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andyfish
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Batman and Robin (1949)
If Ed Wood Directed Batman...
...this would have been what you got.
Words alone cannot describe how bad this is. If you're having trouble sleeping pop this in and I guarantee you'll be out in fifteen minutes.
Robert Lowery was a pretty good actor in the 40s-- but he's phoning it in here. In an interview, Johnny "Duncan" Robin said that in one scene he and Batman had to run from the car to the house and that Lowery was doubled over out of camera range because his girdle was too tight! Duncan himself looks more like a motorcycle hood than a boy wonder-- in fact he's more like a guy in his thirties waiting for Lowery to kick off so he can wear the big cape.
Driving a Batmobile that looks like it rolled off Honest Al's Used Car lot at below sticker price-- the Dynamic Duo don't put a lot of effort into hiding the fact that it's Bruce Wayne's car they're driving-- in fact it's noted by several characters throughout the serial.
The acting is wooden-- the sets are cheap-- the dialogue is horrendous and if there was even a script they were following I'm sure it read along the lines of "Batman says something here" because it certainly seems like they're making it up as it goes along.
Batman's Utility belt is made out of thin fabric with no apparent pouches to hold his gadgets-- in one scene when Batman needs a full size blow torch the producers just tuck one in as the scene starts-- never to be seen again. His cowl is so bad he can't even see out of it and his ears look more like flopsy mopsy the disgruntled easter rabbit than they do anything batlike.
In one scene (I am not making this up), Batman substitutes counterfiet radioactive money that will burst into flames the second it is exposed to air as a payoff to some hoods. It's radioactive so he can trace it-- the reason it's so highly flammable isn't explained. Well, unfortunately the thugs open the package in a cardboard warehouse-- we know it's a cardboard warehouse because Batman sneaks in and pushes these boxes that look to weigh about six ounces on the hoods to knock them out-- and soon the whole place burns to the ground. Thanks Batman!
In another scene after the Batmobile is disabled, Batman flags down a passing motorist in the middle of nowhere and takes his car-- leaving the man to fend for himself and telling him not to worry because if Batman smashes up the car the police will surely buy him another one! Yes, you guessed it, said car careens off a cliff within a few short seconds. Not that it matters much to the motorist who has probably died from exposure trying to hoof his way back to Gotham City.
There is a tired subplot with Lois Lane clone Vicki Vale who is convinced Bruce Wayne is Batman-- she must have noticed the Batmobile parked outside of Bruce's house-- or maybe she saw Batman and Robin running up the walk in the clearly densely populated suburban neighborhood.
Everything about this serial is bad-- and all but the youngest in the audience will want to hurl toast at the screen. IF you're looking for bad cinema you could not hit a better mark-- if you want entertainment, try the Burton Batman films, the Adam West Batman TV Series or the earlier Lewis Wilson Batman serial.
Batman (1943)
The Original Screen Appearance of Batman
Made by Columbia Pictures in 1943-- just four short years after the character was first created by National Comics-- this serial remains a pretty faithful adaption and one of the top 5 serials of all time.
This is an A-Production from a B Unit. Director Lambert (Dracula's Daughter) Hillyer was a great choice to helm this moody and horror filled adventure. Corpses, zombies and spies are aplenty and The Batman himself is a dark and somewhat frightening figure himself.
Lewis Wilson (father of Bond Producer Michael Wilson) delivers an outstanding performance as the foppish Bruce Wayne and his tough as nails alter ego. William Austin is fantastic as Alfred the Butler who provides comedy relief throughout the 15 Chapters.
Shirley Patterson, who was a contract player at Columbia is the love interest Linda Page and delivers a convincing performance as a young woman frantically searching for her missing uncle (who has been abducted by the evil japanese spies).
The characters all display real emotions-- something that is unique to the plot driven serials of the 30s and 40s. Bruce Wayne seems to care about Linda Page-- Batman scolds Robin when he fails to follow his orders-- and Alfred bumbles his way through mishaps but shows a genuine desire to do well.
Granted, there is no Batmobile--but at least Batman is driven around in a limo-- Shadow Style-- and Commissioner Gordon is replaced by Captain Arnold ably played by Charles Wilson who is hot on Batman's trail and plans to bring the vigilante in.
Regarded in terms of acting and production values this holds up with any B-Movie of the time-- unheard of in serials with the exception of the very best (Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, Captain Marvel and Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars).
The second Batman serial, made in 1949 with a different cast and production team is a horrendous Ed Wood-ish yawn fest.
The politically correct crowd is quick to forget history and instead view it through rosy glasses-- this was made during the height of World War II when it looked like the good guys might actually lose! Remember Pearl Harbor? The Japanese launched a cowardly sneak attack on the United States at the very moment we were negotiating treaties with them and therefore American sentiment didn't look too fondly on them. This serial is guilty only of being patriotic to the time. Remember, those who fail to recall history are doomed to repeat it.