MovieChat Forums > Superman III (1983) Discussion > Lois Lane looks terrible in this...

Lois Lane looks terrible in this...

posted 11 years ago by Iwishyouwell
23 replies | jump to latest

This is not a bash Margot thread; I actually use to nurse a healthy crush on her, and think she was a very attractive woman back in the day.

But I just watched Superman III regrettably, for the first time in at least 10 years. It was also my wife's first time. She didn't notice anything off until the final minutes of the film, when Lois comes back from vacation. She said "What the hell happened to Lois? She looks so old". And she was right. Kidder was only 33 years old when filming started on part III, but she looks over 40, leathered, and worn down.

Now I know Kidder wasn't leading the cleanest life back then, but still it's startling. She looks ten years younger, and downright beautiful, in a tv movie called "Vanishing Acts" that was released three years AFTER Superman III; look it up on youtube, you'll be floored at how much she looks the same as she did in the original Superman. Hell she looks better in part IV than she does in III.

I'm wondering if this was purposefully done, due to the Salkind's obvious dislike of Kidder after her infamous comments about them to the press. Even in the ending scenes with Lana, Annette O'Toole is well lit with soft, flattering lighting, while Lois' close ups are harsh, and unforgiving. It's like they did everything possible to make her look as used, and chewed out as possible opposite the sweet, lovely Lana Lang.

[–] Wombstar 11 years ago

It was make up. In the film she had just come back form being in a hot climate for a week or two, looked just she had sun burn or something.

[–] Gustav_Fiers 11 years ago

You're telling me she looked that way because she was covering up sun burn with make up?

[–] Iwishyouwell 11 years ago

I think she looks a bit rough around the edges in the first scene, before she goes to Bermuda.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] corinnacarpenter 11 years ago

LOL. She looked like she got FRIED.

Established 1976

[–] Soupful 10 years ago

^ True. Margot Kidder has said in interviews her required work on "Superman III" consisted of only two scenes shot over a day and half in 1982 for the then substantial pay fee of $200,000.

Her scene returning back from vaction in Bermuda at the end of film with a front page story that was going to blow the lid-off government corruption in the Carribean by Editor Perry White had her character of Lois Lane being heavily made up with make-up and a faked tan whith white lipstick and white outfit jacket and skirt to match plus red-striped blouse to reflect Lois had indeed been away on holiday and gained a heavy tan.

Was make-up only. Lois only other shot scene was at beginning of film in daily Planet office in black-suit with yellow-blouse and no heavy tan at all. it wasnt like Margot Kidder did one scene and was called back many months later for second and last with a "tan". The films Producers Salkind and Spengler never wanted to see her again after her very outspoken critisims previous. But Warner Bros insisted they had to use Lois Lane somewhere of which Ilya Salkind had said in 1981 Fantastic Films, that Margot is a very good Lois, however another Lois is possible. The intial "Superman III" script didnt have Lois Lane at all but eventually a compromise was made that had her at the beginning and then return at end to say she was back.

Reported in PEOPLE, VARIETY 1981 - Margot waxed philosophical saying she "loved Lois lane and could play her till she died, but she wont die if she doesnt play Lois". Co-star Christopher Reeve also said of this himself being an outspoken critic of the Producer Salkinds and Director Richard Donner firing "If Margot is to be dropped than I hope its for damn good creative reasons and not for some political non-sense".

Margot scenes were shot back-to-back 'interior' only over a day and half for cameo appearance as Lois. She did however remain in London for some of the productions filming having another bout of romance with Richard Pryor.

References in various interviews notably STARLOG Issue #120 among other publications.

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[–] Herreken 10 years ago

Thanks for that info. I always wondered why she looked so terrible in that last scene.

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[–] corinnacarpenter 11 years ago

She looked really sunburned to me.

Established 1976

[–] Gustav_Fiers 11 years ago

What kind of actress sun burns herself like that when she's going to be making a movie soon? It's Bermuda. Infamous for being hot. She should have known better.

[–] edward_the_longshanks 11 years ago

Dude, she didnt really go to Bermuda. I hope you are just joking.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] jaystarstar 11 years ago

Kidder never looked "good" in the first place.

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[–] Iwishyouwell 11 years ago

Meh. I think Kidder was a fine looking woman in the 70's and at certain times in the 80's. Lots of people do.

Hey, to each his own.

[–] Gustav_Fiers 10 years ago

Kidder never looked "good" in the first place.

That's not true. She's not the traditional image of sexy, but she's a good looking woman. She was in the first two movies.

[–] michaelsmith30 11 years ago

I know this is a part 3 thread, but she looked hot as hell in the diner scene in part 2. I can't blame Rocky for hitting on her.

[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 10 years ago

Drugs. It was the 80s after all. Margot Kidder was an epic cocaine and booze aficionado.

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[–] Soupful 10 years ago

Random Roles by Margot Kidder - 2009

LINK:
http://www.avclub.com/article/random-roles-margot-kidder-24554

Explains her early career, marriage and her only baby daughter Maggie McGuanne, Superman movies success, movie failures, romancing Richard Pryor ect ...

"Nothing is as it seems, nothing is just one thing and nothing is ever just over there"