| Batman and Robin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Spencer Gordon Bennet |
| Written by |
|
| Based on | Batman by Dick Grayson by |
| Produced by | Sam Katzman |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Ira H. Morgan |
| Edited by | Dwight Caldwell Earl Turner |
| Music by | Mischa Bakaleinikoff |
Production company | Columbia Pictures |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 15 chapters (264 minutes) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
New Adventures of Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder,[1][2] also known as simply Batman and Robin, is a 15-chapter serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. It is a sequel to the 1943 serial Batman, although with different actors. 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.
The serials were re-released as Video On Demand titles by Rifftrax, the alumni project of former Mystery Science Theater 3000 members Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett. As of September 2014, they have released the entire serial.[3] Turner Classic Movies has broadcast the film serial from June to November 2015 in a weekly half-hour slot on Saturday mornings.
Plot[]
The Dynamic Duo face off against the Wizard, a hooded villain with an electrical device which controls cars and a desire to set challenges for the Dynamic Duo, whose identity remains a mystery throughout until the end.[4]
Cast[]
- Robert Lowery as Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Johnny Duncan as Robin/Dick Grayson
- Jane Adams as Vicki Vale
- Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Jim Gordon
- Ralph Graves as Winslow Harrison
- Don C. Harvey as Nolan, a henchman
- William Fawcett as Professor Hammil
- Leonard Penn as Carter, Hammil's valet/The Wizard
- Rick Vallin as Barry Brown, a radio announcer
- Michael Whalen as Dunne, a private investigator
- Lee Roberts as Neal, a henchman (uncredited)
- Greg McClure as Evans, a henchman
- House Peters, Jr. as Earl, a henchman
- Jim Diehl as Jason, a henchman
- Rusty Wescoatt as Ives, a henchman
- Eric Wilton as Alfred Pennyworth (uncredited)
- George Offerman Jr. as Jimmie Vale, Vicki's brother and henchman (uncredited)
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 the stuntman. The Batmobile is again excluded, but instead of a limousine as in the first serial, the duo drive around in a 1949 Mercury.[5]
Several mistakes and failures of logic occur in the serial. One example is that the film shows the Bat-Signal working in broad daylight. Another occurs when, despite the fact that the heroes' utility belts had been replaced by normal belts with no pockets or pouches for this serial, in order to escape from a vault, Batman pulls the nozzle and hose of an oxy-acetylene torch from his belt to cut through a steel door (the tanks for the torch are not shown); to compound this mistake, it is a full-sized oxy-acetylene torch 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 torch, as used in the comics, but the filmmakers improvised in following the directions for a "blowtorch."[5]
Release[]
DVD cover
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released the serial on DVD in 2005, timed to coincide with the theatrical release of Batman Begins. Unlike its predecessor, Batman and Robin: The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection has been given a restoration. On February 4, 2014, Mill Creek Entertainment released Gotham City Serials, a two-disc DVD set that includes both the 1943 Batman serial and the 1949 Batman and Robin Serial. Rifftrax released a Video On Demand of the first installment of the short on July 16, 2013, featuring a running mocking commentary from Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame.[6] The final episode, "Batman Victorious," was released with commentary on September 19, 2014.
Chapter titles[]
Turner Classic Movies began airing episodes of Batman and Robin in June 2015, following one week after the conclusion of airing the previous 1943 serial. Broadcast paused in August in favor of alternate programming, but resumed in September.
- Batman Takes Over (broadcast June 27, 2015 on TCM)
- Tunnel of Terror (broadcast July 11, 2015 on TCM)
- Robin's Wild Ride (broadcast July 18, 2015 on TCM)
- Batman Trapped! (broadcast July 25, 2015 on TCM)
- Robin Rescues Batman! (broadcast September 5, 2015 on TCM)
- Target - Robin! (broadcast September 12, 2015 on TCM)
- The Fatal Blast (broadcast September 19, 2015 on TCM)
- Robin Meets the Wizard! (broadcast September 26, 2015 on TCM)
- The Wizard Strikes Back! (broadcast October 3, 2015 on TCM)
- Batman's Last Chance! (broadcast October 10, 2015 on TCM)
- Robin's Ruse (broadcast October 17, 2015 on TCM)
- Robin Rides the Wind (broadcast October 24, 2015 on TCM)
- The Wizard's Challenge (broadcast November 7, 2015 on TCM)
- Batman vs. Wizard (broadcast November 14, 2015 on TCM)
- Batman Victorious (broadcast November 21, 2015 on TCM)
Source:[7]
See also[]
- List of film serials
- List of film serials by studio
- List of films based on English-language comics
References[]
- ↑ "Batman and Robin (1949) - Home Video Reviews - TCM.com".
