Aside from the dumbed-down plot and high-camp performances, one of the many problems with the fourth entry in the
Batman franchise was the inclusion of too many characters, as not only did 1997's
Batman & Robin feature three supervillains (
'Mr. Freeze', 'Poison Ivy' and
'Bane'), but it also introduced a third hero into the mix in the form of
'Batgirl', played by
Clueless star
Alicia Silverstone.
Original movie costumes from 1997's Batman & Robin
In addition to
Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy movie costume and
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze cyro-suit costume, the
75th Anniversary Batman Exhibit at the
Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014 also featured the superhero costumes worn by
Alicia Silverstone, Chris O'Donnell and
George Clooney (as the latest actor to play
Batman).
Not only does the exhibition have fantastic costumes and props from all seven
Batman movies, but many of the display mannequins even feature waxwork likenesses of the actors, complete with hair and special effects makeup, especially important in the case of villains like
The Joker, The Penguin and
Two-Face, which really help to complete their on-screen looks.
Batman & Robin movie poster
Ingrid Ferrin and
Robert Turturice were
Costume Designers on
Joel Schumacher's second
Batman movie which introduced
Batgirl as the newest addition to the caped and cowled family, as the infamous
Dynamic Duo became the
Talented Trio, Tremendous Trio, Terrible Trio?!? You decide.
Original Batgirl costume worn by Alicia Silverstone
in 1997's Batman & Robin
In the movie the actress played
'Barbara Wilson', the niece of
Bruce Wayne's butler,
'Alfred Pennyworth'. Attending an
English boarding school after the death of her parents in a car accident, she chooses to visit her uncle when she discovers he has a rare, life-threatening disease.
She wears this
Bat-suit, designed for her by
Alfred, and defeats
Poison Ivy to save
Batman and
Robin. All three join together to help prevent
Mr. Freeze's new ice-age and in the process discover a cure for
Alfred's illness. Although, it must be hard fighting crime (and running) in those high heels.
Original Batman and Robin movie costumes
worn by George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell
In this fourth installment
Chris O'Donnell reprised his role as
'Dick Grayson', aka
Batman's sidekick
'Robin', although this time his costume bears more of a resemblance to his
Nightwing alter-ego from his
DC Comics adventures.
If you're a fan of the actor and the character, be sure to check out his red-breasted
Robin costume from Batman Returns on display too.
Meanwhile
George Clooney became the third actor to play the
Caped Crusader after
Michael Keaton and
Val Kilmer in the first three movies, and sported this all-black
Bat-suit in this film sequel.
Batman & Robin movie poster
Every
Bat-Hero's utility belt needs a selection of
Bat-themed tools and the exhibit for this movie also had a cool selection of screen-used props to peruse.
Screen-used Batman & Robin movie models and props
There was a
Batmobile model hanging on the wall, plus props used by
Poison Ivy and
Mr. Freeze in the film, plus various tools,
Bat-Cuffs and throwing weapons used by our heroes in their efforts to defeat their enemies and save
Gotham City.
Batman & Robin may not have been the best movie to watch (and almost killed off the
Batman film franchise), but seeing all these authentic costumes and props up close and mostly out of display cases was a real delight.
Stay tuned in the days to come for more amazing costumes and props from
Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy.
