As I am celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Batman TV series (1966-1969), I am writing a series of posts to focus on different aspects of the show. Today I want to put the spotlight on our delightful and dastardly main villains who tried to put a dent in Batman's cape.
Each of them are glorious in their own right, so lets take a look at the characters and the actors who portrayed them so well. I have put them in the order of the frequency of appearances in the series.
1. The Penguin (20 episodes)
Burgess Meredith brought a delightful pugnaciousness to the role of Penguin (which he would do again but differently when he played Mickey in the film Rocky). Armed with a trick umbrella that could knock people out with the gas it emitted, Penguin was perhaps the most devious villain of them all, and Meredith's enthusiasm certainly exuded from his flippers as he waddled across his scenes.
Most Memorable Moment:
Penguin plants clues that Batman follows in hopes of catching him; however, it is a setup and makes Batman stumble into committing the crime himself. As I mentioned, Penguin was the most devious indeed.
2. The Joker (19 episodes)
As played with visible glee by Cesar Romero, the Joker proved to be a worthy opponent of Batman every time he popped up. His Joker was sadistic and a narcissist, and he delighted in getting Batman and Robin tied down on some terrible contraption that we kids feared would be the last of the Dynamic Duo.
Most Memorable Moment
The Joker takes over a TV program of the opera Pagliacci and dresses up for the part. When his henchmen seize Batman and Robin, the Joker attempts to unmask them on live TV. This definitely sent my young heart racing when I saw it for the first time.
3. Catwoman (16 episodes)
 |
| Julie Newmar |
Julie Newmar played the part for 13 episodes in seasons 1 and 2, while Eartha Kitt appeared in three episodes in season 3. As a young boy I fell in love with Newmar in the part, and I could understand why Batman/Bruce Wayne fell in love with her too. She played the part with a trace of vulnerability that was appealing. Eartha Kitt's performance was memorable for how different she was than Newmar. She was more aggressive and deadly. It was a good choice to play the part in a very different way.
 |
| Eartha Kitt |
Most Memorable Moment
Batman discovers that he is attracted to Catwoman (Newmar), and she lets it be known that she likes him too. As a kid I was a little surprised that Batman could like a villain, but I kind of liked her too.
4. Riddler (13 episodes)
 |
| Frank Gorshin |
Frank Gorshin memorably played the part for 10 episodes. He was my favorite villain. I found him to be so hilariously over the top, and I believe he was the most intellectually challenging villain for Batman. Gorshin barely suppresses the natural comedian inside, and his laughter is a freakish and eerie delight.
Just to note John Astin played Riddler in two episodes, and in the third season an uncredited actor played the part in a cameo.
Most Memorable Moment
 |
| John Astin |
Riddler (Gorshin) throws Robin off a building (scaring my youthful self like crazy) but Batman throws down a Batarang, which Robin bites into to save himself. Later Robin exclaims "Holy molars" To which Batman replies, "True. You owe you life to dental hygiene."
Batman: The Movie 1966
While the plot is rather flimsy, the film is memorable for the famous scene involving Batman battling a shark while dangling from a helicopter ladder. Please check out the scene below.
What's Coming Next?
Next time I will be taking a look at the rest of the villains that opposed Batman and Robin in the show's three seasons.
Until next time, I will see you again at the same Bat time, same Bat channel!
No comments:
Post a Comment