BATMAN AND ROBIN (1949) - Another classic 15 chapter serial

[The Burgomaster]

         

I finished watching all 15 chapters of the 1943 BATMAN serial and started watching the 1949 BATMAN AND ROBIN.  After watching the first 2 chapters, here are my impressions:

* The 1949 serial appears to have been shot on a slightly bigger budget than the 1943 serial (but both of them are very cheesy)

* Robin is tougher in the 1949 version.  He was pretty much a wimp in the 1943 serial.

* The nose on Batman's mask in the 1949 version is much too long and pointy.  He looks more like Woodpecker Man.

* The ears on Batman's cowl are too long and pointy in both versions.  It looks like he is wearing a devil costume or has Martian antennae.

* The villain in the 1949 version is cool.  He is called THE WIZARD and wears a black costume.  He has a remote control device that can take over cars, planes, and submarines.  The 1943 villain was J. Carroll Naish as Japanese Dr. Daka.  He was a decent villain, but they spent too much time dwelling on how evil the Japanese were (since it was made during World War II).

* In both versions there is no Batmobile.  They just drive around in a regular car (and often change into their costumes inside the car).

[Xenorama]

i agree, this was one rollicking serial.  i liked the characters, and the villain was great.  it's too bad the costumes weren't a bit better, and that the director didn't make a better use of what could have been iconic bat-entrances.

David