Gotham City Serials: Batman / Batman and Robin

Take the Hero, put him (always him) in a costume, concoct a villain (most often both a mad scientist and a criminal gang), put hero and/or friends/associates in life-threatening peril 12-15 times, recycle stock music, and voila!This Hero doesn't have a gimmick - no rocket suit, no superpowers, and is on Earth not on Mongo.It's still fun. Enjoy.

Let me say first that I'm glad to add these serials to my collection. I read some reviews and comments before I spent my money. One person commented that these serials were not remastered. I haven't found that to be true at all. Mill Creek's treatment of these movies look just as good as the dvds released by Sony/Columbia Pictures about 10 years ago. If you think they look bad now I wish you had seen the vhs tapes released by Goodtimes Video in 1989. Talk about lousy quality! Those videotapes were the lowest of the low! Anyway let's move ahead now. Batman(1943) stars Lewis Wilson and Douglas Croft as Batman and Robin battling Doctor Tito Daka played by J.Carroll Naish. The setting is ww2 so you can guess what the story is all about. I won't spoil it for anybody. On the tech side there are a couple of minor flaws with chapter 2 we should discuss. When Daka's men phone Linda to arrange a phony meeting with her Uncle Martin the scene plays ok. Then Linda calls Bruce to tell him about finding her uncle. After she hangs up the phone the scene flashes back to Daka's men in the phone booth for about 20 seconds. Did anyone else notice this? At the end of chapter 2 we don't see the previews for chapter 3. As we see in chapter 3 none of the film is left out. But why did these things happen? Batman and Robin stars Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan as the caped crusaders. They battle the wizard who has a remote control machine which he uses to control all of the traffic in Gotham City. Both serials are ok for their time. But they don't compare with superhero movies of today. They were products of their time period and that's how we should judge them.Lastly let me say to customers who were upset because they thought they were getting something else. Please read the label before you buy. It tells you very simply what you are buying. If you still don't understand ask someone else what is a movie serial. If you decide to buy it I hope you enjoy it.

When this 2 DVD set arrived, I was in Batman heaven! This long awaited 2 DVD set is finally in my collection. Blu-Ray would be tops! First, a BUYER BEWARE here. For some friends of mine and fellow Batman enthusiasts who feel they were misled. THIS IS NOT AN ANIMATED CARTOON. It appears that some had not fully done their homework before purchasing this product and had only viewed the case pic. Admittedly, the cover depicts our hero's in Animation style. Several had thought and bought, thinking this was some EXCLUSIVE Warner Brother's Vault hideaway. Not the case. Some were frustrated and few blew their Bat-Wigs! This is a 2 Disc, 2 MOVIE SET! I've added a few actual pics from the disc case back view and a scene shot of our hero's.This is quite literally, the "Original Serial Chapters" from 1943 & 1949. Had any of the pics from the reverse side of the DVD case been shown, I think those, and some future, potential buyers might have stayed away. That being said, my review.1943-15 Chapters. (Batman) (NOT called episodes)1. The Electrical Brain2. The Bat's Cave3. The Mark of the Zombies4. Slaves of the Rising Sun5. The Living Corpse6. Poison Peril7. The Phoney Doctor8. Cured by Radium9. The Sign of the Sphinx10. Flying Spies11. A Nipponese Trap12. Embers of Evil13. Eight Steps Down14. The Executioner Strikes15. The Doom of the Rising SunTo be fair, I will not break down every Chapter piece by piece. In fact, I think the entire 15 Chapters are the closest to Bob Kane's original vision of the Batman mythos. Striped out from Detective Comics, Batman (and Robin) had not much more than the notable Bat Cave. It was merely called the "Batcave" early on. It had a Grandfather's Clock entrance. They drove a 1939 Cadillac. With the top up, it was the Bat Mobile. Top down, it was Bruce Wayne's car.As for the acting, Lewis Wilson played Batman/Bruce Wayne. Douglas Croft as the whimpy, child-like Robin. No other mentionable names were in these Chapters aside from Alfred. A single female role, Shirley Patterson played Linda Padge. Of course there must be a villain. Enter J. Carrol Naish. He was the evil Dr. Tito Daka with his "New World Order" plans.Remember the date of this airing? 1943 was 2 years into the Second World War. