Not a feature-length film, this is the first episode of a 15-chapter serial that TCM will be running on Saturday mornings. I suppose you can consider it more of a curiosity than a "classic," it's the first time Batman (and Robin, and Alfred) appeared on film, only a few years after they appeared in DC comics. Here they're working for the FBI, battling the evil Dr. Daka, Japanese Scientist and Spymaster.
As a kid growing up in the '60's, I watched quite a few feature-length versions of serials - mostly from the 1940's - on Saturday mornings. Although Republic Pictures are most associated with the serials, Columbia scored a major coup by securing the rights to Batman. Two serials were the result - this one in 1943, and the better-known
Batman and Robin in 1949.
A heavily edited version of this serial was released back in 1965 as
An Evening with Batman and Robin. Heavily edited because of the in-your-face racist elements to the plot and the script. Remember, this was made in 1943. The U.S. was at war with Japan...Pearl Harbor was still fresh in everyone's memory...hell, the government was rounding up Japanese-Americans and putting them in relocation camps. Anti-Japanese sentiment - much of it very nasty - was pretty strong, and was prevalent in movies, serials (on the screen and on the radio), comic books, and cartoons. I don't know if TCM will go with the original version of this serial or the edited version, but I suspect they'll go with the original. Some of you may find it pretty offensive.
Anyway...as far as the cast goes, most of them faded into obscurity after this serial was released, except for famed character actor J. Carrol Naish (Dr. Daka). A couple of trivia notes: At 23, Lewis Wilson is still the youngest actor to ever play the adult Bruce Wayne/Batman. Two uncredited actors who had minor roles in this serial were much better known for their work in other serials - Charles Middleton, who played Ming the Merciless in the
Flash Gordon serials, and Anthony Warde, who played Killer Kane in
Buck Rogers.
Oh, and there's a Bat Cave, but no Batmobile.
Trailer - (
New Window )
There was an actor by the name of Lyle Talbot that made a fine living playing the bad guy in several serials.
I'll have to check his bio, but it seemed like Coffin played the villain in at least a half-dozen Superman episodes.
that he was one of the most well-liked actors in Hollywood.
Last year we went to Alabama Hills in California where so many of those B westerns were filmed. It really brought back memories.
Haha yeah I must have the edited version then because I don't remember that phrase
Guess I won't be watching this with my daughter, then.
"Sir, we'd like you to come in and meet with the principal. Apparently your daughter was playing Batman on the playground and was calling all the other children 'Shifty-eyed Japs'"