Competent serial from the team of Sam Katzman/Spencer Bennet. Inferior to the 1943 original. it is nonetheless entertaining. No Batmobiles or Batplanes here though. It's the old story of the hooded mad scientist villain trying to take over the world by employing some secret destructive ray.
Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan play Batman and Robin respectively in this outing. Lowery is a decidedly dull Batman, playing him with the same stuffed shirt attitude as he does Bruce Wayne. The best that can be said about Duncan's "acting" is that I hope he didn't quit his regular job before undertaking this role.
The rest of the cast is good though, led by Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon and many of Columbia's stock company of villains in assorted roles.
The identity of the Wizard is skillfully kept in doubt until the end of the last chapter. The stunts are adequate and the cliff hangers are mostly of the car over the cliff and exploding device variety.
Except for the two leads, I nevertheless did enjoy this serial very much.
Robert Lowery and Johnny Duncan play Batman and Robin respectively in this outing. Lowery is a decidedly dull Batman, playing him with the same stuffed shirt attitude as he does Bruce Wayne. The best that can be said about Duncan's "acting" is that I hope he didn't quit his regular job before undertaking this role.
The rest of the cast is good though, led by Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon and many of Columbia's stock company of villains in assorted roles.
The identity of the Wizard is skillfully kept in doubt until the end of the last chapter. The stunts are adequate and the cliff hangers are mostly of the car over the cliff and exploding device variety.
Except for the two leads, I nevertheless did enjoy this serial very much.