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Batman (franchise)
Since his first appearance in 1939, Batman has been adapted into various media such as film, radio, television, and video games, as well as numerous merchandising items. The Batman franchise has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. Film Early films and serials Live-action A number of Batman theatrical films have been made. There have also been several attempted projects during the hiatus between '' Batman & Robin'' and ''Batman Begins''. Serials *1943: ''Batman (serial), Batman''; 15 chapters starring Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin (comics), Robin *1949: ''Batman and Robin (serial), Batman and Robin''; 15 chapters starring Robert Lowery (actor), Robert Lowery as Batman and Johnny Duncan (actor), Johnny Duncan as Robin ''Batman Dracula'' In 1964, a ''Batman Dracula'' black and white American superhero fan film, was produced and directed by Andy Warhol. Few scenes survive to this day, as it was an unauthorized production, sim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lewis Wilson
Lewis Gilbert Wilson (January 28, 1920 – August 9, 2000) was an American actor, who was most famous for being the first actor to play DC Comics character Batman on screen in the 1943 serial film, film serial ''Batman (serial), Batman''. Life and career Wilson was born in Framingham, Middlesex, Massachusetts, the son of Lucile (née Gregg) and John Henry Wilson. He grew up in Littleton, Massachusetts, where his father was minister of the First Unitarian Church from 1927-1945. Wilson graduated from Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1939. His family had long roots with the school and his father and grandfather were graduates. Following the entry of the United States into World War II, in 1943 Columbia Pictures created the first Batman live action series, simply called Batman (serial), ''Batman''. Wilson was cast as the title character in the 15-episode serial against J. Carrol Naish who portrayed a Japanese spy named Dr. Daka. It was Wilson's screen debut at the ag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Detective Comics
''Detective Comics'' is an American comic book series published by Detective Comics, later shortened to DC Comics. The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is best known for introducing the superhero Batman in Detective Comics 27, ''Detective Comics'' #27 (Cover date, cover-dated May 1939). A second series of the same title was launched in September 2011, but in 2016, reverted to the original volume numbering. The series is the source of its publishing company's name, and—along with ''Action Comics'', the series that launched with the debut of Superman—one of the Mass medium, medium's signature series. The series published 881 issues between 1937 and 2011 and is the longest continuously published comic book in the United States. Publication history ''Detective Comics'' was the final publication of the entrepreneur Major (United States), Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, whose comics company, National Allied Publications, would evolve into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman Begins
''Batman Begins'' is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan and David S. Goyer. The film is based on the DC Comics character Batman, it stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman, with Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, and Morgan Freeman in supporting roles. The film reboots the ''Batman'' film series, telling the origin story of Bruce Wayne from the death of his parents to his journey to become Batman and his fight to stop Ra's al Ghul and the Scarecrow from plunging Gotham City into chaos. After ''Batman & Robin'' was panned by critics and underperformed at the box office, Warner Bros. Pictures cancelled future ''Batman'' films, including Joel Schumacher's planned ''Batman Unchained.'' Between 1998 and 2003, several filmmakers collaborated with Warner Bros. in attempting to reboot the franchise. After the studio rejected a ''Batman'' origin story reboot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Catwoman (film)
''Catwoman'' is a 2004 American superhero film loosely based on the DC Comics character Catwoman. It was directed by Pitof and written by John Rogers, John Brancato and Michael Ferris from a story by Theresa Rebeck, Brancato and Ferris, with music by Klaus Badelt. The film stars Halle Berry as Catwoman, plus Benjamin Bratt, Lambert Wilson, Frances Conroy, Alex Borstein, and Sharon Stone in supporting roles. The film centers on Patience Phillips, a meek designer who discovers a conspiracy within the cosmetics company she works for that involves a dangerous product that could cause widespread health problems. After being discovered and murdered by the conspirators, she is revived by Egyptian cats that grant her superhuman cat-like abilities, allowing her to become the crime-fighting superheroine Catwoman, while also romancing a detective who pursues her. Produced by Village Roadshow Pictures and Denise Di Novi's Di Novi Pictures, ''Catwoman'' was released theatrically on July 23, 2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman & Robin (film)
''Batman & Robin'' is a 1997 American superhero film based on the DC Comics characters Batman and Robin by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. It is the fourth and final installment of Warner Bros.'s initial ''Batman'' film series, a sequel to '' Batman Forever'' and the only film in the series made without the involvement of Tim Burton in any capacity. Directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Akiva Goldsman, it stars George Clooney as Bruce Wayne / Batman, replacing Val Kilmer, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze, and Chris O'Donnell reprising his role as Dick Grayson / Robin, alongside Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Elle Macpherson. The film follows the titular characters as they attempt to prevent Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from taking over the world, while at the same time struggling to keep their partnership together. Warner Bros. fast-tracked development for ''Batman & Robin'' following the box office success of ''Batma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman Forever
