MovieChat Forums > Batman (1966) Discussion > This Show Isn't Bad

This Show Isn't Bad

posted 7 years ago by XFiles26
8 replies | jump to latest

My Dad likes the show and he bought me Batman the complete collection on DVD, Featuring all 120 episodes.

At first I was unsure as i had heard it was so bad and camp etc and that I am 26 and shouldn't watch such things.

However having watched some, Adam West is a fairly good actor and has a lot of good guests such as

Julie Newmar (Catwoman)
Cesar Romero (The Joker)
Burgess Meredith (The Penguin)
George Sanders (Mr Freeze)
Carolyn Jones (Marshe)
Frank Gorshin (Riddler)

It is very funny and entertaining, I mean really it is ridiculous how dark the Batman character is and it is silly as the character of Batman is a bit silly, so I think this show doesn't take itself so seriously.

How come Batman doesn't dance anymore?

[–] smolanis 7 years ago

This is best show ever, holly scichophrenia!! :)

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 4 years ago

Of course it isn't bad - it's a TV classic!

My favourite thing about the contemporary take on this is that it's terrible because it's "camp" and they didn't know what they were doing in the 60s.

It's such a hilariously naive notion! These clowns genuinely believe some morons were working on this, trying their hardest to make Nolan's Batman back in the 60s and it came out like it did as an absolute disaster, an embarrassment to all involved.

The show was specifically designed to be exactly what it was and was a huge success.

[–] Roguemail (1565) 4 years ago

When I was a very young kid watching this show in the sixties, I never saw it as camp. Would not have known what camp was.

In the UK they used to show one episode on Saturday evenings which would always end with Batman and Robin in peril, about to die in some horrible way at the hands of the villain. Ans we had to wait until Sunday evening to watch the conclusion. Classic cliffhanger stuff.

And we were on tenterhooks and took it absolutely seriously.

[–] strntz (10816) 4 years ago

..I never saw it as camp. Would not have known what camp was.

You know, I agree with that. I watched this first run and this was my first experience with Batman. I also didn't see it as camp but now as an adult, see that it was and see that they did the camp perfectly. The secret to doing camp is to ignore the corny dialog and really sell it, and they did.

The story is that Hollywood actors were clamoring to get a guest shot. Some got to be villains and the less fortunate got to do the skyscraper window cameos.

[–] FootOfDavros (6719) 4 years ago

You know what - maybe that was part of the reason for it's success. It was one thing for kids but also had another appeal for adults of the time who could watch it on another level.

The perfect pitch for its original 7:30pm time slot in the US.

Not sure if you'd be interested but I just got this book a couple of days ago:-
https://forbiddenplanet.com/145646-batman-a-celebration-of-the-classic-tv-series-hardcover/?gclid=CjwKCAjwkoz7BRBPEiwAeKw3q2rrMZqXPmqSimUOePnc0mdeN85ucUujHdycG6VqVzE_4bOPX29R2xoCjdMQAvD_BwE

Great deal on a very good book. Lots of info on the show and some great stills from the set back in the day.

I think the next stop for me is going to be getting a Blu Ray boxset!

[–] Roguemail (1565) 4 years ago

Tread carefully...do what you want to do obviously, but my experience of buying box sets of series from the sixties to 80's shows that you remember fondly from you youth can often lead to disappointment.

What happens is that you get a great, short nostalgia fix for a few episodes or maybe even a whole season, and then the inevitable repetitive formula of the show kicks in...of all the box sets of these era's I have bought, I don't believe I have completed any of them. Applies to both US and UK series.

Tread carefully and look around at other options before you shell out any hard earned cash.

[–] liscarkat (16530) 4 years ago

"I am 26 and shouldn't watch such things."

What you shouldn't do is set foolish restrictions like that on yourself, and it looks like you haven't. Congratulations!

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12299) 4 years ago

Strangely enough, it's okay for young children to watch. They won't be bothered by how cheesy it is, nor are they experienced enough to see how groanworthy it all is. I remember my brother and I, when we were 5 (me) and 7 (him) years old, we did okay watching a few episodes. Gotta love that shield of childhood innocence :)