The dramatic theme to Tim Burton's Batman, composed by Danny Elfman, had its origin story in a most surprising place, an airplane bathroom. The 1989 theme, which would win Elfman a Grammy Award, was the first of two projects the composer would work on for the DC franchise. These included Burton’s 1992 sequel Batman Returns as well as Batman: The Animated Series.
Dating back to the 1960s Batman TV show starring Adam West, the franchise has been known for memorable theme music instantly recognizable to viewers. Elfman's score in particular is well-regarded, as it received a handful of accolades. In addition to the Grammy, Elfman also received the BMI Film Music Award for his work on Batman. Considering how beloved the theme is, it's amusing to learn about its humble origins.
In an interview with Marc Maron for his WTF podcast, Elfman shared the story of how he came up with his Batman theme in an airplane bathroom as he flew home from the film's London set to Los Angeles. His actions apparently caused concern from flight attendants, and Elfman had to explain what he was doing:
"I start running in the bathroom [and hum phrases] and I go back to my seat, and I’m thinking, I’m thinking. Ten minutes later, back in the bathroom. And then back to my seat and then back to the bathroom, because I couldn’t do this with the guy sitting next to me.”
Elfman would win the highest award of the music industry for his score. However, he claimed he was displeased with the way the orchestration was used in the film. Elfman said he was unhappy with the dub used in Batman after his music was turned in and altered for the film's final cut as a way to emphasize the iconic sound effects heard in the finished product. He said he could have scored the film with percussion, a harmonica, and a banjo because in the end, all that was heard were percussion hits during the big moments but the full orchestra could not be heard.
A film's score is an important and somewhat overlooked factor in heightening its overall emotion as well as setting the mood for each scene. In the case of Batman, Elfman's theme certainly helped elevate the final product and made the movie even more special for viewers excited to see the Caped Crusader on the big screen. For those who grew up with Burton's movies and consider Keaton to be their definitive Batman, this bit of insight into Elfman's creative process is a fun behind-the-scenes nugget to keep in mind on the next rewatch. And since inspiration apparently can strike from anywhere for Elfman, it'll be interesting to find out how he came up with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' themes.
Source: WTF Podcast
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