Batman and Robin (1949)

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writers:

Bob Kane (comics)
George H. Plympton (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 May 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Based On The Well-Known Batman Comic Magazine Feature appearing in "Detective Comics" and "Batman" Magazines

Plot:

The caped crusaders versus The Wizard, black-hooded mastermind.

Plot Keywords:

Photographer | Robin | Convertible | Crime Wave | Tough Guy

Cast

Robert Lowery	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne
Johnny Duncan	...	Robin / Dick Grayson (as John Duncan)
Jane Adams	...	Vicki Vale
Lyle Talbot	...	Commissioner Jim Gordon
Ralph Graves	...	Winslow Harrison [Chs. 7-8]
Don C. Harvey	...	Henchman Nolan [Chs. 1-6] (as Don Harvey)
William Fawcett	...	Prof. Hammil
Leonard Penn	...	Carter - Hammil's Valet
Rick Vallin	...	Barry Brown
Michael Whalen	...	Private Investigator Dunne [Chs. 2, 9, 12]
Greg McClure	...	Henchman Evans [Chs. 1-6]
House Peters Jr.	...	Henchman Earl [Chs. 7-15]
Jim Diehl	...	Henchman Jason [Chs. 3-15]
Rusty Wescoatt	...	Henchman Ives [Chs. 3-13]
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Phil Arnold	...	Doctor [Ch. 4] (uncredited)
Marshall Bradford	...	Wesley Morton [Chs. 3-4] (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Plant Guard in Hallway [Chs. 13-14] (uncredited)
George Cisar	...	Policeman in Alley [Ch. 1] (uncredited)
Richard Cramer	...	Newspaper Office Worker [Ch. 7] (archive footage) (uncredited)
James Craven	...	Norwood [Chs. 1, 3, 12-14] (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Henchman [Ch. 2, 3, 6, 10-12, 15] (uncredited)
Frank Ellis	...	Policeman Assigned to Set Up Jason's Escape [Ch. 10] (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Plant Guard [Ch. 14] (uncredited)
John Hart	...	John Hench / Mechanic [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Myron Healey	...	Walker, Policeman [Ch. 7] (uncredited)
Knox Manning	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Plant Gate Guard [Chs. 13-14] (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr.	...	Henchman Jimmy Vale [Chs. 1-2, 5, 8-11] (uncredited)
Eddie Parker	...	Holt [Chs. 1, 5-8, 12, 15] (uncredited)
Allan Ray	...	Mac Lacey [Ch. 5] (uncredited)
Lee Roberts	...	Henchman Neal [Chs. 7-15] (uncredited)
George Robotham	...	Car 4 Henchman-Driver [Chs. 2-6, 11-12] (uncredited)
Guy Teague	...	Factory Guard [Ch. 1] / Aircraft Maintenance Man [Ch. 2] (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan	...	Mr. Williams [Chs. 1, 3, 12-14] (uncredited)
Wally West	...	Pursuit Cop [Ch. 15] (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Alfred Pennyworth (uncredited)

Directed by
Spencer Gordon Bennet		(as Spencer Bennet)

Writing credits
Bob Kane		(comics)
George H. Plympton		(screenplay) &
Joseph F. Poland		(screenplay) &
Royal K. Cole		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sam Katzman	....	producer

Cinematography by
Ira H. Morgan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dwight Caldwell
Earl Turner

Art Direction by
Paul Palmentola

Set Decoration by
Sidney Clifford

Production Management
Herbert B. Leonard	....	production manager (as Herbert Leonard)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
R.M. Andrews	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Stunts
Eddie Parker	....	stunt double: House Peters, Jr. (uncredited)
George Robotham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Guy Teague	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wally West	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Mischa Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director
Mischa Bakaleinikoff	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
R.H. Bassett	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Gerard Carbonara	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Sidney Cutner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Ross DiMaggio	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
George Duning	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hugo Friedhofer	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Louis Gruenberg	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Earl E. Lawrence	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
John Leipold	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Ben Oakland	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
George Parrish	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Paul Sawtell	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Marlin Skiles	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Columbia Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS) (????)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Sony Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Columbia Scoring Stage  music recording facility (uncredited)
• Columbia Studio Orchestra  score played by (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"The New Adventures of Batman and Robin-The Boy Wonder" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

263 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #13671-13685)

Filming Locations:

George Lewis Mansion - Benedict Canyon Drive, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Vicki Vale would become a common character in the Batman comics after this film. Bob Kane based her on Marilyn Monroe, whom he met during the film's banquet.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When some of the remote-controlled cars are supposed to be run without drivers, the stuntman can be seen slumping low in the seat.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator:Crime, striking our city night and day, is on the increase. Our undermanned police force is helpless to cope with the situation, but they have an ally - Batman - who with the faithful Robin, wages unending war against all criminals!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hill Street Blues: Ratman and Bobbin (#4.11)" (1984)

If You Are Expecting Camp, Then This Isn't the One For You

If you are expecting the campy 1960's Batman, then this isn't the show for you. However, if you are looking for an exciting action adventure serial, then this is for you. This show plays more like the comic book version of Batman that came out in the 1940's which was a very straightforward comic. The plot is okay but there are some plot holes, which probably owe more to the low budget. Also, the cast is very solid, especially veteran character actor Lyle Talbot as Commisioner Gordon.