BATMAN serial (1943) Saturday mornings on TCM (Turner Classic Movies)

[EmergencyIan]

It's a 15 chapter series from 1943. This morning TCM is airing the third chapter: The Mark of the Zombies. Over the past two weeks, TCM has aired the first two chapters. I have enjoyed them.

Have you been watching it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(serial)

- Ian

[phil]

I have a copy that I haven't seen in awhile. I should break it out. It's certainly a product of its time and highly politically incorrect by today's standards. Still entertaining and worth a look.

[EmergencyIan]

^ Agree on all of what you said, Phil!

This series was produced during the height of World War II. So, you should keep the subject matter in perspective of the times it was made.

- Ian

[TrekStar]

I've missed the last two Saturdays, the last chapter I watched Batman was up against some Japanese
spies, there was a carnival tunnel ride showing Japanese soldiers wax figures captured American soldiers
and the Jap villian had his secret headquarters inside a secret room. Made during the war, must have been
popular in the theaters at the time, never did see how the story line ended, I'm guessing Batman won?

Unfortunately the first Superman chapter series wasn't until 1948 after the war, to bad,would have been
cool seeing Superman kick some Nazi and or Jap a**, flies to Germany captures Hitler, flies him back to the
White House and dumps him in Roosevelts lap.

[EmergencyIan]

I've missed the last two Saturdays, the last chapter I watched Batman was up against some Japanese
spies, there was a carnival tunnel ride showing Japanese soldiers wax figures captured American soldiers
and the Jap villian had his secret headquarters inside a secret room. Made during the war, must have been
popular in the theaters at the time, never did see how the story line ended, I'm guessing Batman won?

Unfortunately the first Superman chapter series wasn't until 1948 after the war, to bad,would have been
cool seeing Superman kick some Nazi and or Jap a**, flies to Germany captures Hitler, flies him back to the
White House and dumps in Roosevelts lap.

I assume Batman wins. The series will continue to it's conclusion for the next 12 Saturdays. So far, it's been airing at 10am eastern time. It's a half an hour time slot, but each chapter runs just under 20 minutes.

- Ian

[TrekStar]

I clicked the Wikipedia link under the poster pic and read about it, darn, wish I knew about this sooner
would have watched it from the start.

[MIB41]

Believe it or not, this is staple viewing for my three year old grandson, Lil D (he got over Schumacher's Batman and Robin). He loves this one and adores the Phantom serial the most. I think the fights are a little more physical and less stylized compared to more modern films, so he gets into the action aspect of it. I have all of the serial DVDs, so they're getting used allot.

[libby 1957dog]

yeah Tom Lil D got some good taste right there lol lewis wilson bats is if im honest and i know im in the minority here lol ,is for me the best version of the batman on screen to date ,yeah i know its cheap looking and racist and all the rest of that stuff , but hes closer in my opinion to the original concept of batman and a great reflection of the comics of the time,a adventurer who dresses up in a bat suit to strike fear and to disguise his identity ,no fake muscles or armour for this guy ,a master detective going undercover at a flophouse as a tramp,matches malone anyone lol ,hes single minded ,takes no crap from anyone , its his way or the highway and robin and alfred better shape up or ship out ,he is mysterious,beautifly low tech ,and fights with his fists lol,no martial arse for this guy ,and stamps his bat on the criminals he catches and leaves notes for the police signed "the batman " best batman ever , sorry to derail the thread but i just wanted to speak up for this version of the batman that is sadly understandably ridiculed these days

[MIB41]

^^^ Amen! In an age where we're spoiled by the artistry of computer animation and hog-tied to special interest group's quotas, it's refreshing to see the concept played out the way it was originally intended.

[Killer Iguana]

This is great. I had never seen this show. You can still watch yesterdays episode "The Mark of the Zombies" on TCM's web site.

http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/search/The%20Mark%20of%20the%20Zombies/

*You will need to log in with your cable provider info.

[Jetjungle75]

I have all the episodes on good old VHS somewhere!

Am going to dig it out and give it another viewing.

Loved the way each episode ended, with Batman about to meet his maker, only for the beginning of the next episode to show a totally different ending, with the caped Crusader always finding a way to escape!

They certainly don't make them like that anymore.