Starring Robert Lowery, John Duncan, Lyle Talbot & Jane Adams.
Directed by Spencer Bennet
1949
Mono Sound, Black & White DVD
Here, we have the Dynamic Duo as they appeared on the silver screen – filling the time before the main feature at the Saturday Matinee all those years ago.
Viewers watched Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (John Duncan) take on the evil genius that called himself The Wizard. In each episode, our terrific twosome would pit their wits against this abominable nemesis with his fiendish ‘Remote Control’ ray - with which he means to rule Gotham City if not the world!
And, as in every serial, we are left with a nail-biting cliff-hanger where escape seems impossible…..
The acting quality is what you would expect from this sort of thing. The serial was not a breeding ground for the Oliviers of this world. Nevertheless, they became an integral part of life from the late thirties through to their demise in the mid nineteen fifties.
Couple this with basic effects and stilted dialogue and you have here your common or garden serial. Still, these flaws do give it a certain charm. Compared to some other efforts, this is definitely at the higher end of the serial quality ladder.
It does, however, have some bizarre moments: The Dynamic Duo driving around in Bruce Wayne’s car that nobody really questions - and a wheelchair-bound professor who suddenly gets up and starts walking around in later episodes. This latter point is particularly confusing because, although the viewer knows why this is happening, Batman and Robin have no idea – and yet never question the suddenly upstanding scholar on his new-found mobility.
Holy Pedestrianisation!
A good, solid transfer to DVD in fifteen thrilling chapters. Watch one episode a week to get that full authentic serial feel – you could even cheer when you watch our heroes knock seven bells out of the Wizard and his henchmen.
An interesting purchase for anybody curious to see the Dark Knight from an incarnation half a century ago – particularly with the release and subsequent good reviews being received by Batman Begins.
It might not have the plot and character sophistication of nowadays but this is a piece of comic book history brought to life and from a time when the silver screen and not the cathode ray tube was dominant.
Directed by Spencer Bennet
1949
Mono Sound, Black & White DVD
Here, we have the Dynamic Duo as they appeared on the silver screen – filling the time before the main feature at the Saturday Matinee all those years ago.
Viewers watched Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (John Duncan) take on the evil genius that called himself The Wizard. In each episode, our terrific twosome would pit their wits against this abominable nemesis with his fiendish ‘Remote Control’ ray - with which he means to rule Gotham City if not the world!
And, as in every serial, we are left with a nail-biting cliff-hanger where escape seems impossible…..
The acting quality is what you would expect from this sort of thing. The serial was not a breeding ground for the Oliviers of this world. Nevertheless, they became an integral part of life from the late thirties through to their demise in the mid nineteen fifties.
Couple this with basic effects and stilted dialogue and you have here your common or garden serial. Still, these flaws do give it a certain charm. Compared to some other efforts, this is definitely at the higher end of the serial quality ladder.
It does, however, have some bizarre moments: The Dynamic Duo driving around in Bruce Wayne’s car that nobody really questions - and a wheelchair-bound professor who suddenly gets up and starts walking around in later episodes. This latter point is particularly confusing because, although the viewer knows why this is happening, Batman and Robin have no idea – and yet never question the suddenly upstanding scholar on his new-found mobility.
Holy Pedestrianisation!
A good, solid transfer to DVD in fifteen thrilling chapters. Watch one episode a week to get that full authentic serial feel – you could even cheer when you watch our heroes knock seven bells out of the Wizard and his henchmen.
An interesting purchase for anybody curious to see the Dark Knight from an incarnation half a century ago – particularly with the release and subsequent good reviews being received by Batman Begins.
It might not have the plot and character sophistication of nowadays but this is a piece of comic book history brought to life and from a time when the silver screen and not the cathode ray tube was dominant.
