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The Joker has the last laugh

THE HYPE is ferocious, perfectly orchestrated, and nigh-on irresistible. Analysts say more excitement has been generated by The Dark Knight than for any film in recent years since The Lord Of The Rings — cinemas report that bookings and inquiries are at a record high.

And the new Batman film is, for better or worse, being marketed almost entirely on the strength of the performance of the late Heath ledger.

It is his face that has been painted on hoardings across the globe: the Joker looms on a giant billboard over Sunset Strip in Hollywood, and is plastered across London buses. He is the villain and yet the hero — Batman barely gets a look-in.

To sell the film so hard on the Joker might be considered ghoulish. Is it not in questionable taste, after all, to be pushing the film primarily on the talents of a young man who, according to gossip, found the experience of playing the role exceedingly disturbing, and was found dead shortly after filming was completed?

Following Ledger's accidental drug overdose death in January, producers Warner Bros certainly had a headache.

After a great deal of debate and, consultation with Ledger's family, the decision was made to sell the film on the Joker rather than on the Caped Crusader. And so it is Ledger's leering features, smeared with make up, which dominate the posters advertising the film, and Ledger who is in virtually every scene of the trailers.

He is also the one with the catchphrase 'Why so serious?' which is being busily printed on toys, T-shirts and lunchboxes.

There is a 'good' commercial reason for Ledger's prominence: it emerges that licensing deals were signed prior to Ledger's death, and he had taken part in photo shoots in character which have permitted the manufacture of a huge range of items.

And it must be conceded that the critics all agree that Ledger's performance is astonishing: a careerdefining tour de force which is a world away from the camp sophistication of Jack Nicholson in the 1989 film.

Every critic who has seen the film believes a posthumous Oscar nomination is a certainty. Both Michael Caine, who stars in the film, and its British director, Christopher Nolan, said at the New York premiere earlier this week that they believed he deserves to win.

Long before Ledger died, his performance was being touted as his greatest. Who knows for certain what effect it had on him?

Co- star Christian Bale, who plays Batman, said: 'I know there are a lot of people out there who don't think this film should be shown. But if you're asking my opinion, I think that's bloody insane. I also think it's an insult to Heath and everything he stood for. I don't think anything should be cut -- I think it's the film he wanted to make.

'This is a celebration of what he did best — entertain people. Why would any actor not want that to be appreciated? I know he would have. The bottom line is it would be totally rude not to. Respect the man. This is what he did. This is what he wanted to do.'

Ledger's family came en masse to the premiere in New York as a way of showing they are proud with the way that his final performance is assuming centre stage.

Variety's Leo Barraclough says: 'The cruel dilemma for Warners is that the hottest actor in their film happens to be dead.'