# Marlon Brando in the SUPERMAN RETURNS: has this been done before? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667 "2005-12-14T23:54:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/1 "2005-12-14T23:54:40Z")
Marlon Brando digitally reprises his role as Jor-El in the movie [Superman Returns](http://imdb.com/title/tt0348150/). The film uses the footage he shot for the Christopher Reeve version but with the new star. Has this ever been done before (a performance from one movie woven into another movie)? Also, I remember that Brando’s contract for the first SUPERMAN gave him a share of the gross. At the time it made him the highest paid actor in history because his 15 minutes (or whatever) of footage earned him more than one million dollars per on-screen minute. I wonder if his estate (which was essentially bankrupt with $20 million in assets and $20 million in debts) can lay claim to a percentage of what’s sure to be an insane gross for this movie. I’ve little doubt that they’re gonna try if there’s any possible way. ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/2 "2005-12-15T01:10:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Marlon Brando digitally reprises his role as Jor-El in the movie [Superman Returns](http://imdb.com/title/tt0348150/). The film uses the footage he shot for the Christopher Reeve version but with the new star. > > Has this ever been done before (a performance from one movie woven into another movie)? > > Also, I remember that Brando’s contract for the first SUPERMAN gave him a share of the gross. At the time it made him the highest paid actor in history because his 15 minutes (or whatever) of footage earned him more than one million dollars per on-screen minute. I wonder if his estate (which was essentially bankrupt with $20 million in assets and $20 million in debts) can lay claim to a percentage of what’s sure to be an insane gross for this movie. I’ve little doubt that they’re gonna try if there’s any possible way. The meshing of a performance from one movie with a second happens a lot, especially as computer technology advances. In Marty Feldman’s _The Last Remake Of Beau Geste_ there is a wonderful scene where it appears that Gary Cooper and Marty Feldman are seated at the same table having a conversation. This is done through clever editing but its absolutely convincing and very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/3 "2005-12-15T01:18:14Z")
Steve Martin’s comedy _Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid_ used dozens of clips from old movies, edited to appear that they were all part of the same movie. The recent _Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow_ used footage of Lawrence Olivier from a movie he made when he was more active (not dead), didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/4 "2005-12-15T01:27:40Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Also, I remember that Brando’s contract for the first SUPERMAN gave him a share of the gross. At the time it made him the highest paid actor in history because his 15 minutes (or whatever) of footage earned him more than one million dollars per on-screen minute. I wonder if his estate (which was essentially bankrupt with $20 million in assets and $20 million in debts) can lay claim to a percentage of what’s sure to be an insane gross for this movie. I’ve little doubt that they’re gonna try if there’s any possible way. His contract undoubtedly allowed the makers of _Superman_ to use his performance to promote the film. So the studio could claim that _Superman Returns_ is actually a promo for the first film. 😉 Actually, the producers of _Superman Returns_ will have had to have negotiated a new contract with the Brando estate in order to use the performance. ---
**Author:** ![VernWinterbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c67d28/32.png) [@VernWinterbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VernWinterbottom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/5 "2005-12-15T02:56:56Z")
I think they should intercut the original footage with new material featuring a taller, thinner actor holding a cape in front of his face. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/6 "2005-12-15T02:59:09Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > The recent _Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow_ used footage of Lawrence Olivier from a movie he made when he was more active (not dead), didn’t it? [According to this, they used archival footage, but from a compliation of sources, and not any particular role](http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1270646,00.html?=rss) ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/7 "2005-12-15T11:51:55Z")
Back to the Future 2 reused tons of shots. Or maybe that one’s too obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/8 "2005-12-15T12:23:03Z")
One of the Pink Panther movies was made from various unused bits from earlier films, after Sellers died. Sellers’ estate tried to sue to stop it happening, but failed. I’ve heard it’s awful, but I’ve never seen it. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/9 "2005-12-15T12:23:25Z")
> [@VernWinterbottom](#): > > I think they should intercut the original footage with new material featuring a taller, thinner actor holding a cape in front of his face. Nah, they don’t need an actor, the director’s chiropractor will do just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/10 "2005-12-15T12:47:42Z")
Really, what you need is the director’s _wife’s_ chiropractor. ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/11 "2005-12-15T13:02:30Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > [According to this, they used archival footage, but from a compliation of sources, and not any particular role](http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1270646,00.html?=rss) While I’ve never seen it quite confirmed, I suspect that the moving-and-talking bits of Olivier’s appearance in _Sky Captain_ are entirely based on manipulating the film of him used for the “hologram” in _Time_, since that was also just a giant floating head. The _Guardian_ article’s sentence that “Images of him come from assorted films and archive footage” can cover the earlier points in the film where Totenkopf is seen in photos. If true, then the _non-trivial_ bits of Olivier’s appearance in the film actually do all derive from the same (somewhat similar at that) role. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/12 "2005-12-15T14:34:37Z")
[Kung Pow: Enter the Fist](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0240468/) used lot of footage from a '70’s era Martial Arts movie. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/13 "2005-12-15T16:20:50Z")
Going back, **[Topper Takes a Trip](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032043/)** has footage of Cary Grant in his earlier role in **Topper**. Grant didn’t want to be in the sequel, so they had to make do. **Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?** used old clips to Bette Davis (\*\*Ex-Lady \*\* and **Parachute Jumper** ) and Joan Crawford (Sadie McKee) to illustrate the fictional acting careers of their characters. There’s also **Zelig** and **Forrest Gump**. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/14 "2005-12-15T16:32:58Z")
I coulda done anything . . . I coulda been the greatest superhero ever . . . instead of a piece of recycled footage, which is what I am, let’s face it, Charlie! ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/15 "2005-12-15T17:38:38Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?** used old clips to Bette Davis (\*\*Ex-Lady \*\* and **Parachute Jumper** ) and Joan Crawford (Sadie McKee) to illustrate the fictional acting careers of their characters. Similarly, in _Sunset Blvd_., when Joe Gillis (William Holden) and Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) watch one of Desomond’s silent films, they actually watch Swanson in _Queen Kelly_ (directed by Erich von Stroheim, who in Susnet Blvd., plays Desmond’s director-turned-husband-turned-butler). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/16 "2005-12-15T17:51:01Z")
In _Total Recall,_ when Quaid is getting the Recall sales pitch, there’s a monitor in the back showing scenes of Arnold lifting weights back in his _Pumping Iron_ days. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/17 "2005-12-15T17:55:23Z")
Ah-HAH! The woman who played Melina played Ana-Lucia’s mother, the police captain, in _Lost!_ That’s where I’d seen her before! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/18 "2005-12-15T18:26:10Z")
I would just like to say that “Totenkopf” is a great name for a disembodied Nazi head portrayed by a dead actor. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/19 "2005-12-15T19:10:07Z")
This isn’t a performance from another movie, but _The Sopranos_ weaved together outtakes of the deceased Nancy Marchand playing Livia Soprano with some digital funny business, so that they could wrap up her character after the actress’ death. It looked like a video game gone awry to me. More to the OP, in _The Limey_ (quoting the IMDB): “footage from the 1967 film _Poor Cow_ (1967) (Ken Loach’s directorial debut) is featured as flashbacks of Wilson (Terence Stamp) with his baby daughter and wife.” ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667/20 "2005-12-15T19:17:26Z")
I realize that it’s somewhat different than the OP, but I think the recycling of News footage in _Forrest Gump_ is worth mentioning. In any case it seems like the highest profile example of it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marlon-brando-in-the-superman-returns-has-this-been-done-before/335667.md?page=2)