The third in our weekly looks into Batman tells the first story with Batman greatest of all foes, the clown prince of crime, the harlequin of hate, The Joker (Caesar Romero). Famous in this series for not shaving his trademark moustache, clearly visible beneath his make up.
The episode opens with another of Warden Crichton's revolutionary prison techniques, allowing the prisoners to play a friendly game of baseball with the Joker as pitcher, clearly having a good time, even Chief O'Hara seems to believe he may be ready to reform. Then the pitcher switches the ball for one he has hidden in his pads and when the batter hits the new ball it explodes into a cloud of smoke and when the smoke clears all that is left is a large spring with the pitcher's mound on top, with no sign of the Joker. That dastardly fiend has escaped using a giant spring he secretly crafted in the prison shop.
The episode opens with another of Warden Crichton's revolutionary prison techniques, allowing the prisoners to play a friendly game of baseball with the Joker as pitcher, clearly having a good time, even Chief O'Hara seems to believe he may be ready to reform. Then the pitcher switches the ball for one he has hidden in his pads and when the batter hits the new ball it explodes into a cloud of smoke and when the smoke clears all that is left is a large spring with the pitcher's mound on top, with no sign of the Joker. That dastardly fiend has escaped using a giant spring he secretly crafted in the prison shop.
As perplexed by the case as ever The Commissioner and Chief O'Hara know the one man they have to call. At Stately Wayne Manor Dick Grayson is struggling to learn Chopin on the piano, but Aunt Harriet keeps insisting, Alfred informs Bruce that the batphone has a call and he makes an excuse that he and Dick have to go catch a ballgame. Once the duo arrive at police headquarters they learn that under the Joker's spring escape they found a bust of the clown's face. This leads them to the conclusion that he will be attacking the museum's new comedy hall of fame for leaving him out. They rush to the museum.
Once there, after a policeman moves a sign saying they can't park by the museum, they investigate to find a statue of the Joker in the museum; perhaps to try and avoid an attack although Batman feels sure he saw it move. They have the place put on lockdown and as they head out, they realise the Joker must already be inside. Sure enough he is bursting from behind his statue with his henchmen coming from several others. Batman and Robin get back into the museum just in time to catch Joker stealing the museum's collection of fabulous jewel collection a fight breaks out leading to Batman and Robin being captured, but with some bat gas from his utility belt they manage to break free, but the Joker escapes a new plan forming in his crazed criminal mind.
Joker decides to make a utility belt of his own to outwit Batman's once and for all, so that he can get away with all his crimes, he settles on a scheme to capture the S.S. Gotham which will soon be unveiled. While Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson look over a model of the same ship (of which Bruce in an investor) at police headquarters a clown doll is thrown through the window, no clue is evident and Bruce Wayne is allowed to keep the doll as a souvenir (surely it should be evidence, but whatever). Investigating the doll the dynamic duo again find no clue, but realise Joker must be planning a crime at a televised production of Pagliacci as the two try to stop him the Joker throws sneezing powder in their faces and the henchmen grab them as Joker heads to unmask them on live television.
COULD THIS MEAN CURTAINS??
WILL THE IDENTITIES OF OUR DYNAMIC DUO BE REVEALED TO THE WHOLE WORLD??
IS THIS THE END OF THEIR CAREER AS CRIMEFIGHTERS??
CAN THEY AVERT DISASTER??
ANSWERS... TOMORROW NIGHT! SAME BAT-TIME, SAME BAT-CHANNEL!
Once there, after a policeman moves a sign saying they can't park by the museum, they investigate to find a statue of the Joker in the museum; perhaps to try and avoid an attack although Batman feels sure he saw it move. They have the place put on lockdown and as they head out, they realise the Joker must already be inside. Sure enough he is bursting from behind his statue with his henchmen coming from several others. Batman and Robin get back into the museum just in time to catch Joker stealing the museum's collection of fabulous jewel collection a fight breaks out leading to Batman and Robin being captured, but with some bat gas from his utility belt they manage to break free, but the Joker escapes a new plan forming in his crazed criminal mind.
Joker decides to make a utility belt of his own to outwit Batman's once and for all, so that he can get away with all his crimes, he settles on a scheme to capture the S.S. Gotham which will soon be unveiled. While Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson look over a model of the same ship (of which Bruce in an investor) at police headquarters a clown doll is thrown through the window, no clue is evident and Bruce Wayne is allowed to keep the doll as a souvenir (surely it should be evidence, but whatever). Investigating the doll the dynamic duo again find no clue, but realise Joker must be planning a crime at a televised production of Pagliacci as the two try to stop him the Joker throws sneezing powder in their faces and the henchmen grab them as Joker heads to unmask them on live television.
COULD THIS MEAN CURTAINS??
WILL THE IDENTITIES OF OUR DYNAMIC DUO BE REVEALED TO THE WHOLE WORLD??
IS THIS THE END OF THEIR CAREER AS CRIMEFIGHTERS??
CAN THEY AVERT DISASTER??
ANSWERS... TOMORROW NIGHT! SAME BAT-TIME, SAME BAT-CHANNEL!
As the Joker moves in on our heroes Batman lets of a Bat Rocket activating the sprinkler system, the Joker sets off a smoke bomb and makes his escape again. Batman catches up to him, but Joker wraps him up in a stream of confetti and by the time Robin gets to him he's long gone. As the two ponder Joker's next move in the Batcave they see him hijack a TV Studio and he gives them a clue via his bad grammar, which Alfred helps them solve and they track him to a warehouse, there a fight breaks out and in the confusion Joker switches Batman's utility belt with a replica of his own belt.
In his hideout the Joker reveals his plot involves replacing the cork in the champagne bottle being used to christen the S.S. Gotham. Batman is going to christen the ship, but when he breaks the bottle knockout gas is released, fortunately the dynamic duo took universal antidote pills beforehand noticing the Cork wasn't coloured correctly from age and realising it must be the same as a cork in the replica belt Joker gave him (might have been smarter to leave that part out). The two fight the villain and he is captured once more. Back home Aunt Harriet instructs Dick to resume his studies of Chopin.
In his hideout the Joker reveals his plot involves replacing the cork in the champagne bottle being used to christen the S.S. Gotham. Batman is going to christen the ship, but when he breaks the bottle knockout gas is released, fortunately the dynamic duo took universal antidote pills beforehand noticing the Cork wasn't coloured correctly from age and realising it must be the same as a cork in the replica belt Joker gave him (might have been smarter to leave that part out). The two fight the villain and he is captured once more. Back home Aunt Harriet instructs Dick to resume his studies of Chopin.
Once again this show is highly entertaining, Caesar Romero is fantastic as the Joker, really bringing a whole lot of humour to the role, while filling it with as much menace as he could hope for in a show like this (not a lot). He's a great match for the stoic, straight laced Batman and Robin, even if he was stupid enough to give away his plan for no reason. Also I know the Joker's utility belt has appeared in a comic, though I don't know if it was before or after this episode.
Next week we shall be introduced to the most cold hearted villain of all (unless you count the other two guys who played him in the show) Mr. Freeze!
Next week we shall be introduced to the most cold hearted villain of all (unless you count the other two guys who played him in the show) Mr. Freeze!