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Batman Returns is a 1992 American superhero film directed by Tim Burton and produced by Denise Di Novi and Burton, based on the DC Comics character Batman. The sequel to the 1989 film Batman, it is the second installment of Warner Bros. initial Batman film series, and stars Michael Keaton as Batman / Bruce Wayne, alongside Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle and Michael Murphy. In Batman Returns, Batman faces the Penguin, who plots to kill all of Gotham City's firstborn sons, while dealing with Catwoman, who seeks vengeance against Max Shreck, a corrupt tycoon who allies with the Penguin to bring Gotham City under his control.

Plot[]

On Christmas day, Gotham City socialites Tucker and Esther Cobblepot become the parents of a deformed baby boy, Oswald. Disgusted by his appearance and wild demeanor, they confine the baby to a cage and ultimately throw him into the sewer, where he is discovered by a family of penguins underneath the abandoned zoo.

Thirty-three years later, millionaire and philanthropist Max Shreck proposes to build a power plant to supply Gotham with energy, though he is opposed by the mayor. During Shreck's speech, Gotham comes under attack by a disgraced former circus troupe, the Red Triangle Circus Gang. Though Gotham's vigilante protector Batman intervenes and manages to fight the criminals off, Shreck is abducted and taken to the sewer, where he meets the gang's ring leader, Oswald himself, now going by the name "Penguin". Oswald blackmails Shreck with evidence of his corporate crimes into helping him return to the surface, and he accepts. Meanwhile, Shreck's secretary, Selina Kyle, discovers that the power plant is actually meant to drain Gotham of its energy, which will bring the city under Shreck's control, after which Shreck will essentially be untouchable by the authorities. Shreck pushes her out of a window to silence her, but she survives the fall and vows revenge, taking up the mantle of Catwoman.

Oswald makes his presence known by rescuing the mayor's baby from a staged kidnapping attempt, and requests to be allowed into the Hall of Records to find his parents. He soon finds out who is parents were, he visits their graves in the cemetery and tells the city he made peace with them. Batman's alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, voices his suspicions about Oswald's true motives, and investigates his background and connection to the Red Triangle Gang, discovering that the troupe had been shut down years ago due to children going missing during their performances and the disappearance of one specific member before interrogation, whom Bruce suspects to be Oswald. During a meeting with Shreck to voice his own opposition to the power plant as well as his suspicions of Cobblepot, Bruce meets Selina and the two become attracted to one another. In order to remove his enemies, Shreck pushes for Oswald to run for mayor and discredit the current mayor by having the Red Triangle Gang wreak havoc on the city. Batman intervenes and meets Catwoman as she attempts to sabotage one of Shreck's businesses; she escapes, but is injured and swears revenge on Batman by allying with Oswald, who also plans to kill Batman as part of his own schemes.

As Bruce and Selina begin a romantic relationship, Oswald abducts Gotham's Ice Princess and kills her, framing Batman for the act, as well as causing the Batmobile to rampage throughout Gotham before Batman narrowly manages to regain control and escape the authorities. When Catwoman rejects his advances, Oswald breaks off their partnership and attempts to kill her, but she survives after falling into a greenhouse. During the chase, Batman records Oswald's disparaging remarks about the people of Gotham and later plays them during his next speech, destroying his image and forcing him to return to the sewer, where he renounces his humanity and reveals his plan to abduct and kill all of Gotham's firstborn sons as revenge for what his parents did to him. At a charity ball hosted by Shreck, Bruce and Selina meet and discover each other's secret identities. The Penguin appears and reveals his plan, intending to take Shreck's son Chip with him, but Shreck gives himself up in his son's stead.

