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Batman: The Movie [1966] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


Our Price: £3.79 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Batman: The Movie carries the high camp absurdity of the 1960s TV show to gleeful new heights. Shark Repellent Batspray, costume-removing Batpoles, a contraption that dehydrates political figures into coloured powder, and endless childishly easy conundrums. Bringing the primary-coloured show to the big screen was a natural move, since sets, costume and casting were all in place. But what elevates the movie above the series? Is it the wonderful new toys--the Batcopter, Batboat and Batbike? Is it the OTT direction, taking the Dynamic Duo on location far more than usual? Or is it the electrifying one-upmanship between Burgess Meredith (Penguin), Cesar Romero (Joker), Frank Gorshin (Riddler) and Lee Meriwether (a new Catwoman since regular Julie Newmar was busy elsewhere)? As Commissioner Gordon says, "The sum of the angles of that rectangle is too monstrous to contemplate!" Really, the best of the movie's magic is to be found in the sheer glee Adam West and Burt Ward exhibit in playing for the big screen. This was the most exciting event in their careers. And it shows in their colourful, zestful performances.

On the DVD: Batman: The Movie on disc includes an affectionate commentary from the two stars ("Oh lookee!" says West repeatedly), after which the duo are heavily involved in the wealth of additional material, even recording dialogue for the interactive animated menus. Seeing them on screen in the 16-minute featurette might be a shock, though. In the restored 1.85:1 film print they look much better! Additionally there's a five-minute "Batmobile Revealed" featurette with designer George Barris, a trailer page with some very humorous inclusions and two large galleries of behind-the-scenes photos.--Paul Tonks


Looking for the TV series on DVD? Holy Grail, Batman!!
Review date: 2008-03-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

There is very little I can add to the many favourable reviews this classic Dynamic Duo adventure has already received here on Amazon. This is the Batman I remember from my early teens, and will always be the real thing as far as I'm concerned!

Unless I have missed it, none of the other reviewers have mentioned the sad fact that when it comes to Adam West and Burt Ward this film is pretty much it! No sign of any of the 120 TV episodes on DVD is to be found here, or even in the U.S., nor any mention of why that might be.

The simple explanation seems to be the fact that Warner Brothers own the rights to the Batman characters whilst Fox own the actual programmes themselves! Various websites give a more detailed explanation, but it would appear that the two companies have never been able to agree a deal under which this material could be made available for commercial release. Apparently the shows were never released on VHS either, and the situation is a longstanding one with very little sign of a resolution in the near future. However, this problem does not extend to TV showings like the current run on BBC4 in the UK. Let's hope you've recorded some of them!

I hope this has prevented some fruitless searches for a non-existent Holy Grail, Batman!!

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Reviews


Batman
Review date: 2008-01-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

I disagree with the review below titled "They don't make 'em like they used to..."

That review is guilty of historical arrogance and is condescending in the extreme. We do not know better now, and in any case 40 years ago was not a fluffier and more innocent time.

60s programme makers saw the story of a man dressed up in a batsuit as a bit of a joke and treated it as such, whereas now we know better and suppose that we should be serious about such things - see Batman Begins for evidence of this. The humour here is amongst the best that the USA produced in the twentieth century. It's the opposite of modern po-faced trash, and better, but it is not kitsch and does not need sympathy. It's much sharper and more immune to criticism than any other Batman film that's emerged since.

"Robin pass me the Bat shark repelant spray"........
Review date: 2008-01-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Brilliant,Brilliant film that obviously did not take itself seriously,an excellent cast from the caped duo to the fabulous villains,the number one Batmobile that has ever been, a brilliant extras feature the film is an absolute steal.

Hilarious
Review date: 2007-11-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

I loved the Batman series in the 70's but this film especially the bit with the shark had me crying with laughter. Just Excellent.

