James Gordon (Pat Hingle)

"I'm in charge here, not Carl Grissom."

- James Gordon

James Gordon was the commissioner of Gotham City.

History
Gordon regards the Batman as a rumor at best and vigilante at worst, though by the end of the film, he and the citizens of Gotham publicly acknowledge his usefulness, and receive from him the gift of the Bat-Signal.

In the sequels, Gordon plays only a minimal role compared to his role in other media, but is shown to completely trust Batman and publicly defend him. He even appears to doubt Batman's involvement in the kidnapping of the Princess in Batman Returns, and tried to stop his police officers from shooting at him.

Although Barbara Gordon is his daughter, or niece depending on which version, in the comics, in the last Schumacher film of the series, Batman & Robin, her name is changed to Barbara Wilson and she is Alfred Pennyworth's niece. There are no known women in his life in this series, although his wife appeared with him at the party Bruce Wayne was hosting in Batman and Poison Ivy seduces him and he gives in, giving her the keys to Police Headquarters in Batman & Robin.

Behind the scenes

 * In the 1989 Batman film, and its three sequels, Gordon is portrayed by Pat Hingle.
 * In an unused plot-point for the 1989 film, Gordon was the cop who consoled young Bruce after his parents' deaths.
 * Gordon in the 1989-1997 film series is missing much of his left little finger, which was a real injury of his portrayer, Pat Hingle, resulting from a 50+ foot fall down an elevator shaft.
 * Gordon was originally going to be shot and killed by Two-Face in an early draft of Batman Forever, but the idea was turned down when Warner Bros. wanted a family-friendly Batman film.
 * Gordon, in his final film appearances, actually resembles more the moustached Police Chief O'Hara in his late comic book depictions, rather than Commissioner Gordon.