Customer Reviews

Batman - The Complete 1943 Movie Serial Collection

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Before the big glossy Batman movies and the campy 1960's television series there was this little masterpiece. It starts strong with the spooky music over the opening credits. Lambert Hillyer was an experienced B-movie director but this was his first and only serial. He makes it an enjoyable adventure with an unusual sense of humor for a serial. Note the banter between Alfred, Batman, and Robin in the third chapter after Alfred fires a few shots with his eyes closed.

The film has been criticized as racist, which it certainly is, rife with comments like "Since a wise government rounded up the shifty-eyed Japs..." and "your twisted Oriental brain." But that's exactly the way it was at the height of World War Two, so this is really a historical document of the pervasive attitude at that time. The War was still unsettled in 1943, and people were terrified of the Japanese threat. The serial has also been issued in a cleaned-up version, but this one is much more realistic even if it wouldn't be acceptable today. Just try to enjoy it for what it was.

I particularly like Lewis Wilson when he's Bruce Wayne, with his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a lazy playboy, even though in his Batman guise he displays a bit of a gut that kept him out of the 1949 sequel. He's really a cool dude for 1943.

J. Carrol Naish was a great character actor, garnering two Oscar nominations in a long and distinguished career. He specialized in foreign dialects, and as Dr. Daka he does his best Peter Lorre imitation. Any villain would kill for that living room with the built-in alligator pit.

Douglas Croft (nee Douglas Wheatcroft, 1926-1963) was a successful child actor in the early 1940's. The year before he played Robin in this serial he was in both "Pride of the Yankees" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy," playing Lou Gehrig and James M. Cohan, respectively, as a boy. Not much is known of him as he dropped out of acting later in the decade, and died at the age of only 37.

Shirley Patterson (1921-1995, later known as Shawn Smith) was Miss California of 1940. After this performance she played in B-Westerns opposite Charles Starrett, Johnny Mack Brown, and others. Even Charles Middleton, that all-time favorite serial villain, puts in an appearance starting in Chapter Six, but this time he's on the right side of the law as Dan Colton, who has discovered a radium mine and of course Daka needs radium for his nefarious schemes.

As usual with Columbia serials the fights and the chases don't measure up to Republic's standards, and in general the cliffhangers aren't as good either. But the way Batman escapes from the old room-with-sharp-blades-closing-in routine at the end of Chapter 13 is a classic. The Chapter 14 cliffhanger isn't bad, either.

Be sure to watch for a cameo appearance by Bob Kane, the original creator of Batman. He's the young man who plays a newsboy who sells a newspaper to Bruce Wayne early in the first chapter.

The 1943 BATMAN is a terrific serial: goofy, funny, and exciting by turns. Not as slick as Republic when it came to chapterplay product, Columbia made up for it with sheer energy and zany enthusiasm. A lake full of alligators under a trapdoor in front of your desk? No problem (although one wonders what the contractors thought, finishing THAT room). There were many embarrassing portrayals of Japanese warlords in '40s serials (Johnny Arthur in THE MASKED MARVEL comes to mind) but J. Carrol Naish strikes just the right balance of looniness and menace. The "zombie-maker" machines seem to have been left over from the Boris Karloff film THE DEVIL COMMANDS, or at least inspired by them, and how come you can't buy stuff like that on the Shopping Network? All that said, the racism in this serial is ugly, even by WWII movie standards, and parents are going to need to talk to their kids when watching it. (Incidentally, a Sony rep advised me that yes, this will be the uncut 1943 version, not the "cleaned up" 1980s video version that removed some of the racist slurs.) I recommend this serial very highly. For more info on this and other serial releases, please visit www.inthebalcony.com.

Since the DVD version has yet to be released,I can't comment on that version but have to rely on the VHS Tape which I have.Many reviewers have commented on the "racism" in this serial. Undoubtably they were not alive or at least going to the movies at that time in their life.The serial while it may not be considered politically correct in the present time only reflected the attitude of an nation that was drawn into WW2 by the attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor in 1941.All motion pictures of that era released by the 7 major studios pictured the axis ( Germany,Japan and Italy ) in an unfavorable light just as in the 50's during the Cold War Russia was portrayed in the same manner..Columbia Pictures which is a subsidiary of Sony Corp ( a Japanese entity)is to be congratulated for releasing the serial..I enjoyed it thoroughly.Although Columbia serials were never as well produced as the serials from Republic Pictures,this is one of their better chapter plays. One of the unintended bloopers that I enjoyed seeing was in one of the early chapters. This chapter has Batman fighting with his cape on and the cape mysteriously disappears in mid fight and just as mysteriously reappears before the fight is concluded.I notice the format is listed as color which is incorrect unless Columbia colorized the discs.I do hope they have copied the serial unto dvds with a restored print as the VHS tape was not as clear as it should be.I was disappointed to see that it will be released on 2 disks.All 15 chapters could well fit on one disk.

