Doctor Who Vs. Superman (1978)

This ground-breaking Anglo-American production 

was based on the DC Comics character, created by 

writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster in 1933.

The film depicts the origins of Superman (portrayed
by Christopher Reeve), from his infancy as Kal-El

of Krypton and his teenage years in the rural town

of Smallville, Kansas. Later disguised as mild-

mannered reporter Clark Kent, he worked with 

Lois Lane (played by Margot Kidder) at the Daily 

Planet in Metropolis, and battled villain Lex Luthor

(Gene Hackman).

Released by Warner Bros in late 1978, this Oscar
and BAFTA award-winning adventure was filmed
simultaneously with Superman II (1980), and
spawned two further sequels.
Shown 5 Star today, the feature starred Marlon

Brando (as Jor-El), Glenn Ford (Jonathan Kent),

William Russell, and twenty-three Doctor Who

cast and crew connections:

• Susannah [Yolande] York [born Fletcher] (Lara here, Superman II and IV) voiced Our Mother/Registry/Tannoy for Big Finish's Valhalla (2007)
• Sarah Douglas (Ursa here and II) voiced Gillen for Masters of War (2008), Professor Elizabeth Meadows for Blood of the Cybermen, the Entity for TARDIS, Jones for Shadows of the Vashta Nerada, Chancellor Dondequest for Reborn (2011), Sibor for Prisoners of Fate (2013), and Vortia Trear for The Year After I Died (2017), Drah for Mother Tongue, Myrna Kendal for The Vanity Trap (both 2020), Mrs. Mevel for A Quiet Night In, and Quartermistress for Unfinished Business (both 2021)
• John [born Bertie Wyn] Hollis, James Garbutt, David [Henry] Neal and Penelope [Jane] Lee (Elders) all had roles in the original run
• Brian Protheroe (Co-pilot) voiced Bob Gell/Captain O'Brien for Eldrad Must Die! (2013), Roger Baskerville for The Monstrous Menagerie (2014), Captain Hardwick for Static (2017), and General Ironicus/Milkman for The Iron Legion (2019)
• Alan Tilvern (Controller) was Forester in Planet of Giants
• [Donald] Burnell Tucker (Agent here; Aide in II) was Old Garner in The Angels Take Manhattan
• Rodney Cardiff (Reporter) was a Draconian Guard in (episode 5 of) Frontier in Space
• [Rafael] David de Keyser (Voice of Warden) provided the voice of the Atraxi for The Eleventh Hour, and voiced the Cybermen for The Eternity Clock
• Shane Rimmer (Commander here; Controller in II; Policeman in III) was Seth Harper in The Gunfighters
• Harry Fielder (Policeman here and II) was Guard (in serials PP, ZZZ, 4L, 4P, 5A, 5F, 5Z), Crewman (SS, 4T), Vogan (4D), Assassin (4Q), Tigellan (5Q), and Krarg for Shada
• Tony Selby (Hood) was Sabalom Glitz in The Mysterious Planet, The Ultimate Foe and Dragonfire
• Stuart Fell, Alf Joint, Jim [Derek Christopher] Dowdall, Nick Hobbs, Billy Horrigan, Rocky Taylor, Terry Walsh and Chris Webb were all stuntmen on the classic series too
• Alan Harris (Man) was a Sevateem in The Face of Evil, and titular alien in Terror of the Vervoids