What is this??????
Is this a novie?
If so, is it Adam West's Cheesey Batman or the serious Batrman?????
I AM CONFUSED
It's before Batman was camp, but also long before the gritty, serious side of Batman was fully explored.
This is a 1943 serial, so think along the lines of Saturday morning matinees and Flash Gordon etc. It's better than the Adam West IMO, but obviously due to it's serial format very rough around the edges.
For what it's worth Lewis Wilson did a great job portraying Batman and Bruce Wayne, and he did it first, without anyone else to model his portrayal on.
It's actually quite good, esp when you consider the time. He does a great job of portraying the frivilous playboy persona of Bruce Wayne and he and Dick have that big brother-little brother out-for-adventure chemisrty just like in the comics. Alfred is excellent as well. My only major complain would be that Batman and Robin get their butts kicked way too much. I know this is before they were marital artists, but sheez! Another would be they are constantly calling each other Bruce and Dick while in costume! Secret identities be damned! Still, Lewis takes the role seriously and manages to be appropiately grim when dealing with criminals in the Batcave and so on. Check it out.
The snow is beautiful... Clean, uncompromising and cold. Like the swift hand of vengence.
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I just finished watching the dvd release of this and I too say its pretty good (apart from the racist comments and all, but that was a sign of the times). Anywho, as mentioned above Lewis Wilson does do an excellent job as Bruce/Batman. he pulled off the dual identity better than later actors in the same role in my opinion.
I also have to say that Douglas Croft does an excellent job as Robin as well.. and the youngest to ever have the role (being 16 or 17 when this was filmed). William Austin was quite entertaining as Alfred.
The plot was interesting, but it could be farfetched at times, especially with the scenes with the plane.
This serial is definitely worth a watch.