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

[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

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

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

[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.

[EmergencyIan]

Yeah, I guess Lee J. Cobb would be a bit of an imposing physical presence to play the Penguin.

Though, young Richard Widmark would have made a terrific Riddler. Glad you like the suggestion. I really like him as an actor. He did a lot of fine acting in a lot of great movies, throughout his career.

- Ian

[PNGwynne]

Really interesting suggestions, folks! Widmark is inspired casting, I had overlooked him.

E. G. Robinson as Penguin could be cool, I can see Lorre, too but I wonder about the accent. An actor like Cobb or even Greenstreet (whom I considered) seems too physically imposing IMO.

I wondered a lot about Power as Dent. I had also considered Robert Mitchum or John Payne. But anyone who has seen Nightmare Alley knows that Power can do justice to Two-Face.

[EmergencyIan]

Riddler could have been Richard Widmark. See his early film noir.

Lee J. Cobb as the Penguin?

- Ian

[Capt_Kirk]

Dwight Frye as the Joker...with that Renfield laugh! That man could play crazy.


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What makes you think he was acting?

[thunderbolt]

Basil Rathbone Joker Errol Flynn Batman WB studio production to follow up on the success of teaming these two in Robin Hood. Peter Lorre for Penguin. Love Power as Dent. Claude Rains for Gordon, De Havilland for Julie Madison, Dwight Frye for the Riddler. Like Bacall as Selina.

[Goblin19]

Edward G. Robinson seems almost too obvious as Penguin.

I’d pick Richard Widmark as The Joker. Jack Palance if you want to go super creepy. Both were just starting out, but time just about right.

[TrekStar]

Charles Laughton or Spencer Tracy might have been an interesting choice for Penguin, Riddler maybe Ray Bolger
Ava Gardner for Catwoman, but I think she came later on.

[Obibob]

Eric Blore is a great choice for Penguin Scott, but Peter Lorre might work too...just saying! How about Mary Astor as Catwoman and John Huston as The Lawgiver...er, Two-Face

[TomStrong]

We've discussed this somewhat before, I always like to see other's opinions and speculation. What if there was a big-budget 1943 Batman film?

My casting ideas (I'm fudging years a little):

Batman/Bruce Wayne: Gregory Peck
Robin/Dick Grayson: Darryl Hickman/Dickie Moore
Alfred: Arthur Treacher
Commissioner Gordon: Edward Arnold
Chief O'Hara: Thomas Mitchell
Julie Madison:Ann Sheridan
Catwoman/Selina Kyle: Lauren Bacall
Joker: Conrad Veidt
Penguin:Eric Blore
Two-Face: Tyrone Power
Riddler: Danny Kaye

Some of these are firm in my imagination; others I mulled over. What say ye?

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

[toothaction]

I think Kay Francis would have made a fine Selina, too.

[PNGwynne]

Frye played "crazed" so well. After Veidt died, I was really hard-pressed to think of someone. I suppose, depending on the characterization, one could posit Kaye as a Joker choice.

[PNGwynne]

Pallette is a little burly, but he could do a DeVito-type version.

If you see Blore (I love his acting) in Astaire & Rogers films, or especially The Lady Eve, he is perfect casting.