I love the action in the alley fight scene. But one strange instance that always got my curiosity was right after Vicki took a picture from above, where you can see Bob the Goon and co had removed Batman's cowl to the point you could see his face. I kinda got the impression Vicki came to Batman's rescue right on time, because if she was a split second late then the Joker goons would've compromised Batman's identity.
(https://i3.wp.com/media.caps.pictures/198/9-batman/full/batman-movie-screencaps.com-8169.jpg)
Nothing else to add, other than I just love the grit and grime of that whole set, it's a worthy location for a fight scene. After the warehouse scene in BvS, it is still my favourite action scene in the entire Batman film history.
I think the original scripted scene called for Batman to fight it out with the goons in the alley maskless. Vicki was snapping pictures the whole time and it only would've made sense that at least one of the pictures would've showed Batman's face. Hence the need to take the film away from her.
I assume that changed in reshoots or something.
Yeah, the 1986 draft proved your memory right. I remember reading this script years ago, and I forgot the goons didn't even know who Bruce Wayne was. That scene would've made sense due to Bruce's lack of public persona in the film, but watching Batman fight unmasked would've lacked thrills.
Quote
EXT. ROOFTOP - ON VICKI
Five stories overhead, VICKI has pulled herself up onto the
roof of the adjacent building. She watches transfixed as
the THUGS bend over to remove BATMAN's cowl. But at this
height -- and this angle -- she can't see his face. On a
sudden impulse she reaches for her CAMERA BAG.
ANGLE ON GOONS
peering-down open-mouthed at the unconscious face of BRUCE
WAYNE. Blood seeps from BRUCE's left nostril.
GOON I
Well?... Who is this guy?
GOON II
I dunno. You seen him before?
GOON III
Maybe he's got some kind of I.D.
GOON IV
Good idea. Let's check his wallet.
GOON I
We'll worry about it later. Plug
him.
(beat)
In the head.
GOON II draws his automatic. And at that very instant... A
FLASH GUN EXPLODES OVERHEAD.
Startled, the THUGS look up. ANOTHER CAMERA FLASH.
GOON III
Goddam, it's the redhead!
ON VICKI
A chunk of ledge chips off mere inches from her head as the
GOONS OPEN FIRE. She ducks back behind the overhang, holds
the camera out over the ledge, and KEEPS ON FLASHING.
ON BRUCE
HIS EYES WINK OPEN.
ON VICKI
momentarily idle. She's used up her roll. The GOONS KEEP
SHOOTING as she reaches in her bag for new film. She finds
it, loads the camera with astonishing dexterity -- and
then, on instinct, reaches back inside the bag for a
TELEPHOTO LENS. All the better to see you with, Batman...
ON THE THUGS
No response from VICKI. They begin to relax a little.
GOON II
Did you hit her?
GOON I
Who cares? Wax that freak.
They turn their attention to BRUCE. A GLOVED HAND snakes
out with lightning speed -- GRABBING GOON I BY THE COATTAIL
and pulling him DIRECTLY INTO THE LINE OF FIRE. GOON II bas
pulled the trigger twice before he knows what's happened.
In one fluid motion BRUCE HEAVES GOON I's lifeless body
THROUGH THE AIR, knocking GOON II backward over a garbage
can. GOON II falls and CRACKS HIS HEAD on the nearest wall.
GOON III takes a rabbit punch to the throat. He's on the
way down when he catches a STEEL-TOED BOOT in the gut.
Four seconds after all this began, BRUCE is alone in the
alleyway with GOON IV. GOON IV has his gun pointed right at
BRUCE, but he's shaking too much to pull the trigger.
BRUCE smiles. GOON IV SCREAMS and RUNS FOR HIS LIFE.
Through all this, VICKI's telephoto camera has been poised
on the ledge, snapping away. BRUCE looks up at the FLASH
GUN and shakes his head. He bends to retrieve his cowl.
ON VICKI
She finally dares to peek down at the alley. Limp goons
everywhere. And, in addition, THE BATMAN -- leaping up,
grabbing the edge of a fire escape, climbing up to meet
her.
VICKI thinks fast. She may have a clean shot of BATMAN'S
FACE. She advances the film in the camera and removes the
roll, then drops it down her blouse.
But BATMAN is likely to want that roll. So she straightens
her skirt and scurries across the roof, away from the
alley. She should have a minute or so before be gets there.
