Since we first presented this tribute to the magic and legacy of Alexander Salkind, significant events have occured regarding his library which have had a profound influence on Santa Claus: The Movie. The following update should give you an idea as to where we presently stand:
In September 1996, a newsgroup campaign is initiated under the leadership of a webmaster nicknamed Hiphats. Purpose of the campaign: to instigate a reissuing of Superman: The Movie in time to coincide with that film's 20th Anniversary. By January 1997, Hiphats has revamped his newsgroup into a website which he christens The Superman File, ostensibly for the purpose of maintaining the reissue campaign, as well as introducing potential beginners to the Superman property. Two months later, on March 8th, 1997, Alexander Salkind dies in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, aged 76, of undisclosed complications resulting from leukemia. He leaves behind his wife and co-conspirator of more than half a century, poetess/playwright Berta Dominguez D.; Ilya, his only son and longtime partner; Pauline Coutelenq, his production executive and companion; Maria Gatti de Monreal, his executive assistant; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Shortly thereafter, another webmaster, MegadethDC, launches his Superman in the Movies page, which later merges with Hiphats' Superman File. The result goes on to become the most comprehensive unofficial site devoted specifically to the Superman films. During this same period, Canal+ Distribution acquires all rights to the Alexander Salkind library --- that is to say, all those properties bearing the Salkind name which are not controlled by Warner Bros. Specifically, this includes all of Alexander and Ilya's pre-Superman works, both Musketeer movies, Crossed Swords, Where is Parsifal?, Supergirl --- and, of course, Santa Claus: The Movie. By this time, Canal+ has already acquired worldwide rights to the Avengers television series starring Patrick Macnee (the basis for WB's ill-fated 1998 release starring Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman and Sean Connery), as well as the entire 22-film library of the (by now) defunct Carolco Pictures, including, among other titles, Terminator 2, Chaplin, Rambo II and III, Basic Instinct and Cutthroat Island.
The U.S./Canadian domestic television rights to both Supergirl and SCTM (along with Superman III as well, of course) continue, however, to be controlled by Paramount, and will very likely have no impact on the recent merger between Paramount's parent, Viacom, and CBS. In the meantime, all North American homevideo rights to Supergirl and Santa Claus: The Movie are transferred to Troy, Michigan-based Anchor Bay Entertainment, under an additional deal with Canal+. Coincidentally, Warner Bros. now controls all North American television rights to the two Musketeer films and Crossed Swords; Canal+, however, retains all other ancillary rights.
It is important to point out, however, that both Supergirl and Santa Claus: The Movie were acquired by TriStar Pictures for U.S./North American release (TriStar having been formed by --- indeed, having taken its very name from --- a partnership between HBO, CBS and Columbia Pictures); because of this, we must consider the two films as part of TriStar's history, first as an independent company, and later, as part of the Sony Pictures regime.
At some point during 1998, this present website, originally referred to as SCTM.com: A 15th Anniversary Tribute, along with the other components of Richard Washington's Blackbeard's Castle, is launched here on the web, with a view toward morphing into a full-fledged set of websites. By Christmas 1998 (naturally!), Mr. Washington declares that all Blackbeard's Castle sites, including SCTM.com, will indefinitely remain in a constant state of construction.
In spring 1999, Anchor Bay releases the full 125-minute director's cut of Supergirl, marking the first-ever release of any of the Salkind Supermovies in expanded form. By late July, Anchor Bay completes a more definitive 'special widescreen edition' (including, among other items, audio commentary featuring director Jeannot Szwarc; and, of course, the Supergirl making-of documentary). This 124-minute version is currently available as the International Version. Meanwhile, Richard Washington announces that, effective November 2001, SCTM.com will be renamed KringleQuest.com. On September 29th, 1999, Dudley Moore goes public with his statement in which he declares that he is being treated for the disorder known as PSP, or progressive supranuclear palsy.
By April 2000, Hiphats' original newsgroup has blossomed into the Superman Web Central --- still the most comprehensive webguide to the Salkind Supermovies anywhere. Meanwhile, as a partial result of the Web Central's efforts, Rhino Records releases John Williams' score for Superman: The Movie in an expanded double CD. Among the previously unreleased goodies: all versions of the Main and End Title sequences; Can You Read My Mind? with AND without Margot Kidder's vocal track; and remastered tracks from the original two-record Soundtrack Album. In May 2000, American Movie Classics runs Superman: The Movie in its widescreen version for the first time on American television.
