Quotes

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Boy: [opening narration] In the decade of the 1930s, even the great city of Metropolis was not spared the ravages of the worldwide depression. In the times of fear and confusion the job of informing the public was the responsibility of the Daily Planet. A great metropolitan newspaper, whose reputation for clarity and truth had become a symbol of hope for the city of Metropolis. Miss Teschmacher: Why is it I can't get it on with the good guys? Desk Sergeant: [on seeing a boat in the middle of the street and Superman flying off] Mooney, first bottle's on me, let me get my hat.

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Jor-El: This is no fantasy, no careless product of wild imagination. No, my good friends. These indictments that I have brought you today, the specific charges listed herein against the individuals, their acts of treason, their ultimate aim of sedition, these are matters of undeniable fact. I ask you now to pronounce judgment on those accused. [referring to Non] On this...this mindless aberration, whose only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction. [referring to Ursa] On the woman Ursa, whose perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton. Finally, General Zod. Once trusted by this Council, charged with maintaining the defense of the planet Krypton itself. Chief architect of this intended revolution and author of this insidious plot, to establish a "New Order" amongst us with himself as absolute ruler. You have heard the evidence. The decision of the Council will now be heard. Council Member 1: Guilty! Council M

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First Elder: ...An unpleasant duty has been masterly performed, Jor-El. They have received the fate they deserve: isolation in the Phantom Zone; an eternal living death. Jor-El: A chance for survival, nonetheless. As opposed to us, if we continue to ignore these facts...It's suicide! No, it's worse. It's genocide! First Elder: Be warned, Jor-El. The Council has already evaluated this outlandish theory of yours. Jor-El: My friends, you know me to be neither rash nor impulsive. I'm not given to wild, unsupported statements. And I tell you that we must evacuate this planet immediately! First Elder: Jor-El, you are one of Krypton's greatest scientists. Second Elder: Ah, yes, but so is Vond-Ah. Vond-Ah: It isn't that we question your data. The facts are undeniable. It's your conclusions we find unsupportable. Jor-El: This planet, along with its red sun, will destabilize and burst within thirty days...likely within seven. Vond-Ah: I tell you Krypton is simply shifting its orbit. Second Elder

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Executor: The energy input to Jor-El's quarters is now in excess. Our data indicates the loss is due to a misuse of power. First Elder: Investigate. Second Elder: And if our suspicions prove correct? First Elder: He knew the penalty he faced, even as a member of this Council. The law will be upheld.

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Jonathan Kent: Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son? Clark Kent: Uh...I didn't mean to show off, Pa. It's just that...well, guys like that Brad, I just wanna tear 'em apart...I know I shouldn't, but... Jonathan Kent: I know. You can do all these amazing things, and sometimes you think that you will just go bust unless you can tell someone about it. Clark Kent: Yeah!...I mean, every time I get the ball, I can make a touchdown. Every time! Is it showing off for a person to do what he's capable of? Is a bird showing off when it flies? Jonathan Kent: No! No, now you listen to me. When you first came to us, we thought that people would come and take you away because if they found out about the things you could do, well, that worried us a lot. But then a man gets older and he thinks very differently, better, starts to see things very clear. And there's one thing I do know, son. And that is, you are here for a reason. I don't know whose reason it is, or whatever the reason...maybe it's...

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Clark Kent: I have to leave. Martha Kent: I knew this time would come. We both knew it from the day we found you. Clark Kent: I talked to Ben Hubbard yesterday, and he said...that he'd be happy to help out from now on. [struggling to maintain his composure] Mother... Martha Kent: I know, son. I know. Do you...know where you're headed? Clark Kent: North. Martha Kent: Remember us, son. Always remember us.

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Jor-El: My son, you do not remember me. I am Jor-El. I am your father. By now, you will have reached your 18th year as it is measured on Earth. By that reckoning, I will have been dead for many thousands of your years. The knowledge that I have, matters physical and historic, I have given you fully on your voyage to your new home. These are important matters, to be sure, but still matters of mere fact. There are questions to be asked, and it is time for you to do so. Here in this...this Fortress of Solitude, we shall try to find the answers together. So, my son, speak. Clark Kent: Who am I? Jor-El: Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton. Even though you have been raised as a human being, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.

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Jimmy Olsen: Golly, Miss Lane, how come you get all the best stories? Lois Lane: A good reporter doesn't get great stories, Jimmy... Perry White: [to Clark] ...a good reporter makes them great.

