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Gotham City Serials: Batman / Batman and Robin

Robert Lowery (Actor), Lewis Wilson (Actor), Spencer Gordon Bennet (Director), Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 264 ratings
$18.99
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Product Description

From The Gotham City Vault!

The Complete 1943 and 1949 Serial Collection

Batman: The 1943 Serial Collection

See how BATMAN really began!

Watch as mild-mannered Bruce Wayne (Lewis Wilson) becomes Batman, the classic superhero who, with Robin (Douglas Croft), protects Gotham City from the evil schemes of Dr. Tito Daka (J. Carrol Naish). Packed with adventures involving a radium-powered death ray, a deadly alligator pit, electronic zombies, and even the original Bat Cave, this Batman 2-disc set is a must-own DVD for any fan of the Caped Crusader!

Chapters:
1. The Electrical Brain
2. The Bat s Cave
3. The Mark of the Zombies
4. Slaves of the Rising Sun
5. The Living Corpse
6. Poison Peril
7. The Phoney Doctor
8. Lured By Radium
9. The Sign of the Sphinx
10. Flying Spies
11. A Nipponese Trap
12. Embers Of Evil
13. Eight Steps Down
14. The Executioner Strikes
15. The Doom of the Rising Sun

Batman and Robin: The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection

Join superheroes Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (John Duncan) as they help Commissioner Gordon (Lyle Talbot, Glen or Glenda, Plan 9 From Outer Space) battle the Wizard, a villainous madman who steals a top-secret remote device allowing him to control all the moving vehicles in Gotham. Between The Wizard trying to destroy them and Bruce Wayne's love interest Vicky Vale (Jane Adams) working to uncover their identities, The Dynamic Duo careen from one nail-biting cliffhanger to the next as they set out to save Gotham and foil The Wizard's plan for world domination.

Chapters:
1. Batman Takes Over
2. Tunnel Of Terror
3. Robin s Wild Ride
4. Batman Trapped!
5. Robin Rescues Batman!
6. Target Robin!
7. The Fatal Blast
8. Robin Meets The Wizard!
9. The Wizard Strikes Back!
10. Batman s Last Chance!
11. Robin s Ruse
12. Robin Rides The Wind
13. The Wizard s Challenge
14. Batman vs. Wizard
15. Batman Victorious

Notes:

The 1943 Serial is the first live action appearance for Batman and introduced The Bat Cave and its secret entrance.
The 1943 Serial influenced the future direction of the actual comic books
The serials inspired the 1966 Batman TV Series starring Adam West and Burt Ward

