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BATMAN RETURNS: Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Making Of The Penguin

Check out some amazing never-before-seen images of Danny Devito's transformation into The Penguin for Tim Burton's Batman Returns. The dramatic metamorphosis was created by legendary four-time Academy Award winner, Stan Winston.

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By nailbiter111 - 9/15/2012


Stan Winston and Tim Burton had previously collaborated on Edward Scissorhands, and once again the quirky director would seek Winston and his crews help in order to bring The Penguin to life for Batman Returns. Even though Dustin Hoffman was Warner Bros. first choice, actor Danny Devito (Taxi) would end up playing the villainous role. Surprisingly the makeup only took two hours a day to apply, but the transformation was so powerful that Devito actually stayed in character during takes. He even wore The Penguin makeup while doing voice-over sessions for the film, because without it he struggled to find the character's voice.



The look of Tim Burton's Penguin was a huge departure from the comic book and television versions, which for the most part only included a pointy nose. For Batman Returns, Stan Winston and his crew created prosthetics so that Devito's face had a bird-like quality to it, flipper-like hands, crooked rotting teeth, pale white skin and dark-circled around his eyes.


Click Images to Enlarge


“The initial concept was just a pointy nose,” Winston said, “but I wasn’t really happy with that. So I got my hands back in the clay, which I love, and started playing with the look myself. Years ago, for The Wiz, I had created crow characters with enormous beak faces, which involved whole forehead and brow appliances. I’d always loved that design; and, although crows had nothing to do with penguins, I felt that I could use a similar concept for the Penguin. That turned out to be the look that was selected.”





The look was so scary that the toy company, Kenner, wouldn't produce a likeness of DeVito's Penguin for their Batman Returns' toyline. Instead they used a Penguin figure created from a previous toyline, and changed the paint scheme of the costume from blue to black.

Stan Winston was nominated for Best Makeup for his work on Batman Returns along with Ronnie Specter and Ve Neill. I should also mention that Winston's crew made-up of John Rosengrant, Shane Mahan Mark, "Crash" McCreery, and others deserve credit for their contributions on the film.


BATMAN RETURNS - was directed by Tim Burton and starred: Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Danny DeVito as The Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman/Selina Kyle, Christopher Walken as Max Shreck, Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon

Source: stanwinstonschool
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51 Comments
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toco89 - 9/15/2012, 2:57 PM
Great, disgusting, and disturbing.
blvdnoise - 9/15/2012, 3:01 PM
I just love shit like this. Kool find!
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 9/15/2012, 3:07 PM
Very interesting. I'm not the biggest fan of Batman Returns, but I am always fascinated with anything that has to do with the behind the scenes work of making a movie. Even though I bash Tim Burton for only having 1, decent, creative idea since Edward Scissor Hands (Big Fish), him and his team do and extraordinary job when it comes to art direction.

I really think Tim Burton could be an asset to certain comic book franchises, just not as a director, or someone that has ANY say in the screenwriting process.
blvdnoise - 9/15/2012, 3:14 PM
The boot-leg music video was kind of annoying though.
GuardianAngel - 9/15/2012, 3:14 PM
I never really liked Batman Returns, but I like the fact he tried to make the Penguin more interesting rather than just a rich guy who got bored and became a criminal.
ItsLiveFeed - 9/15/2012, 3:15 PM
this film was okay
GuardianAngel - 9/15/2012, 3:16 PM
HOLY SHIT! The Penguin's dad is SHIA LABEOUF!
danird - 9/15/2012, 3:16 PM
Beetlejuice is Tim Burton's best movie !
Darkknightman - 9/15/2012, 3:32 PM
People like to cite Forever or Batman and Robin as the beginning of the end of the franchise but in reality it started right here. Burton was given far too much creative control and what we ended up with was a strange,whimsical, and twisted movie. It just didn't work on any level for me. I went on opening night to see this and the whole audience just watched in silence. When it was over, everyone was talking about how much it sucked. A stark contrast to the first film which I remember everyone stood up and cheered. Too bad, I never felt we got a true sequel to Batman 89.
jimpinto24 - 9/15/2012, 3:38 PM
I enjoyed Danny Devito's performance as The Penguin. The Penguin had a more darker, and scarier side to him in Batman Returns.
EggsBenedict - 9/15/2012, 3:45 PM
Batman Returns was my favorite Batman movie before the new ones came out. But, because of how young I was at the time, looking back now at this - and all of Burton's films - only after growing up a little do I have a sense of the aesthetic of Burton's films, and how cheap they seem.

