10 of my favourite screen-used costumes and props on display to bid a fond farewell...

After much soul-searching over the past few months during this pandemic I've decided to shutter my costumes and props blog and this will be my final post. Over the years I've really enjoyed sharing the screen-used costumes, props and vehicles I've discovered on my travels to cinemas, museums, expos and theme parks with you all. Sadly it's become financially unviable to sustain this blog, so enjoy this last collection of screen treasures that have special meaning to me before this blog is archived away.

Catwoman costume worn by Michelle Pfeiffer

in Batman Returns

Michelle Pfeiffer and her sewn-together, skin-tight catsuit and whip stole the show for me in 1992's Batman Returns, so I was thrilled to see one of her original latex costumes on display at Warner Bros. Studios VIP Museum in Burbank in July 2014.

If you're a cat lover and DC Comics fan, make sure you take a closer look at her Catwoman catsuit on display.

Wonder Woman costume worn by Lynda Carter

Also on display at the museum tour was this fabulous costume worn by Lynda Carter in the 1970s Wonder Woman TV show.

As a young gay boy growing up in the 70s I loved watching this superheroine twirl and twirl her way to victory and dispense justice every episode.

Silk Spectre II costume worn by Malin Akerman

and Nite Owl costume worn by Patrick Wilson

in Watchmen

Speaking of superheroes, these screen-worn movie costumes from Zack Snyder's 2009 movie adaptation of Watchmen were some of the first I saw in person after I'd moved to L.A. from the U.K. in March 2009.

Even more importantly, these cinematic treasures were exhibited at ArcLight Hollywood cinema out of reflective display cases and you could see them up close in glorious in 360° detail.

Captain America costumes worn by Chris Evans

in Avengers: Endgame

Meanwhile this trio of 'Captain America' uniforms featured in Avengers: Endgame were photographed at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2020.

I've always loved Chris Evans (and his ass) wrapped in red, white and blue Stars and Stripes in the Avengers movies and his own solo outings, it's a hard costume to translate from comic book page to big screen.

Sucker Punch movie costumes

Zack Snyder's 2011 action fantasy Sucker Punch set in a lunatic asylum may not have been the biggest success at the box office, but I did get to see these cool costumes worn by the cast on display at ArcLight Pasadena cinema before they were put behind reflective cases for the film's theatrical release.

These costumes designed by Michael Wilkinson were worn by Abbie Cornish as 'Sweet Pea', Vanessa Hudgens as 'Blondie', Emily Browning as 'Babydoll', Jena Malone as 'Rocket' and Jamie Chung as 'Amber'.

Mad Max: Fury Road movie costumes

To my surprise I loved the non-stop action of 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road, especially Charlize Theron as the War Rig-driving 'Furiosa'.

Jenny Beavan won the Best Costume Design Oscar for her futuristic wasteland costumes and this duo of looks were display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2017.

Cruella de Vil flame dress worn by Glenn Close

in 102 Dalmatians

Speaking of Academy Award winners, and Anthony Powell scored the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his flamboyant 'Cruella de Vil' designs worn by Glenn Close in Disney's 2000 sequel, 102 Dalmatians.

I first saw this elaborate 'flame dress' on display at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley in July 2012 and then five years later at Disney's D23 Expo in Anaheim in July 2017.

Alice in Wonderland costumes

worn by Mia Wasikowska

2010's live-action Alice in Wonderland also scored the Best Costume Design Oscar for Colleen Atwood and these gorgeous dresses worn by Mia Wasikowska as the titular Lewis Carroll heroine were photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood in October 2010 during awards season.

Grease Lightning 1946 Ford custom convertible from Grease

One of my favourite movies growing up was 1978's romantic musical Grease and so it was so cool to see the Grease Lightning dream car from the film on display at Hollywood's Madame Tussauds, courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum, in December 2012.

Tik-Tok clockwork robot costume

from Return to Oz

And finally, before the TikTok social media app craze, there was the wind-up clockwork robot, the 'Royal Army of Oz', in 1985's Return to Oz.

L. Frank Baum's 'Tik-Tok' character was brought to life by acrobat Michael Sundin squeezed inside the suit, voiced by Sean Barrett, with Tim Rose remotely-operating the head.

I loved this darker Oz fantasy sequel when I was a kid and so was excited to see this shiny suit of burnished copper on display at Disney's D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center in August 2013.

Fans of the film can check out more costumes and props from Return to Oz on display.

As you can see I've come across some real wonders living in Hollywoodland and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

So here's to new adventures to come and in the immortal words of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - "Be good!".

The Penguin costume worn by Danny DeVito and props from Batman Returns on display...

In Tim Burton's 1992 sequel Batman Returns, the quirky director reimagined one of Batman's classic foes, with a penchant for deadly trick umbrellas, as a much more darker, grotesque adversary, with Danny DeVito playing the sinister 'Penguin'.

Original screen-used costumes and film props 
from 1992's Batman Returns

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of DC Comics Batman, Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum has original costumes and props from all seven movies on display, including the costume worn by Danny DeVito as 'Oswald Cobblepot' aka 'The Penguin'.