Yes, when compared with our computer generated culture, BATMAN, the 1943 serial, is laughably low rent. Yes, the Columbia Pictures production is nowhere near the polish that Republic Pictures' brought to their classic cliffhangers (ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL, SPY SMASHER...). Yes, the dynamic duo's costumes looked as if they were sewn by your mother for an upcoming Halloween party. Yes, the serial's war time plot line is littered with vicious racial lampooning of the Japanese. And yes, after 60 years the serial is still loads of fun.

At its best, the 1943 serial in it's own scrappy, shoe-string way is able to capture the spirit of Bob Kane's comic books and strips of that era. I prefer it over 1949's BATMAN AND ROBIN, which has been more visible in home video due to its more politically correct characterizations. Although the writers failed to use any of the comic's infamous gallery of colorful villains (such as the Joker,) the sense of adventurous camaraderie as played by Lewis Wilson (Batman) and Douglas Croft (Robin) is wonderfully brought out here. For me, this was a surprise since some historians tended to dismiss BATMAN as if it was the PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE of movie serials. It's not.

In fact, many of the lesser Columbia and Universal serials had an element which the much of the lauded Republic serials lacked- a sense of humor. For sure, there are many unintentional giggles throughout. My favorite: a badly edited scene where Robin sends a henchman crashing through a sky light only to fall before a seemingly dazed cast of onlookers. Yet veteran B-movie director Lambert Hillyer (in his first and only serial)is able to keep the mayhem going at a fast clip so as not to make us dwell too long on the ridiculous plot of mad scientist Dr. Daka (played as oily as Mazzola by J. Carrol Naish) and his Zombie-making machine. Also Lewis Wilson (the father of James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson) despite a flabby gut and a pronounced Boston accent plays Bruce Wayne/Batman with gusto. That was enough for any kid circa 1943 and perhaps 2005 and on.

First, I would also like to say thank you to the studio for releasing the uncensored version of this movie serial. I had seen it previously on a vhs tape and realized later that what I had seen was an edited (censored) version. I was happy to see this serial released on dvd format and happier still to find that it was the uncensored version as originally released.

THE DVD

The picture and sound are better than the vhs tape I used to have. I have also seen part of a "non-commercially released" dvd which was sold online and the picture and sound here are also better than other releases you might find. Because of the age of this film, the picture is not 100% crisp and clear. I'm sure those who had the pleasure of seeing them in the theater or who own the film prints can argue they could have been better, but I think this is probably the best that will be available. As in previous reviews, I agree that the picture on Chapter 1 is contrasty and not as sharp as the other chapters, particularly the first shot of Batman sitting in The Bat's Cave. I do not know about what the availability of a better-looking master for this first chapter, so I cannot give a lower rating because of this.

My only complaint is that the preview for Chapter 3 which comes at the end of the cliffhanger in Chapter 2 was not present. Why they left this off, I do not know. You have the complete story, so it isn't like you're missing part of the story because of this omission, but it's still a curiousity.

Also, I noticed in Chapter 2 as well, when Bruce Wayne is making a telephone call to Linda Page, on my disc there is a brief flicker of the picture to the scene just previous showing a shot of the villains. Did anyone else notice this?

THE CONTENT

I had the pleasure of reading some of the original Batman comic books in reprints. I recommend The Batman Chronicles and The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told as containing some early Batman tales. Batman in the Forties looks good too, but I haven't yet read that one. Having said that, I can say that this adaptation is much more true to the concept of Batman as he originally appeared than any of the later incarnations. Batman wasn't all-powerful and occasionally makes mistakes. Sometimes he gets knocked unconscious or overpowered by a group of mobsters. A few henchmen are also killed because of Batman's actions. Bruce Wayne is an act. He's a fop, a rich playboy who pretends to live the party life and tires easily. Alfred is much more bumbling comic relief than his later incarnations. Robin/Dick Grayson... what's up with his hair? I think he's sort of creepy. The police are depicted as lazy and corrupt, particularly Captain Arnold. It's interesting to see Batman at his beginning so that we can see and appreciate how his character has evolved over the years.

You won't find the Batmobile here. It hadn't been introduced yet! Batman and Robin were driven around in Bruce Wayne's car and they often have Alfred pull into an alley so they can change into their costumes. Also absent are Commissioner Gordon and any of the well-known villains.

