News

Matt Reeves' 2022 superhero flick "The Batman" was yet another retooling of the character, this time as bleak as has ever been seen on the big screen. "The Batman" was more similar in tone to David Fincher's 1995 serial killer thriller "Seven" than to anything made by Christopher Nolan or Tim Burton. Reeves' film did include several familiar faces, however, using the same rogue's gallery as Leslie Martinson's seminal 1966 "Batman" feature film. Zoë Kravitz played Catwoman, this time as an apartment-living thief in deep with the mob. Paul Dano played the Riddler as a Zodiac-like serial killer who liked to leave clues at his crime scenes. Barry Keoghan had a brief mid-credits cameo as the Joker, already incarcerated for a previous shenanigan. 

Most visible was the Penguin, played by Colin Farrell in impressive and extensive makeup. In "The Batman," the Penguin is a mid-level mob guy, known by the Gotham City police,...

From Jack Nicholson, to Heath Ledger, to Joaquin Phoenix - there’s something about the Joker that brings out the stars.

With “Joker: Folie à Deux” hitting theaters nationwide Thursday, Oct. 4, there’s no better time than right now to rank the best movies that feature one of Batman’s greatest villains: the Joker. Hollywood stars seem to be endlessly drawn to the role, from Jack Nicholson to the late Heath Ledger to Joaquin Phoenix (Ledger and Phoenix both won an Oscar for their performances). So, without further ado, here are the top 7 live-action movies with appearances from the Joker character ranked!

Top 7 “Joker” Character Movie Appearances

’Suicide Squad’

’Batman’ TV Show

’Zack Snyder’s Justice League’

’The Batman’

’Batman’

’Joker’

’The Dark Knight’

No. 7: ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016) | Max

In “Suicide Squad,” the Joker, played by Jared Leto, is a gangster-psychopath fixated on reuniting with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). While...

In the mid-60s, beach movies were all the rage. The super-specific subgenre was an early iteration of the coming-of-age movie, but in place of any real depth or story, its plots often focused on adolescent fun. They typically featured music, dancing, bright colors, and light romantic and comedic hijinks. At their most complex, the teen beach movies came across as a discordant mix of the sanitized family cinema of the '50s and the youth-in-revolt transgressiveness of '70s film -- slightly wholesome, but slightly countercultural.

The 1963 movie "Beach Party" is often credited with popularizing the mini-genre, and after its success, plenty of imitators were churned out in quick succession. Among them is "For Those Who Think Young," a relatively forgotten movie that's best-known as Nancy Sinatra's film debut. It wasn't just Sinatra who made waves on screen, though; the movie also starred Tina Louise and Bob Denver,...

Several Batman movie scenes have actually improved with age, whether due to their humor, gravitas, or influence on the superhero landscape. Batman movies are an integral part of the DC Universe, appearing prominently throughout the Dceu timeline and in the DCUs future. Though many of these were celebrated upon their release, certain scenes have become more effective in subsequent years.

Batmans journey through cinema has been an ever-evolving experience. From the 1960s camp of Batman: The Movie to the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and beyond, each iteration of the Caped Crusader has reflected its eras tastes and cinematic trends. Over time, certain scenes from these films, whether initially praised or dismissed, have taken on new life. As the superhero genre has grown and audiences' perspectives have shifted, these moments have gained deeper meaning or newfound appreciation.

Related 20 Best Characters In Every Batman Movie Franchise Ranked...

Most audiences, I feel, would describe Sherwood Schwartz's 1964 sitcom "Gilligan's Island" as an ensemble piece. All of the seven castaways were important to the overall comedic dynamic, and no single star was any more important than the other. Well, apart from Bob Denver, the title character, who might have been the central figure of the ensemble. When the show first began, actor Jim Backus -- the millionaire Thurston Howell, III -- might have been the most recognizable star on the cast, but he fell in with the ensemble easily. He was a professional.

Despite the ensemble nature of the show, however, there was an issue over its credits. Tina Louise, who played the movie star Ginger Grant, insisted that her name be listed last in the credits, feeling that she was to be one of the show's biggest draws. For the first season, the opening credits of "Gilligan's Island...

Bruce Wayne's suits need to be practical for survival, especially without superpowers like other heroes. Adam West's iconic Batman had the least practical suit with no protection or stealth features. Pattinson's Batman suit in "The Batman" is the most practical yet, offering mobility, protection, and unique gadgets.

