In Gotham City, street crime is running rampant and thugs prey on the innocent, as muggings and killings are a nightly occurrence. The mobster and crime lord Grissom (Jack Palance) has a corrupt police force in his pocket, as newly elected District Attorney Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) impotently vows to bring him to justice. But there’s a myth all of Gotham fears, The Batman.
Reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) is traumatised by the cruelty of Gotham City as a child and now takes to the streets every night. Armed with his fists, his wits and his vast arsenal of wonderful toys, he strikes fear into the hearts of Gotham’s criminal underbelly. They say he can’t be killed, that he drinks blood and some say that he doesn’t exist at all. But night by night, his legend is growing from the shadows.
When Grissom‘s eccentrically psychotic “number one guy” Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) is horribly disfigured in a fight with Batman, things change. Jack becomes ‘Joker‘, a villain the likes of which Gotham has never seen before. As Bruce Wayne struggles with a growing relationship with reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), The Batman must face off against Joker!
Tim Burton‘s 1989 blockbuster Batman changed the face of comic book movies, and in some ways, comics themselves forever. Inspired by the dark tones of Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Burton‘s vision has inspired Batman‘s legacy for the last 35 years. His portrayal of Gotham with its Art Deco and Gothic architecture, is still to this day, seen by many as the definitive version of that fictional city.
Equally iconic is the film’s score provided by Danny Elfman. Not much of a comic fan, Elfman was brought in to collaborate with Burton after their past success. Writing and composing the main theme on a plane trip after simply visiting the set, its impact cannot be overstated. With ‘The Batman Theme’ being undoubtedly one of the most memorable superhero themes of all time, second only to John Williams 1978 ‘Theme From Superman (Main Title)’.
It’s little wonder then that this film has been chosen to celebrate Batman‘s 85th anniversary. TCG Entertainment and TEG Life Like Touring, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment present ‘Batman In Concert‘, part of the DC Films in Concert series. A new and exciting concert series which brings the DC universe to life across the globe like never before. The locations and orchestras may vary but that magic remains the same!
Kicking off the Australian leg of the world tour is the Melbourne performance of Batman (1989). Playing at Regent Theatre, the concert was performed by John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra. Leading the night was Sarah-Grace Williams, one of Australia’s most celebrated and recognised conductors.
The concert starts off strong and the Regent Theatre with its 1920s inspired ornate architecture felt like the perfect place to watch this movie (we just made sure not to walk in any dark alleys afterwards). ‘The Batman Theme’ over the opening titles builds to a crescendo and ended with a round of applause. This was only the first of the night which gave us a taste of what was coming!
The score continues as the film gives us our first glimpses of the seediness of Gotham. A violent mugging and the brilliant reveal of the Caped Crusader himself. With the track ‘Rooftop Fight’ being quick, exciting and ending with Keaton‘s immortal phrase which I used to say all the time as a 6 year old kid, “I’m Batman!”.
The mood of Gotham’s underworld continues to be set with Jack Napier‘s reveal. However, it’s not until the ending of ‘Kitchen, Surgery, Face-off’ that we get our first true sense of something extremely different in the score. This part of the track sounds like a twisted, nightmarish carnival as Jack (now Joker) guns down his former boss in cold blood as Nicholson‘s manic laughter and the orchestra’s haunting melody signal that Joker has been truly born.
Backing up a little, the immediately preceding moments of ‘Kitchen, Surgery, Face-off’ show the dynamic range of the orchestra and Sarah-Grace Williams as they flow effortlessly between completely different styles of music without slowing down.
The more familiar theme of ‘Beautiful Dreamer’ as well as ‘Theme From A Summer Place’ are played in the film by Joker himself on a very 80s sized boombox as part of his cartoonishly villainous attempts to woo Vicki Vale. These as well are portrayed by the orchestra and are as sweet as they are poisoned. The lovely climax in the second theme builds as Joker mockingly pulls at Vicki’s heartstrings.
The pleasant surprise to the concert was how certain tracks and musical moments, which can be overlooked by the casual viewer, are elevated by the live orchestra experience. The segment when Bruce and Vicki are having dinner while Alfred tells embarrassing stories hits very differently when you’re focusing on the music, which is otherwise drowned out by dialogue.
On the opposite side of Two-Face’s coin ‘Descent into Mystery’ is a triumphant moment as Batman and Vicki in the Batmobile travel through the woods, through hidden passage ways and into the Batcave. Similarly, ‘Charge of the Batmobile’ as Batman is destroying Joker‘s chemical weapons factory is equally bombastic and epic. A personal favourite part of the film’s soundtrack for sure.
The last moments of the film by design makes you appreciate the score. ‘Up the Cathedral’ plays into ‘Waltz to the Death’ with almost no dialogue whatsoever as Joker, with a captive Vicki, makes his escape and a wounded Batman follows in hot pursuit. Joker dances with Vicki as Batman fights his few remaining thugs and that haunting circus melody plays once more.
The film and the score come to a powerful climax with ‘Finale’ as Batman, now known to the city, stands on a rooftop overlooking the newly installed Bat-Signal spotlight shine into the night sky. A theme which perfectly encapsulates what Batman represents to Gotham, hope.
Perhaps the only disappointing moment of the night can be found in two songs by Prince. ‘Partyman’, which plays as Joker and his goons vandalise a museum and ‘Trust’ which accompanies the parade. Both played prominently by Joker on that giant boombox. Unfortunately, the orchestra doesn’t cover these moments of the film’s soundtrack in any way. This isn’t at all a knock on the orchestra as Prince speaks for himself. The scenes just continue to stand out like two sore thumbs in the movie as they have for the last 35 years, completely separate to Elfman‘s score.
I had only recently watched Batman (1989) on 4K with Dolby Atmos surround sound and all the bells and whistles. Yet, there is nothing quite like hearing this timeless score performed live by a well-lit 50 piece orchestra right in front of you! Danny Elfman was not a fan of the sound mixing of his work in the completed film, and I think I can now see why, with the above mentioned dinner scene, as well as several others being nowhere near as impactful in the film as they were on stage during this concert.
John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra and conductor Sarah-Grace Williams made Batman in Concert an unforgettable experience that any lifelong fan of Batman (1989) owes it to themselves to seek out. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for future instalments in the DC Films in Concert series as they truly make for a very special night at the movies.
Batman In Concert, proudly presented by TEG Life Like Touring and TCG, is currently playing at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne until October 26th, with limited sessions nationwide until January 2025.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://lifeliketouring.com/batman-in-concert
https://www.dcfilmsinconcert.com
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=BATMANIC25
Photography supplied.
