Photo: Stephen Vaughan, Warner Bros.

But last weekend some Vermonters attended the "world premiere" because of one, very familiar U.S. Senator.

VPR's Jane Lindholm was there.

SFX Trailer/Joker: "Where do we begin?"

(Lindholm) Well, we begin more than 60 years ago when a four year old got his first library card in Montpelier.

(Leahy) "I read Batman comic books, and I read Dickens. And I enjoyed both. When you're a kid ... and reading is your escape, the Kellogg Hubbard library did this."

(Lindholm) Senator Patrick Leahy has never forgotten the passion for reading that library instilled in him. And he's never outgrown his love of Batman.

Over the years he's written a preface for a Batman book, done a voiceover for an animated cartoon, and appeared on-screen in the 1997 movie "Batman and Robin." But in the Dark Knight he has arguably his biggest role:

At a cocktail party rudely interrupted by the Joker, Leahy stands up for himself. "We're not intimidated by thugs," says the senator. The joker responds by holding a knife to his face, saying "You remind me of my father. I hated my father."

Leahy says this is a far cry from his role in the Senate.

(Leahy) "In the Senate Judiciary Committee I can just whap my gavel down and everybody stops. Here I think it was the Joker whapping me down."

(Lindholm) Leahy's enthusiasm for both the Kellogg-Hubbard and Batman brought the world premiere to Vermont-before it hit Hollywood, before it hit New York. He donates all of his Batman earnings to the library, and asked that the movie open in Montpelier as a fundraiser. For the event he brought with him Warner Brothers CEO Barry Meyer.

Several years ago, Meyer had what was supposed to be a five-minute meet-and-greet with Senator Leahy. It became a lengthy talk about Batman.

(Meyer) "And an hour and a half later we were still talking about what happened in the seventh comic and who these villains really were. And, you know, we became friends after that, and so I was very, very happy to premiere this movie here, for the Library Foundation."

(Lindholm) Still, Meyer says, this is an unprecedented event.

(Meyer) "I think I can safely say, without having to check with anyone, that this is the first time Warner Brothers has ever had a world premiere of a movie in Montpelier, Vermont. Or anywhere in Vermont for that matter."

(Lindholm) Theatergoers were enthusiastic after the premiere. Senator Leahy says this movie doesn't disappoint true fans of the comic book hero.

(Leahy) "It's a very dark and very complex movie. And for those of us who've actually read Batman over the years, it's more like the Frank Miller Batman. Very, very complex characters. And the cinematography is unbelievable."

(Lindholm) Leahy remains close-lipped about plot twists and turns of the movie. But there is one secret he will reveal.

(Leahy) "Please don't repeat this to anybody: Bruce Wayne is really Batman."

(Lindholm) Yeah, yeah, and thanks for the heads up.

For VPR News, I'm Jane Lindholm.

Photo: Stephen Vaughan, Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures TM & © DC Comics