Batman: Remembering the summer of 1989

It may have been one of the most hyped movies of the year. Early trailers started out simply enough. When other movie trailers played bits of their story, all this one had was a plane hurtling around in the night. The screen would dissolve to black and all that would appear was a stylized “Batman” logo. Later, as the premier got closer, we would get a bigger glimpse into what the world of Gotham City was like.

The much anticipated film came out in the Summer of 1989. It was visually stunning, and beautifully acted by Michael Keaton in the title role and especially by Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

The movie had a lot to offer, and I saw it more than once that summer.

Movie buddies
The summer of 1989 would be my first in Edmonton. I was living in residence and taking classes in spring and summer sessions.

Soon after it started, I started hanging out with two guys – Bruce Freadrich and Larry Irla – who I had worked with the preceding school year. We did a lot of stuff together, Maragarita Mondays and Wing Wednesdays at Campus Earl’s; rented movies; went out for supper – and went to movies.

One of the ones I remember distinctly was “Batman”, which came out in the middle of June.

There was a lot of hype about “Batman” for more than a year, so it was kind of a relief it was finally here, and Bruce, Larry and I went to see it.

It did not disappoint.

There had been some debate over whether Michael Keaton was the right choice for Batman, and I thought he was excellent. There was no question Jack Nicholson would do a good job as The Joker, and he was absolutely outstanding. He exceeded expectations is if that was possible.

They put on a great movie, that I will always remember for the number of quotable moments.

It was also visually stunning to watch. The photography is amazing, with that German expressionist sensibility of shadows, light and dark, diagonal lines, and stark contrasts. The Batmobile was as powerful and intimidating as it should be, the Batplane was sleek and stylized, and the Batcave fit perfectly into this world.

“Batman” was a movie I could watch without sound and still enjoy because it was so visually rich. In fact, I did just that. Maybe a year after the movie came out, I was at Room At The Top, or RATT, a bar on campus at the University of Alberta. I was hanging out with some friends and noticed “Batman” was playing on one of the TVs. Obviously, with music playing and people talking, hearing the movie was not possible. Yet, I found myself looking ove to the TV regularly, instantly knowing what was happening, and enjoying the sights of “Batman” all over again.

The performances of everyone else were also top notch from Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, to Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon.

Quotable
For the rest of the summer, every week, Bruce and I would dwell on another quote from “Batman”.

We went from, “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” to “Never rub another man’s rhubarb” to “This town needs an enema.”

I always joked the last quote we used was the best:

“I’m Batman.”

I went home to the farm at the end of that summer for a week, and went to see “Batman” in Lethbridge with my high-school friend Shawn Kingston. There, I found myself mouthing those lines as we watched the movie. That was the last time I ever saw Shawn too.

The other interesting thing was that Prince did the soundtrack for “Batman”.

Classic Caped Crusader
Leading up to seeing the movie, Bruce rented the old “Batman” movie from the ‘60s. I had seen it twice as a boy, and really liked it. Adam West was Batman and Burt Ward was Robin. The movie featured a good chunk of the classic villains ganging up on Batman and Robin, utilizing a weapon that literally dehydrates people into piles of granules. In this case, the people can be rehydrated, because the show was campy and not as dark as the movie would be.

The Joker was played by Cesar Romero; the Penguin by Burgess Meredith; the Riddler by Frank Gorshin; and Catwoman by Lee Meriweather.

When I first saw the movie, which came out in 1966, I did not realize it would lead to a TV series that ran from 1966 to 1968, for three seasons and 120 episodes.

When I was in Grade 11, CBC Channel 9 on the peasant vision dial started airing on Sunday mornings a show called “Switchback” hosted by a radio deejay named Humble Howard. He played music videos, had interviews and every week played an old episode of “Batman”. I was able to see a couple but going to church meant I missed a chunk of the show – the part with the “Batman” episode. Often, I would get home from church and see the last few minutes of it, but that was it.

Something I started doing, because I loved keeping records, was writing down the different villains each week, often played by interesting actors. I recall in particular Liberace and John Astin.

After the dawn of DVDs, I bought the 1966 “Batman” movie and the first season of the series. I went over to my sister’s right after one of the Christian Bale “Batman” movies came out, and watched the 1966 “Batman” as a prelude.

The rest of the story
Michael Keaton played the Caped Crusader again in the 1992 sequel “Batman Returns”. He was replaced by Val Kilmer for “Batman Forever” in 1995, who was replaced by George Clooney for “Batman and Robin” in 1997.

Parting thoughts
It was a big deal when “Batman” came out in the summer of ’89, because of all the hype and advanced publicity. I have to say the movie delivered, especially the cinematography and that chilling performance by Jack Nicholson as The Joker. He was funny and sarcastic, but also chilling, ruthless, and lethal, all in equal measure. For his performance, he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor Musical or Comedy.

Michael Keaton was also good. Up to that point, he had played characters that were rarely serious, and often sarcastic, constantly cracking jokes, and even a bit ridiculous. That was probably why people were a bit concerned about his casting as Batman. Yet, Keaton showed he could be serious. He was intense, understated, quiet, and just as lethal as The Joker. Keaton showed he could act, and has turned in several very good, dramatic performances since.

Yet, as great as the acting, story and cinematography were, what makes “Batman” hold a special place in my heart, is the role it played in my friendships that summer. Its quotes were a rallying cry, and inside joke, and one of those things that make a relationship a friendship.

I can still see Bruce Freadrich grab me by the lapel, look me square in the eye, and mutter:

“I’m Batman.”