It's a three-foot drop to the next roof over. VICKI
clambers down and quickens her pace, tossing a nervous
glance over her shoulder every couple of steps.
Then, somehow -- and she'll be damned if she can figure out
how -- she walks smack into THE BATMAN. And GASPS.
BATMAN
... Not even a 'thank you'?
VICKI
Well -- I think you might consider
thanking me. You were good as
dead.
BATMAN
That's because you lied about your
weight.
(a long pause)
Thank you.
VICKI NODS and tries to walk past him. He grabs her arm.
BATMAN (cont.)
I'll have to ask you for that film.
VICKI
I just wanted to distract them. I
wasn't trying to get a picture of
you.
BATMAN looks down at the camera hanging from her neck. The
telephoto lens must jut out six inches. VICKI gulps.
BATMAN
Please.
VICKI
I won't let you have it.
https://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/batman_early.html
As a child, I distinctly remember being dazzled by the alley fight scene between Batman and the Swordsman Joker Goon, and then very amused just how abruptly Batman ended it.
Sure, there's a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" influence going on with this, but I personally did not see "Raiders" until much later following "Batman". So, the setting up of what looks like is going to be a epic fight, and then it just abruptly concludes like that, was all fresh in my eyes.
Course, to me, having Bob the Goon witnessing this, and subsequently thinking better of it by high tailing it right out of there following Batman clearly wanting him to step up next, is like the cherry on top in closing out any threats in the alley fight scene.
Quote from: The Joker on Tue, 21 Feb 2023, 14:18
As a child, I distinctly remember being dazzled by the alley fight scene between Batman and the Swordsman Joker Goon, and then very amused just how abruptly Batman ended it.
Sure, there's a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" influence going on with this, but I personally did not see "Raiders" until much later following "Batman". So, the setting up of what looks like is going to be a epic fight, and then it just abruptly concludes like that, was all fresh in my eyes.
Course, to me, having Bob the Goon witnessing this, and subsequently thinking better of it by high tailing it right out of there following Batman clearly wanting him to step up next, is like the cherry on top in closing out any threats in the alley fight scene.
I never understood the Raiders comparison. The joke in Raiders is that Indiana Jones takes out the swordsman immediately without engaging with him at all. In this film Batman actually does tussle with the thug a bit before taking him down. A closer example to Raiders would be at the Nygmatech party fight in Batman Forever. One goon takes a stance against Batman and Batman kicks him ending the fight before it even started.
Quote from: BatmanFurst on Tue, 21 Feb 2023, 20:07
I never understood the Raiders comparison. The joke in Raiders is that Indiana Jones takes out the swordsman immediately without engaging with him at all. In this film Batman actually does tussle with the thug a bit before taking him down. A closer example to Raiders would be at the Nygmatech party fight in Batman Forever. One goon takes a stance against Batman and Batman kicks him ending the fight before it even started.
To me, it's all in the set up, and how the confrontation just abruptly concludes. Which, as a viewer, is not what one is expecting due to how the scene in constructed. I can see how that scene you described from BF could be construed as Indy influenced as well, though I've theorized ever since 1995 ( thanks to the BF novelization, Comic Adaptation, and the official BF souvenir magazine) that it
might have been yet another call back to Burton? Given what we know about the original BF cut vs the theatrical cut.
Quote from: The Joker on Tue, 21 Feb 2023, 14:18
As a child, I distinctly remember being dazzled by the alley fight scene between Batman and the Swordsman Joker Goon, and then very amused just how abruptly Batman ended it.
Sure, there's a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" influence going on with this, but I personally did not see "Raiders" until much later following "Batman". So, the setting up of what looks like is going to be a epic fight, and then it just abruptly concludes like that, was all fresh in my eyes.
Course, to me, having Bob the Goon witnessing this, and subsequently thinking better of it by high tailing it right out of there following Batman clearly wanting him to step up next, is like the cherry on top in closing out any threats in the alley fight scene.
I would never replace that ninja swordsman moment, but I wouldn't mind seeing that deleted scene of Bob the Goon fighting Batman just out of curiosity. I remember I had some of those Topps trading cards as a kid and that card with Bob and Batman always confused me. I forgot all about it until I watched the behind-the-scenes footage in one of those "making of" documentaries years later. To date, this is the only surviving footage we have.
https://youtu.be/M44fDaA2sUI
I guess the full footage must've been either lost, or this was simply rehearsed, and Burton and the producers thought it lacked excitement and replaced the fight with the ninja swordsman.