I must say, as a kid I loved Tim Burton stuff, but now...I don't. I agree with the above poster about Big Fish. Although it wasn't an original story of Burton's, I feel it is his 'best.'

Anyway, cool pics of the Penguin from 'Returns. Now all I want to see is behind-the-scenes Pee Wee Herman talking about his cameo in the film.
jessepostal - 9/15/2012, 3:56 PM
I love returns, prob my fav batman actually. It was so dark and different for that time. I was a kid and I remember my dad taking me to see it. I was 9 or 10 and it almost frightened me which was a feeling I grew to love. I wish I could still get that feeling. Devito was fantastic and sick in that role
jessepostal - 9/15/2012, 3:57 PM
And besides the bats movies, peewees big adventure is Burton's best, and beetlejuice for nostalgia batting cleanup
ComicFan523 - 9/15/2012, 4:07 PM
While I prefer Nolan's films, Batman Returns is definitely my favorite film of the original series. When I was a kid I was obsessed with Batman The Animated Series, and it's pretty obvious that the show's tone was mostly inspired by Batman Returns.
LP4 - 9/15/2012, 4:09 PM
This has always been my all-time favorite Batman movie

Step aside Nolan ;)
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 4:14 PM
This film was just so weird and unnecessary in a lot of places. Batman murdering I guess I can get over slightly because of this interpretation, but Batman couldn't even really fight. He just seemed to throw his fists around, and people complain about the Bale, but don't realize how impressive it is that they pretty much created a whole new fighting style and debuted it with Batman instead of copying Bruce Lee. Also, so much of it was unresolved and unexplained.

1) Selina is brought back to life by stray cats who inexplicably lick her face until she awakes with superpowers... Ok
2) Gordon's a fat old man who, along with the rest of the GCPD does nothing to add to the plot or stop crime... Ok
3) Batman is framed and people believe it, but it is never mentioned again because the city hates Penguin more after Batman DJs his career into the ground.... Ok
4) Batman sets someone on fire... Ok
5) Penguins are remote controlled to blow up Gotham with missiles... Oh ok.
6) Bruce Wayne has no social life, and walks arouns in a Gotham seemingly set in the 40s. Not to mention Bruce has no mention of owning Wayne Enterprises or being charming, in fact he's quite awkward at times... Oooookaaaayy
7) "Eat Floor. High in fiber.".... NO! NO NO NO NO!
MOSESivviOC - 9/15/2012, 4:14 PM
i always enjoyed Devito's penguin. I remember seeing this in theaters, as I did "Batman '89". Will be very hard to top this interpretation, but not impossible.
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/15/2012, 4:36 PM
@Legacy- It wasn't Burtons original plan to have Selina be supernatural, it was pushed on him at the end, at that last scene when it was revealed that Catwoman is still alive it wasn't even Pfifer, Burton already let her go, then (I'm not sure who, a producer, the studios) but SOMEONE pushed to have her survive, so they had to have a robotic manequin dressed up as her fill in.

2: The Commisioner is not a street cop, why do you expect him to be handcuffing people? If he was the CAPTAIN that would make a little more sense, but a commisioner doesn't do that.

3: People believe it because it's STILL early in Batmans career. Gordon hasn't even MET Batman until the end of the first movie, he has no one rule yet, and the people of Gotham know NOTHING about him. So.... Yeah. I buy that people would believe that.

4: Once again, doesn't have his one rule yet.

5: Eh, it was the 90s. Seriously, look at most of what they tried to get away with in a lot of movies.

6: I don't get your "looks like the 40s" crack, so did BTAS and no ones complaining about it.
Seeing as this is once again, early in Batmans career it could be argued that he's having a tough time juggling Bruce Wayne AND Batman, and at the time, Batman seems to be winning the battle.

7: ..... You're complaining about one line, that happens once in a movie.. and is never mentioned again? It's a weird quip. Big whoop.
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/15/2012, 4:37 PM
And to add to 2: This is not a Nolan movie. This is a comic book movie. They don't focus on the police, they focus on the man in the mask.
jessepostal - 9/15/2012, 4:40 PM
@legacy, it was an early 90s movie, those ?s didn't have to be answered, today's movies explain everything down to the title characters first orgasm. It was a diff time and if you watch it again it does answer some of your ?s, especially the fighting scenes. I take it your younger than these movies
Preston - 9/15/2012, 4:48 PM
Out of 9 theatrically released Batman movies; only 4 live action movies out of 8 are watchable without downing a bottle of Tylenol afterwards (the other is an animated feature).


