The first live Batman project completely destroyed the character

When most people think about the early days of the dark knight live, they think about Adam West and Berth Ward (and cover film) of the 1960s. This is understandable, given its cultural influence and a solid heritage, but the West’s show was not the first time Batman was brought from the comic book page. In 1943, only four years after the hero’s debut in 1939, “Detective Comics No. 27” Colombia, released and released a series of theatrical series with the participation of Lewis Wilson as a Crusader and Douglas Croft as Robin, with William Austin.

These serials, released in 15 weekly parties, actually made what later became key aspects of the franchise, first of all, turning Batcave from a simple tunnel under the Uyne estate into a full underground shelter. At the same time, the adaptation of “43 years” has changed a lot from the original comic books, turning Batman into a US military agent and the voice of anti-Japanese propaganda during World War II.

Yes, you read correctly. Batman does not fight the joker Or a penguin in the 1943 series. Instead, he is confronted with Dr. Daka, an evil inspirer who sowed the Japanese government’s direct orders. Naturally, the character plays J. Our Carol, a non-Japanese actor. These aspects of the series make it difficult to say, to put it mildly, and its reflection of Batman himself is fighting against those who, even in the early years of comics. Given this, the series remains an interesting thematic study in US propaganda at the time, as well as one of the first adaptations of live actions.

A total of about three and a half hours in 15 episodes, the 1943 Batman series followed by Bruce Wayne and Gresson’s wilderness when they thwart a different Plans for Dr. Daki. These include the creation of the mind control devices that convert the prisoners into the kennel zombies and try to use a powerful radiation gun to threaten Gotem. Bruce also flirts with the love interest of Linda Page (Shirley Paterson), whose uncle Martin was stolen as part of the Daki scheme.

The most interesting part of the series today is certainly a scene that pulls at least some charm from their early Hollywood Stagrats. Car chases, fist fights on high buildings and other kampy Era style sets, and this is sometimes in their favor, because the actual narrative material that supports the hollow to the extremely racist.

In terms of aesthetics, this is actually a decent Batman interpretation, given how little time has passed since the character first debuted with DC Comics. He wears cheap in appearance, but a relatively accurate version of the original black-gray suit, and although Robin is a little older than he is in the comic book, his suit is quite accurate (though black and white, of course, will aggravate). Meanwhile, Batcave is almost a claustrophob set with some fun bats, sprinkled for good measure. But even in the most stupid moments you can see some visual impact on later adaptations – in particular Adam West series “Batman” And the movie.

You can trace a fairly straight line from the style of the Hami and the tone of the 1943 Batman series in the 1966 series with Adam West and Berth Ward. And this is no coincidence. In 1965, just a year before the well-known adaptation came on the screen, black and white series were reprinted as the only, full story under the new name “Evening with Batman and Robin”. Cartoon style – obviously two decades – helped him get a new interest and fresh audience. No wonder then the series of the 60s intentionally made things as inappropriate as possible, playing in this style.

In view of this, the main propaganda elements of the series “43 years make them impossible to fully perceive within the major myths of Batman. The early narrator says that Batman and Robin, who, again, work as a superhero on” special assignment of Uncle Sam “, according to Bruce,” Her. “The same irrelevant voice reports on the audience that, when confronted with the enemies of America,” Batman and Robin are ready to fight them to death. “

Everything is said, however, there is far Best movies about Batman There. I would even go with the version of George Clooney.