The director, Tim Burton brought Batman, or the Bat-man as he was often called in the film, successfully back to the big screen in 1989; it was the top grossing film of the year. Batman's success resulted in three sequels and lead to Batman Begins coming to the screen in 2005 and its sequel The Dark Knight in 2008, both of which filmed on location in the East of England. The Oscar winning Batman was made before the emergence of CGI and starred Michael Keaton in the lead role. It follows the mysterious caped figure's attempt to clear Gotham City of Crime, ambitious given the state of the city's corrupt police department. The film uses two of Hertfordshire's leading locations and visitor attractions, Knebworth House and Hatfield House. It was however based at Pinewood Studios where Warner Bros. built a Gotham City set in the backlot with the help of Bob Kane, the creator of the Batman character.
Release / Airing: 11/08/1989
Locations used for this production:
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Hatfield House >
The interiors of Wayne Manor were largely filmed at Hatfield House. The length of the Armoury Room was transformed into a gaming room for a party hosted by Bruce Wayne. Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl), a reporter working with Vicky to try to find out more about the Bat-man as well as the equally mysterious Bruce Wayne, manage to gain entry to the party but neither know what Bruce Wayne looks like. Vicky asks who she thinks is a fellow guest but as the man himself he declines politely to enlighten her. Meanwhile Knox does his best to get an interview from guests including Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle). The Commissioner is told secretly that they have received a tip off that Jack Napier (Jack Nicolson) is about to raid the AXIS chemical plant. He leaves. Vale and Knox try to track down the Commissioner at the house; Bruce follows them and introduces himself after listening to their initial impressions of him. Little do they know the truth. Alfred (Micheal Gough), Bruce Wayne's faithful Butler, interrupts to announce that the Commissioner has indeed left and tells Bruce that he is needed elsewhere. The magnificence of Hatfield House's interior rooms appear to the best advantage in these scenes. The story returns to the house later in the film as Bruce and Vicky get to know each other. The scene after dinner sees them on the staircase when it is clear they are both attracted to one another. Vicky does however wake up alone. Having found Bruce he explains he's not going to be able to see her for a few days as he's going away. She then descends the staircase passing Alfred who tells her they aren't going anywhere - Vicky is left wondering.
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Knebworth House >
The exterior of the house 'starred' as Wayne Manor and the striking Gothic beauty of the house is shown in the first 30 minutes of the film, initially in a scene where guests are arriving at the house for a party and then later as Bruce Wayne returns for a dinner engagement with the beautiful Vicky Vale (Kim Bassinger). In a later scene confused about the identify of Bruce Wayne, Vicky returns to the manor and waits for him to leave; she then follows.
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Little Barford >
The interiors of the power station double perfectly for the AXIS chemical works scene. Jack Napier and his men arrive and realise they have been set up as the police are waiting for him. A shoot out follows at which point Commissioner Gordon and Batman arrive. Jack attempts to get away but is apprehended by Batman and ends up in a vat of liquid. He emerges as The Joker and Gotham City's crime problems ascend to a new level.
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These productions were filmed nearby:
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