AS WE SIT here before our trusty laptop, we can't believe that we haven't reviewed this episode (and its follow up, BATMAN STANDS PAT). In fact, no one has done so as of yet.
THIS IS REALLY an oddity for aficionados of the great, groundbreaking BATMAN TV Series; for it is one of those high quality, generously budgeted and very well written episodes of that first season. Furthermore, it is one of the TV scripts that were adapted directly from a Batman comic book story. In this instance, the highly embellished teleplay was taken and developed from "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City", published in the April 1956 issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, number 230. (The bit about revenge for a trial was added to the original storyline).
THE CASTING OF Mr. David Wayne in the role of the Mad Hatter was indeed a good one, which allowed the star to let go and really ham it up. His characterization went to the extremely eccentric, which made perfect sense; being that this villain is a sort of satirical send-up of all of us who are compulsive collectors.
ALONG WITH SOME top flight, tailor made musical queues, great costuming and special effects (Mad Hatters hypnotic top hat eye lights), this entry had one element lacking in the other installments. It is the sole two-parter (or one parter for that matter) that gave the actual name of the villain. We learn in the very beginning from Commissioner Gordon that 'Jervis Tetsch' is the name of the man who has the alias of 'the Mad Hatter."*
PLEASE SEE OUR review of part 2, BATMAN STANDS PAT, coming soon to your local computer!
NOTE: * Of all the Batman Villains, there were a few who didn't have a given and surname. The Joker never was identified with any name until the feature film BATMAN (WB, 1989) dubbed him Jack Napier. The Penguin was briefly called 'Mr. Boniface' in his first appearance until BATMAN RETURNS (WB, 1991) rechristened him 'Oswald Cobblepot.'
THIS IS REALLY an oddity for aficionados of the great, groundbreaking BATMAN TV Series; for it is one of those high quality, generously budgeted and very well written episodes of that first season. Furthermore, it is one of the TV scripts that were adapted directly from a Batman comic book story. In this instance, the highly embellished teleplay was taken and developed from "The Mad Hatter of Gotham City", published in the April 1956 issue of DETECTIVE COMICS, number 230. (The bit about revenge for a trial was added to the original storyline).
THE CASTING OF Mr. David Wayne in the role of the Mad Hatter was indeed a good one, which allowed the star to let go and really ham it up. His characterization went to the extremely eccentric, which made perfect sense; being that this villain is a sort of satirical send-up of all of us who are compulsive collectors.
ALONG WITH SOME top flight, tailor made musical queues, great costuming and special effects (Mad Hatters hypnotic top hat eye lights), this entry had one element lacking in the other installments. It is the sole two-parter (or one parter for that matter) that gave the actual name of the villain. We learn in the very beginning from Commissioner Gordon that 'Jervis Tetsch' is the name of the man who has the alias of 'the Mad Hatter."*
PLEASE SEE OUR review of part 2, BATMAN STANDS PAT, coming soon to your local computer!
NOTE: * Of all the Batman Villains, there were a few who didn't have a given and surname. The Joker never was identified with any name until the feature film BATMAN (WB, 1989) dubbed him Jack Napier. The Penguin was briefly called 'Mr. Boniface' in his first appearance until BATMAN RETURNS (WB, 1991) rechristened him 'Oswald Cobblepot.'