20 Things You Somehow Missed In Batman Returns
16. Alfred’s Mannerisms
Michael Gough portrayed both the valet and surrogate father figure to Bruce Wayne in Batman. However, in Batman Returns, things have changed markedly in their relationship.
Towards the beginning of the film, Alfred seems truly dismayed that Batman does not trust The Penguin, but later changes his tune when it becomes apparent that The Penguin has kidnapped The Ice Princess. He also shows genuine exasperation when Bruce reflects that he will go to Shreck’s Maxsquerade Ball purely to meet Selina Kyle – after Alfred has torn up Bruce’s invitation!
One of the other beautiful little nuggets from Gough’s nuanced performance is that, when Selina Kyle rushes out of Wayne Manor to join The Penguin’s plan in her role as Catwoman, she asks Alfred to explain to Bruce that she left because she is going through “changes”.
The surprised look on Alfred’s face is priceless! When Selina subsequently retracts this and suggests that Alfred “make up a sonnet or a dirty limerick or something”, Alfred coolly (and hilariously) replies “One has just sprung to mind, madam”.
Fittingly, in his novelisation of Batman Returns, Craig Shaw Gardner notes that this little exchange convinced Alfred that Miss Kyle was the right lady for Master Wayne.