Batman and Robin (1949)

Director:

Spencer Gordon Bennet

Writers:

Bob Kane (comics)
George H. Plympton (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 May 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Based On The Well-Known Batman Comic Magazine Feature appearing in "Detective Comics" and "Batman" Magazines

Plot:

The caped crusaders versus The Wizard, black-hooded mastermind.

Plot Keywords:

Batman | Convertible | Photographer | Hooded Villain | Cave

Cast

Robert Lowery	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne
Johnny Duncan	...	Robin / Dick Grayson (as John Duncan)
Jane Adams	...	Vicki Vale
Lyle Talbot	...	Commissioner Jim Gordon
Ralph Graves	...	Winslow Harrison [Chs. 7-8]
Don C. Harvey	...	Henchman Nolan [Chs. 1-6] (as Don Harvey)
William Fawcett	...	Prof. Hammil
Leonard Penn	...	Carter - Hammil's valet
Rick Vallin	...	Barry Brown
Michael Whalen	...	Private Investigator Dunne [Chs. 2, 9, 12]
Greg McClure	...	Henchman Evans [Chs. 1-6]
House Peters Jr.	...	Henchman Earl [Chs. 7-15]
Jim Diehl	...	Henchman Jason [Chs. 3-15]
Rusty Wescoatt	...	Henchman Ives [Chs. 3-13]

Also Known As:

The Adventures of Batman and Robin
The New Adventures of Batman and Robin

Runtime:

263 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #13671-13685)

Filming Locations:

George Lewis Mansion - Benedict Canyon Drive, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Vicki Vale would become a common character in the Batman comics after this film. Bob Kane based her on Marilyn Monroe, whom he met during the film's banquet.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Wires can be seen when The Wizard is supposed to be invisible, most notably in the telephone booth when The Wizard is on the run and calls his headquarters.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: Crime, striking our city night and day, is on the increase. Our undermanned police force is helpless to cope with the situation, but they have an ally - Batman - who with the faithful Robin, wages unending war against all criminals!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Hill Street Blues: Ratman and Bobbin (#4.11)" (1984)

If You Are Expecting Camp, Then This Isn't the One For You

If you are expecting the campy 1960's Batman, then this isn't the show for you. However, if you are looking for an exciting action adventure serial, then this is for you. This show plays more like the comic book version of Batman that came out in the 1940's which was a very straightforward comic. The plot is okay but there are some plot holes, which probably owe more to the low budget. Also, the cast is very solid, especially veteran character actor Lyle Talbot as Commisioner Gordon.