What if...1943's Batman serial was an A-list studio film?

[PNGwynne]

Have you seen Cobb in Anna and the King of Siam? It's a layered performance, but he's glowering and imposing in a lot of it.

I would never have thought of Widmark, I was thinking of a dark Joker and a lighter Riddler. But now I can't think of anyone else.

[C.H.O.A.M.]

I love these kind of threads.
maybe someday technology can make things like this happen with "virtual" movies!

[EmergencyIan]

Have you seen Cobb in Anna and the King of Siam? It's a layered performance, but he's glowering and imposing in a lot of it.

I would never have thought of Widmark, I was thinking of a dark Joker and a lighter Riddler. But now I can't think of anyone else.

I remember watching the movie called “Night and The City” thinking that he’d make a great Riddler. Actually, he reminded me of the Riddler in more than one of his early film noir. Gorshin also had a passing resemblance to Widmark.

I don’t think I’ve seen Lee Cobb in that movie, though I’ve heard of it. Maybe I’ve seen bits and pieces of it. Cobb is really good in Call Northside 777, not to mention Golden Boy, On The Waterfront and 12 Angry Men.

- Ian

[PNGwynne]

I remember watching the movie called “Night and The City” thinking that he’d make a great Riddler. Actually, he reminded me of the Riddler in more than one of his early film noir.- Ian

Just saw Night and the City this year. And I'm sure most know him from Kiss of Death.

[Goblin19]

And for Catwoman I’d go with Jean Tierney. She had the perfect look and could play nice and nasty equally well.

[thunderbolt]

Karloff for Hugo Strange and Maurice Tillet and Rondo Hatton for his monster men.

[thunderbolt]

Oh, and howabout Robert Blake for Robin? Little young at the time 10, but very active in movies.

[Goblin19]

Yes, good choice on Robin.

[PNGwynne]

Blake, could be, he was always very energetic. (Or Blake could be Billy Batson, I always think of Billy as a little younger than Robin.)

To me, Karloff is Clayface I, but I certainly think he'd be a great Prof. Strange.

Tierney would be a good Catwoman. She was chilling in Leave Her to Heaven. That film is where I got the idea for Darryl Hickman as Robin.

[EmergencyIan]

” I saw Night and the City this year. And I'm sure most know him from Kiss of Death.”

Oh yes, he’s terrific in that movie.

Gene Tierney would have made a terrific Catwoman. I hadn’t considered that.

- Ian

[Earth 2 Chris]

Dead on with a Gregory Peck as Batman!! I think Alex Ross used him as a model to great effect in Kingdom Come.

Peck was first cast as Batman (or at least Bruce Wayne) by David Mazzuchelli in Batman: Year One, and Ross ran with the ball.

Great lists folks! I can't think of anything to really add at this point. Some great suggestions!

Chris

[PNGwynne]

^Yes, I totally stole Peck, he seems so right.

Someone suggested in a DC comic I read decades ago that Robert Taylor was a model for Wayne. That doesn't appeal to me at all.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Bob Kane often mentioned a young Robert Wagner, but he was too young to be the model.

Chris

[PNGwynne]

That sounds like typical Kane revisionism, that can't possibly be accurate. And I'm guessing all the art was being ghosted by the time Wagner hit the scene in '50.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I think he meant he saw Bruce as that TYPE in hindsight, but with Kane, who knows? He also claimed he spent time with a pre-Marilyn Monroe Norma Jean.

Chris