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor only 2 years prior. Dr. Daka was the proverbial bad guy who American audiences could hate and Batman could save us all on a weekly basis. Sure, Batman got his butt handed to him on several occasions, but this is Batman! Now to me, and you, we can just hit the play button and see the next Chapter in a second. Back then, the audience had to wait a full week to see if their hero made it?Columbia Pictures released this first Serial on July 16th, 1943 and was directed by Lambert Hillyer. This Serial was just that. A Serial. Every Chapter is about 18 minutes long. With almost every Chapter ending in a true cliff-hanger, people back in the day, waited for an on-screen performance of what the comics were printing!A fairly basic plot: Dr. Daka was a Japanese scientist as well as an agent of Emperor Hirohito. He had invented a device that could turn people into a sort of pseudo-zombie. When placed upon their heads, this "metal cap" allowed Daka to communicate to them via a microphone. They might be physically closer to him then his henchmen, but only through this microphone could they hear and obey his commands. Comical, but effective. Instilling fear with his "Radium Gun", terrorism had its first on-screen leader.Dr. Daka's command headquarters was located at the end of a Funhouse. The Coaster cars had to be pushed by human hands back then! So much for his technologically advanced work! Again, leaning towards the ethnic slurs, Daka's Funhouse and base of operations, was an Amusement Park located in a Japanese area of the city. Naish's villainous role of Dr. Daka was, by the very nature of the era, a narcissistic Japanese "bad guy." In reality, he was an American actor who won the "Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor" in 1944. A versatile and multi-talented actor who was much acclaimed in his day. The Dr. Daka role even had some Peter Lorre overtones to it!As Daka's attempts to zombify America and the world fail, he ultimately meets the "Dynamic Duo" in the final Chapter. Unfortunately, it is within this last Chapter that the majority of slurs roll off Batmans tongue. Ok. It IS racist trash! Although, Daka does ask to be referred to as "Nipponese" at one point. With his henchmen easily fought off, the "Electronic Zombies" defeated, Daka resorts to his last evil trap! The Alligator Pit was awesome! Perhaps Daka should have watched those last steps?Aside from the dark ethnic slanders, this set of Chapters was more intriguing than the next, more flat-line, 1949 Chapters.Shortly before his passing a few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to sit with my Grandfather and watch these 2 Serials with him. His eyes lit up to see they existed at all! As I watched the tears fill his eyes, a flood of memories came rushing back to him. He shared the fond thoughts he had of the Saturday Nights he sat in the theaters watching both of these prized jeweled films. How life actually was back in 1943. He recounted to me, a chronology of how movies were made and the ways of Studio thinking had been during the lean wartime years. Especially, the dramatic difference between his Comic Batman and Hollywood adaptation of him. Given these three weeks of mourning and reflecting of my Grandfather, I felt it best to do further research for this review, in his memory. Better myself as to why both of these Serials meant SO MUCH to him!"Initially, Batman & Robin were portrayed as FBI Agents in the 1943 Serial due to strict Serial regulations. Due to these very regulations, he said, none of the usual suspects in "Batman's Rouges Gallery of Villain's" that he and his friends had come to know at the time, could be reflected in either the '43 or '49 Serials. Thus, Batman (and Robin), were contract Agents for the U.S. Government being under the "Columbia Studios" release. While Detective Comics had Batmans' fundamental unorthodox abilities in his workings and motives. The era of wartime thinking had most Studios and actors under them, move towards the "war effort" wherever and whenever possible. Even if this meant taking a comic hero down a path of "symbolic Soldier." Perfect example was Captain America. After all, Captain America was created to raise awareness with respect to and for the war effort, and be the savior when America was being hit hard! But this was NOT the purpose of Batman or Robin! They were always meant to be, lavishly upscale guys. Wealth beyond anyone else and posses a knowledge to use their riches to catch the "bad guys" outside the law. For the betterment of society and help law enforcement, not the Government. This was if only the law be inefficient or cuffed by the very laws they were sworn to uphold. This is where "Columbia's Government Agents" and "Detective Comics" divergence allowed Batman to become the hero he is known for. Long before the anti-hero or Dark Knight in "Year One" as of late.What a rarity to have such incredible insight from someone who was really there and enjoyed it as it happened! One thing my Grandfather did agree on, and was excited to see, was that the original film stock was absolutely genuine to what he recalled! Everything from the nicks, tears, "cigarette burns" as he called them (those little white boxes that show up for a split second in the upper corners that even I hadn't noticed), he loved! A plus for sure, were all those other poorly achieved captures that 1940's Hollywood Studio Filming couldn't master yet. He talked about what he called, Big Screen T.V. because his, and most, families couldn't afford a furniture size television, the theater WAS the TV! The theater going experience was the ONLY audio-visual entertainment available to middle income America. He said, "the Serials were a prodigious experience and extremely popular." "That went for troops returning from the front, and those waiting for their shipping papers. Families, kids or anyone who needed a break from the harsh realities of