Batman (1966) – Great movie that represents the Batman of the era (it has Joker, Catwoman, Riddler, and Penguin). The whole A-list rouge's gallery in one film. Campy, but still loyal to the source material of the era.

Batman (1989) - The best Joker VS Batman movie ever made. Batman and Joker fight in every shape and form within the span of that movie (Bruce vs Jack, Jack vs Batman, Batman vs Joker, Joker vs Bruce). Plus, it's the most loyal take on the modern Batman and Anton Furst's Gotham makes Gotham City from the comic come to life.

Batman Returns (1992) - The best take of Catwoman and Penguin on film to date. Plus, Catwoman and Batman sizzled on screen.

Batman Forever -

Batman and Robin -

Batman Begins -

The Dark Knight (2008) - Interesting take on the Joker (great performance by Heath Ledger). The ending and story are weak. Yet, it still stands as the second best Batman movie of all time. Nolan can still construct a beautiful movie even if it rapes the source material.

The Dark Knight Rises -

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) – People forget that this animated movie was released in theaters. It had the Joker. Some will argue that the most loyal adaptation of Batman ever was in the Animated series (and here you have proof).

Note: The best Batman movies always have the Joker.

Joker
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/15/2012, 4:54 PM
@Wormwood- I don't know, I consider Forever watchable, for me the ony thing that KEPT it becoming a disastor was that Burton was still helping on it.

Plus one of Bruces best speeches came from that movie, his speech to Dick about the price of revenge, and how he knows from experience that it's not as good as it sounds.

I understand why people hate Forever along with B&R, it was deffenitely a warning sign about what was going to come. But I still find it somewhat enjoyable.

Also, I find it ironic that both Jokers in that pick have the same basic pose :3
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/15/2012, 4:55 PM
Also I really thing BB: Return of the Joker was an amazing film. Especially the flashbacks, what The Joker did to Tim Drake in that, was just so DARK. If people remember that, they can't credit Nolan for making Joker darker, cause he didn't go THAT dark.
angus666 - 9/15/2012, 5:00 PM
I find these Batman movies almost unwatchable. They look like Broadway plays
Squaremaster - 9/15/2012, 5:01 PM
A terrible film in all aspects. Horribly directed, written, staged, acted, etc. In many ways, Returns is even worse than B&R.
Oxbow - 9/15/2012, 5:03 PM
i think i was just the right age when this was released to really get it. The dark circus, the weirdness, the political jadedness, plus, the sexist catwoman ever! I loved it, it was like a modern fairy tale, in the same vein as Edward Scissorhands.

Batman 89 was a better batman story but Batman Returns was like a whole nother world.

Cipher got it right, this was true to the roots of batman as any movie has been... even though Tim Burton's fingerprints are clearly there, it is still absolutely a faithful adaptation.

They played up catwoman's origins somewhat ambiguously, but for those who have a notion that cats somehow gave her supernatural powers, I've saved you the trouble of googling it yourselves:
http://gothamalleys.blogspot.com/2011/01/catwoman-supernatural.html