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Clark Kent: Excuse me, Mr. White. I was wondering if, if, uh, perhaps you could arrange for half my salary to be sent to this address on a weekly basis. Lois Lane: Your bookie, right? Clark Kent: My what? Clark Kent: Actually, she's silver-haired. [brief pause as they both realize he's not kidding] Perry White: Yeah. I'll see what I can do. Lois Lane: Any more at home like you? Clark Kent: Uh, not really, no. Lois Lane: I didn't think so.

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Lois Lane: So, how did you enjoy your first day on the job? Clark Kent: Frankly, the hours were somewhat longer than I expected, but meeting you and Jimmy and Mr. White on the whole, I think it's just swell. Lois Lane: "Swell"? You know, Clark, there are very few people left in the world who feel comfortable saying that word. Clark Kent: What word? Lois Lane: "Swell". Clark Kent: Really? It just sort of comes naturally to me.

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Clark Kent: [points the Mugger's gun away from himself and Lois] Now just a minute, mister. I realize times are tough for some these days, but this isn't the answer. You can't solve society's problems...with a gun. Mugger: You know something, buddy? You're right. I'm gonna turn over a new leaf. Clark Kent: Now, that's the spirit. [to Lois] See, he really doesn't want to hurt anybody. Lois Lane: [sarcastically] Uh-huh. Mugger: Right after I rip off this lady's purse. Now c'mon, lady. Hand it over. Clark Kent: Now, Lois, I think you better... [Lois begins to hand the Mugger her purse, but instead drops it] Lois! What are you doing?! Lois Lane: Clark! Clark, are you okay? Clark Kent: [wakes up] Golly, I...I guess I might have fainted. Lois Lane: Fainted? You fainted! Clark Kent: Sorry. [Lois walks away as Clark opens his hand, looks at the audience, and tosses the bullet aside] Really, Lois, supposing that man had shot you? Is it worth risking your life over ten dollars, two credit cards,

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Miss Teschmacher: Sick! Sick. You're really sick! Lex Luthor: Sick, Miss Teschmacher? When I'm mere days away from executing the Crime of the Century? How do you choose to congratulate the greatest criminal mind on our time? Do you tell me that I'm brilliant? A bit obvious, that, I grant you. Charismatic, then? Fiendishly gifted? Miss Teschmacher: [laughs] Try twisted. Lex Luthor: Miss Teschmacher, you don't know the half of it. [both laugh as Miss Teschmacher begins to search through a cabinet] Get away from there! Hey! I said get away from there!! Miss Teschmacher: [closes the drawer] Tell me something Lex, why do so many people have to die for the Crime of the Century? Lex Luthor: Why? You ask why? Why does the phone always ring when you're in the bathtub? Why is the most brilliantly diabolical leader of our time surrounding himself with total nincompoops? Otis: [enters the room] I'm back, Mr. Luthor. Lex Luthor: Ah yes, Otis, I was just talking about you. You were followed again, w

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Pimp: Say, Jim! Whoo! Superman: Excuse me. Pimp: That's a bad outfit! [Superman flies off] Whoo!

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Superman: Easy, miss. I've got you. Lois Lane: You...you've got me? Who's got you?!

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Superman: [to the techicians about the pilot] Gentlemen, this man needs help! [to Lois] Well, I certainly hope this little incident hasn't put you off flying, miss. Statistically speaking, of course, it's still the safest way to travel. [prepare to flies away] Lois Lane: Wait! Who are you? Superman: A friend. [flies away] Bye.

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Jetliner pilot #1: What the hell happened? Did we get our engine back? What the hell is going on out there?! Jetliner pilot #2: Fly. Don't look. Just...fly. We've got...something. I don't know what it is, but...trust me. [they both look out the window and see Superman holding on to the jetliner while flying]

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Jor-El: You...enjoyed it. Superman: I don't know what to say. I guess I just got carried away. Jor-El: I anticipated this, my son. I... Superman: You couldn't have! You couldn’t have imagined... Jor-El: [gently] How good it felt! Superman: How good it felt... Jor-El: [couldn't resist a small smile] You are revealed to the world. Very well. So be it. But still you must keep your secret identity. Superman: Why? Jor-El: The reasons are two: First, you cannot serve humanity 28 hours a day. Superman: 24. Jor-El: Or 24, as it is in Earth time. Your help would be called for endlessly, even for those tasks which human beings could solve themselves, because they're happy to abuse their resources in such a way. Superman: And secondly? Jor-El: Second: Your enemies will discover their only way to hurt you by hurting the people you care for. Superman: Thank you, Father... Jor-El: Lastly, do not punish yourself for your feelings of vanity. Simply learn to control them. It is an affliction common to

