We all know in the 1960's we had the Batman TV series on the small screen along with the 1966 movie but both were very campy and comical, nothing like the dark serious ones of today. What if Batman had been tested in a more serious live action way back then instead? With no relation to the Adam West version, I bring you my take.
DIRECTOR: John Sturges
If I want to make Batman seen the way he is in today's media you need to make the movie a true epic, nobody is better for that role than the director of the biggest epic of the decade, "The Great Escape". Sturges is one man that could pull this off.
Visual Effects: Ray Harryhausen
His visual effects are world renowned, creating creatures and effects for things such as "20 Million Miles to Earth" or "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" and later on he would create the monsters in "Clash of the Titans". Harryhausen could do almost anything.
ORIGINS
James Stewart as Thomas Wayne
Stewart was one of the worlds finest actors, I wanted to include him somehow but couldn't quite find the right place. A cameo for the obligatory origin scene would work fine.
Ann Miller as Martha Wayne
Naturally beautiful and a very classy, glamorous looking woman. Yes, looks were the main reason for this choice, while Ann Miller wasn't a bad actress I feel Martha Wayne had to have a certain look and presence.
David Bradley as Young Bruce Wayne
Casting the younger roles for a movie so long ago was a harder task, David Bradley caught my eye in "Kes" however. He shows great emotion in caring for his bird in the movie and deals with tragedy when the bird is murdered. His parents being murdered in this film would be on a much bigger level of course but the relationship he has with the bird in the film is a very strong one.
THE "GOOD GUYS"
Steve McQueen as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Steve McQueen was already on his way to the top, going into the 60's with "The Blob" and the lead role of a bounty hunter in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" under his belt he showed potential to be a hero in a lead role, but later in 1962 he starred in the motion picture epic "The Great Escape" which would cement his legacy. The Great Escape as well as "The Magnificent Seven" were both directed by the director I have chosen, John Sturges so they obviously work well together and are used to working together.
Frank Sinatra as James Gordon
Yes, Frank Sinatra is known for his amazing voice but remember his magnificent stage presence also transferred over to film. His acting wasn't bad by any means, he always seemed comfortable on the screen. In 1960 he starred as Danny Ocean in "Ocean's Eleven", in 1953 Sinatra played the role of Pvt. Angelo Maggio in "From Here To Eternity". In both of these roles he was a leader like Gordon is in Gotham.
Charlton Heston as Harvey Dent
Something about Heston just made me think he was a perfect fit. Going into the 60's he had already played the title character in Ben-Hur and Moses in The Ten Commandments but the role that makes me think he could be best for the part may be his role as Miguel Vargas in Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil" where he plays a Drug Enforcement Official in an outstanding performance. Most probably know Heston for his role in 1968's "Planet of the Apes". Personally, I was inspired by his role later on in 1971 in The Omega Man. Heston had a tendency to "over act" and I think this is one role that it could work in.
Audrey Hepburn as Gilda Dent
A beautiful and talented lady without a doubt, while this is my second female casting so far and I don't mean to sound shallow I have to go back to the look. Hepburn always had recognizable and dazzling eyes, she could use them to convey raw emotion. I think this would be key in playing a wife that is trying to support her husband who is slipping away into insanity. She had starred in many films showing her talent by this point, her most recognizable at the start of the decade in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and in 1963 she held her own alongside Cary Grant in "Charade".
Aneta Corsaut as Vicki Vale
My main reason for casting her is of course her role in "The Blob" in which she starred alongside Steve McQueen as his girlfriend, Vicki Vale is Bruce Wayne's love interest so the two can play naturally off their already existing chemistry.
Sandra Dee as Silver St. Cloud
Another love interest for Bruce Wayne, Siler St. Cloud is all about looking good. Sandra Dee's career was almost based around this, one of her most notable roles as Gidget in the film of the same name is all about her in a looking good at the beach falling in love.
Sally Field as Barbara Gordon / Batgirl
That's right, the girl that would succeed Sandra Dee as Gidget in the 1965 TV series. After Gidget she played the wildly successful lead role in "The Flying Nun". A spunky enthusiastic girl for such a role. In current day you probably know Sally Field for her role in another CBM, Aunt May in The Amazing Spider-Man.
Martin Sheen as Dick Grayson / Robin
It is pure coincidence that my pick for Robin is a young Martin Sheen who starred as Sally Field's husband Uncle Ben in "The Amazing Spider-Man". This role was hard to cast, Martin Sheen would bloom into an amazing actor soon enough. During the 60's as his career got started he jumped around in various roles on the small screen, his first major role coming in "The Subject Was Roses" where he plays a young man that's seen the hardship of war and now has to deal with a war at home with his parents relationship on the rocks.