{{cite web}}: - ↑ http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Posters/B/Poster%20-%20Batman%20and%20Robin%20(1949)_01.jpg
- ↑ "Search". Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2014-02-14.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 373. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "10. The Long-Underwear Boys "You've Met Me, Now Meet My Fist!"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. pp. 240–242. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
- ↑ "New Short from RiffTrax… « Satellite News".
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc.. pp. 249. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X. https://archive.org/details/innickoftimemot00clin.
External links[]
| Preceded by Bruce Gentry (1949) |
Columbia Serial Batman and Robin (1949) |
Succeeded by Adventures of Sir Galahad (1949) |
| ← The fictional town of Smallville was debuted. See Smallville (comics) for more info and the previous timeline. | Timeline of DC Comics (1940s) May 1949 |
The series Heart Throbs was debuted by Quality Comics. See Heart Throbs for more info and next timeline. → |
Template:Sam Katzman
| Live-action films based on DC Comics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Serials | Adventures of Captain Marvel • Spy Smasher • Batman • Hop Harrigan • The Vigilante • Superman • Congo Bill • Batman and Robin • Atom Man vs. Superman • Blackhawk | |
| Single films | Supergirl • Steel • Catwoman • Watchmen • Jonah Hex • Green Lantern • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice • Justice League (production • Zack Snyder's Justice League) • Aquaman • Shazam! • Joker • Birds of Prey | |
| Franchises | Batman | Batman (1966) Batman (1989) • Batman Returns • Batman Forever • Batman & Robin • Batman Begins • The Dark Knight • The Dark Knight Rises • The Batman |
| Suicide Squad | Suicide Squad • The Suicide Squad | |
| Superman | Superman and the Mole Men • Stamp Day for Superman • Superman • Superman II (The Richard Donner Cut) • Superman III • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace • Superman Returns • Man of Steel | |
| Wonder Woman | Wonder Woman • Wonder Woman 1984 | |
| Swamp Thing | Swamp Thing • The Return of Swamp Thing | |
| DC Imprints | Single films | Tank Girl • Road to Perdition • The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen • American Splendor • Constantine • A History of Violence • V for Vendetta • The Fountain • Stardust • The Spirit • The Losers • The Kitchen |
| Red | Red • Red 2 | |
| See also | DC Films • DC Extended Universe • List of unproduced DC Comics projects (films) | |
| Columbia serials | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pre-war serials (1937–1941) |
Jungle Menace • The Mysterious Pilot • The Secret of Treasure Island • The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok • The Spider's Web • Flying G-Men • Mandrake the Magician • Overland with Kit Carson • The Shadow • Terry and the Pirates • Deadwood Dick • The Green Archer • White Eagle • The Spider Returns • The Iron Claw • Holt of the Secret Service | |
| War-time serials (1942–1945) |
Captain Midnight • Perils of the Royal Mounted • The Secret Code • The Valley of Vanishing Men • Batman • The Phantom • The Desert Hawk • Black Arrow • Brenda Starr, Reporter • The Monster and the Ape | |
| Post-war serials (1945–1956) |
Jungle Raiders • Who's Guilty? • Hop Harrigan • Chick Carter, Detective • Son of the Guardsman • Jack Armstrong • The Vigilante • The Sea Hound • Brick Bradford • Tex Granger • Superman • Congo Bill • Bruce Gentry • Batman and Robin • Adventures of Sir Galahad • Cody of the Pony Express • Atom Man vs. Superman • Pirates of the High Seas • Roar of the Iron Horse • Mysterious Island • Captain Video • King of the Congo • Blackhawk • Son of Geronimo • The Lost Planet • The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd • Gunfighters of the Northwest • Riding with Buffalo Bill • The Adventures of Captain Africa • Perils of the Wilderness • Blazing the Overland Trail | |
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