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 5.12 ounces
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Spencer Gordon Bennet, Lambert Hillyer
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC, Full Screen
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 8 hours and 44 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ February 4, 2014
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Robert Lowery, Lewis Wilson, Johnny Duncan, Douglas Croft, Jane Adams
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ MILL CREEK ENT
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HFWETQW
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 264 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
264 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joel Bowers
5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Batman Begins Movies
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
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.
18 people found this helpful
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JACK LOBO
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovers of the old Batman Serials will be pleased with this set.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
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.
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Pulpman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great way to own the 2 serials made in the ...
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2015
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Great way to own the 2 serials made in the 40s. Batman first foray into film was as 2 movie serials made in 1943 and 1949 the first one is full of WW2 stuff and attitudes but holds it's comic origins intact good action moves this serial through the chapters quickly. 1949 sees a differint Batman this one was produced by Sam Katzman a legend in hollywood for cheap and this serial shows it. Still there is much to recommend this serial also once again fine action and a comic like story with a villan known as the Wizard help make this a fun time.
If you have not ever seen a serial you should start here and have fun with Zombies and remote control devices from the 40s same things are enjoyed on film today!
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Jus B. Cuz
4.0 out of 5 stars I rate these 2 DVD discs at 4 Stars, but not for the reasons you might think...
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
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 Brain
2. The Bat's Cave
3. The Mark of the Zombies
4. Slaves of the Rising Sun
5. The Living Corpse
6. Poison Peril
7. The Phoney Doctor
8. Cured by Radium
9. The Sign of the Sphinx
10. Flying Spies
11. A Nipponese Trap
12. Embers of Evil
13. Eight Steps Down
14. The Executioner Strikes
15. The Doom of the Rising Sun
To 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 Over
2. Tunnel of Terror
3. Robin's Wild Ride
4. Batman Trapped!
5. Robin Rescues Batman!
6. Target-Robin!
7. The Fatal Blast
8. Robin Meets the Wizard!
9. The Wizard Strikes Back!
10. Batman's Last Chance!
11. Robin's Ruse
12. Robin Rides the Wind
13. The Wizard's Challenge
14. Batman vs. Wizard
15. Batman Victorious
This 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!
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Sergio Ramirez Rivera
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
Reviewed in Mexico on June 21, 2023
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Excelente
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patt
5.0 out of 5 stars thanks
Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2020
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thanks
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Paul
5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Were It All Started
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2016
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Classic 15 Chapter Cliffhanger Serial From Columbia pictures Depicting The first ever screen incarnation of Batman. Lewis Wilson plays The caped crusader and is alter ego Bruce Wayne while Douglas Croft is Robin The boy wonder. There is no Batmobile but The famous Bat cave and Bat signal are present and of course The ever popular Alfred loyal butler To Bruce Wayne is olso on view. classic chapter plays are The order of The Day as Batman Takes on The Deadly Dr Daka who disposes of His enemies by Tossing Them into is Alligator pit splendid stuff. Daka is played superbly by veteran screen actor J Carrol Naish. one classic chapter finds Batman Trapped in a room full of spikes with The walls closing in on him all The right ingredients for a classic cliffhanger chapter play and The serial is full of many. Every serial needs it's Damsel in Distress in Batman we are introduced To Linda Page as a love interest for Bruce Wayne played by Shirley Patterson The leggy brunette is a major asset To The success of Batman. Released in 1943 The serial was a Huge Hit for Columbia who Quickly followed This up with a sequel. Now Titled Batman And Robin and released in 1949 This serial of The Two is The one most Batman fans identify with it Does include police chief Gordon so popular in Batman fandom. New leads were added To play The caped crusaders in Batman's second outing in The shape of Robert Lowery as Batman and John Duncan as Robin a new female lead was added as Jane Adams played spunky news reporter Vicky Vale. of all of The cast Adams was more well known Having starred in some of The Universal Horror movies. Though like Shirley Patterson she was a huge draw for The serial. Adams big scene in The serial one of many finds her Trapped in a burning building bound & gagged with Batman & Robin racing To The rescue will They rescue Her in Time well you know They will. Columbia Have released both serials as a Two Disc set The chapters have all been remastered and both feature The original narrative of see The Next Thrilling Chapter Of Batman At This Theatre Next Week just as They would have originally played in movie Theatres. Todays young Batman fans might find Them a little slow and Tame but for older Bat fans This is a chance To see were it all started both serials come Highly recommended.
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geronimobosch
4.0 out of 5 stars Klappe, die Erste! Batman's sehenswertes Filmdebut!
Reviewed in Germany on July 25, 2015
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Batman (1943):