Batman has an impressively long and rich cinematic history, which has been accompanied by a plethora of Bat Suits - however, not all of them make sense for a crime fighter without superpowers. DC's Caped Crusader has gone through massive transformations in the pages of DC Comics, ranging from fairly campy to dark and brooding noir. These interpretations have also been mirrored on the big screen, and different Batmans have meant different Batsuits.

Given that Bruce Wayne is just a regular person under his suit, it makes it all the more important for the many Batman movies to explain why he isn't...

Actress Elaine Devry, who appeared in films such as ‘The Atomic Kid’ and ‘A Guide for the Married Man’ and dozens of television series, passed away at her home in Grants Pass, Oregon, according to a notice on a local funeral home website. She was 93.

Elainemarried actor Mickey Rooney in Las Vegas in November 1952, becoming the fourth of Mickey’s eight wives, reports Variety.

The actress died on September 20 but the news of her death surfaced recently.

The actress made her first onscreen appearances the following year in the comedy film ‘A Slight Case of Larceny’ starring Mickey, as well as an episode of the Ronald Reagan-hosted CBS anthology series ‘General Electric Theater’.

As per Variety, in the 1954 sci-fi comedy ‘The Atomic Kid’, directed by Leslie H. Martinson, she played nurse Audrey Nelson opposite Mickey’s Barnaby “Blix” Waterberry; she was billed as Elaine Davis (Mrs. Mickey Rooney) in the credits.

Actress Elaine Devry, who appeared in films such as ‘The Atomic Kid’ and ‘A Guide for the Married Man’ and dozens of television series, passed away at her home in Grants Pass, Oregon, according to a notice on a local funeral home website. She was 93.

Elainemarried actor Mickey Rooney in Las Vegas in November 1952, becoming the fourth of Mickey’s eight wives, reports Variety.

The actress died on September 20 but the news of her death surfaced recently.

The actress made her first onscreen appearances the following year in the comedy film ‘A Slight Case of Larceny’ starring Mickey, as well as an episode of the Ronald Reagan-hosted CBS anthology series ‘General Electric Theater’.

As per Variety, in the 1954 sci-fi comedy ‘The Atomic Kid’, directed by Leslie H. Martinson, she played nurse Audrey Nelson opposite Mickey’s Barnaby “Blix” Waterberry; she was billed as Elaine Davis (Mrs. Mickey Rooney) in the credits.

Elaine Devry, who appeared in such films as “The Atomic Kid” and “A Guide for the Married Man” and dozens of television series, died Sept. 20 at her home in Grants Pass, Oregon, according to a notice on a local funeral home website. She was 93.

Devry married actor Mickey Rooney in Las Vegas in November 1952, becoming the fourth of Rooney’s eight wives. She made her first onscreen appearances the following year in the comedy film “A Slight Case of Larceny” starring Rooney, as well as an episode of the Ronald Reagan-hosted CBS anthology series “General Electric Theater.”

In the 1954 sci-fi comedy “The Atomic Kid,” directed by Leslie H. Martinson, she played nurse Audrey Nelson opposite Rooney’s Barnaby “Blix” Waterberry; she was billed as “Elaine Davis (Mrs. Mickey Rooney)” in the credits.

Devry portrayed divorée Jocelyn Montgomery in the 1967 Gene Kelly-directed film “A Guide for the Married Man.

Elaine Devry, an actress who appeared in such films as The Atomic Kid and A Guide for the Married Man and on dozens of TV shows after becoming the fourth of Mickey Rooney’s eight wives, has died. She was 93.

Devry died Sept. 20 in her home in Grants Pass, Oregon, according to a notice placed on a local funeral home website.

Devry married Rooney in Las Vegas in November 1952 and made her first onscreen acting appearances the next year in the Rooney-starring comedy film A Slight Case of Larceny and on an episode of the Ronald Reagan-hosted CBS anthology series General Electric Theater.

In the Republic Pictures sci-fi comedy The Atomic Kid (1954), directed by Leslie H. Martinson, she was introduced as “Elaine Davis (Mrs. Mickey Rooney),” and her character, a nurse, marries her husband’s Barnaby “Blix” Waterberry at the end of the movie.