''Batman Forever'' (on-screen title is simply ''Forever'') is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. The third installment of Warner Bros.' initial ''Batman'' film series, it is a sequel to ''Batman Returns'' starring Val Kilmer, replacing Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman, alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Gough, and Pat Hingle. The plot focuses on Batman trying to stop Two-Face and the Riddler in their scheme to extract information from all the minds in Gotham City while adopting an orphaned acrobat named Dick Grayson—who becomes his sidekick, Robin—and developing feelings for psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian. Schumacher mostly eschewed the dark, dystopian atmosphere of Burton's films by drawing inspiration from the Batman comic books of the Dick Sprang era, as well as the 1960s television series. Afte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mask Of The Phantasm
''Batman: Mask of the Phantasm'' (also known as ''Batman: The Animated Movie: Mask of the Phantasm'') is a 1993 American animated romantic superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Batman. It was directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, and written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves. The film is based on '' Batman: The Animated Series'' (1992-1995) and is the first original theatrical film produced by Warner Bros. Animation, the first film in the DC Animated Universe and the only one released theatrically. Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings and Robert Costanzo reprise their voice roles from ''Batman: The Animated Series'', joined by Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach Jr., Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller and John P. Ryan. Produced between the first and second seasons of the series, the film follows Batman as he reconciles with a former lover, Andrea Beaumont, and faces a mysterious vigilante who is murdering ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman Returns
''Batman Returns'' is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and written by Daniel Waters. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it is the sequel to '' Batman'' (1989) and the second installment in the 1989–1997 ''Batman'' series. In the film, the superhero vigilante Batman comes into conflict with wealthy industrialist Max Shreck and deformed crime boss Oswald Cobbleplot / The Penguin, who seek power, influence, and respect regardless of the cost to Gotham City. Their plans are complicated by Selina Kyle, Shreck's formerly-meek secretary, who seeks vengeance against Shreck as Catwoman. The cast includes Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, and Michael Murphy. Burton had no interest in making a sequel to the successful ''Batman'', believing that he was creatively restricted by the expectations of Warner Bros. He agreed to return in exchange for significant creative control, including replaci ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman (1989 Film)
''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 title character's war on crime and depicts his conflict with his archenemy The Joker. After Burton was hired as director in 1986, Steve Englehart and Julie Hickson wrote film treatments before Sam Hamm wrote the first screenplay. ''Batman'' was not greenlit until after the success of Burton's ''Beetlejuice'' (1988). The tone and themes of the film were partly influenced by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's '' The Killing Joke'' and Frank Miller's ''The Dark Knight Returns''. The film primarily adapts and diverts from the "Red Hood" origin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman (1966 Film)
''Batman'' (also known as ''Batman: The Movie'') is a 1966 American superhero film directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Based on the television series, and the first full-length theatrical adaptation of the DC Comics character of the same name, the film stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. The film hit theaters two months after the last episode of the first season of the television series. The film includes most members of the original TV cast, with the exception of Julie Newmar, who played Catwoman in the first two seasons; for the movie, she was replaced by Lee Meriwether. Plot When Batman and Robin get a tip that Commodore Schmidlapp, owner of the Big Ben Distillery, is in danger aboard his yacht, they launch a rescue mission using the Batcopter. As Batman descends on the bat-ladder to land on the yacht, it suddenly vanishes beneath him. He rises out of the sea with a shark attacking his leg. After Batman dislodges it with bat-shark repellent, the shark explodes. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman And Robin (serial)
''New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder'', also known as simply ''Batman and Robin'', is a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1943 serial ''Batman'', although with different actors. Robert Lowery played Batman, while Johnny Duncan played Robin. Supporting players included Jane Adams as Vicki Vale and veteran character actor Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon. The serials were re-released as Video On Demand titles by Rifftrax, the alumni project of former ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' members Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. As of September 2014, they have released the entire serial. Turner Classic Movies has broadcast the film serial from June to November 2015 and from October 2021 to January 2022 in a weekly half-hour slot on Saturday mornings. Plot The dynamic duo face off against the Wizard, a hooded villain with an electrical device which controls cars to augment his compulsion to set challenge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batman (serial)
''Batman'' is a 1943 American 15-chapter theatrical serial from Columbia Pictures, produced by Rudolph C. Flothow, directed by Lambert Hillyer, that stars Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as his sidekick Robin. The serial is based on the DC Comics character Batman, who first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #27 in May 1939. The villain is an original character named Dr. Daka, a secret agent of the Japanese Imperial government, played by J. Carrol Naish. Rounding out the cast are Shirley Patterson as Linda Page, Bruce Wayne's love interest, and William Austin as Alfred, the Wayne Manor butler. The serial's story line involves the Batman, a secret U. S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operating in Los Angeles at the height of World War II. Serving Daka are his American henchmen. ''Batman'' is notable for being the first appearance on film of Batman and for debuting story elements that quickly became permanent parts of the Bat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