Die allererste Batman-Realverfilmung (Das Cover mag irreführend sein, da es im Comic-Stil gehalten ist) noch in schwarz/weiß, ist keine Serie im eigentlichen Sinne, sondern eine Fortsetzungsgeschichte mit 15 Kapiteln (Chapter), die zur damaligen Zeit einmal wöchentlich im Kino lief; dabei läuft eine Folge meist durchschnittlich 16 Minuten, wobei man davon noch etwa eine oder zwei Minuten abziehen muss, in denen gezeigt wird, was in der vorherigen Folge geschah. Das Ende eines Kapitels endet immer mit einem Cliffhanger - Eine Szene, die fatal, bedrohlich oder aussichtslos scheint. Das Ganze nannte sich "Serial". Die berüchtigten Gegenspieler Batman's, wie der Joker, Catwoman, Penguin oder Riddler traten hier noch nicht auf. So hat man es in diesem Fall mit einem gewissen Dr. Daka zu tun, einem japanischen Bösewicht, der immer auf der Suche nach Radium ist, um seine neue, bedrohliche Waffe zu perfektionieren. Humor, wie man ihn aus der 60er TV-Serie kennt, ist hier eher eine Ausnahme. Das Serial wirkt ernster, aber dennoch unterhaltsam und spannend. Aber noch mehr ist hier anders: Der Zugang zu Bruce Waynes "Batcave" erfolgt durch eine große Standuhr im Wohnzimmer und die Höhle wird hauptsächlich dazu verwendet, gefangene Gangster zu einem Geständnis zu bringen. Die Choreographie der Kampfszenen wirkt allgemein grober als die eher artistische Variante der 60er Serie. (Witzig: Für die musikalische Untermalung der Kampf- und Action-Szenen sorgen kurze Ausschnitte aus der "Symphonie Fantastique" von Berlioz) Die Schauspieler empfinde ich als akzeptabel, zunächst jedoch etwas ungewohnt, wenn man sonst eher die 60er Serie, die Filme der 90er oder die aktuellste Trilogie von Christopher Nolan kennt. Kleidungstechnisch interessant, läuft hier, ganz im Stil der 40er, so ziemlich jeder, Bruce Wayne eingeschlossen, mit Anzug und Hut herum. In vielen Folgen sieht man Bruce Wayne in der Verkleidung als Batman und Dick Grayson als Robin verhältnismäßig kurz, meist erst gegen Ende. Der Ton und das Bild lassen teilweise ein wenig zu wünschen übrig - Der Ton ist allgemein recht leise, das Bild ist anscheinend nicht restauriert und wirkt stellenweise "verschmutzt". Sprache ist nur Englisch vorhanden. Untertitel gibt es hier nicht. Die amerikanischen DVD's sind mit Code 1 kodiert und müssen von einem entsprechend ausgerüsteten Player abgespielt werden. DVD 1 enthält das komplette erste Serial, DVD 2 das zweite komplett.

Batman And Robin (1949):

Das zweite Serial, ebenfalls in schwarz/weiß, läuft nach dem selben Schema ab, wie das erste. Dieses mal ist der Gegenspieler der ganz in Schwarz vermummte The Wizard, der zunächst eine Maschine stiehlt, mit der er alle Fahrzeuge fernsteuern kann und damit seinen verbrecherischen Ideen nachgeht. Die Schauspieler in diesem Serial wurden gewechselt. Der Darsteller des Robin wirkt teilweise etwas lustlos oder ernst und älter als sein Vorgänger. Vielleicht war dies aber auch beabsichtigt. Hinzu kommen noch die bekannten Charaktere Commissioner Gordon und Vicky Vale. Ansonsten bleibt technisch und inszenatorisch alles wie schon im ersten Serial. (Ebenso gibt es wieder 15 Chapter mit jeweils ca. 16 Minuten.) Schade ist, dass in beiden der berüchtigte Batgürtel so gut wie garnicht zum Einsatz kommt und sich das Superheldendasein auf das Kostüm und den Kampfgeist beschränkt, wodurch die Kurzfilme eher wie eine Krimi- oder Gangster-Reihe wirken. Batman "in Uniform" sieht man hier allerdings des Öfteren, im Vergleich zur 1943er Version. Was die Spannung betrifft, intensiviert sich diese vor allem in den letzten drei Kapiteln, wenn der Zuschauer über die Identität des Wizard miträtseln darf.

An Special-Effects darf man nicht zu viel erwarten, dennoch gibt es reichlich Actionszenen.

Bonus-Material ist leider bei beiden DVD's nicht vorhanden.

Fazit: Zwei sehr interessante Klassiker mit ein paar kleinen Schwächen, vor allem für Hobby-Filmhistoriker oder Batman-Fans, die offen für Neues bzw. Altes sind.
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Mirko
5.0 out of 5 stars Batman Serial
Reviewed in Italy on September 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
Perfect!!! The first Batman serial!!! La prima serie tv dedicata al personaggio di Bob Kane e Bill Finger, semplicemente un pezzo di storia per il personaggio di Batman. Questa serie in bainco e nero risale al 1943, ed esiste solo in lingua inglese.
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