Promotional headshot of actress Faye Dunaway as she appears in the movie “Supergirl” in 1984.
Co-star Brenda Vaccaro, who played Dunaway’s henchwoman, later said she had to keep reminding the Oscar winner to relax — telling her, “It’s just a fun movie.”
Dunaway herself admitted years later that she clashed repeatedly with director Jeannot Szwarc, furious that he reined in her more comedic instincts.
Faye Dunaway is seen on August 7, 1984 in London.
The young star, however, chose to focus on the joy of it all — and that generosity of spirit would only deepen with age. Years later, reflecting on Dunaway’s reputation for being “difficult,” she offered a more compassionate reading:
“Now, as an older actress, I see how vulnerable women are. I don’t think we have the same opportunities as men, and there may be more judgment or criticism directed at us: we’re labeled as difficult when perhaps it’s simply a matter of asking for what you want or having certain standards for how you want to work.”
The actress in a publicity portrait from the film “The Secret Of My Success” in 1987.
When the Film Flopped
For all its promise, “Supergirl” was a troubled production from the start. Christopher Reeve had originally been set to appear as Superman — his presence would have tied the film to the beloved franchise — but he pulled out, reportedly over pay disputes.
The script had to be rewritten. Budget cuts gutted what screenwriter David Odell had originally envisioned: a sprawling, $200 million epic in which the villain, Selena, literally conquered the world. What ended up on screen was considerably more modest — and more muddled.Watch
Early screenings alarmed the studio, and the runtime was slashed by half an hour. Warner Bros. considered it a liability and offloaded it to Tri-Pictures. Its number-one box office debut turned out to be a fluke as it collapsed the following week. Domestically, it grossed just $14 million against a $35 million budget.
