Who Will Play the Feline Fatale???

Catwoman is one of the more famous villains from the Batman universe, ever since Julie Newmar donned the leather catsuit back in the 60s. With the Dark Knight already released on DVD, many are wondering who will don the catsuit in the next installment? That is a tough choice. The catwoman name was tarnished when Halle Berry did her own portrayal and won the Razzie Award for worst actress. 

Even so, it is one of the intriguing roles in Hollywood today. Seeing Julie Newmar in the Batman TV series, you wouldn't think there would be much acting involved in playing Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. However, that changed when Michelle Pfeiffer was given the role after the original choice, Annette Benning, dropped out due to pregnancy. Critics praised Pfeiffer's portrayal, actually she was the only thing most critics liked about the movie. 

Batman Returns showed that Selina Kyle was exactly like Bruce Wayne, only darker. Pfeiffer even admitted it was one of the most challenging characters she ever had to play, and also broke the stereotype of her only playing period piece heroines. This finally showed Selina Kyle as confused and deranged, an anti-heroine. Although many parents were not very happy. They complained when Pfeiffer appeared on screen looking ever bit the dominatrix, complete with a whip. They thought Tim Burton's vision of Batman was too mature for children, which does not make sense if you see the new Batman movies. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are far more violent than Burton's movies. 

So with the renewed success and enthusiasm of the Batman franchise, planning another sequel has been in the works since The Dark Knight opened in theaters. For a while, it was thought that just the Riddler and the Penguin would be the main villains. Christopher Nolan, the director has given a definite answer on anything, he doesn't even know if he will return to direct. 

But the buzz is that Catwoman is the ultimate favorite for an appearance in the next film. Kate Beckinsale has expressed interest in playing her. We already know how she would look in a catsuit, remember Underworld? Also many speculate Angelina Jolie will don some cat ears, she has support from the first catwoman herself, Julie Newmar. Both of those are more obvious choices since both women are known for their action roles. Beckinsale for the vampire Selene (similar to Selina Kyle) and Jolie for Lara Croft and Fox from Wanted.

But word through the internet waves has been rumoring that Oscar winner Rachel Weisz is the new favorite to portray the "feline fatale." If she does accept the role, that means that the Brits have taken over the Batman hype. Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, and with Weisz, would make the general cast of the new movie overly British. Not that this is a bad thing, of course, but a little surprising. 

There has been a British surge within the last few years. Keira Knightley (the biggest and most famous right now), Orlando Bloom, Sienna Miller, Emily Blunt, Daniel Craig, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (okay, he's Irish), Kate Beckinsale, and last but not least, Kate Winslet. They're starting to play Americans better than Americans themselves. Scary thought... But they are beginning to lay a claim on Hollywood, whether we're ready or not. 

Anyway, I'm glad that Weisz may be targeted to play Catwoman/Selina Kyle. She can handle a character like this and it will be in a role we've never seen her in before. So, maybe it do what it did for Michelle Pfeiffer. We can only hope, and we can hope that it will be a good script and film to make up for 2004's Catwoman.

Laddie, the Peek-a-boo Girl and the Fickleness of Hollywood

I rewatched this film noir last night, and remembered why I liked it in the first place. This Gun for Hire has a simple plot that's both easy to follow and riveting. 

Raven (Alan Ladd) is a cold-blooded professional killer who's been double-crossed by his client. Ellen (Veronica Lake) is a beautiful nightclub singer who's spying on her corrupt boss. Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston) is a dedicated cop who wants Ellen's love and Raven's capture. The tension mounts and before the case is wrapped, someone will pay with his life.

The film's so short, I guess they had to made it simple. However, there is still something powerful about it. This was probably one of the few film noirs that showed a non-remorseful killer that came off as sympathetic to the audience. Raven continually threatens people with a gun to do what he wants, and kills them if they don't. And we still feel sorry for him! Maybe because he like cats?

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake publicity photo for the film

This role made Alan Ladd a star and he played it very well. Most of the time he doesn't show emotion, but when he does, Wham! Veronica Lake typically plays her monotone self. She was the only character to show some sympathy towards Raven, ultimately, helping him escape from the cops when they are being held up in a train yard. 

This was the first of four pairings between Ladd and Lake. The funny story behind this is, Paramount had a difficult time casting actresses opposite the 5'6" Ladd. Lucky for them, Lake was just under 5ft. So the pairing stuck, however, Ladd didn't care for Lake much, but he also didn't make the same mistake Frederic March made.

Frederic March and Veronica Lake is a promotional still from I Married a Witch

March and Lake starred in I Married a Witch (the blueprints for Bewitched). And Lake was known as difficult to work with. On set, March referred to her as, "a brainless little blonde sexpot, void of any acting ability." She found out and retaliated by calling him a "Pompous poseur." It was war from then on since Veronica played practical jokes on him. Never get a Brooklyn girl angry...

One instance was hiding a forty pound weight in her dress, when the scene called for March to carry her. They had several takes of the scene, ouch. Another was a scene where March stands directly behind a chair. Lake was required, I guess to cling to him, and while she was she brought her foot up into his groin. March renamed the film, "I Married a Bitch," understandably. But it's still really funny to read about.

One of the best moments in This Gun for Hire is when Raven and Ellen are trapped a small hut by the train tracks. Raven tells Ellen about a dream he keeps having, believing if he tells someone he'll stop having it. As long as she doesn't laugh that is. Raven's parents died when he was very young and he was taken in by his aunt, who would severely beat him. When he was fourteen he picked up a knife and stabbed her in the neck, killing her. He was sent to reform school and also beat him there. Raven was not born the way he was, he was made that why by the people who were supposed to care about him. The emotion building in Ladd's face showed how this whole ordeal affected him. 

So while Ladd's career flourished for about 10 more years, Lake's career began floundering after 1942. Making way for the decade's leading "love goddess" and most photographed woman in the world, Rita Hayworth, another lady who's trademark was her hair. Put it this way, Rita was the Angelina Jolie of the 1940s, while Veronica Lake was the Rachel McAdams (who was an "It Girl" for two years then disappeared). 

Hollywood's a fickle creature and it will remain so. And we will continue obsessing over it in awe.