Batman Returns movie poster

Bob Ringwood and Mary Vogt were Costume Designers on the comic book movie and if you like this aristocratic ensemble, you should also take a look at Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman catsuit and Michael Keaton's Batman Returns costume.

Original costume worn by Danny DeVito 

as The Penguin in 1992's Batman Returns

Tim Burton's take on The Penguin was less a gentleman of crime, and more that of a deformed baby abandoned to the sewers and raised by a freakshow, holding a grudge against his rich parents and the other aristocrats of Gotham City. He still retained his distinctive nose and monocle, but his hair was stringy and greasy and his hands were like flippers.

This is one of The Penguin's more distinguished Victorian-style outfits, although he's much more comfortable in filthy long johns underwear.

When his 'Red Triangle Circus' gang kidnaps corrupt business tycoon 'Maximillian Shreck' (Christopher Walken), the wealthy narcissitic mogul promises to help find The Penguin's true identity and his parents. He also devises a cunning plot to win the public approval of Gotham by faking the rescue of the Mayor's infant baby and subsequently having Oswald Cobblepot run for Mayor himself.

Original screen-used props from Batman Returns

Also on display with the costume were these fantastic props featured in the movie, including The Penguin's birth certificate, a Gotham Globe newspaper, a collection of mayoral campaign paraphernalia, plus some of the villain's rocket-wearing penguins.

If you're a fan of Tim Burton movies, be sure to also check out these amazing costumes and props from Alice in Wonderland, plus these stop-motion puppets from Frankenweenie.

Batman Returns movie poster

Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman costume and Michael Keaton's Bat-suit from Batman Returns on display...

In 1992's Batman Returns, Michael Keaton reprised his role as the Caped Crusader to face double the villainous threat of Danny DeVito's 'The Penguin' and Michelle Pfeiffer's sexy 'Catwoman'. Aside from a legion of penguins with rockets strapped to their backs, one of the most memorable things from Tim Burton's movie sequel had to be the shiny, slinky dominatrix-style catsuit worn by the whip-weilding villainess. I loved it.

Original Catwoman catsuit worn by Michelle Pfeiffer 

in Batman Returns

This fantastic original costume (apparently one of more than 40 catsuits made during the production of the movie at $1,000 a piece) was photographed on display at the Batman 75th Anniversary Exhibition at the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour on July 29, 2014.

Inspired by the DC Comics character, the black skin-tight latex costume was designed by Bob Ringwood and Mary Vogt, with the inclusion of the stitches the inspiration of director Tim Burton (you can see this influence in many of his other quirky character designs). The catsuit was made from a body cast of the actress, who had to be coated in baby powder each time she was sewn into the suit and once on the costume was brushed with thick liquid silicon to give it that shiny, fluid quality. The suit was custom-made by L.A.'s Syren Couture.

In the movie Catwoman's alter-ego 'Selina Kyle' starts as shy secretary, who discovers the plot by her business tycoon boss, 'Max Shreck' (Christopher Walken), to build a power plant to steal the electricity of Gotham City. To keep his secret he pushed her out a window seemingly killing her, but she was mysteriously revived by some alley cats, and she returned home to create her handmade catsuit to seek revenge on her killer.

Batman Returns movie poster

If you like this catsuit, be sure to compare it to Anne Hathaway's Catwoman costume from The Dark Knight Rises, which was equally slinky, but with far less of a fetish feel.

Michael Keaton's costume also got an update in the sequel as has Bat-suit was much more angular, compared to the muscled version, whilst still retaining the iconic yellow bat emblem and utility belt to add some colour to the black ensemble.

Original Bat-suit worn by Michael Keaton 
in 1992's Batman Returns

The Batman Returns costume was made from a thinner, slightly more flexible form of rubber, but the actor still had the same problems with the cowl, which still prevented him from turning his head.

Be sure to also compare this Bat-suit to the 1989 Batman costume and take a look at the Batmobile featured in the Tim Burton movies.

Stay tuned for a closer look at one of Danny Devito's costumes as The Penguin in Batman Returns.

Batman Returns movie poster

75th Anniversary Batman exhibit on Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour...

To mark the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics iconic Caped Crusader, Warner Bros. Studios are throwing open the doors of the Batcave to give VIP Studio Tour visitors a glimpse at original film costumes and props from seven Batman movies at their newly transformed studio museum in Burbank, California.

Batman costume and weapon props from The Dark Knight Rises

The whole ground floor now houses the iconic costumes from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, plus Tim Burton's 1989 and 1992 movies which kickstarted the Bat-franchise on the big screen and even outfits from Joel Schumacher's 1995 and 1997 movies which nearly killed the movie franchise.

Original Batman, Vicki Vale and Joker costumes from 1989's Batman

I have to say the moment I stepped foot through the museum doors I was in comic geek heaven, as I've been fortunate to see movie costumes from the recent Batman movies on display over the years, but to see all of these original costumes in one place was really overwhelming and thrilling at the same time.

Even better the costumes are not hidden behind reflective cases, so you can really have a close look, and you can even taken photos without flashes to preserve the memories.

