Batman

1943
U
4h 20m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

Douglas Croft, Shirley Patterson, and Lewis Wilson in Batman (1943)

Japanese spymaster Prince Daka operates a covert espionage organization located in Gotham City's now-deserted Little Tokyo which turns American scientists into pliable zombies.

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The very first serial to adapt the comic book character of the Batman. In it, the Batman is a secret U.S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operat... Read allThe very first serial to adapt the comic book character of the Batman. In it, the Batman is a secret U.S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operating in Los Angeles at the height of World War II.The very first serial to adapt the comic book character of the Batman. In it, the Batman is a secret U.S. government agent, attempting to defeat the schemes of Japanese agent Dr. Daka operating in Los Angeles at the height of World War II.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Hotel Clerk
(uncredited)

William Austin

Alfred Beagle
(uncredited)

William A. Boardway

Plane Passenger
(uncredited)

Lynton Brent

Intended Lockwood Pilot
(uncredited)

Roy Bucko

Barfly
(uncredited)

George Chesebro

Brennan [Ch. 1-3]
(uncredited)

Dick Curtis

Agent Croft of Section 50 [Ch. 10-12])
(uncredited)

Jimmy Dime

Henchman
(uncredited)

Lester Dorr

Agent on Plane [Ch. 10]
(uncredited)

Kenne Duncan

Fred - the Mechanic [Ch. 5-6]
(uncredited)

Harry Evans

Restaurant Patron
(uncredited)

Robert Fiske

Foster [Ch. 1-4]
(uncredited)

Sam Flint

Dr. G.H. Borden [Ch. 1]
(uncredited)

Jerry Frank

Cave of Horrors Thug
(uncredited)

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9:57

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This is the first filmed appearance of Batman.

Goofs
At the end of Chapter 2, as Batman is battling with the thugs, his cape is ripped off and thrown to the floor. After a brief cutaway to Alfred waiting in the car, it is back on his shoulders with no apparent break in the action.

Quotes
Alfred Pennyworth: How many did I kill?
Bruce Wayne: Seven.
Alfred Pennyworth: But there were only four of the ruffians.
Richard Grayson: You killed three of them twice.
Alfred Pennyworth: Where are the bodies?
Bruce Wayne: We threw them out the window.

Crazy credits
This serial was promoted under the titles "The Batman", "The Bat Man" and "Bat Man". The actual title on the beginning of each chapter was simply "Batman".

Alternate versions
Filmed at the height of the Second World War, this serial originally featured a large amount of racist dialogue. A later reissue (released on video by Goodtimes) maintains the fact the villain is Japanese, but otherwise features new narration and dialogue which substitutes less-racist terminology.

Connections
Edited into The Three Stooges Follies (1974)

Soundtracks
Rienzi- Overture
(uncredited)
Composed by Richard Wagner
Used in main title and various episodes

User reviews55

Featured review

5/10

Batman review

Apart from the costumes there's not much of the Batman we know today in the Caped Crusader's first movie outing. It was released in the midst of WWII, so instead of Jokers or Penguins we get a devilish Jap, played with relish by J. Carrol Naish. He's the best thing about this otherwise mediocre effort which nevertheless stands head and shoulders above most other serials of the day.