the war."What a cherished time I had with my Grandfather and wealth of knowledge he passed to me from his own memories over a simple Batman & Robin Serial viewing, even if it was his last. Maybe it was karma that I purchased this DVD set when I did, and my 3rd time watching it. And his last. He is loved and missed! Had it not been for his joy in watching these 2 Serials with me, I would not have embarked on this journey of discovery. I reached to an old college buddy, (Directing Major), I learned that these Batman & Robin Serials were much more than 2, 15 Chapter storylines. I found they are pieces of history. Plus, works of art that bridged 3 generations and sparked conversations that are much more valuable. They came from the heart and will be passed on to my son's, when he can understand the gravity of his Great-Grandfathers life!Ultimately left alone from the Hollywood hype, Batman became, what Detective Comics had sculpted him to be. A crime fighter who used his wealth to work outside the law. None of his "toys or gadgets " had come into play yet. The costume was so obviously hand-sewn, even in his way at times. Both Batman & Robin's costumes were later deemed to be just that, and critics shamed them for the worse. The Batman costume was "baggy" and the ears looked like Devil horns! Not to mention Lewis Wilson's physic. He was of sufficient girth around the mid-section and not athletic enough.The utility-belt was just part of the get-up. All characters were two dimensional at best. Oh, please, Robin? He was couldn't have been more than 16, and his overwhelming closeness to both Bruce Wayne and Batman can leave one thinking he was too effeminate! All of these actors were ditched for the second Serial. Thank goodness!This first 1943 series of 15 Chapters is filled with film nicks, tears and lens framing problems. Most prevalent in the first Chapter, is "white wash" as the camera tries to adjust for the deep black crush. By no means is this a deal breaker, it was difficult to watch. Rampant throughout this series, "glitches" became softer and I just assimilated to them all. I believe, (now know), what I saw was of original film stock and this added to the general appeal.One of the funniest standouts in both of these Serials, more so in the latter '49 Chapters, lies within the fight scene's. ALL fighting that occurs whenever the Duo go at it, Batman takes on the bulk of thugs. Robin in turn, handles no more than a single bad guy! This scuffle seems to last through the entire fight scene, and as Batman does in the rest, even get tossed off a rooftop, still Robin barely gets back on his feet, getting walloped from the SAME THUG! I guess that's why the Dark Knight of late, works alone!1949-15 Chapters (Batman & Robin)1. Batman takes Over2. Tunnel of Terror3. Robin's Wild Ride4. Batman Trapped!5. Robin Rescues Batman!6. Target-Robin!7. The Fatal Blast8. Robin Meets the Wizard!9. The Wizard Strikes Back!10. Batman's Last Chance!11. Robin's Ruse12. Robin Rides the Wind13. The Wizard's Challenge14. Batman vs. Wizard15. Batman VictoriousThis 1949 Serial was much cleaner. Still lens problems, glitches and obvious frame tears. But overall, there are no whitewashes or B&W color problems. For the film industry as a whole, 6 years had passed. Lessons were learned and how to utilize the camera and lighting had grown up. Sound was still in its infancy, so I believe what I heard was genuine to the era.Casting changes were for the better too. Robert Lowery as Batman/Bruce Wayne, John Duncan as Robin/Dick Grayson, Jane Adams as Vicki Vail, Lyle Talbot as Comissioner Gordon and Ralph Graves as Harission/Wizard.Some of these aforementioned names we know and taken from the pages of the Batman mythos. Strange though how Alfred was not mentioned in any of the credits in either Serial? Here, in the '49 Serial, Eric Wilton played Alfred.An interesting note... The comics had been drawing Alfred, up until this point, as an overweight, clean shaven man. In the '43 Serial William Austin played Alfred. He sported a thin moustache and was much more slim than his comic-book counterpart. Austin's look for Alfred was more appealing to Batman's lifestyle. Hence a new Alfred was born! This new look for Alfred is still seen in print today!Released on May 26th, 1949. Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The plot is extremely flat and thin. Cautiously ironic to todays world. The power of Remote Control! Once more, BOTH costumes were poorly fitted. Batman's Cowl sat low on his nose and Robin needed PINK tights to cover his hairy legs! The '39 Cadillac was exchanged for the modernized 1949 Mercury. Still, there had yet to be an actual Batmobile.An example of comic-to-screen in continuity in this Serial was the "Bat Signal" working during the day. The signal was supposed to be a nighttime sight to send fear into those who mean to bring harm to Gotham City. It should never have been visible in broad daylight! Given the era of late 1940's movie making, and much less, comic conversions, little thought was put into detail of purely satirical views of a comic book hero. There were other minor misses. The "Utility Belts" had been swapped for BELTS. No pockets or holders. Yet in some circumstances, items WERE taken out by Batman from HIS BELT, that made