I remember queueing up outside the cinema for a second time to watch Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and loving seeing the Bat-sign everywhere you looked. Not only was it a joy to see Michael Keaton's Bat-suit (not many of the screen-used versions survived because of the latex material it was made from) and Kim Basinger's 'Vicki Vale' outfit, but seeing Jack Nicholson's crazy 'Joker' costume and his waxwork face really brought back his scene-stealing performance.

Original Penguin costume and props from 1992's Batman Returns

In the 1992 sequel, Batman Returns, Tim Burton really unleashed even more of his unique style on Gotham City and introduced the world to his take on the villainous 'Oswald Cobblepot' aka 'The Penguin', played with relish by Danny DeVito and the conflicted 'Catwoman' played by the sexy Michelle Pfeiffer. Be sure to stay tuned in the days to come for closer looks at each of their fantastic costumes.

Original Two-Face, Riddler, Batman and Robin costumes 

from 1995's Batman Forever

In 1995 Joel Schumacher took over the reigns of the Batman film franchise to mixed reviews, casting Val Kilmer as the titular hero and introducing his infamous Boy Wonder sidekick, 'Robin', played by Chris O'Donnell.

In this movie the Dynamic Duo faced twice the trouble in the form of Tommy Lee Jones as 'Harvey Dent' aka 'Two-Face' and Jim Carrey as 'The Riddler'.

At the same time Gotham City went from an atmospheric, dark and brooding environment to a DaGlo, neon fantasyland, which certainly harkened back to the more campy 1960's Batman TV show. You can even see the seismic shift in costume design when you compare the film exhibits, from very gothic and based in some kind of reality to a total comic book style.

Robin, Batman, Batgirl, Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze costumes 

from 1997's Batman & Robin

Even though 1997's even campier Batman & Robin nearly sounded the death knell for the film franchise (apparently the nipples on George Clooney's Bat-suit was a design choice too far), this was one of my favourite costume displays from the entire exhibit.

To be honest, I think that's mainly because of the fantastical illuminated design of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Mr. Freeze' cryo-suit, which only he could wear, although Uma Thurman's 'Poison Ivy' costume is pretty detailed when you see it up close.

And even though the similar hero 'Bat' costumes became a tangle of pecs and six-pack muscles, it's still pretty cool to get a glimpse of them, including Alicia Silverstone's 'Batgirl' suit (and I would gladly love to own each and every one of them).

Original movie costumes and props from 2005's Batman Begins

The release of Batman Begins in 2005 saw Christopher Nolan reboot the DC Comics character as a much darker crime-fighter, introducing the husky tones of Christian Bale as Batman and his alter ego 'Bruce Wayne' and retelling his origin story.

The movie pitted Batman against Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow and Liam Neeson's 'Ra's Al Ghul', the leader of the League of Shadows, who had trained Bruce Wayne in the arts of stealth and fighting.

Original costumes and props from 2008's The Dark Knight

In the 2008 sequel, The Dark Knight, cinema goers were reintroduced to two villains from Batman's rogues gallery. Heath Ledger gave an Oscar-winning performance as 'The Joker', putting a much more sinister spin on there hero's arch-nemesis (although the actor tragically died before the movie was released), whilst Aaron Eckhart brought 'Harvey Dent/Two-Face' to life on the big screen for a second time.

The Batman and Joker costumes from The Dark Knight were two of the first authentic movie costumes I ever saw on display when I moved to L.A. over six years ago, so it was great to see them out from behind their display cases this time around (along with The Joker's creepy nurse outfit, Aaron Eckhart's Two-Face costume and Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'Rachel Dawes' evening gown and a selection of fantastic screen-used props from the movie).

Original costumes and props from The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises in 2012 brought Christopher Nolan's blockbuster trilogy to a close and introduced the world to Tom Hardy's fierce terrorist, 'Bane' (a vast improvement on his Batman & Robin counterpart), Anne Hathaway's 'Catwoman' (a worthy successor to the kitten heels) and Marion Cotillard as the vengeful 'Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul'.

Again I was fortunate to see three of the original costumes from The Dark Knight Rises over the film's opening weekend at ArcLight Hollywood cinema, but seeing them again out of their protective cases and more of the film's wardrobe besides was a real treat. I really have turned into a movie costume addict.

The many cowls of Batman

These amazing comic book movie costumes and props were photographed on July 29, 2014 and if you're a Batman, or even a superhero fan, and you get the opportunity to check out the exhibit at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Museum which houses 25 years of cinematic Batman history, it's worth every penny and the items are fantastically presented.

And if you're looking for Halloween costume inspiration this year, this is the place to go with some classic and modern looks to provide plenty of ideas.

Batman Returns missile penguin miniature on display...

In Tim Burton's 1992 sequel Batman Returns, Danny DeVito played a rather grotesque version of Batman villain, 'The Penguin', who created an army of mind-controlled missile-wearing penguins to blow up Gotham City.

Batman Returns missile penguin miniature

This miniature model penguin was one of many used as part of the film's special effects and was photographed on display at the London Film Museum on May 15, 2012.

Batman Returns movie poster

If you're a fan of Tim Burton's Caped Crusader movies, be sure to also check out Michael Keaton's Batman costume and Batmobile on display.