The 1949 "Batman and Robin" movie serial - worth buying?

[Lorendiac]

I just discovered that a local store is selling a copy of the DVD collection of the 1949 "Batman and Robin" movie serial for about $15 (plus tax). I've never seen the silly thing - so tell me, is it worth it?

(I do understand it won't have much in the way of special effects compared to what they spend on Batman movies today, so you don't need to warn me about that part. I guess I'm wondering more about things like characterization, mystery, witty dialogue, that sort of stuff - especially with regard to whether or not it bore any resemblance to Batman as he had been presented in the comic book stories of the 1940s?)

[IamtheRock3]

dont know

but 15 bucks..hey worth a shot.

[Petertime]

I'm not going to be much help here, other than to say I saw the thing too and seriously considered it. I just don't have the cash to blow, so I went home and watched the 1960's movie. (Now, that's just bad, in the best possible way)

I'm curious about because of when it was made. I recently listened to some Blue Beetle radio plays from that era and I loved it. So if you do go for, do me a favour and let me know what its like.

[xnef1025]

Check out IGN's comics site and look in the archives for the Fred Hembeck columns. He did a review on it back when it was released that could help you decide if you'd like it.

[dancj]

I vaguely remember hearing it was pretty terrible

[metalhead_dave743]

I read some reviews and I remember seeing it when I was very young. The bad guy was Japanese, there was no batmobile(Alfred would chauffer them), and every episode ended on a cliff hanger. I think the plot was about the Japanese bad guy trying to make super strong zombies out of humans.

There supposedly is one scene where Batman chastises Robin.

[Sean Dulaney]

Actually I think the serial with Japanese bad guy was the first one released during WWII. I have both serials on VHS and, while I haven't watched either one in awhile, I remember Batman and Robin '49 being pretty good as non-Republic serials went. Well worth $15 if just for the historical aspect.

Doubt we'll get the original Batman serial on DVD anytime soon. My VHS copy was the "redub" that tried to eliminate all of the anti-Japanese slurs and added a naration here and there.

[Andy S.]

Well, I have seen it, a long time ago. By today's standards it would be considered pretty bad. The costumes look kinda silly, and the lead actor is even chubbier than Adam West.

But taking that into account, there is pulpish noir element to the black & white serials that does actually reflect the mood of Golden Age Batman. So, i that way its cool, i suppose.

[Roquefort Raider]

I liked it. It had the tone of a 1940s comic-book (surprise, surprise), combining the usual enthusiasm and silliness.

Bat's costume looked a bit odd, though.