From Comics to Film: The Evolution of Batman

Posted by: MovieMaven

We delve into the Shadow of the Bat to do a History of Batman in Film! With the success of Superman comics by 1938, editors of the comic book division of National Publications (later to be DC Comics) asked Bob Kane to create another superhero. He came up with a basic drawing and then collaborated with co-creator Bill Finger to come up with the Caped Crusader we all know and love. He first appeared in Detective Comics issue #27 in May of 1939 as the Bat-Man then later earned his own title due to his popularity. Batman has no super powers like many other heroes, but instead relies on his billionaire fortune, nifty gadgets and his own detective prowess to solve crimes. No one could have predicted that 70 years later, Batman would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office with The Dark Knight.

Seventy years is a long time and in that time Bruce Wayne's alter ego has lived through numerous incarnations. He has gone from being the Bat-Man to being Batman, he has gone from being dark and torturous to campy and back again. He has fought countless villains and made many friends. It has even been argued that he was homosexual. I could easily write a book detailing his history and the many theories surrounding it. But I have an agenda here and that is to discuss the various versions of Batman on film. So here we go.

Lewis Wilson was the first actor to portray the vigilante hero on screen in a 13 part serial titled Batman in 1943 directed by Lambert Hillyer. In this first film, Batman battles Japanese spymaster Prince Daka who has the unfortunate habit of turning scientists into zombies. That was followed by Batman and Robin in 1949 (15 episodes) with the role then being played by Robert Lowery. It was directed by Spencer Gordon Bennett and matched the Dynamic Duo against The Wizard. At this point you didn't have to be a comic book reader to know who Batman was. These serials helped bring his character to life and paved the way for the films we know today.

In January of 1966 Adam West became the Batman of the television series that ran until 1968. This version became a pop culture phenomenon spawning merchandise and making the careers of many of its actors including Burt Ward as Robin/Dick Grayson. Adam West's Batman was campy and integrated the look of a comic book utilizing bright colors and all the “POWS” and “BAMS” you could swallow. It also gave us the next feature film, Batman, released in 1966 between the first and second seasons of the series. During its heydey, the Batman series gave us personified versions of his most famed enemies The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, plus some that were created specifically for the show like King Tut and False Face.

After the 1966 film, several were released from the Philippines including one titled Batman Fights Dracula (1967) which pits him against another iconic character, you guessed it: Dracula. While the title suggests that it may have gained its inspiration from the Abott and Costello films, one viewer cites that it is a “spectacular mind-altering experience...[artfully drawing symbolism] between Batman's bat-like nature and Dracula's own bat-like ways ” (junkmail-5 as quoted from the IMDb). Looks like I may have to search for this title myself.

While Batman never left television audiences for long, being featured in many animated series as well as another attempt at TV in 1977 with The New Adventures of Batman, all was quiet on the theater front until Tim Burton once again brought him to the big screen in 1989. This heralded film starred Michael Keaton as the titular hero and paired him against Jack Nicholson as The Joker.

Burton infused his characteristic gothic style into the film that was backed by the largest merchandising and marketing campaign in history at the time. It grossed $411 million worldwide and was the first film to break $100 million in its opening weekend. It was also the highest grossing DC comic film to date. But some fans were not happy. There were some who claimed that it was too dark while others (like me) were not completely pleased with the outcome compared to the comic book. It was fun to see Batman return to his darker roots but something didn't quite ring true. The Joker being responsible for the murders of Bruce's parents which caused him to devote his life to solving crime was one issue that stuck in the craw of many fans. They were killed by a low level criminal called Joe Chill in the comic. Burton's attempt to intertwine the foes more deeply than they actually were made for some interesting plot devices, but hardcore comic book lovers remained displeased about the stray from canon. Changes such as this are common in book to film adaptations, but the origin of the hero can be a touchy subject.

