Movies
Batman Returns (1992, Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer)
After the success of the first film, Tim Burton returned to helm this sequel, with Keaton reprising his role as the eponymous hero, Danny DeVito as the villainous Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. The Penguin plots to become Mayor of Gotham City by playing on his disabilities. Catwoman has different plans. She was dowdy secretary Slene Kyle, who found out that her boss Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) was planning to defraud the city with his new power plant. Thrown out of a window, she survives thanks to the attentions of the city’s stray moggies and, taking on their powers as well as making herself a very tight suit, she swears revenge of Schreck.
Burton weaves the two plotlines together well: Catwoman and the Penguin form an alliance; but she is similtaneously fascinated by Batman (as he is by her). Also to the fore is Batman’s continued insecurity: is he a superhero or a violent vigilante? And there is also some sympathy for the Penguin, who was abandoned at birth because of his deformities and is desperate to know why his parents treated him so cruelly.
But the real star is Pfeiffer, who throws herself into the role of Catwoman with a performance that Halle Berry could have learnt a lot from, stealing the film from Keaton with both her look and the erotic wordplay she shares with an adversary who could become her partner. Walken, as the evil Max Schreck (a nice nod from Burton to one of his cinematic heroes), is suitably villainous, while another star is Gotham City, a dark art-deco nightmare so typical of Burton’s vision.
production details
USA | 126 minutes | 1992
Director: Tim Burton
Writer: Daniel Walters
Creator: Bob Kane
cast
Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin
Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman
Christopher Walken as Max Shreck
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
Michael Murphy as The Mayor
Cristi Conaway as Ice Princess
Andrew Bryniarski as Charles ‘Chip’ Shreck
Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon
Vincent Schiavelli as Organ Grinder
Steve Witting as Josh
Jan Hooks as Jen
John Strong as Sword Swallower
Rick Zumwalt as Tattooed Strongman
Anna Katarina as Poodle Lady
Gregory Scott Cummins as Acrobat Thug One
Erika Andersch as Knifethrower Dame
Travis McKenna as Fat Clown
Doug Jones as Thin Clown
Branscombe Richmond as Terrifying Clown #1
Paul Reubens as Penguin’s Father
Diane Salinger as Penguin’s Mother
Stuart Lancaster as Penguin’s Doctor
Cal Hoffman as Happy Man
Joan Jurige as Happy Woman
Rosie O’Connor as Adorable Little Girl
Sean Whalen as Paperboy
Erik Onate as Aggressive Reporter
Joey DePinto as Shreck Security Guard
Steven Brill as Gothamite #1
Neal Lerner as Gothamite #2
Ashley Tillman as Gothamite #3
Elizabeth Sanders as Gothamite #4
Joan Giammarco as Female Victim
Frank DiElsi as Security #1
Biff Yeager as Security #2
Robert Gossett as TV Anchorman
Adam Drescher as Crowd Member
Bobby Bell as Emperor Penguin
Niki Botelho as Emperor Penguin
Susan Rossitto as Emperor Penguin
Margarita Farrell as Emperor Penguin
Denise Killpack as Emperor Penguin
Felix Silla as Emperor Penguin
Debbie Lee Carrington as Emperor Penguin
Anthony De Longis as Terrifying Clown #2 (uncredited)
Desi Singh as Clown with Flaming Crossbow (uncredited)
Darla as Ratty Poodle (uncredited)