Batman Returns ITV (UK) Premier?

[Seantastic]

Hey peeps,

First post in YEARS (I think), still totally addicted to Batman so nothing has changed on that front atleast haha!

My question is, does anyone know when the Batman Returns premier was on ITV?  I remember having it on tape and it being the first Batman film I had and would watch it religiously (now I do the same, but on DVD), but its always held a soft spot in my heart, everything like the adverts, the "Coca Cola sponsors" bits before and after a break, everything!

Does anyone know however when exactly this was?  I've searched around and just can find anything, and like I'm assuming it was around 95 (the tape I had was labeled Batman Forever with a big score through it and Returns under it), but yeah does anyone know when it was, or hell does anyone even remember it?!

[Catwoman]

I don't remember it seeing as I'm American lol but I DO remember you (I think?) so welcome back

[johnnygobbs]

Hey peeps,

First post in YEARS (I think), still totally addicted to Batman so nothing has changed on that front atleast haha!

My question is, does anyone know when the Batman Returns premier was on ITV?  I remember having it on tape and it being the first Batman film I had and would watch it religiously (now I do the same, but on DVD), but its always held a soft spot in my heart, everything like the adverts, the "Coca Cola sponsors" bits before and after a break, everything!

Does anyone know however when exactly this was?  I've searched around and just can find anything, and like I'm assuming it was around 95 (the tape I had was labeled Batman Forever with a big score through it and Returns under it), but yeah does anyone know when it was, or hell does anyone even remember it?!

Oh goodness, I'm giving away my age now.    But I recall it premiering on ITV around November 1995.  I recall wondering why it wasn't being shown as a Christmas premiere instead of about a month before the holiday season.  I think it was screened on a Thursday or maybe a Wednesday (sometime in the midweek) and that it annoyingly had to be split in two for the ITN News at Ten, meaning the second half of the film would probably have ended close to midnight.

Although I didn't have a video-player at the time I did ask a friend of mine to record it so that I could borrow it.

[Seantastic]

Hey peeps,

First post in YEARS (I think), still totally addicted to Batman so nothing has changed on that front atleast haha!

My question is, does anyone know when the Batman Returns premier was on ITV?  I remember having it on tape and it being the first Batman film I had and would watch it religiously (now I do the same, but on DVD), but its always held a soft spot in my heart, everything like the adverts, the "Coca Cola sponsors" bits before and after a break, everything!

Does anyone know however when exactly this was?  I've searched around and just can find anything, and like I'm assuming it was around 95 (the tape I had was labeled Batman Forever with a big score through it and Returns under it), but yeah does anyone know when it was, or hell does anyone even remember it?!

Oh goodness, I'm giving away my age now.    But I recall it premiering on ITV around November 1995.  I recall wondering why it wasn't being shown as a Christmas premiere instead of about a month before the holiday season.  I think it was screened on a Thursday or maybe a Wednesday (sometime in the midweek) and that it annoyingly had to be split in two for the ITN News at Ten, meaning the second half of the film would probably have ended close to midnight.

Although I didn't have a video-player at the time I did ask a friend of mine to record it so that I could borrow it.

Duuuuuuude!!

You have like instantly became one of my favourite people ever haha!

I do remember that ITN did show Returns at Christmas time one year, maybe two years in a row, cant remember, but yeah oh man I love you haha!

[johnnygobbs]

Duuuuuuude!!

You have like instantly became one of my favourite people ever haha!

I do remember that ITN did show Returns at Christmas time one year, maybe two years in a row, cant remember, but yeah oh man I love you haha!

Thanks! 

But unfortunately I don't think ITV has ever shown Returns at Christmas.  At least not ITV1.  Maybe one of its sister channels has.    It's a shame because it's perfect for Christmas.    Also, doesn't Channel 4 have the most recent rights?  I'm sure the last time it was on regular TV Channel 4 showed it.

Anyway, anytime you want to reminisce I'm up for it.  I have fond memories of seeing Returns when I was young.

[Seantastic]

Dude I am sure I saw it during the Christmas time, or atleast late year, mmmm Im not sure, maybe I'm talking out my ass hahaha!

I did find this though;

At the 2:40 mark is the trailer for the premiere of it and it would have been shown on the 26th of October 95.
Damn thats a nice tv spot for it 

Plus here's the commercial spots for the showing of Predator 2 (2 weeks prior to Returns)

[johnnygobbs]

So I was a month out. 

Oh well, I knew it was late in the year but before Christmas.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

Duuuuuuude!!

You have like instantly became one of my favourite people ever haha!

I do remember that ITN did show Returns at Christmas time one year, maybe two years in a row, cant remember, but yeah oh man I love you haha!

Thanks! 

But unfortunately I don't think ITV has ever shown Returns at Christmas.  At least not ITV1.  Maybe one of its sister channels has.    It's a shame because it's perfect for Christmas.    Also, doesn't Channel 4 have the most recent rights?  I'm sure the last time it was on regular TV Channel 4 showed it.

Anyway, anytime you want to reminisce I'm up for it.  I have fond memories of seeing Returns when I was young.

I can confirm it was shown at Christmas. I expect, if your as much of a Christmas TV and movie listings buff as I am, that you possibly remember those special TV guides that were issued back in the day. The Superman movies popped up in them too. One year Batman Returns was planned to be screened and the guide did use a promotional photo of Catwoman lying on The Penguin's bed to highlight it's time and date. Annoyingly the screening ended up being cancelled. Or perhaps a magazine misprint. I expect you'll also remember those TBC (To Be Confirmed) listings that show up in Christmas magazine schedules to this day. That's because plans and screenings change constantly. It still goes on.

However during New Year at another time (possibly New Year's Eve) I remember going upstairs in my relatives house to watch Batman Returns on a rather crap portable 90's TV for a particularly very late night screening. It was followed by the Hollywood Classic, a true masterpiece: "Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach"! lol But as you may know those were the good old days for ITV. No irritating, trashy Casino/Gambling shows then for late night hours. You were more than likely to catch a 1am screening of James Cameron's "Aliens" instead. Woohoo.

The screening of the first Batman at Christmas 1991 has been documented before here. With it's famous BBC1 ident Bat Signal for a Christmas Night screening (rush released onto TV in just a mere two years!). That screening had an actual 10pm 20 minute news-break that was highly dramatic and felt like a classic Adam West cliffhanger scene. As Vicki Vale watches the Flugelheim Musuem guests being gassed and just before the Joker's goons burst open it's entrance doors the scene cut to a special BBC1 photograph of the movie with a melodramatic announcer booming: "BATMAN WILL CONTINUE....AFTER THE NEWS!!!" lol I really wish I could find you the footage.

There was another famous news-break during ITV's network premiere of Batman Forever. After the Riddler's famous "Real Game Begins" moment the news came on for, I swear to God, 50 minutes! You had the full 30 minute News At Ten programme to get through followed by regional news and weather and lengthy commercials. By the time the film returned for it's finale it finished at a fairly late hour.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

Dude I am sure I saw it during the Christmas time, or atleast late year, mmmm Im not sure, maybe I'm talking out my ass hahaha!

I did find this though;

At the 2:40 mark is the trailer for the premiere of it and it would have been shown on the 26th of October 95.
Damn thats a nice tv spot for it 

Plus here's the commercial spots for the showing of Predator 2 (2 weeks prior to Returns)

I'm always on the lookout for these really old ITV movie TV spots. Each of them had unique stuff and were in some cases specially produced. The Ghostbusters movies were possibly the best ones.