Batman (1966 film)
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Batman is a 1966 film spin-off of the popular Batman television series, and was the first full-length theatrical adaptation of the DC Comics character. It later acquired the video-box title Batman: The Movie. The 20th Century Fox release starred Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin.
History
Filmed at the end of season one of the ABC primetime Batman TV series of the 1960s (between April 25 and May 31, 1966 at an estimated $1,377,800), it featured four main criminals from the show, including the "clown prince of crime" The Joker (Cesar Romero), that "count of criminal conundrums" The Riddler (Frank Gorshin), that "pompous, waddling master of fowl play" The Penguin (Burgess Meredith), and the "fiendish feline" The Catwoman (Lee Meriwether). It was written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr., and directed by Leslie H. Martinson, who won a Golden Gryphon for his efforts.The 105-minute Batman opened at The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on Saturday, July 30, 1966 (between the first and second seasons of the TV series). Like the television series, the movie featured saturated colours, campy dialogue and special effects, and over-exaggeration in acting performances, effectively being a tongue-in-cheek parody. The movie was moderately successful at the box office, and gained more popularity with its release on video cassette.
Plot summary
When Batman (West) and Robin (Ward) get a tip that Commodore Schmidlapp is in danger aboard his yacht, they launch a rescue mission. After a tangle with an exploding shark, Batman and Robin head back to Commissioner Gordon's office where, by case of deduction and wisdom, they figure out that the tip was a set-up by four of the most powerful villains ever (Joker, Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman), who seek to defeat the Dynamic Duo once and for all.Armed with a dehydrator that can turn humans into dust, and a Navy surplus submarine, the "fearsome foursome" intends to take over the world, and Batman and Robin must stop them. Catwoman romantically lures Bruce Wayne into a trap, and Penguin even schemes his way into the Batcave, leaving the Duo unable to prevent the kidnapping of the dehydrated United World Security Council.
Cast
- Adam West - Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Burt Ward - Robin/Dick Grayson
- Cesar Romero - Joker
- Frank Gorshin - The Riddler
- Burgess Meredith - The Penguin
- Lee Meriwether - Catwoman/Miss Kitka
- Alan Napier - Alfred
- Neil Hamilton - Commissioner Gordon
- Stafford Repp - Chief O'Hara
- Madge Blake - Aunt Harriet
- Reginald Denny - Commodore Schmidlapp
- Milton Frome - Vice Admiral Fangschleister
- Gil Perkins - Bluebeard
- Dick Crockett - Morgan
- George Sawaya - Quetch
- William Dozier - Desmond Doomsday the Narrator
Credits
- A William Dozier Production
- Music by Nelson Riddle
- Associate Producer Charles B. FitzSimons
- Director of Photography: Howard Schwartz, A.S.C.
- Art Directors: Jack Martin Smith, Serge Krizman
- Set Decoration: Walter M. Scott, Chester L. Bayhi
- Unit Production Manager: Sam Strangis
- Assistant Directors: William Derwin, David Whorf
- Film Editor: Harry Gerstad, A.C.E.
- Special Photographic Effects: L.B. Abbott
- Sound: Roy Meadows, Harry M. Leonard
- Makeup by Ben Nye, Bryce Hutchinson
- Hair Styles Supervised by Margaret Donovan
- Batman Theme by Neal Hefti
- Orchestration by Gil Grau
- Second Unit Director: Ray Kellogg
- Second Unit Photography: Jack Marta
- Aerial Photography: Nelson Tyler
- Batboat: Glastron
- Main Title by Richard Kuhn and National Screen Service
- Color by DeLuxe
- Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. - Based upoon the characters created by Bob Kane appearing in Batman and Detective Comics Magazine published by National Periodical Publications, Inc.
- Produced by William Dozier
- Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Trivia
- Besides the Batmobile, other vechicles used by the Dyamic Duo:
- *Batcopter
- *Batcycle with side car
- *Batboat
- *Batman's parachute pickup service
- Cesar Romero, in some scenes, clearly refused to shave off his moustache, as you can see it under his white make-up.
- Director Leslie H. Martinson also directed one pair of season one Batman episodes; specifically, "The Penguin Goes Straight" and "Not Yet, He Ain't".
- Commodore Schmidlapp would end up being the final role for actor Reginald Denny, who died of cancer the following year after this movie was released.
External links
| The Batman movies | |
|---|---|
| Batman serials | The Batman | Batman and Robin |
| Adam West movie | Batman |
| 1989-1997 series | Batman | Batman Returns | Batman Forever Batman & Robin |
| Bruce Timm series | ' | ' ' | ' |
| The Batman series | The Batman vs. Dracula |
| Christopher Nolan series | Batman Begins | Untitled Sequel (in development) |
| Other films | |
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