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Hot Picks
- Ax 2013
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Batman - Hi Diddle Riddle/Batman - Smack in the Middle
episodes 1.1/1.2
USA 1966
produced by
William Dozier for Greenway Productions, 20th Century Fox/ABC
directed by Robert Butler
starring Adam West, Burt Ward, Frank Gorshin, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton, Stafford Repp, Madge Blake, Jill St.John, Allen Jaffe, Michael Fox, Damian O'Flynn, Ben Astar, Jack Barry
screenplay by Lorenzo Semple jr, based on the comic created by Bob Kane, published by DC-Comics, music by Nelson Riddle
TV-series
Batman, Batman (Adam West), Robin, Riddler
review by
Mike Haberfelner
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There's a bomb in the cake served at the reception of the Moldavian
pavillon of the Gotham City World Fair - and it doesn't do much damage, it
just delivers a riddle by the Riddler (Frank Gorshin) right into the lap
of police commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton), who is of course quick
enough to call in the cavallery ... in other words, Gotham's own
crimefighting duo Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward). Batman and
Robin soon figure out the Riddler's first clue, and they overpower the
Riddler trying to rob an art collector ... which of course was only a
setup, the Riddler was actually retrieving from the man only what was
legally his, there was no foul play involved - but Batman's attack was
photographed by a bunch of reporters, and now the Riddler sues him ... and
in court, Batman would to take off his mask, which would end his
crimefighting career. Batman and Robin try to track the Riddler down in
a nightclub, but while Batman is drugged inside, Robin, who had to stay
outside because he is underage, is replaced by Riddler's right-hand girl
Molly (Jill St.John) - which Batman finds out all too soon, upon which the
girl throws himself into his atomic reactor. Robin manages to free
himself and he delivers the Riddler's latest clue to Batman, which seems
to suggest he is going to raid the First National Bank ... but actually he
raids the Moldavian pavillon, to steal the most valuable exhibit of the
whole Fair, the Moldavian elephant. But out of the (stuffed) animal burst
Batman and Robin, and when it comes to one-on-one fight, nobody beats the
dynamic duo ... Serious Batman fans will probably
hate me for this - but Adam West was the best Batman ever,
and the series did the most justice to a character who goes out
crimefighting dressed in a cape and hiding behind a mask with pointy ears,
accompanied by a teenage boy dressed in a silly red, green and yellow
outfit. And everything that made the whole series so wonderful is
already here: The pseudo pop-art sets, the colourful villains, their
incredibly stupid schemes, and their willingness to face Batman at every
twist and turn of their way. Also, Batman delivering all sorts of messages
the show seems to be carrying in a dead-serious way, and of course, Batman
dancing the Watusi. What can I say, it's great!
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find Batman - Hi Diddle Riddle/Batman - Smack in the Middle at adultvideouniverse.com
