Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Directed by Tim Burton, it is the first installment of Warner Bros. initial Batman film series. The film was produced by Jon Peters and Peter Guber and stars Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, and Jack Palance. The film takes place early in the war on crime of the title character (Keaton) and depicts his conflict with his archenemy the Joker (Nicholson).
Parallel to the Superman casting, a variety of Hollywood A-listers were considered for the role of Batman, including Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Tom Selleck, Bill Murray, Harrison Ford and Dennis Quaid. Burton was pressured by Warner Bros. to cast an obvious action movie star, and had approached Pierce Brosnan, but he had no interest in playing a comic book character. Burton was originally interested in casting an unknown actor, Willem Dafoe, who was falsely reported to be considered for the Joker but had actually been considered for Batman early in development. Producer Jon Peters suggested Michael Keaton, arguing he had the right “edgy, tormented quality” after having seen his dramatic performance in Clean and Sober. Having directed Keaton in Beetlejuice, Burton agreed.
Tim Curry, David Bowie, John Lithgow, Brad Dourif, Ray Liotta, and James Woods were all considered for the Joker. Burton wanted to cast John Glover, but the studio insisted on using a movie star. Robin Williams lobbied hard for the part. Jack Nicholson had been the studio’s top choice since 1980. Peters approached Nicholson as far back as 1986, during filming of The Witches of Eastwick; unlike Keaton, he was a popular choice for his role. Nicholson had what was known as an “off-the-clock” agreement. His contract specified the number of hours he was entitled to have off each day, from the time he left the set to the time he reported back for filming, as well as being off for Los Angeles Lakers home games. Nicholson demanded that all of his scenes be shot in a three-week block, but the schedule lapsed into 106 days. He reduced his standard $10 million fee to $6 million in exchange for a cut of the film’s earnings (including associated merchandise), which led to remuneration in excess of $50 million—biographer Marc Eliot reports that Nicholson may have received as much as $90 million. He also demanded top billing on promotional materials.
Sean Young was originally cast as Vicki Vale, but was injured in a horse-riding accident prior to commencement of filming. Young’s departure necessitated an urgent search for an actress who, besides being right for the part, could commit to the film at very short notice. Peters suggested Kim Basinger: she was able to join the production immediately and was cast. As a fan of Michael Gough’s work in various Hammer Film Productions, Burton cast Gough as Bruce Wayne’s mysterious butler, Alfred. Reporter Alexander Knox was portrayed by Robert Wuhl. In the original script, Knox was killed by the Joker’s poison gas during the climax, but the filmmakers “liked [my] character so much,” Wuhl said, “that they decided to let me live.”
Burton chose Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent because he wanted to include the villain Two-Face in a future film using the concept of an African-American Two-Face for the black and white concept, but Tommy Lee Jones was later cast in the role for Batman Forever, which disappointed Williams. Fortunately, Williams would go on to voice Two-Face in The Lego Batman Movie in 2017. Nicholson convinced the filmmakers to cast his close friend Tracey Walter as the Joker’s henchman Bob. Irish child actor Ricky Addison Reed was cast as Dick Grayson before the character was removed by Warren Skarren for the revised shooting script. The rest of the cast included Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, Jerry Hall as Alicia, Lee Wallace as Mayor Borg, William Hootkins as Lt. Eckhardt, and Jack Palance as crime boss Carl Grissom.
The production designer, Anton Furst, created Gotham City as a dark, oppressive urban environment with a unique and gothic aesthetic. The sets were built at Pinewood Studios in England, using enormous soundstages and creative forced-perspective techniques to make the city appear more expansive. Burton’s direction brought a quirky yet sinister tone to the film, blending a noir aesthetic with comic book exaggeration. His vision, along with Danny Elfman’s haunting score, became defining elements of the movie.
The iconic Batsuit was a major technological challenge. Made of thick rubber, it was infamously restrictive, limiting Keaton’s movement and visibility. This led to the development of the “Batman turn,” where Keaton had to rotate his entire torso to look around, which inadvertently added to the character’s intimidating presence. Nicholson’s makeup was a labor-intensive process. It required several layers of prosthetics and white face paint to achieve the clown-like, grotesque look. Behind the scenes, Nicholson reportedly maintained a humorous attitude during these long makeup sessions.
The Batmobile was custom-designed for the movie, combining elements of classic cars with futuristic touches. It became one of the most beloved versions of Batman’s vehicle, with a jet turbine engine and sleek black design.
Many effects were practical rather than computer-generated, as CGI was still in its infancy. For example, the Batwing’s memorable scene flying against the moon was a combination of miniatures and matte paintings. The Joker’s gruesome transformation after falling into a vat of chemicals was achieved with practical effects, including vivid prosthetics.
The 1989 Batman remains a landmark film that bridged the gap between comic books and mainstream cinema. Its moody aesthetic, unforgettable performances, and innovative production techniques continue to influence superhero films to this day.
0 comments:
Post a Comment