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Lex Luthor: Miss Teschmacher! Turn it off. Miss Teschmacher: [lying under sunlamps, turns off the TV] Lex, what's the story on this guy? Do you think it's the genuine article? Lex Luthor: If he is, he's not from this world. Miss Teschmacher: Why? Lex Luthor: Because, if any human being were going to perpetrate such a fantastic hoax, it would have been me! Otis! My robe! Otis: Right away, Mr. Luthor! Lex Luthor: It all fits somehow, his coming here to Metropolis. And at this particular time. There's a kind of cruel justice about it. I mean, to commit the crime of the century, a man naturally wants to face the challenge of the century. [lost in his thoughts, and stops at the top step of the pool where his feet are still submerged] Otis: Listen, Mr. Luthor, maybe this guy that flies is just sort of passing through, you know? [enters the pool and starts helping Lex on with the robe, but the bottom of it then proceeds to get soaked] Lex Luthor: [as Otis helps him putting on his robe] Passin

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Perry White: [to the crowd of reporters] Now, look. [throws newspapers down in succession, reading out their headlines] The Post: "IT FLIES!" The News: "LOOK MA - NO WIRES!" The Times: "BLUE BOMB BUZZES METROPOLIS". The Planet. [the headline on the Daily Planet reads: "CAPED WONDER STUNS CITY"] We're sitting on top of the story of the century here! I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption! Clark Kent: [raises his hand] I, I don't think he would, uh, lend himself to any ch-cheap promotion schemes, though, Mr. White. Perry White: Exactly how would you know that, Kent? Clark Kent: [hesitates as everyone looks at him] Um...uh, uh, j-just a first impression? Perry White: Well anyway, who's talking cheap? I'll make him a partner if I have to! Right? Secretary: Right, Chief. Perry White: I want the real story! [bangs his desk. Lois is taking notes and finds a card with a personal

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Lois Lane: Eight o'clock, he says eight o'clock. Hm. Some friend. [pours herself some wine] Story of my life. [sits down] Cinderella bites the dust. Superman: [lands at the edge of her terrace] Good evening, Miss Lane. Lois Lane: U-Uh...hi! Superman: Oh, I'm sorry. Did you have plans this evening? Lois Lane: Oh. Oh, this old thing?...No. Superman: Well listen, it's no trouble at all for me to come back later- Lois Lane: No! [rushes forward] Don't move! Um, er, uh...sure, you can move. Um, just don't fly away, all right? Superman: [smiles, hops down onto the terrace, and walks forward] Sorry to, uh, just drop in on you like this, Miss Lane, but I've been thinking. You know, there must be a lot of questions about me that people in the world would like to know the answers to... Lois Lane: Of course. Yes. Uh... [begins to light a cigarette] Superman: Uh, you really shouldn't smoke, you know, Miss Lane. Lois Lane: Don't tell me. Lung cancer, right? Superman: [using his x-ray vision, Superma

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Superman: We forgot to time ourselves. Maybe next time. [starts walking back to the edge of the terrace]: You okay? Lois Lane: [nodding] Uh-huh! Superman: Good night. Lois Lane: Good night. [watches Superman flying away, thinking to herself] What a super man! [pauses] Superman! Clark Kent: [from behind the door] Anybody home? Hello? Lois? [Lois answers the door] Hi. Can I come in? Lois Lane: [still infatuated with Superman] Oh, yeah. Clark Kent: Lois, for goodness sake, didn't you hear me knocking? Lois Lane: [still in an infatuated, dream-like state] Uh-huh! Clark Kent: Lois, we did have a date tonight, remember? Lois Lane: Oh! Clark Kent: [performing a hand gesture for drinking] You haven't been--hmm? Lois Lane: Oh! No. No. Clark Kent: Well, I certainly hope not. Well, let's push off, shall we? Lois Lane: I'd better get a coat. Clark Kent: [rehearsing in Superman's voice] Lois, there's something I have to tell you. I'm really... [Lois returns with her coat, before he quickly puts on

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Lex Luthor: [referring to Superman] Now then...given the location of the galaxy that he mentions, in proximity to our own solar system...it's amazing. AMAZING! But too good to be true! Miss Teschmacher: It's too good to be true! He's 6'4", has black hair, blue eyes, doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and tells the truth! Lex Luthor: Miss Teschmacher, some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe. Miss Teschmacher: Lex, what has chewing gum got to do with the secrets of the universe? Lex Luthor: [sighs] Right, Miss Teschmacher. Right.

