Batman (1989)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1988
Running Times: 121 mins (UK) 125 mins (Argentina) 126 mins (USA)
Format: Technicolor 35mm 70mm (blow-up)
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: 70mm 6-Track Dolby

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment / Warner Brothers
Executive Producer: Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan
Producers: Jon Peters, Peter Guber
Co-Producer: Chris Kenny
Associate Producer: Barbara Kalish
Production Coordinator: Margaret Adams
Unit Manager: Pat Harrison

SCRIPT
Script: Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren
Story: Sam Hamm
Characters: Bob Kane

DIRECTION
Director: Tim Burton
2nd Unit Director: Peter Macdonald
1st Assistant Director: Derek Cracknell
2nd Assistant Directors: Melvin Lind, Julian Wall

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Roger Pratt
Camera Operators: Mike Proudfoot, John Campbell
2nd Unit Cameraman: Peter Macdonald
Best Boys: Bill Merrell, Bill Thornhill, Dennis Branch
Clapper Loaders: Bradley Larner, Graham Martyr
Focus Pullers: Nicolas Schlesinger, Simon Fulford, Stefan Stankowski
Gaffer: Chuck Finch
Rigging Gaffer: Maurice Gillett
2nd Unit Gaffer: Bob Bremner
Key Grips: Nick Pearson, Stuart Godfrey
Stills: Murray Close
Video Supervisor: Ian Kelly
Lighting and Grip Package: Lee Lighting Ltd
Panaflex Cameras and Lenses: Panavision

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Ray Lovejoy
Assistant Editor: Simon Harris
2nd Assistant Editors: Jaime Estrada Torres, Laura Lovejoy, Ben Palmer

MUSIC
Music: Danny Elfman; Max Steiner (Theme From A Summer Place); Stephen Foster (Beautiful Dreamer)
Music Performed By: Percy Faith and his Orchestra (Theme From A Summer Place); Hill Bowen and Orchestra (Beautiful Dreamer)
Songs: Prince (Batdance; The Future; Vicki Waiting; Electric Chair; Partyman; Trust); Prince, John L. Nelson (Scandalous); Joe Hazden, M. Theodore, A. Metz (There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight)
Songs Performed By: Prince (Batdance; The Future; Vicki Waiting; Electric Chair; Partyman; Trust)
Conductor: Shirley Walker
Music Supervisor: Michael Dilbeck
Orchestrators: Shirley Walker, Steve Bartek, Steven Scott Smalley
Score Mixer: Eric Tomlinson
Music Recorded At: CTS Studios

SOUND
Sound Mixer: Tony Dawe
Boom Operator: John Samworth
Supervising Sound Editor: Don Sharpe
Sound Editor: Eddy Joseph
Re-Recording Mixer: Bill Rowe
Re-Recording Studio: Goldcrest Post Production Facilities
Sound Maintenance: David Brill

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Chief Make Up: Paul Engelen
Make Up: Lynda Armstrong
Trainee Make Up: Suzy Evans
Chief Hair: Colin Jamison
Hair: Janet Jamison, Barry Richardson
Kim Basinger's Hair: Rick Provenzano
Costume Designer: Bob Ringwood
Kim Basinger's Costumes: Linda Henrikson
Assistant Costume Designer: Graham Churchyard
Batsuit Designers: Paul Barrett-Brown, Vin Burnham
Wardrobe Supervisor: Annie Crawford
Wardrobe Assistants: William Todd-Jones, David Whiteing, Len Alexander
Wardrobe Runner: Dylan Stone

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Joker Make Up Designer: Nick Dudman
Prosthetic Make Up: Suzanne Reynolds
Prosthetic Technician: Reza Karim

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: The Magic Camera Company
Special Effects Supervisor: John Evans
Motion-Control Camera: Nigelstone
Title Sequence: Plume Partners

VISUAL EFFECTS
Special Visual Effects: Derek Meddings
Visual Effects Editor: Russ Woulnough ***************************

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Anton Furst
Supervising Art Director: Les Tomkins
Art Directors: Terry Ackland-Snow, Nigel Phelps
Assistant Art Directors: John Ralph, Michael Boone
Set Decorator: Peter Young
Production Buyer: John Lanzer
Production Illustrator: Michael White
Draughtsmen: Dave Allday, Julian Caldow, Mark Harris, Martin Laing, Suzanna Smith
Conceptual Illustrator: David Russell
Art Department Assistant: Jenny Gregoire
Art Department Junior: Georgia Dilley

