Real-World Criminals
In keeping with Joker‘s more grounded depiction of a flamboyant supervillain like the Joker, there are a couple of references to real-world killers and criminals in the film.
First of all, Arthur’s murder of three Wall Street bankers who assault him on the subway recalls the actual case of Bernie Goetz, who shot four young men who he claimed were bothering him on the New York subway. Goetz’s actions stirred up controversy but also made him something of a figurehead for vigilante justice, much like Fleck’s murders whip up the “Kill the rich” hysteria in Gotham.
More subtly, the comedy club that Arthur plays at – clips of which later appear on Murray Franklin’s show – is called Pogo’s. Pogo was the alias used by serial killer John Wayne Gacy who, like Fleck, had a career as a professional clown.
The Importance Of Zorro
By the end of the movie, chaos reigns on the streets of Gotham, whipped up by Arthur Fleck’s actions. When the scene cuts to a movie theater which is showing Zorro, The Gay Blade, fans will immediately know what happens next – the riot is going to result in the deaths of the Waynes.
You see, in most versions of the event, the Waynes have been to see a Zorro movie when they emerge and get killed by Joe Chill in Crime Alley. It’s typically the classic The Mark of Zorro from 1940 but, to fit the timeframe of Joker, the movie changes it to 1981’s The Gay Blade, which is a parody of the usual storyline.
In fact, the choice of this version may tell us exactly when Joker is set. Posters for other movies on display at the theater include Wolfen, Arthur and Excalibur which – guess what? – also released in 1981. Interestingly, Excalibur was also on the marquee when young Bruce and his parents left the cinema at the beginning of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, creating a neat tie between Joker and the last time we saw the Waynes perish on the big screen.
