TIM BURTON MOVIES
As stated and showed many times on the site, the Tim Burton movies went back to the genesis of the mythology, to the roots of the franchise - Kane and Finger's original vision of the pre-Batman Detective Comics issues - before the editors ordered to brighten it all up and make it more accessible for younger audiences
Michael Uslan (producer): I only let Tim see the original year of the Bob Kane/Bill Finger run, up until the time that Robin was introduced (DVD)
Michael Uslan (producer): I only let Tim see the original year of the Bob Kane/Bill Finger run, up until the time that Robin was introduced (DVD)
Commissioner Gordon appears in the very first panel in Batman's debut comic book appearance, Detective Comics #27. The first panel already tells us a lot. First of all, we find out that he's a good friend of Bruce Wayne. They're not too close but Bruce is shown to occasionally visit Gordon and Gordon often offers him to come along for the ride to the crime scenes.
This appears to be the way in the movie as well. We can see that Bruce Wayne was seated right next to Gordon,
and also his absence might have been ignored by the Commissioner considering that he thinks of Bruce as a bored millionaire even thought he likes him. Gordon is also invited to Bruce's fund-raising party.
Another thing that we find out from the very first panel is that he's unsure of Batman. At first he wants to arrest him
"Hold it right there!"
It is important to note that in the script Gordon was a cop on duty the day Waynes were killed, an idea used in Batman Begins. That's why Batman cared about Gordon and reacted when Bob the Goon took him hostage
In the 1989 movie, Gordon also receives a letter from Batman and the Bat Signal to call him in case of danger. The note is the only way they communicate together. In Batman Returns it seems like anyone can turn on the signal and Batman instantly arrives at the place of the crime, being alarmed by the signal looming in the sky. Gordon is seen talking to Batman but not with Batman. Batman ignores him and doesn't look at him, only giving him a quick reply in the form of "We'll see" before leaving.
It's worth noting however that Gordon tried to stop the cops who started shooting at Batman at the rooftop and that according to the Batman Returns script he is hoping that Batman will forgive the city for buying into Penguin's scheme.
Note that Gordon is asking the Mayor, not the other way around - yet another clue showing us that there's no real communication between Batman and Gordon
The original Gordon was very much a side character with a very small role, appearing only twice in the entire pre-Robin era (in DC #27 and in one panel of DC #28), and didn't return until DC #42.
Gary Oldman: You see a trust there when they're investigating ..when they're at a crime scene, you know, he will excuse his offices and his detective and give Batman the scene first. I know that for Batman Gordon is the only person that HE can trust, I mean other than [Alfred and Rachel] (Chuck Movie Guy int 2008)
It's also thanks to his support and push that Batman is ignored by the police and allowed on the crime scene.
While it's clear that Gordon and Batman have a personal friendship, they both rarely, if ever, step on a personal note, mainly due to Gordon's preference.
As the time goes by we see a major concern from Batman for Gordon when he gets a heart attack or when he's kidnapped by Joker when it's almost personal. It goes the other way when the news spread about Batman being brutally beaten by Bane. The same is shown in The Dark Knight when Gordon quickly rushes to help Batman after his fall with Two Face and is shown a genuine and deep concern for his state. They are also seen occasionally joking together, which further proves that despite what they themselves may admit to themselves and what may appear on the surface, there really is a friendship there.
Nolan's movies also show the trademark and common situation for the two when Batman is often seen disappearing before Gordon can finish the sentence...
...however it dropped the other trademark which is Gordon being started by the suddenly appearing Batman.
Another element that was dropped was Gordon's enormous smoking habit of which Batman was reminding him quite often and which later became a major plot point when Gordon had a heart attack and was then replaced by other detectives for some time.
In the Modern Age comics Gordon doesn't have any friendship or special camaraderie with Bruce Wayne and that also translated into the movie, which is the most evident in The Dark Knight in which Gordon refers to Bruce as Mr. Wayne and is never shown to be around him or talk to him otherwise throughout the two movies
Also, in Modern Age comics Gordon has an opportunity to shoot Batman when they first meet but he doesn't and Batman's speech is similar to the condensed "Now we're two".
GORDON
Think he'll ever forgive us?
MAYOR
Probably not. But he'll always
help us.
Think he'll ever forgive us?
MAYOR
Probably not. But he'll always
help us.
Note that Gordon is asking the Mayor, not the other way around - yet another clue showing us that there's no real communication between Batman and Gordon
The original Gordon was very much a side character with a very small role, appearing only twice in the entire pre-Robin era (in DC #27 and in one panel of DC #28), and didn't return until DC #42.
JOEL SCHUMACHER MOVIES
In Joel Schumacher movies it is made pretty clear that Gordon and Bruce Wayne are good friends and know each other very well, judging by the conversation they have about Dick Grayson. Gordon of Joel Schumacher movies is the reflection of the Golden and Silver era comic counterpart, being a friend of Bruce and cooperating with Batman whenever possible, calling him either with a Bat signal (this time Batman comes directly to the source of the signal and talks to Gordon) or by video connection.CHRISTOPHER NOLAN MOVIES
Christoper Nolan's Batman movies draw from the modern age (primarily Year One), in which Commissioner Gordon is a very important supporting character with a big role. The modern age showed Gordon and Batman having a trusty relationship and concern for each other, even thought on the surface they don't show it. There's clearly a mutual respect , trust and admiration, and Gordon could be perhaps included in Batman's "extended family" along Alfred. In both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Gordon not only provides Batman with important and valuable information but also directly takes part in the action, whether it's taking down a section of the bridge or capturing Joker.Gary Oldman: You see a trust there when they're investigating ..when they're at a crime scene, you know, he will excuse his offices and his detective and give Batman the scene first. I know that for Batman Gordon is the only person that HE can trust, I mean other than [Alfred and Rachel] (Chuck Movie Guy int 2008)
It's also thanks to his support and push that Batman is ignored by the police and allowed on the crime scene.
While it's clear that Gordon and Batman have a personal friendship, they both rarely, if ever, step on a personal note, mainly due to Gordon's preference.
As the time goes by we see a major concern from Batman for Gordon when he gets a heart attack or when he's kidnapped by Joker when it's almost personal. It goes the other way when the news spread about Batman being brutally beaten by Bane. The same is shown in The Dark Knight when Gordon quickly rushes to help Batman after his fall with Two Face and is shown a genuine and deep concern for his state. They are also seen occasionally joking together, which further proves that despite what they themselves may admit to themselves and what may appear on the surface, there really is a friendship there.
Nolan's movies also show the trademark and common situation for the two when Batman is often seen disappearing before Gordon can finish the sentence...
...however it dropped the other trademark which is Gordon being started by the suddenly appearing Batman.
Another element that was dropped was Gordon's enormous smoking habit of which Batman was reminding him quite often and which later became a major plot point when Gordon had a heart attack and was then replaced by other detectives for some time.
In the Modern Age comics Gordon doesn't have any friendship or special camaraderie with Bruce Wayne and that also translated into the movie, which is the most evident in The Dark Knight in which Gordon refers to Bruce as Mr. Wayne and is never shown to be around him or talk to him otherwise throughout the two movies
Also, in Modern Age comics Gordon has an opportunity to shoot Batman when they first meet but he doesn't and Batman's speech is similar to the condensed "Now we're two".