In A Guide for the Married Man...

The Caped Crusader. The Dark Knight. The World’s Greatest Detective. The Bat. He is vengeance. He is the night. He is, of course, Bruce Wayne – aka Batman. And for 84 years and counting, ever since his introduction in Detective Comics #27 on 30 March 1939, Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s Guardian of Gotham City continues to dominate popular culture.

A superhero with no actual superpowers (except for fat stacks of Benjamins), Bats is – in essence – just a man trying to turn his pain into something positive; a vigilante in a cowl and cape who’s capable of evolving with the times to be whatever kind of hero the moment asks for. It’s no wonder such a dynamic array of filmmakers – from Leslie H. Martinson to Tim Burton among many, many others – have been inspired to send up the Bat-signal on the big screen in live-action and animation over the years.

Leslie H. Martinson's 1966 feature film "Batman," a spinoff feature from the popular TV series that launched the same year, is -- without hyperbole -- one of the best films of its decade. There is no film more sublimely self-aware, more colorful, funnier, or more brazenly entertaining than "Batman." None of the Batman films since have managed to approach Martinson's miraculous cinematic purity and subversive satire. "Batman" celebrates the ridiculous, childlike glory inherent in superhero comics, while also sending it up; Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) are so obnoxiously square, one can't help but laugh at them a little bit. However, West and Ward are so brilliantly earnest in their comedic performances, one can't help but also admire their genius. Add to that four over-the-top villain performances from Cesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Lee Meriwether, and Burgess Meredith, and one can see how "Batman" approaches the sublime. It is...

When making a movie about a superhero, there are two approaches a filmmaker can take. One can either tell the story from the beginning, detailing all the complicated circumstances that led to the creation of a Superman, a Batman, or a Morbius. Or one can pick up in medias res, depicting a superhero as already well into their career, their costume chosen, their ethos set. There is, of course, a third option, and that's to tell the story of a superhero's death or retirement, but those stories are painfully rare. 

Prior to 2008, superhero movies were less common, and their origin stories were only sometimes covered. Leslie Martinson's 1966 film "Batman" never bothered to explain why Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson did what they did other than to explain that they supported their local police. Richard Donner's 1978 film "Superman," in contrast, followed Kal-El from his birth on a distant planet,...

With its recent release on HBO Max, The Batman continues to reshape the public’s perception of what a superhero movie can be. But it’s hardly the first time that the Dark Knight appeared on screen. In fact, outside of some serials of questionable quality in the 1940s, Batman’s feature film debut came with 1966’s Batman: The Movie.

For some viewers, there could not be a larger disparity between the pop art of the 60s movie and the gothic look of Matt Reeves’s film. But the Corridor Crew on YouTube found a way. A recently-posted video recreates The Batman’s first trailer, digitally replacing actors from the 2022 film with their 1966 counterparts. Instead of Robert Pattinson solving the clues of Paul Dano’s Riddler, we watch Adam West stare down Frank Gorshin. Now, it’s the 1955 Ford Lincoln Futura Batmobile instead of a ’69 Charger chasing down Burgess Meredith’s Penguin,...

Dr. Who and the Daleks/Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.

Blu ray

Kino Lorber

1965, 1966 / 82, 84 min.

Starring Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbens

Cinematography by John Wilcox

Directed by Gordon Flemyng

The story of Doctor Who turns on a distinctly British conceit; our hero, a grandfatherly type usually found puttering in the garden, is in fact an alien in human form who does his puttering in a time-traveling laboratory disguised as a police box—a notion Roald Dahl might have dreamed up during one of his rare good moods.

It premiered on BBC One, November 23, 1963, the day after the Kennedy assassination (the start of the show was delayed by news updating the tragedy). British character actor William Hartnell portrayed the first Doctor to man the controls of the cosmic phone booth, followed by Patrick Troughton in 1966 and Jon Pertwee in 1970 and on and on—Jodie Whittaker currently carries the mantle and made history...

Two disparate pop culture icons battle it out for supremacy.

Two pop culture icons battle for supremacy at the UK box office this weekend, as Todd Phillips’ Venice Golden Lion winner Joker through Warner Bros goes up against Rupert Goold’s Judy Garland biopic Judy which is released this through Pathé.

