'' is both the second
Tim Burton Batman movie and the second Batman film starring
Michael Keaton as the title character. This time, Batman meets
The Penguin (
Danny DeVito ),
Catwoman (
Michelle Pfeiffer ) and
Max Shreck (
Christopher Walken ). It was released in theaters on
June 19 ,
1992 . The score by
Danny Elfman creates a
Gothic atmosphere by combining strings and children's choruses. The film is considered the darkest installment in the franchise and contains most of the artistic, theatrical, and fantastic elements often attributed to Tim Burton.
In 1992, as part of the publicity campaign to promote the movie, ''. This movie, as its predecessor, was a huge success, although some fans complained it was "too weird". Film critic
Leonard Maltin accused ''Batman Returns'' of being a "nasty,
Nihilistic ,
Nightmare movie" with a dark, mean-spirited, and often incoherent screenplay. Today, however, a significant portion of the Batman movie fanbase regards this as one of the best films of the
Tim Burton /
Joel Schumacher Batman franchise precisely because of the very qualities for which Maltin criticized it. A sequel, ''
Batman Forever '' was produced in
1995 .
It is
Christmas in
Gotham City . A twisted penguin-man, the heir of the aristocratic Cobblepot family, abandoned to the sewers by his parents shortly after birth, is determined to regain his birthright.
:"I was their number one son, but they treated me like number two." -''The Penguin, after visiting his parents' graves''.
Max Shreck, a corrupt millionaire, wants to build a giant energy-stockpiling capacitor (disguised as a new power plant) for Gotham City as a legacy for his son to inherit, but is stymied in his goals by
Bruce Wayne and the Mayor of Gotham City.
as
Bruce Wayne in ''Batman Returns'']]
Abducted by the Penguin's gang, Shreck agrees to help the Penguin re-enter normal society and ease his acceptance by the surface world. Once the Penguin's tragic story wins over Gotham City, Shreck encourages him to run for Mayor, confident that he can be more easily manipulated than the current Mayor to approve his "power plant."
In order to replace the current Mayor, the people of Gotham must lose faith in his ability to keep order. The Penguin's provides the necessary emergency, with the help of Selina Kyle, Shreck's harassed secretary - nearly killed by her boss when she uncovered his plans for the capacitor and revived as Catwoman, a sexy three years ago, to stop the riots, expose Shreck's schemes, and save Selina from herself, ultimately her own worst enemy. He must also contend with the Penguin's horrific true motivations for returning to the surface world.
This $80 million movie earned nearly $163 million domestically and $104 million abroad. Although it earned less than the original, it was nevertheless the most successful movie of summer 1992 and third-best of the year (after ''''). The overall critical reaction was mixed, but many consider it to be the best of the ''Batman'' films.
Danny Elfman 's music still obtained a favorable reception and Michael Keaton was well-received once again for his melancholic, brooding, semi-psychotic take on Batman and Bruce Wayne. Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer caught the audience's attention with their enjoyably grotesque portrayals of the Penguin and Catwoman, and the movie's production design and special effects also made a positive contribution. But parents were still concerned with the movie's nearly black-and-white atmosphere, which was even more solemn and morbid than the 1989 original. Moreover, some comic fans were upset by the significant deviations in character that Burton projected onto the movie. While Batman had been seen killing criminals on occasion in the 1989 original, ''Batman Returns'' showed him using lethal force regularly against his foes, a clear departure from the "modern" version of the character. Similarly, the transformation of the Penguin from an urbane, pragmatic thief into a disturbed, homicidal maniac upset many fans.
Alternatively, however, ''Batman Returns'' is hailed by many as a rich, modern
Expressionist motion picture, which disguises a rich character study of Batman, reflected in his foes and his environment. And the lethal force and much darker Batman perfectly reflects Bob Kane's original 1939 treatment of the character, who was quite lethal, and very dark. Since the release of the 2005 special edition DVDs of the Burton Batman films, it has been revealed that the original 1939 comics were used by Burton as his basis, which explains Batman being far darker and more lethal to his foes than the "modern" interpretation.
''Batman Returns'' was given a "bare bones"
DVD release when the medium was introduced in
1997 . However, in
2005 , the newest feature film, ''
Batman Begins '', inspired Warner Bros. to release Two-Disc Special Edition sets for each of the four Burton-Schumacher films in ''Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997''.