a big difference to save his life. Thus furthering the Chapters onto the next! The Wizard oddly remains cloaked for the entirety of the Serial, until the very end. Even to his own men, he keeps the hood over his face. Very funny that no matter the motive, the Wizard turns the SAME dials on his machines in order to reach the same objectives. Very little imagination.As for the film itself, seemingly one flaw is repetitive throughout all the '49 Chapters. A thin, little splice line is present that may or may not antedate the original negatives. Not overbearing or profound, but these lines are noticeable.The acting in BOTH series of Chapters seemed to be sincere and more likely, not spoof. Back then, there was no template to go by other than what Detective Comics had written OR torn from the headlines of the day. Campy? Somewhat. By today's standards, yes. Up against the 60's Batman & Robin, well, those were the 1960's!The only downside to this wonderful rendition of the original Batman & Robin is within the 1943 Chapters. The highly politically incorrect use of the inflammatory terms, "Oriental Brains", and , "Jap's." Being that America was in the midst of WWII, the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor, the Japanese people were vilified and were foddor for any and all anger. Dr. Taka was the enemy and America rallied against him along with our troops. Still, to hear Batman use those slurs, was unsettling. Maybe the country was desensitized to the hateful words, but in today's society, one would never hear any hero from DC or Marvel say such things! Not a deal breaker yet, but be prepared for the word! When these Serials were released on VHS, heavy editing was done to ensure most, if not all, racial slurs hit the chopping block. Re-released back onto DVD, those cut versions were ditched and "restored" back to their original theatrical cuts as intended. Possibly Studio exec's figured that there are so many more movies out that contain harsher language and explicit nudity, why not give fans the original?So, in all that I just wrote, what is it about these 2 DVD's was it that I saw fit to give a 4 Star rating? Well, partly the very reasons that were NOT displayed in the advertisement for the set! It was a bit of low-balling or, "deceptive advertising" to NOT say anything in the description that this was a MOVIE, and not the seemingly animation style that the front cover shows. The wording in the description category is simply NOT THERE!Is it misleading? Possibly. Had YOU known this was NOT an animated, exclusive short you hadn't heard of, would you still buy it? It does say on the case cover what this DVD set includes. But advertising is all about catching the eye, in the hopes of making a decision immediately! PLEASE READ THE CASE COVER FIRST!After watching all 30 Chapters, I found myself wondering how the people who first rushed to the theaters to see these shorts felt? I mean, we are talking about 70 years ago! 15 weeks to see the full storyline of each Serial. And if they missed a week, they had to ask a friend what happened to Batman last week? That is an amazing thought to put yourself all those years ago. During WWII, part two was 4 years after. This is a deep concept to grasp. Having had this enlightening conversation with my Grandfather, it was like bringing me back to the past with him!I grew to not only accept, but embrace the camera and film flaws. The white-washing. All the nicks and film glitches. The cool CinemaScope style, rounded picture instead of crisp corners. Not in every Chapter, but most. These little annoyances that would otherwise anger me on a new blockbuster movie, I was happy to see them here. It gave a genuine sense of old-fashioned realism to what the industry could offer. Surreal in many forms. Call me nostalgic. I am and proud of it. I love the high octane, big budget flicks as much as the next! This was the very reason why I couldn't watch this in my first two attempts. You know, expectations?I hope this honest review reaches out to the true fans of the Original Batman as Bob Kane intended him to be! Happy watching, enjoy yesteryear!

Just got this set in today. Amazon Prime delivers on Sundays. I must admit I didn't watch the whole thing of either serial yet. I just wanted to check picture and sound quality and compare them with the two separate previous 2 disc sets I own. The sound seems to be the same for all discs involved. And as far as I'm concerned that's fine with me. As for picture quality, there seems to be not a drastic, but a more than slight improvement. Not that I thought that the quality wasn't good enough to begin with, unlike reviewers of the previous sets who would moan and groan like little whiners about it. The only drawback is that unlike the previous sets that go from one chapter to the next with no promos or bumpers when 'play all' is selected, this one has the Sony Pictures Television Bomp bomp bomp bomp-BOMP play between every chapter on Batman 1943. Fortunately it doesn't occur in Batman and Robin 1949. But all that aside, you can't go wrong getting this set. The convenience of having a whole serial on one disc is not at all compromised by inferior picture, sound quality or inaccurate speed. Personally I enjoy these best on rainy Sunday afternoons.