On Thursday, May 11th, 2000, Hiphats contacts Richard Washington with the news that Anchor Bay Entertainment will reissue Santa Claus: The Movie on VHS and DVD in director's pan-and-scan and widescreen versions. Estimated release date for the "new" SCTM: August 29th, 2000; the DVD version also contains audio commentary from Jeannot Szwarc and film restorational expert Scott Michael Bosco; several deleted sequences, original TV and theatrical trailers, and the Santa Claus: The Movie making-of documentary. All DVD versions --- Supergirl and SCTM --- are digitally enhanced with THX stereo sound.
In late June 2000, Dudley Moore, while resuming his treatments to keep him as fully alive as possible despite his PSP diagnosis, compiles several of his recordings, most of them having been never before released to the public, for a new CD album. News of the compilation is revealed when ABC News' 20/20 Friday reruns their powerful segment in which Barbara Walters interviewed Dudley concerning his life, his career, and his battles with PSP.
In late June and mid-July, 2000, Paris-based conglomerate Vivendi begins talks to acquire controlling interest in Canal+ and the motion picture operations of the Seagram Group, including Universal Pictures. The combined company, which would be called Vivendi Universal, would potentially add Universal's 80-plus years' worth of outstanding film and television works to Canal+'s already burgeoning library of controlled properties --- including the complete Salkind collection. Again, we stress that these are the Salkind projects whose rights are not controlled by Warner Bros.
In late August 2000, while completing work on the International Version of Supergirl, Anchor Bay's restoration team unearths what is believed to be the last surviving print of a full-length, 138-minute version. As a result, Superman fans can now treat themselves to two versions of the same Supermovie on one DVD. This version of Supergirl is now available in a limited edition format as the Director's Cut; and is exclusive to DVD. As for Santa Claus: The Movie, that DVD features four sets of theatrical trailers --- Domestic, International, U.K. and German Versions; three sets of 30- and 90-second TV spots (U.S.); the making-of documentary; audio commentary with Jeannot Szwarc and Scott Bosco --- and, for some strange reason, even a hidden Easter egg!
The joining together of Vivendi, Canal+ and Seagram Group's filmed entertainment divisions into Vivendi Universal takes effect as of December 11th, 2000; making Universal de facto controller of the various film properties earlier discussed, including the Salkind library. Meanwhile, the upgrading of KringleQuest.com is launched in early January 2001; and the reborn site makes its debut on SCTM's 16th anniversary, Tuesday, November 27th.
In February 2001, Hiphats and the Superman Web Central team announce that, after 23 years, Superman: The Movie is to be released in an exclusive, Collector's Edition DVD, scheduled for a release date of May 1, 2001. The other Salkind Supermovies --- Superman II and Superman III, along with the Cannon/WB joint production The Quest for Peace --- are also part of the Collector's Edition Supermovie Chronicles. However, several weeks after the Superman: The Movie DVD is released on the date in question, Hiphats declares that his efforts as far as further restoration of the Salkind properties are concerned are henceforth to be terminated --- leaving us KringleQuesters to step in and pick up where the Web Central team left off!
Also in May, 2001, Warner Bros. and DC Comics are named as defendants in a $20 million lawsuit filed in a Los Angeles County Superior Court by Pueblo Film Licensing, successors to the Estate of Alexander Salkind and its Trustees. The suit alleges that, for the DVD release of Superman III and IV, WB edited and altered material "belonging" to Pueblo Film Licensing without PFL's consent. PFL seeks an injunction which would very likely result in Superman III and IV being effectively pulled from the store shelves. This in turn would result in the two DVD packages being auctioned at ebay.com. Luckily for us, the suit is subsequently settled out of court (at least, as far as we know!).
On March 27th, 2002, Dudley Moore loses his epic struggle against PSP, when he dies of pneumonia-related PSP complications at the home of his caregiver, Rena Fruchter, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He is 66 years old. Our section Remembering Dudley has more reflections on this wonderful entertainer and his unique legacy. Less than five days later, Hiphats shuts down the Superman Web Central after almost seven years of serving online as THE undisputed Salkind standard-bearer. Now, KringleQuest.com stands as one of the major successors to the cause. Click here for a very special Editorial on the future of these very special pages. Almost one month to the day after Dudley Moore's death, the Sci-Fi Channel presents the first primetime screening of Superman: The Movie in its widescreen version. During this same weekend, Richard Washington sends out the first of several e-mails to the Canal+ librarians concerning the Salkind library, the intent being to release all the titles in that library to the public in a special Salkind "retrospective."
This, folks, is where we now stand as far as SCTM's present status is concerned. We'll be sharing any additional details with you when they become available. For now, we invite you to keep watching us.... as KringleQuest.com continues its countdown to Santa Claus: The Movie's 20th Anniversary --- NOVEMBER 27TH, 2005!