It's nothing supernatural, but still a very mysterious and interesting birth for the character that harks back to some previous incarnations we have seen.
AmericanPsychoWolf - 9/15/2012, 5:04 PM
Freaky film even to me today.
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 5:32 PM
@any responses no I'm not younger than the film, Catwoman was supernatural for surviving Shreck's attack, I didn't say it was unrealistic that people thought Batman killed the woman, I was saying it was weird that it was never brought up again. Plus, before Batman met Gordon, he was still had a bigger role than the cameo stuff in those films. Also, I don't expect him to be arresting people, but none of the cops were, they all seemed incompetent. That line was more of a joke than actually ruining the film for me but it was REALLY lame. I just didn't like the film in general. It just seemed like Batman was bland in both Burton films. There was no real complexicity. In the first one I liked how Bruce's parents' death were kind of a mystery, but all signs of a dark conflicted character went away with Returns
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 5:37 PM
Plus you're assuming he doesn't have the rule yet and you're assuming he hasn't learned to juggle dual identities yet. Since this is never said, you can only go by what we see and we see a bland Wayne, a bland weird non brawling murdering Batman. He was an uninteresting character in this and I have no doubt Keaton could've played a better Batman but unfortunately this is what he got to work with. The main problem with the films is that they made important convoluted, and complex characters and made them minor and bland. Keaton had less acting range in these films then Seth Rogen.
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 5:40 PM
@ cipher then, in the next one I want Batman with Robin bent over his knee getting the beating of a lifetime. Then, he can live on rats in the batcave... Lol jk. But seriously, I see what you're getting at but, just because it's faithful doesn't mean it works.
AUSSYACE - 9/15/2012, 5:52 PM
Tim Burton classically screwing everything up as usual...
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 6:07 PM
@cipher thanks everyone's got their opinions and the fact that this is a film you grew up loving is plain as day and I respect that. Hell, when I was a kid, every halloween I was Batman, except one Halloween where my mom made me be Robin >:( No one will ever know the rage I felt that day...
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 6:10 PM
@cipher And even though the Batman killing thing bothered me a little, it didn't really bother me that badly til I realized that he killed the Joker, which is like one of the biggest themes in Batman mythos that he doesn't do and refuses to. When you think about it, even if he didn't know the gargoyle would fall, sending the Joker his death, the swing from the helicopter into the wall would've broken his neck, ya know?
NeoBaggins - 9/15/2012, 6:36 PM
Shitty ass Zombie "Penguin". Can't wait to finally see him come to life on screen.
cmax - 9/15/2012, 6:38 PM
Half Bird Half Man

Evil Ebenezer
LegacyFilms - 9/15/2012, 7:23 PM
@cipher well said.
Ichaos - 9/15/2012, 8:14 PM
People that keep bringing up Batman not killing in the early comics he did occassionally.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2011/12/25/the-abandoned-an-forsaked-batman-kills-people-with-guns/
MutantEquality - 9/15/2012, 8:37 PM
BEST BATMAN EVER
Minghagz - 9/15/2012, 9:50 PM
ugh... I can't stand how this movie was botched. Batman (89) is the superior movie.
CaptainRedFurySpain - 9/15/2012, 10:53 PM
Batman 89 is the best Batman film ever made, Nolan's pseudo Batman movies are nothing but police/drama thrillers, on Rises Batman barely makes a came, such a boring movies to me.
NerdyDarkPassenger - 9/15/2012, 11:27 PM
The best interpretation of penguin I've ever seen was in Arkham City. The whole cockney accent and glass bottle monocle was a terrific touch to make him seem more badass.
Nomis1800 - 9/16/2012, 1:18 AM
Straight out of the comic book. But if they'll ever do Penguin again I would like to see it more realistic.
Jollem - 9/16/2012, 1:48 AM
oswald coffee pot
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/16/2012, 11:57 AM
Well, ACTUALLY Legacy, it is proven in Batman Forever, the last Batman film Burton helped with.
It shows that it's the first film where Batman really has his one rule, because Dick planning on killing two face, He goes to tell Dick that he knows from experience that if you need revenge on someone... and you kill them. The pain never really stops, it just turns into another face, and another, and another (Refferencing accidently killing Joker, and killing those goons in Returns)

This is why I label Forever still watchable. Most of it is still good, including this scene. It shows that Bruce between then, and Returns that he vowed not to kill again.

And yes, it's obvious that it's early in his career since Batman is still a "Legend" in Gotham.
JokerFanHAhaHA - 9/16/2012, 11:59 AM
Equinox- Catwoman didn't have 9 lives in the movie.
Watch the movie again and notice, each time she notches another life down, she didn't ACTUALLY die.
marvel72 - 9/16/2012, 12:11 PM
i liked batman returns,a good take on the three main characters batman,penguin & catwoman.

best batman films for me.

1st batman begins
2nd batman
3rd the dark knight
4th batman returns
5th the dark knight rises
6th batman forever
7th batman & robin
RogueSkywalker - 9/16/2012, 12:34 PM
batman returns wasn't a bad movie.
GUNSMITH - 9/16/2012, 2:25 PM
Ceejay - 9/16/2012, 2:27 PM
Boy was that film a load of shit! Look how ugly a Bruce Wayne Keaton made and his ridiculous fit in that batsuit with a massive head and little legs! Fanboys will like any old crap they've grown up watching and call it a classic!
enggarb - 9/17/2012, 10:29 AM
tough i don't enjoy this movie today (i don't like awkward Keaton's Wayne/ Batman). I respect this movie... This is the first long featured movie i ever seen in my life.. since that time i am committed to Batman.. :)
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