Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?|Jun. 23, 1989|USA|126 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Action;Fantasy;SuperHero
Description: As Gotham City nears its bicentennial, Mayor Borg instructs District Attorney Harvey Dent and Police Commissioner Gordon to enhance the city’s safety. Meanwhile, reporter Alexander Knox and photojournalist Vicki Vale investigate rumors of a vigilante known as “Batman,” who targets criminals. Both attend a fundraiser hosted by billionaire Bruce Wayne, who secretly is Batman, having taken up the vigilante role after his parents were murdered by a psychotic mugger in his childhood. During the event, Bruce is drawn to Vicki but abruptly ends their meeting to follow Commissioner Gordon on police business.
Mob leader Carl Grissom, under investigation by Dent and Gordon, sends his second-in-command, Jack Napier, to raid Axis Chemicals. Unbeknownst to Napier, the mission is a setup orchestrated by Grissom to eliminate him for having an affair with his mistress, Alicia. Corrupt police lieutenant Eckhardt arranges the hit, but Commissioner Gordon intervenes and orders Napier’s capture instead. Batman arrives to thwart Napier’s escape, leading to a confrontation in which Eckhardt is killed, and Napier falls into a vat of chemicals, presumed dead. However, Napier survives, but his appearance is drastically altered—his skin turns chalk white, his hair emerald green, and a permanent grin forms on his face. Driven to madness, he adopts the name “Joker” and seeks revenge by killing Grissom and taking over his criminal empire. He also disfigures Alicia to match his appearance.
Batman devotes himself to stopping the Joker as he begins terrorizing Gotham City by contaminating hygiene products with “Smylex,” a deadly chemical that causes victims to die with a maniacal grin. The Joker becomes obsessed with Vicki and lures her to the Gotham Museum of Art, where his henchmen destroy priceless artworks. Batman must confront the Joker and put an end to his reign of terror.
Cast director: Tim Burton
Cast actor: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter
Original name: Batman