OTHER CREW
Script Supervisor: Cheryl Leigh
Assistant Script Supervisor: Maggie Choyce
Supervising Production Accountant: Mike Smith
Assistant Production Accountants: Gerard Fitzsimon, Val Farmer
Assistant Accountants: Diane Christian, Linda Bowen
Accounting Assistant: Amanda Coroon
Action Vehicles: Johnsargeant
Assistant To Keaton: Katie Ladyko
Assistant To Nicholson: Anniemarshall
Assistant To Chris Kenny: Jo Burn
Assistant to Tim Burton: Val Demeter
Project Consultant: Bob Kane
Projectionist: Rear Projection: Charles Staffell
Publicist: Gordon Arnell
Publicity Assistants: Judy Britten, Tricia Fisher
Unit Nurse: Rosie Bedford-Stradling
Floor Runner: Terry Shane
Production Runners: Matthew Claridge, Max Brown

LOCATIONS
Locations: Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, England, UK; London, England, UK
Studio: Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Location Manager: Chris Brock

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Eddie Stacey

CASTING
Casting: Marion Dougherty
Casting Assistant: Sally Wignall

CAST
Michael Keaton (Batman / Bruce Wayne)
Jack Nicholson (The Joker / Jack Napier)
Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale)
Robert Wuhl (Alexander Knox)
Pat Hingle (Police Commissioner Gordon)
Billy Dee Williams (Harvey Dent, Gotham District Attorney)
Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth)
Jack Palance (Boss Carl Grissom)
Jerry Hall (Alicia)
Tracey Walter (Bob the goon)
Lee Wallace (Mayor Borg)
William Hootkins (Lt Eckhardt)
Richard Strange, Carl Chase, Mac McDonald, George Lane Cooper, Terence Plummer, Philip Tan (goons)
John Sterland (accountant)
Edwin Craig (Antoine Rotelli)
Vincent Wong (crime lord 1)
Joel Cutrara (crime lord 2)
John Dair (Vinnie Ricorso)
Christopher Fairbank (Nic)
George Roth (Eddie)
Kate Harper (anchorwoman)
Bruce McGuire (anchorman)
Richard Durden (TV director)
Kit Hollerbach (Becky Narita)
Lachelle Carl (TV technician)
Del Baker, Jazzer Jeyes, Wayne Michaels, Valentino Musetti, Rocky Taylor (Napier hoods)
Keith Edwards, Leon Herbert (reporters)
Steve Plytas (doctor)
Anthony Wellington (patrolman at party)
Amir M. Korangy (wine steward)
Hugo Blick (young Jack Napier)
Charles Roskilly (young Bruce Wayne)
Philip O'Brien (maitre d')
Michael Balfour (scientist)
Liza Ross (mom)
Garrick Hagon (dad)
Adrian Meyers (Jimmy)
David Baxt (Dr Thomas Wayne)
Sharon Holm (Mrs Wayne)
Clyde Gatell (other mugger)
Jon Soresi (medic)
Sam Douglas (lawyer)
Elliott Stein (man in crowd)
Denis Lill (Bob the cartoonist)
Paul Birchard (another reporter)
Paul Michael (cop)
Carl Newman (movement double)
Pat Gorman (cop - uncredited)

PLOT SUMMARY

Gotham City is a desperate, lawless place, its police ineffectual and corrupt. Its citizens have only one hope against the rising tide of violent crime - the mysterious caped superhero, Batman. But beneath the mask, Batman, alias millionaire Bruce Wayne, battles his own demons, which come to the fore when he goes up against a hideously disfigured and insane criminal known as The Joker. But how does the Joker fit into Wayne's memories of his parents being murdered? And will Wayne be able to suppress his darker side and save the city from the maniacal Joker?

CAPSULE REVIEW

Burton's quite remarkable revision of the Dark Knight is about as far removed from the Technicolour, pop art excesses of the 1960s TV show as it's possible to get. As much a study of the psychology of vigilantism as it is a straight comic book adaptation, it angered some fans by concentrating too much on darker side of Bruce Wayne and not enough on the superheroic arse-kicking. It was a brave move on Burton's part, one which resulted in one of the best comic adaptations ever. Amazingly, he did even better with the stunning sequel, Batman Returns (1992).