As for censorship, I am glad to see the uncensored version of this dvd released. Racism is an ugly thing, and the fact that the country was at war at the time this movie was made is not an excuse. But, censorship is an ugly thing too. Only be releasing things in their entirety, the uncensored version, can we get it out in the open and talk about it. We learn from the past and from our mistakes, not by sweeping them under a rug and ignoring them or pretending they didn't exist. Again, I would like to commend Sony for releasing the complete unedited version.

CONCLUSION

This movie is goofy and was intended as Saturday morning or afternoon fun. Superheroes were not treated with the same reverence we have for them today and it was not give that same treatment. I recommend watching it for several reasons. First, it's entertaining. Second, for the bat-fan who wants to see Batman's first live action appearance and a close interpretation to the original character concept. Finally, for the historical significance of watching an old movie matinee serial and as a little time capsule to see the world in 1943.

I give this dvd 4 stars. It misses a higher rating only because of the little goofs in Chapter 2 which look like they should have been corrected before it was released.

5 stars for the content ( or maybe only 4 and a half due to the ending, which I discuss below ) but only about 2 and a half for the technical side - ie quality of prints used etc.
But I've given it 5 overall just to emphasise what a great serial it is.

Just to clear up what the general condition of the prints used in this set is - as this isn't totally clear from the previous reviews :

Basically only episode 1 is in terrible condition - & terrible it is :
Quite blurry in places , lots of scratches, some vertical lines & "artefacts" in places, the contrast/brightness levels jumping around a lot between shots, & in places even the soundtrack gets very muddy ( although you can always make out what they're saying ).
Watchable, but its pushing it somewhat.

After this it gets a lot better :
The next 2 or 3 episodes while not in brilliant condition are a lot better than episode 1 & their soundtrack is fine throughout, & there is no blurryness of the type already mentioned.
These episodes are basically quite easily watchable & if your not obsessed with technical quality you'll probably find them ok.

Then round about episode 4 or 5 until the end of disc 1 there is another quality jump ( upwards ) :
Now the image is very clear indeed, & there are hardly any scratches etc - in fact if someone had told me they were restored/remastered I would believe them : generally crisp, clear & easy to view & listen to; in fact not dissimilar in technical quality to the 1949 "Batman & Robin" DVD serial collection.

The only thing one might still notice is that as before some shots seem very darkly lit or others are overlit ( depending on how you look at it ) ie not just because they alternate between at night / in daylight / bright sunlight / in shadows etc.
Quite possibly this is caused by technical deficiencies / inadequacies in the lighting etc during production when it was originally filmed in 1943.
Or maybe this release uses the best shots from several different prints but without bothering to "regrade" the brightness/contrast to a more cohesive effect - ? - which also might explain this.

Disc 2 retains throughout the great picture/sound quality of the final episodes on disc 1 as just described.

They really should have remastered episode one - which is a fantastic episode really cramming in the atmosphere & excitement - & the next 2 or 3 as well.

The 1949 serial is remastered ( it says on its back cover )& has Japanese subtitles I notice.
The 1943 has no such subtitles : Is this why its not remastered - ie because Sony Columbia don't think they can sell it to the Japanese because of its anti-Japanese WW2 language ?
It would seem likely - which is a real shame; its a great serial.

Another real deficiency ( & for the 1949 one too ) is that there's hardly any info about the serial's production/actors, & how it was regarded at the time.

A few comments on the aesthetics of its content :
It has a great pulpy vibe reminiscent of 1930s gangster movies & to a minor extent 1930s/40s SF, some great pulpy/film noirish lighting & atmosphere.

The opening shot of the Batman in his cave in episode 1 is highly evocative & atmospheric ( with a slight horror-ish atmosphere in that bit alone ).
Batman's costume is fine & the cowl is SUPERB : It has long horns, well designed eye-holes & the nosepiece is somewhat pointed, which conspire to make him look appropriately devilish ( except for when in one shot about half way through the serial it is too high up on his face ).

Lewis Wilson is great in the role ( actor & costume are far better than in the 1949 version )- & far better than any of the actors from the 80s onwards; its not that he's a great actor its more that he reflects the period in which it was made; ie he's unironic & his general attitude, & vocal tone especially, are appropriate to the role; this naiveity thus appeals & adds to the serial's highly expressive 2-dimensional charm & charisma, which it has inherited from the 30s gangster flicks.