Vincent Price as Alfred Pennyworh
You're right, it's partly because of the 'stache. I've always loved that look for Alfred. Price was one of my main inspirations for wanting to do a cast in this time period, I'm addicted to watching his work. His role as vampire slayer (kinda) in The Last Man On Earth almost made me want to cast him in a more action role but by this time he didn't seem totally right for that. His signature laugh and devilish voice made him a candidate for The Joker but I decided against it. Instead I think Price would boost the production greatly in a supporting role.
Elizabeth Taylor as Selina Kyle / Catwoman
One of the most talented actresses of the decade, with great performances as a neglected wife in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and soon known for her outstanding performance as Cleopatra in the film of the same name. She's just perfect for the role.
THE CRIME FAMILY
Cary Grant as Carmine Falcone
I considered using Marlon Brando as he would play the role of the legendary Godfather in 1971 but decided against it, there's no need. Cary Grant was already a legend by this time and getting up in age, perfect for the role of an older crime lord. Usually known to play the role of the hero I thought it would be great to switch things up for him.
Dennis Hopper as Alberto Falcone
In 1955 Hopper starred opposite James Dean in the highly acclaimed "Rebel Without A Cause", a year later he once against had a role alongside Dean in "Giant" which starred my Catwoman, Elizabeth Taylor. Sadly James Dean left us in 1955 at a very young age so my hopes of casting him in anything were dashed but Hopper lived and would later become one of the worlds greatest actors! In the 60's however he bounced around on the small screen, this role would've put him to the top even sooner. To reference the picture I have chosen, Hopper gives off a very chill, almost creepy vibe, I've always felt the exact same from Alberto.
Stanley Baker as Sal Maroni
One look at Stanley Baker and you know he's a perfect villain. In 1967 he would play a mob boss in "Robbery", in 1960 he would play the role of a criminal in "The Criminal". He also starred with an amazing performance in "Zulu" as Lieutenant John Chard.
VILLAINS
Anthony Perkins as The Joker
Believe me when I say NOBODY else was ever considered. Perkins all the way. Awhile back I did a 1980's Spider-Man cast, someone suggested I use Anthony Perkins for the role of Harry Osborn / Green Goblin, but that wasn't right for him, he was always The Joker. The truest "Pyscho" to ever grace the screen with his bone chilling performance in 1960's "Pyscho". A picture is worth a thousand words they say, so I imagine a gif is worth more. Let this do the talking.
Tuesday Weld as Harley Quinn
This pick goes hand in hand with my Joker pick. Tuesday Weld was a beautiful innocent looking girl that was incredibly talented, yet she could always twist your emotions and come off as seriously unstable. The real reason she gets the role, starring alongside Perkins in 1968's "Pretty Poison". Starting off as an innocent girl but joining up with Perkins turns her into a psycho much like him as the embark in a Bonnie & Clyde like adventure.
Max Showalter as The Penguin
Always an odd looking portly fellow with possibly the most recognizable laugh in cinema, I'd like Penguin to use such a bird like chuckle as it adds to his creepiness, not to move in on Joker's territory however. The infamous "12 sweaters" scene in 1966's "Lord Love A Duck" oddly enough is what caused me to make this choice. Showalter plays Tuesday Weld's father, take a look and be disturbed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXKmDO5KFlY&feature=relmfu
Roddy McDowall as The Riddler
This may seem crazy but yet another actor from "Lord Love A Duck". Watching the movie and considering doing this cast these actors just popped into the roles for me. Roddy McDowall plays a low key creepy character that's in love with and tries to watch over Tuesday Weld. His actions as he impersonates a bird, Mollymauk, show he's total lunatic but not in quite as a disturbing way such as The Joker of course. McDowall would also later star with Charlton Heston in Planet Of The Apes as the main ape.
Natlie Wood as Poison Ivy
A stunning red head is just what's needed for the role. She play the total opposite of the character in "Rebel Without A Cause" or 1961's "West Side Story" but there's something about Wood that comes off as very seductive and a fit for the role.
Kerwin Mathews as Scarecrow
I've always pictured Scarecrow as dashingly good looking guy that lady's swoon over and men admire just to add to the irony that he'll make you see your worst fears, he'll make you see him as terrifying. Mathews was known for his boyish good looks and better yet, he was Harryhausen's golden boy. Wherever Harryhausen went with his magical visuals Mathews wasn't far behind, in a role like Scarecrow he would get to work with these effects once again.
Kirk Douglas as Black Mask
Douglas was known to be a warrior, with his role as boxer Midge in 1949's "Champion", a war hero in 1957's "Path of Glory", or his famous portrayal of Spartacus in the 1960 film of the same name. Always the hero role, but I see Douglas differently. To me he was screaming to play a villain, the blood thirst stays alive with this part.
Clint Eastwood as Hush
The most badass man on the planet, striking fear into anyone with a single cold glare. Do I really need to explain anything for Clint Eastwood? Already known as a western superstar for 1959 series "Rawhide" and that would carry on and get bigger this decade, with The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly in 1966, and in 1971 he would become the legendary Dirty Harry Callihan. Clint knew his way around a gun, he's a perfect Hush.