Batman and Robin (1949) is a 15-chapter serial released by Columbia Pictures.
Robert Lowery played Batman, while Johnny Duncan played Robin. Supporting players included Jane Adams as Vicki Vale and veteran character actor Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon.
Plot
The plot dealt with the Dynamic Duo facing off against the Wizard, a hooded villain whose identity remains a mystery throughout the serial until the end.
Cast
Production
"As usual on a Katzman production," note Harmon and Glut, "the low budget showed everywhere in money-saving shortcuts, and inadequacies." The Batman costume had a poorly fitting cowl and the Robin costume added pink tights to cover the "hairy-legs" of both the actor and stuntman. The Batmobile is again excluded, but instead of a limousine, as in the first serial, the duo drive around in a 1949 Mercury.[1]
Several mistakes and failures of logic occur in the serial. One example of this is that the film shows the Batsignal working in broad daylight. Another occurs despite the fact that the heroes' utility belts had been replaced by normal belts for this serial, with no pockets or pouches. Nevertheless, in order to escape from a vault, Batman pulls a blowtorch from his belt. To compound this mistake, it is a full-sized blowtorch that would have been impossible to carry unseen on his person. Harmon and Glut suggest that this was probably scripted to be a miniaturised 3-inch blowtorch, as used in the comics, but the film-makers followed the directions for a "blowtorch" literally.[1]
Release
Home media
The serial was released on DVD in 2005 to promote Batman Begins.
Critical reception
Despite the significantly higher budget, it was deemed slightly inferior to the original 1943 serial. But nevertheless, the acting was regarded as better than the first Batman serial. In particular, Lowery is regarded as being a much tougher Batman than his predecessor Lewis Wilson.[citation needed]
Chapter four is "one of the weirdest episodes" of the serial. During this instalment, Batman spends half the chapter climbing a cliff while Robin pursues a speeding truck on foot.[1]
Chapter titles
- Batman Takes Over
- Tunnel of Terror
- Robin's Wild Ride
- Batman Trapped
- Robin Rescues Batman
- Target - Robin!
- The Fatal Blast
- Robin Meets the Wizard
- The Wizard Strikes Back
- Batman's Last Chance
- Robin's Ruse
- Robin Rides the Wind
- The Wizard's Challenge
- Batman vs. Wizard
- Batman Victorious
Source:[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut. "10. The Long-Underwear Boys "You've Met Me, Now Meet My Fist!"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. pp. pp. 240-242. ISBN 9780713000979.
- ^ Cline, William C.. "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc.. pp. pp. 249. ISBN 078640471X.
External links
|
Columbia serials |
|
|
Serials |
|
|
Pre-war Serials
(1937–1942)
|
|
|
|
War-time Serials
(1942–1945)
|
|
|
|
Post-war Serials
(1945–1956)
|
|
|
|
|
|
People |
|
|
Actors and Actresses
|
|
|
|
Production Crew
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