Phillips’ film has proved controversial since its victorious Venice premiere in August. The studio released a statement last week defending the film in response to parents of victims of the 2012 Aurora cinema shootings, who expressed concern over the film’s depiction of gun violence.

It stars Joaquin Phoenix – widely...

Above: Czech poster for Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, Italy, 1968).As I’m sure I’ve said before, the world of Czech movie posters is never less than an embarrassment of riches. I keep discovering new artists that I was never aware of previously, all with an impressive body of work behind them. The other day, as I was looking through the new acquisitions of my favorite poster shop, Posteritati, I came across this striking poster for Once Upon a Time in the West: a fascinating combination of bold color, eccentric collage, pop art elements and unusual typography. I wasn’t aware of the name of Stanislav Vajce before that but a quick search on the store's website and elsewhere revealed a wild array of some of the most exciting and inventive Czech posters I have seen in a while. As with so many of...

Though he’s often left out of conversations comparing the disparate visions filmmakers have had for Batman, Leslie H. Martinson Biff! Pow!-ed everyone to the punch with 1966’s Batman: The Movie, the first feature-length realization of the character, made long before Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan, Zack Snyder, and increasing layers of grit entered the picture. Variety reports that Martinson—a prolific TV and film director with more than 100 credits to his name—died on Sept. 3 at the age of 101.

Batman: The Movie, like the Adam West-starring series it’s based on, presented a campy, self-aware Caped Crusader, one that satirized both superheroes and the Day-Glo ’60s culture that surrounded it. Few would probably regard it as a good movie; it’s silly and schlocky, and riddled with groaning wordplay and garish aesthetics not even Schumacher would attempt. However, it’s remained a ...

Leslie H. Martinson, who directed dozens of TV shows as well as feature films, including Batman: The Movie, has died. He was 101. His family announced that Martinson died September 3 of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles. Martinson began his career as a newspaper journalist before moving on to MGM as a script clerk in 1936. After serving in World War II, he began directing TV Western series in the early 1950s. He helmed the first of Mickey Rooney’s three failed…...

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nov. 22nd assassination of President John F. Kennedy with a primetime lineup on Thursday Nov. 21 featuring five powerful documentaries about Kennedy’s election, presidency and tragic death. Also included is a popular drama about Kennedy’s service during World War II.

TCM’s commemoration of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination will open with four works by documentary filmmaker Robert Drew, considered a pioneer of the cinéma verité. Drew’s use of new light-weight cameras traditional allowed him to capture reality as never before, leading to a filmmaking movement known as “direct cinema.” He utilized the new cameras for the first time while chronicling the election of John F. Kennedy in Primary (1960), airing at 8 p.m. (Et), which focuses on the 1960 Wisconsin Democratic Primary contest between Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey.

Primary will be followed by the...

Many a Broadway musical spent time at a regional theater to iron out the wrinkles; current Broadway smash “Kinky Boots” had a well-received run in Chicago last year. Not every out-of-town production finds its way to a New York City premiere, but here is a roundup of regional shows to keep an eye on. “Being Earnest” This TheatreWorks production—playing in Mountain View, Calif.—boasts an impressive cast. Based on Oscar Wilde’s comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest” but set in swinging ’60s London, the production stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Euan Morton, Hayden Tee, and Maureen McVerry. The music was co-written by Emmy nominee Jay Gruska and Tony nominee Paul Gordon; Gordon also penned the book and lyrics. The production, which opened April 6, is slated to run through April 28. Casting by Leslie Martinson. “Fly by Night” The New York City blackout of 1965 provides the backdrop for this...

Since 1966 there have been 8 Batman movies made, from directors;

Leslie H. Martinson (Batman 1966)

Tim Burton (Batman & Batman Returns)

Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever & Batman & Robin)

And the more recent and highly successful Christopher Nolan films (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight & The Dark Knight Rises) or as they are more commonly known – the “Nolanverse”

Each director has taken there own unique spin on the Batman franchise, with the Tim Burton films taking on the dark and tormented world of Bruce Wayne as he struggles with the memory of losing his parents.

The first film “Batman” (1989) – although awaited with scepticism – once it was received in cinemas the fans loved it, despite the incorrect adaptations from the comics; mainly the way Tim Burton had the Joker kill Bruce Waynes parents.

