Thursday, August 21, 2014

Alicia Silverstone's Batgirl movie costume and more from Batman & Robin on display...

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
Alicia Silverstone Batgirl movie costume Batman and Robin
Batman and Robin movie costumes props
Batman and Robin hero movie costumes
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
Batman and 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
Alicia Silverstone 1997 Batgirl movie costume
Batgirl film costume Batman and Robin
Alicia Silverstone 1997 Batgirl costume Batman and Robin
Original Batgirl movie costume 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
Original 1997 Batman and Robin movie costumes
Batman and Robin movie costume capes
Chris O'Connell George Clooney Batman Robin movie costumes
George Clooney Bat-suit Batman and Robin
George Clooney Batsuit boots Batman Robin
Batman and Robin movie costumes
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
1997 Batman and 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
Batman and Robin Batmobile model
Screen-used Batman & Robin film props
Batman Robin Poison Ivy Mr Freeze movie props
Batman and Robin movie props
Batman and Robin Bat-Cuffs film prop
Screen-used Batman and Robin movie 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.

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