Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is an animated film loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name. The film focuses on Batman as he investigates the serial killer Jack the Ripper. Whilst close to the premise of the original comic, the film makes many deviations from the original text, such as including various character not present and changing Jack the Ripper's identity. The film was released on January 23, 2018 via digital platforms, though was later released on DVD and Blu-ray on February 6, 2018.
Plot[]
In Victorian-era Gotham City, Batman saves a wealthy couple from being robbed by three orphans (Dickie, Jason and Timmy) and defeats their abusive handler, Big Bill Dust. At the same time, Ivy, an orphan turned exotic dancer and prostitute, becomes the newest victim of the serial killer called Jack the Ripper, who preys on Gotham's poor and destitute women. Citizens of Gotham believe the Batman and Jack to be the same man. Selina Kyle, a famed local actress, berates Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon and Chief of Police Harvey "Bulldog" Bullock for their failure to stop the Ripper murders.
At the Monarch Theatre with his friend, District Attorney Harvey Dent, Bruce meets Selina and the two bond at the exclusive Dionysus Club. Bruce realizes that not only were the two of them raised by Sister Leslie, but that some of the murdered girls were orphans formerly under Leslie's care. Bruce realizes that the Ripper will target Leslie and rushes to save her but is too late. At the crime scene, Bruce finds a bloody Dionysus Club pin, meaning the Ripper has to be one of Gotham's wealthy. At Sister Leslie's funeral, Bruce is met by psychiatrist Hugo Strange, claiming he knows the killer and wants to meet with Batman. Bruce also is met by Marlene, a drunken old woman who claims she saw him sneaking around when Sister Leslie was killed.
At Arkham Asylum, the Ripper ambushes Strange and throws him to his own frenzied patients, who tear him apart. While in pursuit of the Ripper, Batman is himself chased by police, only to be saved by a costumed Selina. After seeing Batman is Bruce, she takes him to her home, where they spend the night.
After Marlene is found dead, Bruce is arrested, and Dent, jealous of Selina's affection, prosecutes him as the Ripper. Sentenced to Blackgate Penitentiary following the trial, Bruce is met by Selina, who urges him to reveal he is Batman to clear his name and help save the girls from Jack. When he refuses, she decides to tell Gordon herself. Bribing a guard to deliver a coded message to his manor, Bruce escapes after staging a prison fight.
Selina meets with Gordon at the Gotham City World's Fair and learns to her horror that he is the Ripper. While seeking Selina at Gordon's home, Batman learns this as well. Gordon injects Selina with a sleeping aid, but she remains conscious long enough to give Batman a signal using her blood on a searchlight. Batman arrives and fights Gordon into a Ferris wheel where Gordon, driven mentally insane by his time in the American Civil War, reveals his "holy work" is to rid Gotham from what he sees as human filth. The Ferris wheel lights on fire in the struggle and begins to collapse: Batman defeats Gordon, who chooses to commit suicide. Batman and Selina are saved by Alfred and the orphans, who are now Bruce Wayne's wards.
Cast[]
- Bruce Greenwood as Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Jennifer Carpenter as Selina Kyle
- Anthony Head as Alfred Pennyworth
- Chris Cox as Father Callahan
- John DiMaggio as Police Chief Bullock, Big Dill Dust
- David Forseth as Cyrus Gold
- Grey Griffin as Sister Leslie Thompkins, Selina Kyle (singing voice), Jason Todd
- Bob Joles as Mayor Tolliver
- Yuri Lowenthal as Harvey Dent
- Lincoln Melcher as Dickie Grayson
- Scott Patterson as James Gordon/Jack the Ripper
- William Salyers as Hugo Strange
- Tara Strong as Marlene Mahoney, Timmy Drake
- Bruce Timm as Arkham Radio Man
- Kari Wuhrer as Barbara Eileen-Gordon, Pamela "Ivy" Isley
Differences with the Comic[]
- Characters such as Selina Kyle, Leslie Thompkins, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Hugo Strange, Harvey Bullock, Barbara Gordon, Pamela Isley, and Cyrus Gold were not present in the comic.
- While in the movie James Gordon was the ripper, and committed his crimes due to his hatred for women, In the comic, Bruce Wayne's family friend Jacob Packer was the ripper, and he did it due to his broken mental psyche from Bruce's mother rejecting him.
- In the comics, instead of being framed for Marlone Mahoney's death, Bruce Wayne was framed due to Packer planting his knife in Wayne manor.
- Instead of living in Wayne manor like the comic, Bruce lives in a townhouse within the city, and his batcave is located in the hidden attic.
- Bruce's parents don’t play as big of a role as in the comic, and they are only mentioned a few times.
- The final act of the comic was Batman defeating the ripper in the graveyard, while the movie has it happen in the Gotham worlds fair.
- Instead of beginning with Bruce returning to Gotham, the movie opens with Bruce already operating as Batman.