Accordingly its a close reflection - the closest filmed reflection in fact - of the original Batman comics of the late 30s /early 40s.
The recent "Batman Begins" film also reflects that period quite well in places but not as much as here, where we find authentic monochrome grit, shadows, hoodlums & bustle. Although I must qualify this by saying that this is also sometimes characterized by the sort of lamebrained - but quite acceptable & even endearing - absurdity that you often find in cheap B-movies.

The music is fine though mainly unobtrusive.
But the opening titles score is superbly atmospheric & brooding ( again reminiscent of the 30s )& the static "Batman-as-an-umbrella" iconic image over which it plays is great also, as are the lurid chapter titles which then appear ( & it is at that point that the opening score expresses a most delicious frisson of menacing foreboding )

I would say that Adam West is preferable in the role except that great though he is that version is essentially comedic; so I don't think he can really be directly compared to all the other on-screen versions of Batman, which in relation to the lead role at least, are all essentially serious .

Although the plot is highly repetitive over the 15 episodes this is fine as it gives it an air of mildly surreal absurdity.
The villain - Dr Tito Daka ( J. Carroll Naish ) is fantastic - vocally reminiscent of Peter Lorre to a large extent, & great at gloating & sadism, & - of course - absurdly overconfident most of the time,

The only real criticism I can make is that the last episode ( or 2 ) is rather anticlimactic; Dakar - who only meets Batman face to cowl at this point - doesn't get to gloat very much over Batman himself ( although previously he has a lovely gloat over Batman's girlfriend Linda ), & its all resolved rather too quickly, easily & relatively undramatically compared with what's gone before.

Still; the finest non-humorous Batman so far !
And its the original screen adaptation to boot : If the first 3 episodes were restored it would be nearly perfect.

Directed with atmospheric flair by Lambert Hillyer, "Batman" (1943) remains among Columbia's better chapterplays. Though lacking the solid production values and crisp pacing of the Republic serials, the studio was more faithful in adapting comic-book heroics to the big screen. Hillyer keeps the low-budget hokum moving at a good clip - regardless of flubbed lines or continuity errors. (When Batman loses his cape during a fight scene, just keep shooting and ask questions later.) Uncensored and relatively uncut, the Caped Crusader's film debut is worth seeing.

As I watched this 1943 Batman serial, I could just imagine how young boys and girls of the time would anxiously await the next exciting episode each week at the theaters! Each episode ends in a real cliffhanger!

Although I am a big movie buff of films made during the 1920's - 1950's, this was one of the first serials that I had watched. I found that its condition was much better than many films of that period that I have viewed.

I found the serial to be just hilarious in many ways as I viewed "zombies" (with little metal caps); ray guns; saw the heroine, Linda, fainting repeatedly; and watched as "pre-Batmobile" Bruce and Dick would pull costumes out of their briefcases while Alfred drove them around in the Packard sedan!

The Batman serial DOES have a great deal of wartime propaganda and Japanese are repeatedly referred to as "Japs" and "slant eyes." Although I was born in Japan, I didn't have a problem with this as it was just indicative of the times. I would really regret the censorship more. Young kids should just be told that the US was at war with Japan at the time and the film was a little overzealous in this respect... and that now our countries are on very good terms.

I highly recommend this serial. It was a delightful look back at Batman's history.

...complete with all that that entails. That means all the racial invective is there intact. So what you do with this info is up to you. My own opinion is that this not for kids. However if you insist then you need to explain The Serial in Context. It was the height of the Second World War and The U.S.A. was at war with Japan, and this is movie is just another example of the American propaganda of the era. That doesn't excuse the racism, but it places it in context, which is all you can do at this point. The alternative is censorship, and that isn't an alternative at all. If you can't see it, you won't learn from it, and that is a double edged sword indeed.

I have just received the DVD release of the 1943 Columbia Pictures 15 chapter serial. I can now claim to have seen the entire serial in a marathon held in about 1966, in a theater. When the serial was released in the VHS format, two cassettes. I purchased. It is a grainy copy, and as other reviewers have stated, some of the dialogue was deleted/censored. The DVD is a complete restoration, the print is much like I originally saw it. True, the dialogue contains racist lines, but as I was told by relatives who lived in WWII times, we were at war. It was this nation who was attacked, not vice versa. Those were different times, when viewing the serial, that must be remembered, kept in perspective. Again, Columbia Pictures did not come close to Republic in production of serials. In ways, this serial is campy, but what can you expect from a low budget production, one produced as a morale lifting vehicle for the theater going audience in 1943 and through the end of the war.
The prints have not been colorized, they remain as originally filmed, in black and white.