Original artwork, not a still
Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
— Batman
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The line is a seducer's purr that turns out to be a trap: the Joker says it as an idle party trick, not knowing it is the key to Bruce's whole life. It is why Burton's Joker is a personal enemy rather than a random one. Fans quote the whole sentence with a flourish, usually at someone about to meet a bad end.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for BatmanShow the scene
In Tim Burton's Batman (1989), Bruce Wayne goes to Vicki Vale's apartment ready to tell her he is Batman. The Joker is already there. He puts the question to Bruce, who recognises it as the phrase the mugger used the night his parents were murdered. Then the Joker shoots him, and Bruce survives by hiding a serving tray under his shirt. Later, in the fight at Gotham Cathedral, Batman throws the line back at the Joker, and the film reveals that Jack Napier, the man who became the Joker, was that mugger.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Batman (1989 film)Plot section; Awards sectionReference checked
- Wikiquote: Batman (1989 film)Joker and Batman dialogue sectionsReference checked
Context reviewed