Argentina
Video Distributor: Argentina Video Home

Germany
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers GmbH
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (12000 LD)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (12000)

Japan
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (DL-12000)

UK
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video (SO12000); (S012546 - widescreen)
DVD Distributor: (Warner Home Video (D012000))

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Video Distributor: Warner Brothers Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (12000 A/B)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (12000)

Argentina
Rating: 13

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: K-14

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: 12

Norway
Rating: 15

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: 15

USA
Rating: PG-13

1990
Academy Awards, USA
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Anton Furst, Peter Young) - winner

Brit Awards, UK
Best Soundtrack - winner

British Academy Awards, UK
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Nicholson) - nominated
Best Costume Design (Bob Ringwood) - nominated
Best Make Up Artist (Nick Dudman, Paul Engelen) - nominated
Best Production Design (Anton Furst) - nominated
Best Sound (Tony Dawe, Bill Rowe, Don Sharpe) - nominated
Best Special Effects (John Evans, Derek Meddings) - nominated

Golden Globes, USA
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy / Musical (Jack Nicholson) - nominated

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - nominated

People's Choice Awards, USA
Favorite All-Around Motion Picture - winner
Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture - winner (tied with Steel Magnolias (1989))

Young Artist Awards, USA
Best Family Motion Picture Family: Musical or Fantasy - nominated

1988
September
Day Unknown - Production begins

December
Day Unknown - Production ends

1989
June
23: USA - theatrical release

August
11: UK - theatrical release
22: UK - certified 12 by the BBFC (for theatrical release) 

September
13: France - theatrical release

October
Day Unknown: USA - laserdisc release (Warner Home Video (12000 A/B))
20: Finland - theatrical release
20: Sweden - theatrical release
26: West Germany - theatrical release

December
14: Argentina - theatrical release

1990
January
15: UK - certified 15 by the BBFC (for video release)

1992
July
13: UK - certified 15 by the BBFC (for video release)

1996
December
Day Unknown: Japan - DVD release (Warner Home Video (DL-12000))

1997
March
25: USA - DVD release (Warner Home Video (12000))

June
23: UK - video release (Warner Brothers S012546)

1998
September
25: Germany - DVD release (Warner Home Video (12000))
25: UK - DVD release (Warner Home Video (D012000))

1999
April
27: USA - video re-release (widescreen version)

2000
August
29: USA - video re-release

September
19: USA - DVD release

SEQUELS
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Forever (1995)
Batman and Robin (1997)

SEE ALSO
Barb Wire (1996)
The Batman (1943)
Batman (1966)
Batman and Robin (1949)
Batman and Robin (1964)
Batman Fights Dracula (1967)
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman Begins (2005)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Dracula (1931)
Il fantasma dell'opera (1998)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Hak hap (1996)
James Batman (1967)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Mystery Men (1999)
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
The New Batman / Superman Adventures (1997)
Perdita Durango (1997)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Repossessed (1990)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Troll 2 (1992)
True Romance (1993)
Vertigo (1958)
Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995)
Wayne's World 2 (1993)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Les yeux sans visage (1959)
Zongsheng sihai (1990)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
100 Years at the Movies (1994)

The BFI Companion to Crime p.45
credits, review

Bild & Bubbla no.148 (March 2000) pp.18-26
article (Batman på film by David Haglund)

Creature Features Strike Back p.34
credits, review

Dark Side December / January 1994 p.38
credits, review

Empire February 1999 p.130
review (by Andrew Collins)

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.34
credits, review

Première (France) September 1989 p.12
review (by Jean-Paul Chaillet)

Slaughterhouse 5 p.9
note

Studio September 1989 p.7
review (by Jean-Pierre Lavoignat)

batman, butlers, cars, chemical factories, chemicals, comics into film, criminals, dc comics, disfigurement, gadgets, graffiti, helicopters, hot air balloons, insanity, journalists, martial arts, mental illness, millionaires, nerve gas, organized crime, poison gas, police, restaurants, revenge, secret identities, superheroes, towers, vigilantes

Last Updated: 29 August, 2006

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008