Even though everyone wasn't completely pleased with the first feature, it was extremely successful as noted earlier and eventually spawned the sequel, Batman Returns, in 1992 also directed by Tim Burton with a beautiful score by Danny Elfman. It was nominated for two Oscars and grossed $266 million worldwide even though many claimed it was too dark for younger audiences. Interestingly Burton claims that Batman was the darker of the two. With The Joker being killed off at the end of the first film, it was necessary to up the ante with more big names and more big foes. Danny DeVito joined the cast as The Penguin with Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. Once again, moviegoers would be amazed while comic book fans were sent to their corners grumbling. It received mixed reviews, most of those citing that the problems arose from the differences between the comics and the film. One of the largest complaints being that Batman would never kill a criminal for fear he would become a criminal himself.

Even though the sequel didn't match the enthusiasm of the first, Joel Schumacher would come along to helm the third installment, Batman Forever, in 1995. Val Kilmer came on to play the part of Batman and Chris O'Donnell joined in as Robin. It would go on to receive 3 Oscar nominations and gross a total of $337 million worldwide amidst the myriad of problems facing this production. The villains this go around were Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face / Harvey Dent (Dent was played by Billy Dee Williams in the original) and a bendy Jim Carrey as The Riddler. Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar also made appearances as Sugar and Spice. The new director brought newly designed costumes that were inexplicably metallic in appearance along with his different style.

While the presence of Robin was mostly greeted with favor, other factors of the film made it hard to swallow. One of the largest complaints was with the portrayal of Two-Face. Known for his obsession with duality and Fate, one of his traits is that he bases all of his major decisions on the toss of a coin...even when the results do not favor him. His character believes in Fate and never falters in following its advice. There is a scene in the film that depicts him tossing the coin until he gets the answer he desires. That is something the true character would never do. It's not a Magic 8 Ball.

Schumacher wasn't done yet and neither was Warner Brothers. These characters would hit us one more time in 1997 with the coolly received Batman and Robin. I always thought that title would have been better suited for the former film but what can you do? In this one we get yet another actor, George Clooney, as Batman and O'Donnell reprises his role of Robin. Throw in Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy and Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl and we get a star-studded flop. It managed to cover its budget of $125 million and bring in a total of $238 worldwide, but fans overall were displeased with just about the whole thing. The characters were laughable and the script was panned by critics as a whole. This ended the flailing franchise to the relief of Batman fans everywhere.

But then something wonderful happened in 2005. Christopher Nolan reinvented the Batman franchise with his release of Batman Begins and comic book fans could finally exhale. Christian Bale reignited the love of the superhero and brought him to the screen once again as the dark vigilante that many had waited so long to see. This one finally did it right. Joe Chill killed Bruce's parents just like he should have all along causing Bruce to become The Dark Knight. This film was nominated for one Oscar and grossed a total of $372 million worldwide.

While this film focused mainly on the origin of the hero, not really utilizing the villains as much as it could, the delivery of a Joker card at the end promised there would be more to come and fans waited rather impatiently for the sequel. The important part was that Batman was who Batman should be. He is dark. He is tortured. He is a vigilante. He is motivated by obsession.

Well that pretty much brings us to present day and we all know what is going on now. The Dark Knight opened this past weekend to throngs of adoring fans champing at the bit to take in the newest installment. If you attempted to see it opening night or at one of the many midnight or overnight showings, you no doubt faced long lines and maybe even disappointment at the numerous sold out shows. Heath Ledger's performance may bring him a posthumous Oscar nod and Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent / Two Face is exactly how I always pictured him to be.

The Dark Knight has already broken 8 box office records including:

Largest Opening, 4,366 theatres.
Most Made at a Midnight Screening,
Most Made at an IMAX Midnight Screening
Biggest Opening Box Office
Biggest Single Day Gross at the Box Office
Biggest IMAX Opening
Biggest Movie of 2008
Biggest July Ticket Gross Ever.

To date it has brought in $157 million at the box office and is still going strong. I think it's safe to predict that there will be more. If not, Nolan may have to hire some body guards to keep back the adoring fans clamoring to see another. And I will be right there with them.