Silent Take: “Batman Begins” circa 1925

Humor, Silent Take by Movies SilentlySeptember 3, 2013May 15, 2020

Whew! Finished reimagining the Nolan Batman trilogy as silent films. Here is the movie that started it all.

John Gilbert is Batman, of course, and the director for all three films will be Paul Leni. Leni had a flair for dark material but he also knew how to please the crowds. An ideal combination for a Batman director.

I knew instantly that Jack Pickford must be Dr. Crane aka the Scarecrow. His debauched choirboy look would be ideal for the part. Norma Shearer works well for Rachel since she has a down-to-earth quality that contrasts well with the other eccentric characters in the film. Lewis Stone’s fatherly manner and noble bearing make him the perfect Alfred. Lionel Barrymore (who was not yet suffering from the health problems that kept him in a wheelchair later in his career) has both the intensity and the acting chops to make Ducard a truly frightening villain.

My poster for The Dark Knight can be found here and The Dark Knight Rises is here.

Oh, and the bat shape is from the 1926 thriller-comedy The Bat.

☙❦❧

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16 Comments

Aurora on September 3, 2013 at 8:16 am

Did you design that poster? Fantastic, Fritzi!!
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 9:10 am
  
  Thanks so much! Yes, I made the poster with a little help from Photoshop 😉
filmscorehunter on September 3, 2013 at 11:26 am

I love these silent re-imagining posters. Just wonderful! Nice choice on Lionel Barrymore for Ducard.
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 3:03 pm
  
  Thanks so much!
geelw on September 3, 2013 at 5:32 pm

Excellent! Hmmm. With a few clones of yourself and a robot or three, you could run a new site just made up of movie poster re-imaginings, I’ll bet…
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 5:39 pm
  
  I will get down to the lab and work on that 😉
Joe Thompson on September 3, 2013 at 5:41 pm

Jack Pickford, “debauched choirboy.” Excellent choice. I enjoy all of your Silent Takes.
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 5:44 pm
  
  Thank you! (I think I got the phrase from All Creatures Great and Small)
theartisticpackrat on September 3, 2013 at 8:43 pm

Always been curious. With it being the silent film era, who would be your Lucius Fox?
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 8:53 pm
  
  Noble Johnson would be an impressive Lucius, I think. Hobart Bosworth would be my choice for Earle.
  1. theartisticpackrat on September 3, 2013 at 9:26 pm
    
    You weren’t kidding about Bosworth. He and Hauer look so alike it’s kind of scary.
    
    By the way, love the old style posters. Keep them up. 🙂
  2. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 9:29 pm
    
    Glad I’m not the only one who noticed the Bosworth/Hauer resemblance.
    
    And don’t worry, more posters on the way!
Tom on September 3, 2013 at 10:54 pm

wow. this is an incredibly cool idea. nice work!!
1. Movies, Silently on September 3, 2013 at 11:00 pm
  
  Thanks! 🙂
Constance Rose Metzinger on September 7, 2013 at 6:47 am

Wow! Love that poster, looks like it could have came from the era. And great casting too. I’d of rushed to the drive-in to these films when they came out ( if drive-ins were around then that is ).
1. Movies, Silently on September 7, 2013 at 6:18 pm
  
  Aww, thank you so much!