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Lex Luthor: N...N...N... Otis: 'M'! You want 'M', Mr. Luthor? Comin' right up! [moves the sliding ladder Lex is standing on, leaving Lex hanging from a shelf] So, there you go, 'M'. Lex Luthor: 'M' as in Moron, Otis? No, no, no, it's 'N'! 'N' as in Neanderthal, Nincompoop, Nitwit! And 'L' as in Ladder!

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Miss Teschmacher: [reading the article] A meteorite found in Addis Ababa. I know I'm gonna get rapped in the mouth for this, but so what? Lex Luthor: So what. You mean, to us, they're just meteorites. Fair enough. But the level of specific radioactivity is so high, to anyone from the planet Krypton, this substance is lethal. Otis: Wait a minute, Mr. Luthor. You mean, fire and bullets can't hurt this guy, but this stuff here ... Miss Teschmacher and Otis: [in unison] ...will kill him! Lex Luthor: Doesn't it give you, like, a shudder of electricity to be in the same room with me? Miss Teschmacher: Not like the shudder you're gonna get when you try to lay that rock on him. He can see you coming for miles with those super-peepers of his. Lex Luthor: "Oh, Lord. You gave them eyes, yet they cannot see". Nor can Superman, through lead. Miss Teschmacher: [understanding] He can't see through lead! Lex Luthor: And Kryptonite will destroy him. Any questions, class? Miss Teschmacher: [thinking to

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Lois Lane: As you know, my newspaper, the Daily Planet, is very interested in that dam, Chief, but what I don't understand is why you would sell out to a faceless person that you've never met. I mean, you don't even know his name. Indian Chief: At the stupid high price that he offered for this worthless piece of desert, I hope it's Custer!

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Lex Luthor: It's open, come in. My attorney will be in touch with you about the damage to the door. Otis, take the gentleman's cape. Otis: [approaches Superman, who glares at him] I don't think he wants me to, Mr. Luthor. Superman: All right, Luthor. Where's the gas pellet? Lex Luthor: Somewhere...hidden in the back of my mind, actually. It's a little idea I was toying with. Superman: Is that how a warped brain like yours gets its kicks? By planning the death of innocent people? Lex Luthor: No. By causing the death of innocent people.

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Lex Luthor: [pointing to a map of California and the San Andreas Fault] Everything west of this line is the richest, most expensive real estate in the world: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Everything on this side of the line is just hundreds and hundreds of miles of worthless desert land, which just so happens to be owned by... [whaps Otis with his pointer] Otis: Uhhh...Lex Luthor, Incorporated. Lex Luthor: Now, call me foolish, call me irresponsible, it occurs to me that a 500 megaton bomb planted at just the proper point would, uh... Superman: Would destroy most of California. Millions of innocent people would be killed. And the West Coast as we know it would- Lex Luthor: Fall into the sea. Bye-bye, California. Hello, new West Coast. My West Coast. [Otis overlays map with new map] Lex Luthor: Costa Del Lex. Luthorville. Marina del Lex. Otisburg...Otisburg? Otis: Miss Teschmacher, she's got her own place. ["Teschmacher Peaks"] Lex Luthor: Otisburg? Otis: It's a little bitty pl

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Jimmy Olsen: Golly, Miss Lane, it's too bad Mr. Kent wasn't here to see all this. Lois Lane: Yeah, poor Clark! He's never around when you...wait a minute, wait a minute.... [shrugs her shoulders] Lois Lane, that is the silliest idea you've ever had... Jimmy Olsen: Let me tell you something, Miss Lane: I think he really cares about you. Lois Lane: Clark? Of course he does. Jimmy Olsen: No, not Clark. [looks up in the sky] Lois Lane: Oh...well, uh... Superman cares about everybody, Jimmy. But, uh...who knows, someday, y'know, maybe if he's lucky...

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Superman: Good evening, Warden. I think these two men should be safe here with you now till they can get a fair trial. Warden: Who is it, Superman? Lex Luthor: [removes his wig to reveal his bald head] Lex Luthor, the greatest criminal mind of our time! Otis: Of our time! Lex Luthor: I hereby serve notice- Otis: He's serving notice to you- Lex Luthor: ...that these walls- Otis: That these walls here- Lex Luthor: [to Otis] Would you shut up, please! Ya fat, li'l fool! Superman: Alright, take 'em away, boys! Warden: This country is safe again, Superman, thanks to you. Superman: No, sir. Don't thank me, Warden. We're all part of the same team. Good night.