THE ORIGINAL BATMAN MOVIE
Review date: 2007-10-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

1966 was, among many other things, the year of "Batman". This campy color TV series (very) loosely based on the classic comic strip, was originally planned for a fall debut. But the ABC network which commissioned the show, had already seen several of their new programs fail dismally in the ratings. Desperate for some promising new material. they gave "Batman" the green light, and it premiered in January. Thanks to it's 'hip' humor, an eye-popping kaleidoscope of bizarre color backgrounds and a cast of "guest villains" second to none: Julie Newmar, Cesar Romero, Anne Baxter, Burgess Meredith (the list goes on and on) the show was an immediate smash. Suddenly, America became "batty" and it's popularity was so great that stars scrambled for a chance to appear on the program. Along with its ratings, success came the brilliant merchandising campaign - everything from bubble gum cards and records to underwear and cereal. Inevitably, a movie was planned, supposedly either to introduce audiences to the show (which wasn't necessary after all, because the program was picked up first) or to sell the series overseas. It's main function, of course, was to cash in on the Batmania flooding the country while it was still hot. So, with a slightly bigger budget - mainly to accommodate the construction of the batboat and the batcopter, a feature version of the show was quickly filmed between the end of the first season and the beginning of the second. By the time of the movie's release in August 1966, however, the Batman craze had already begun to fade. The critics, for the most part, dismissed the film and audiences chose to ignore it. And, in recent years, there has been some speculation as to what happened. Although it has been written that Twentieth Century-Fox did little to inform the public that this was a project made exclusively for the big screen and not (as with "The Man from Uncle") a compilation of previously seen television episodes edited into a feature. In fact, the movie was promoted both in advertising materials (trailers, posters, etc) and magazine features as being "All New, Made Especially for the Giant Motion Picture Screen". It appears that the viewing public felt that it was probably just more of the same, figuring there was no point in paying to see what they got for free at home. So, despite mass bookings in every theater available, the film came and went. But, seen today, "Batman" holds up well, capturing perfectly what was one of the biggest fads to come along in the sixties.

Adam West and Burt Ward personify the clueless but virtuous Superheroes - always ready for a challenge, and, as usual, lionized by their puny police force led by Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) and Chief O'Hara (Stafford Repp). Alfred, alter-ego Bruce Wayne's faithful butler (Alan Napier) and Harriet Cooper (Madge Blake), aunt of Robin's alter ego Dick Grayson are on hand as well. The chief delight here though, are the four Supervillains - The Catwoman (Lee Meriwether, subbing for Julie Newmar), The Penguin (a rakish Burgess Meredith), The Joker (onetime Latin lover Cesar Romero) and The Riddler (a manic Frank Gorshin). The plot, the usual nonsense involving this crew's attempt at world domination, serves as a suitable background for sight gags and pratfalls galore. Meriwether and Meredith are the Villains with the most footage, each getting to disguise themselves during the course of the story. Posing as Russian reporter Miss Kitka, and sporting a commendably convincing accent, the incredibly lovely Meriwether is (understandably) successful in a scheme to lure Bruce Wayne into a kidnapping, hoping Batman will dash to the rescue! Meredith is not quite as able, in his guise as the villain's hostage Commodore Schmidlapp, though he does manage to get into the secret Batcave. And the plot thickens...West and Ward perform their chores with appropriately deadpan dispatch, but, as usual, the devils have the best parts, with Lee Meriwether offering a deliciously different interpretation of The Catwoman, and Burgess Meredith, who was born to play The Penguin, standing out. Batman is great fun both for younger viewers (who won't pick up on the intentional parody) and older ones (who will). "Holy time capsule!" Sevaral years ago, a wide screen DVD was released. It boasts an excellent transfer, Stereo sound and many extras, including a running commentary track with West and Ward, trailers, still galleries, and new featurettes about the film, and the Batmobile, with creator George Barris. A MUST for Batfans!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Adam West
Cesar Romero
Lee Meriwether
Burt Ward
Burgess Meredith

Creators:
Adam West (Primary Contributor)
Burt Ward (Primary Contributor)
Howard Schwartz (Cinematographer)
Harry W. Gerstad (Editor)
Charles B. Fitzsimons (Producer)
William Dozier (Producer)
Bob Kane (Writer)
Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
EAN: 0024543534327
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2008-07-01
Universal product code (UPC): 024543534327
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1966
Language: English (Original Language)

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