Features of the ''Batman Returns'' Two-Disc Special Edition DVD include:
- Digitally Remastered Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer
- English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Track
- English DTS 5.1 Surround Track
- Audio Commentary with Director Tim Burton
- The Bat, The Cat, and The Penguin: 1992 television special
- Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Part 4: The Dark Side of the Dark Knight
- Beyond Batman Documentary Gallery Including:
- ---Gotham City Revisited: The Production Design of ''Batman Returns''
- ---Sleek, Sexy, and Sinister: The Costumes of ''Batman Returns''
- ---Making Up The Penguin
- ---Assembling the Arctic Army
- ---Bats, Mattes and Dark Nights: The Visual Effects of ''Batman Returns''
- ---Inside the Elfman Studio: The music of ''Batman Returns''
- "Face to Face" Music Video by Siouxsie & The Banshees
- The Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
- Theatrical Trailer
- Neither Tim Burton nor Michael Keaton had been signed up in advance for a sequel; Burton came on board only after the script met all his demands (he hadn't been entirely happy with the first film's screenplay), whilst Keaton was willing to portray the character again with a good script and Tim Burton directing to give him a "comfort zone," as he called it in a 1992 interview.
- The first script draft of ''Batman Returns'' was intended to be a direct sequel to the previous film. As a result, sub plots and continuity from the first film that would have been addressed included gift shops selling fragments of the destroyed Bat-Wing, further revelations into the past of the now deceased Jack Napier a.k.a Joker , and even Bruce Wayne proposing to Vicki Vale by the end of the film. However, Tim Burton was uncomfortable in making a direct sequel and as a result, the script was rewritten. However, several plot elements from the original script did make it into the final draft. This included the Penguin and Catwoman's alliance, their framing of Batman, and Batman's escape via the Bat-Glider. Further elements even made their way into the third film, '' Batman Forever '' ( 1995 ), most notably the storming of Wayne Manor and the Batcave.
- Sam Hamm 's original screenplay draft had The Penguin and Catwoman going after hidden treasure. Dissatisfied with that, Tim Burton brought in Daniel Waters , writer of '' Heathers '' (1989), who came up with the concept of an evil mogul backing a bid for the Mayor's office by The Penguin.
- In an another version of the script, Harvey Dent was set to appear in the movie, played by the same actor as in the first movie, Billy Dee Williams . He was going to be used in the Max Shreck role, and the scarring of his face (which would turn him into the villain Two-Face) was set to happen during the finale when Catwoman kisses him while holding onto the Penguin's generator. (This would then, in turn, set up the Third Movie , in which Two-Face was going to appear as the main villain.)
- The plot about the Penguin becoming mayor was borrowed from the episodes ''"Hizzoner the Penguin/Dizzoner the Penguin"'' in the Batman TV show.
- In Tom Mankiewicz 's script for the first movie, that featured The Penguin, he was described as "a tall, proper-looking, thin man".
- In another version of the script, Max Shreck was discovered to be the Penguin 's older brother.
- An unproduced script featured Robin as a Homeless boy Vigilante whom Batman takes in as his sidekick. Producers considered using Robin in the first film and had even cast an actor in the role, but they eventually dropped the character altogether. Marlon Wayans was cast and even went through costume tests.
- Screenwriter Wesley Strick performed an uncredited re-write on the film's screenplay.
- This is the second time Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito were in a movie together. They first worked together in '' Johnny Dangerously ''.
- Annette Bening was cast as Catwoman, but was replaced by Michelle Pfeiffer when she became pregnant.
- Lena Olin was considered for the role of Catwoman.
- Madonna was reportedly considered for the role of Catwoman.
- Sean Young very much wanted the role of Catwoman. During pre-production she arrived at the studio in a Catwoman costume to confront the makers of the movie. She used other people scouting the studio grounds, using walkie-talkies to communicate, to track down the producers. Tim Burton hid behind his desk so as to avoid seeing her. This incident ultimately had a very negative impact on Young's reputation and career
- Michelle Pfeiffer's $3 million salary was $2 million more than was offered to Annette Bening.
- Dustin Hoffman was Warner Brothers' first consideration for the Penguin.
- Burgess Meredith (the original Penguin from '' Batman '' (1966/II)) was asked to play The Penguin's father at the beginning of the movie, he accepted, but couldn't play him due to illness. In ''Batman Returns'', when The Penguin first decides to run for mayor, someone puts a cigarette in his mouth, with a cigarette holder (a reference The Penguin from the Batman TV show).
- Christopher Walken 's character's name is Max Shreck . The real-life actor Max Schreck played the first vampire in movie history in '' Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens '' (1922).
- Christopher Walken, remembering a film he'd seen earlier, requested from director Tim Burton cufflinks made of human molars. He got them, and wore them in the film as the villain, Max Shreck. (The movie, incidentally, was '' The Great Gatsby '' (1974) where the molar cufflinks are worn by the friend of Gatsby who fixed the 1919 World Series .)
- Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger from '' Pee-wee's Big Adventure '' ( 1985 ) reunite briefly at the beginning of the film as The Penguin's father and mother.
- When Batman takes off his mask to reveal to Catwoman that he is Bruce Wayne, the scene jumps from eye shadow on Keaton to him not having eye shadow.