The sequel “Batman Returns” (1992) which was also heavily criticised for being a little too dark, was still greeted with positive acclaim and triumphed in the box office.

by Nick Schager

[This week's "Retro Active" pick is inspired by Christopher Nolan's trilogy-capping The Dark Knight Rises.]

There's absolutely nothing dark or particularly knightly about the Caped Crusader in Batman (also known as Batman: The Movie), with the only brooding found in Leslie H. Martinson's 1966 film—based on the popular 1966-1968 TV series—coming courtesy of billionaire Bruce Wayne (Adam West) staring passionately into the eyes of Dr. Kitka (Lee Meriwether), a/k/a the disguised Catwoman. Such lust overpowers him so completely that even Robin (Burt Ward), monitoring the rendezvous via closed-circuit TV in the Batmobile, has to turn away, admitting, "Some things have to be private, even for a crime-fighter." That cheeky moment boasts the only trace of actual emotion found in this goofball comedy, which was initially intended to launch ABC's bi-weekly television program but wound up being produced after the second season was completed, and released in between seasons one and two. And it's also, ultimately, indicative of this saga,...

The Warner Archive Collection is a manufacture-on-demand (Mod) DVD series that specializes in putting previously unreleased films on DVD for the first time. Recently they dug deep into their vast history of classic horror and selected some winners to resurrect.

The Warner Archive Collection can make a wide array of films available because they don't actually create the DVD until it is ordered by a customer. This way, they are not taking a chance of getting stuck with a large amount of inventory if a selected title doesn't sell. You'll certainly recognize some of the horror films the Warner Archive Collection has added to its library, but there are a couple of really obscure ones in there as well. Take a look at the list of what's been made available and plan your shopping list now.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

Although the recent remake featuring the suddenly single...

In preparation for The Dark Knight Rises, Awfully Good will be featuring a different Batman-related movie each week until the film's release. Perhaps a little Schumacher will help you appreciate Christopher Nolan that much more. Batman: The Movie (1966) Director: Leslie H. Martinson Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether When The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler and Catwoman join forces, the Dynamic Duo must battle exploding animals, semi-powerful magnets, and dry skin...

By Tom Lisanti

On Sunday night March 14, TCM is showing a Tina Louise tribute. It is surprising but wonderful that TCM is recognizing the extremely talented redhead who had a very interesting and prolific movie career. First up at 8Pm is Tina in her Golden Globe award winning movie debut as sexy farm nymph Griselda in God's Little Acre (1958) from the novel by Erskine Caldwell. This is followed by the Beach Party knockoff For Those Who Think Young (1964) starring James Darren and Pamela Tiffin standing in for Frankie and Annette with Tina as a sexy singing stripper who moonlights as a math tutor. Also starring is Bob Denver before he and Tina got stranded on Gilligan's Island.

When I asked Pamela Tiffin about Tina, she exclaimed (in my book Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema), “Tina Louise was one of the most beautiful females I’ve ever seen in my life.

By Matt Singer

Since 1940's "Batman" #4, and his first movie serial three years later, the Caped Crusader has called Gotham City his home. On screen and on the printed page, its visual representation has changed quite a bit over almost 70 years. At times, the look of the metropolis has been an afterthought; at others, directors have paid more attention to Gotham's appearance than to the characters living in it, and its latest appearance, in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," may be its most unusual yet. (None the least for sparking a heated New York/Chicago debate.) Here's a look at eight movies full of gargoyles, dark alleys, and, yes, big naked statues.

Batman (1943)

Directed by Lambert Hillyer

Production Designer: Uncredited

This bargain basement production didn't even bother giving the Dynamic Duo a Batmobile, letting them make do with a generic black sedan, so it's no surprise Gotham is equally indistinct.

Batman star Lee Meriwether has revealed the unusual audition technique that landed her a role in the history-making film - licking herself.

The 73-year-old actress, who starred as Catwoman in the 1966 Batman film, beat out hundreds of women for the role.

And she says it was her feline-like ways that convinced director Leslie Martinson she was perfect for the part.

Meriwether says, "Julie Newmar played the role originally then she couldn't do the film. I was lucky, I auditioned - I got the part over hundreds of gals.

"I curled up in a chair and licked my hand. I was a cat."

The role of Catwoman has since been reprised by stars including Eartha Kitt, Halle Berry and Michelle Pfeiffer.