Made by Columbia Pictures in 1943– just four short years after the character was first created by National Comics– this serial remains a pretty faithful adaption and one of the top 5 serials of all time.
This is an A-Production from a B Unit. Director Lambert (Dracula’s Daughter) Hillyer was a great choice to helm this moody and horror filled adventure. Corpses, zombies and spies are aplenty and The Batman himself is a dark and somewhat frightening figure himself.
Lewis Wilson (father of Bond Producer Michael Wilson) delivers an outstanding performance as the foppish Bruce Wayne and his tough as nails alter ego. William Austin is fantastic as Alfred the Butler who provides comedy relief throughout the 15 Chapters.
Shirley Patterson, who was a contract player at Columbia is the love interest Linda Page and delivers a convincing performance as a young woman frantically searching for her missing uncle (who has been abducted by the evil japanese spies).
The characters all display real emotions– something that is unique to the plot driven serials of the 30s and 40s. Bruce Wayne seems to care about Linda Page– Batman scolds Robin when he fails to follow his orders– and Alfred bumbles his way through mishaps but shows a genuine desire to do well.
Granted, there is no Batmobile–but at least Batman is driven around in a limo– Shadow Style– and Commissioner Gordon is replaced by Captain Arnold ably played by Charles Wilson who is hot on Batman’s trail and plans to bring the vigilante in.
Regarded in terms of acting and production values this holds up with any B-Movie of the time– unheard of in serials with the exception of the very best (Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, Captain Marvel and Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars).
The second Batman serial, made in 1949 with a different cast and production team is a horrendous Ed Wood-ish yawn fest.
The politically correct crowd is quick to forget history and instead view it through rosy glasses– this was made during the height of World War II when it looked like the good guys might actually lose! Remember Pearl Harbor? The Japanese launched a cowardly sneak attack on the United States at the very moment we were negotiating treaties with them and therefore American sentiment didn’t look too fondly on them. This serial is guilty only of being patriotic to the time. Remember, those who fail to recall history are doomed to repeat it.
