watergate.
Some people are now objecting to the fact that "Superman Returns" omits the phrase. But there's no reason to be upset. Superman is right back where he began: fighting a never-ending battle for truth and justice. That should be enough to occupy any man. Even a Superman.
"
iht.com
Truth, Justice, and All That Stuff…: Frank Langella as Perry White utters the famous line, but without ‘the American way’ ending. Why the change? Singer said, “They did it so well with justifying the line ‘truth, justice and the American way’ in the original Superman. She says, ‘You’re going to end up fighting every politician in Washington.’ He says, ‘You don’t really mean that Lois.’ She says, ‘You’ve got to be kidding.’ He says, ‘Lois, I never lie.’
That’s such a great scene because they took that expression, which I don’t shy away from, and they commented on it the way Americans are very passionate, very patriotic and self depreciating at the same time. Americans are the first people to be weirdly simultaneously patriotic and self- criticizing. It’s one of our rights as Americans. We can do that. With that notion, I didn’t have a better way to take the edge off it so I did it that way. But, he is an American superhero. There’s no denying that. He’s the ultimate immigrant, raised on a farm in Kansas. He represents what we as Americans idealistically want to be. In that way, I shy away from it, but I don’t know how to. But he’s not just fighting for America. He’s fighting for, you know, the world. He always was. So it’s not shying away from it, it’s just treating it in not a better way, but a different way. I couldn’t measure up to how they treated it.”
movies.about.com
"When Superman returns to action (in a lengthy and exciting space shuttle rescue sequence), Daily Planet editor Perry White (Frank Langella) seems more excited than Lois. "Three things sell newspapers: tragedy, sex and Superman," he barks, ordering his reporters to find out if the mystery hero still stands for "truth, justice -- all that stuff." Note that "the American way" -- a phrase added to the Cold War-era Superman TV show but absent from Superman's earlier radio and cartoon adventures -- is ellided: As TV news reports show us, this Superman is a savior-citizen of the world, which apparently doesn't worry Luthor. "Bring it on!" the villain says of the inevitable confrontation between good and evil."
commercialappeal.com |