- The movie is approximately 127 mins. long, making it the longest Batman film until 2005 , with the release of '' Batman Begins ''.
- Unlike the first film, Michael Keaton performed all of the fighting as Batman himself, in costume., as opposed to the first film, where Keaton and his stuntman/personal trainer David Lea shared the fighting duties.
- This film is the first US theatrical film to be released with a Dolby Digital (AC-3) soundtrack.
- The Batman costume weighed 55 lbs. Several modifications were made to the Batsuit, including the color scheme and chestplate logo. At the request of Michael Keaton, the codpiece was altered so that it opened to reveal a zipper, a much appreciated convenience.
- At least 50% of the Warner Brothers lot was taken up with Gotham City sets.
- The massive Gotham City sets were all constructed to be mobile, and were often shifted between days of filming. Michelle Pfeiffer routinely got lost on her way to filming each day.
- The set for The Penguin's underground lair was filled with half a million gallons of water and a simulated ice floe island.
- It made $47.7 million in its first 3 days, a record at the time.
- In the US , McDonald's was forced to cancel a Happy Meals promotion with the film, after parents protested about its violent and sexual nature being inappropriate for young children.
- Security was so tight on the production that even Kevin Costner was refused permission to visit the set. Warner Brothers employed a private investigator firm when some shots of Danny DeVito in costume made it into the tabloids.
- Danny DeVito was forbidden to describe The Penguin's makeup to anyone, including his family. He spent two hours a day in make-up.
- The crew had a hard time getting the shot where the monkey delivers the letter from Batman to the Penguin. Evidently, Danny DeVito's make-up terrified the animal.
- Danny DeVito refused a stand-in during the scene where the Penguin gets pummeled with vegetables.
- The Penguin's line: ''"I am an animal. I am ---not--- a human being,"'' is a work on in '' The Elephant Man '' (1980).
- During the scene where Penguin's henchmen are wrecking a shop, there is a reprise of the "Making Christmas" theme from '' The Nightmare Before Christmas '' ( 1993 ), which Danny Elfman also composed. Ironically, in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Penguin's motif can be heard when Lock, Shock and Barrel bring in the Easter Bunny .
- Michelle Pfeiffer got through 60 catsuits during the 6 month shoot, at a cost of $1,000 a time.
- In order to get the cats to surround Selina when she was knocked out, the filmmakers put tuna on a dummy version of Selina and tuna on Selina's suit.
- When Selina is sitting at the desk in Max's office, the light casts a shadow through her eyeglass frames, creating the outline of the pointed mask Catwoman wore in the original DC comic.
- Warner Bros. had to constantly submit new Catwoman posters for various cities as many of the bus stop ads were being stolen. It soon got so bad that police officers had to patrol bus stops in order to catch perpetrators before they could break the Plexiglas containers. Today the large scale Catwoman bus ads are worth a great deal of money.
- During an A&E '' Biography '' centered on Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer said that her Catwoman costume was vacuum sealed once she was fitted into it for scenes, so she actually had only a short amount of time to perform before she would have to have it opened or she could become light headed and pass out. She also admitted that when she first was learning to use the whip she accidentally cut her trainer's face with it, at which he acted as a complete gentleman and continued with their training.
- The production wanted to use King Penguins but the only tame ones in captivity were at a bird sanctuary in the Cotswolds deep in the English countryside. So the birds were flown over to the States in the refrigerated hold of a plane, they were given their own refrigerated trailer, their own swimming pool with half a ton of fresh ice every day, and had fresh fish delivered daily straight from the docks. Even though the temperature outside frequently topped 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), the entire set was refrigerated down to 35 degrees(Fahrenheit). The birds also had a round-the-clock bodyguard. Clearly the birds enjoyed the experience as, following their stint in Hollywood, most of them had mated and produced eggs - the sure sign of contented penguins.
- In the crowd waiting outside of the cemetery, there is a man wearing a Go-Go jacket. Go-Go was a character on the Warner Brothers cartoon '' Tiny Toon Adventures '' (1990).
- WILHELM SCREAM: Before Batman straps the dynamite to the fat clown, he hurls a goon over a bridge. As the goon flies through the air, he screams the famous Wilhelm Scream .
- Daniel Waters 's original script originally had the Bat-Signal blinking on and off at the end of the film as a sign that Selena's electrocution of Max had disrupted the power supply of the city. Tim Burton instead opted to end the film with Catwoman looking out at the signal over a snowy sky, hinting at her survival and possible appearance in a future film.
- The final shot of the film, in which Catwoman is seen looking at the Bat-signal, was added as an afterthought, literally weeks before the film opened. The shot had to be filmed on a weekend, less than a day after conception, with a double for Michelle Pfeiffer. That single shot cost $250,000.