Batman foils the kidnappings and heads for the Penguin's lair. The Penguin attempts to have his army of penguins bomb the city and kill everyone in Gotham, though Batman and his butler, Alfred, jam the signal and order the penguins to return to the sewer. Batman arrives and confronts the Penguin. In the ensuing fight, the Penguin falls through a window into the sewer's toxic water after accidentally launching the bombs on the zoo. Shreck escapes but is confronted by Catwoman, with her costume still shredded after the greenhouse crash, she intends to kill him. Batman pleads for Selina to stop, unmasking himself in the process. Shreck draws a gun and shoots them both, but Selina survives and electrocutes herself and Shreck with a stun gun, causing a massive explosion. Bruce, who was wearing body armor, finds Shreck's remains but Selina is nowhere to be found. The Penguin emerges from the water and tries to shoot Bruce from behind, but dies from his injuries and from the toxic sewage, before his penguin family lays his body to rest in the water. In the aftermath, as Alfred drives him home, Bruce sees Selina's silhouette in an alley but only finds her cat as a farewell gift, who he decides to take home with him. The Bat-Signal appears in the sky as Catwoman, who survived, with her costume now mended, watches.

Cast[]

Uncredited Cast[]

  • Lena Banks as Voting Woman
  • Cheryl Chambers as Reporter
  • Scott Cranford as Penguin Campaign Worker
  • Darla as Ratty Poodle
  • Anthony De Longis as Terrifying Clown #2
  • Danny Elfman as Angry Mob Member
  • Flame as Snake Woman
  • Tyler House as Kidnapped Boy
  • Gary Hunter as Mayor's Assistant
  • Jeff Langton as Clown
  • Richard Lawrence as Shreck Shopper
  • Robert McPhalen as Gotham Reporter
  • Mindi Miller as Penguin Crony
  • Jeff Mulvin as Red Triangle Circus Gang Clown
  • James Murray as Rocket Penguin
  • Steven Rimdzius as Liberal #5
  • Leticia Rogers as Reporter
  • Kristine Rose as Cobblepot Groupie
  • Steffanie Siebrand as Campaign Reporter
  • Desi Singh as Clown with Flaming Crossbow
  • John Strong as Firebreather
  • Michael Sutherland as Bodyguard/Campaigner
  • Philip Tan as Spinning Clown
  • Mark Taormino as Gotham Reporter
  • Oliver Theess as Townsperson

Production[]

Development[]

After the release of the first Batman film, Burton decided he was done with the franchise, but on the account that the first film was a big success Warner Bros asked Burton to continue the franchise and he agreed. Unlike the first film, Burton had more creative say in the matter, which is why both the Penguin and Catwomen had their specific looks in the film and Max Shrek the third villain was completely created by Burton and not the comic book.

Filming[]

Unlike the first Batman film that was filmed at Pinewood Studios in London, this film was done at the Warner backlot in Los Angeles.

Music[]

Reception[]

The critical reaction to Batman Returns was generally positive, however several critics particularly merchandise related were angry by the fact that this film was darker than its predecessor. The film included people getting killed i.e. incinerated or blown up but also that the penguin had green slime coming out of his mouth.

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • Despite taking place during the Christmas season, the film was released in the middle of summer
  • This is the first Burton film to star Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken.
  • Just like the previous film, Burton continued to stay true to the comic books The Penguin and Catwoman's duel identity were given their original names in the film, i.e. The Penguin: Oswald Cobblepot and Catwoman: Selina Kyle.
  • Oswald running for mayor is actually a callback to two episodes from the 1960's series.

External links[]


  Burton films
Features

Pee-wee's Big Adventure ·' Beetlejuice · Batman · Edward Scissorhands · Batman Returns · The Nightmare Before Christmas (film) · Ed Wood · Mars Attacks! · Sleepy Hollow · Planet of the Apes · Big Fish · Charlie and the Chocolate Factory · Corpse Bride · Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street · Alice in Wonderland · Dark Shadows · · Frankenweenie · Big Eyes · Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children · Dumbo ·

Other

The Island of Doctor Agor · Doctor of Doom · Stalk of the Celery Monster · Luau · Vincent · Hansel and Gretel · Frankenweenie · Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp · James and the Giant Peach ·Batman Forever · Batman & Robin · The Jar · Conversations with Vincent · The World of Stainboy · Kung Fu · Mannequin · Bones · Here With Me · 9 · Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter · Alice Through the Looking Glass


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