Batman Serials from 1940's

[Team Andino]

My dad bought me Volume 1 to the 1943 "Batman" serial and both volumes to the 1949 serial and much like the original Burton Batman movie I watched these movies over and over and over again in my youth to the point that they forever have a soft spot in my heart. I recently went back and re-watched some of them and every time I watch them I realize a little more how ridiculous they are but I still love them. Did anyone else grow up seeing these or are you like most people who've only seen a small part here or there an never bothered to watch the whole thing??

 

[antsman41]

These were awesome, video tape ftw...

I liked the series with the Wizard more than the serial with the "Chinese?" Doctor or what have you...

 

[Kane52630]

yeah i recently bought the 1943 serial on dvd and Im gonna make plans to watch it this weekend and then later on ill get the 1949 serial on dvd

its pretty cheap to get

 

[DeathRaven]

I have the one with the wizard, there fun and actually kind of hard to take serious at some points. Really if Batman was like how he is in these serials he would of been gunned down the second he put on the costume.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

The 1943 one is quite good, the other one: just run away.

 

[Team Andino]

I really liked the guys who played Batman & Robin in the 1943 serial but I really don't like the guy who played Robin in the 1949 serial, although the Batman in that serial was alright. Batman & Robin were tougher and better detectives in the 1949 serial but I still love the 1943 serial more. Like I said when I was a kid I only had tape one to the 1943 serial and it made me crazy wanting to see how Batman survived at the end of Chapter 7. I had a idea of what it was an when i finally saw it I was proven right but none the less it was amazing to get to see it all after so many years. I remember I went crazy when I found out they were out on DVD back in 2005 and as soon as I found them I got home an watched them all in order. Great memories

 

[Jeremy Dylan]

I think there's plenty to love about these serials, and something wonderfully grounded about their approach to the character. This version of Batman is essentially a private eye in tights, a cowl and a cape who goes around beating up gangsters. A stock Dick Tracy style serial detective. Which shows how little of the character is really tied up in the technology and the periphery we've grown to associate him with. There's also an utter lack of pretension to both enterprises.
Most of all, it's refreshing to see Batman in his proper time period. At heart, the character is a product of the cinema and pulp literature of the late 30s and 40s that's where he probably belongs.

 

[blackkeno]

I bought the dvds a couple years ago. I like them both, but especially the '49 one with the Wizard. They are both very interesting period pieces. I was pleasantly surprized by how well thought out the plots were. It was particularly interesting to see Robin, but without the classic Batman villains.