It Was a Real Bird in Michelle Pfeiffer's Mouth When Batman Returns

In the late 80s, when "Batman Returns" was filmed, CGI wasn't as popular as it is today. Practical sets and effects were still the norm, which didn't leave Burton with many options. Thankfully, Pfeiffer was about as dedicated as he could get, as Burton reminded THR:

"I don't think I've ever been so impressed. She had a live bird in her mouth as the camera rolled. It was four or five seconds and then she let it fly away. That was before CG was before digital. It was so fast, it felt like an effect."

The scene ended in one perfect take. As Burton said, it was over in a flash – but Pfeiffer definitely thought about the aftermath. "I look back and say, 'What was I thinking? I could have caught a disease or something from having a live bird in my mouth," Pfeiffer recalls. "I think Tim likes to torture me a bit, it's like a little brother [or] kind kid."

Fortunately, no birds - or actors - were harmed during the making of this scene. Pfeiffer is no stranger to suffering for her art, but at least the end result made for a moment that we still talk about today.