Holy Motion Picture, Batman! ("Batman", 1966) Quiz

Answer: They open a panel in the wall using a button hidden in the bust of Shakespeare.

One of the iconic images of the movie and television show is Bruce (usually) or sometimes Dick touching the button hidden in the bust of Shakespeare and the wall sliding open to reveal the poles to the Batcave - with poles conveniently labeled Bruce and Dick. There was an elevator that Alfred could use when he went to the Batcave, but I don't think Batman or Robin used it. One unusual feature of the film was that Batman was shown using a compressed air lift to travel back up the Batpole.

"Batman" appeared on ABC-TV for three seasons between 1966 and 1968 for a total of 120 episodes. (The first season was a mid-season replacement for the 1965-1966 season.) While the plan was initially to have the movie in theaters before the show began, it was ultimately changed to after the first season. The movie was used, however, to promote the show to other countries. There were plans to make a second Batman movie after the second season, but declining ratings later in the second season stopped that.

Answer: Lee Meriwether

Lee Meriwether also appeared in some Season 2 episodes, but not as Catwoman. Jill St. John never played Catwoman, but appeared in the first two episodes of the series as the Riddler's henchwoman, Molly, who died when she fell into the atomic pile generator of the Batcave.

Answer: Yvonne Craig

Yvonne Craig played the dual role of Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in the third and final season of the show. Madge Blake, who played Aunt Harriet Cooper, did not have any lines in the movie, but appeared briefly working in the garden of stately Wayne Manor. Stafford Repp played the role of Chief O'Hara. Neil Hamilton played the role of Commissioner Gordon.

Answer: The Bat Rocket

The Bat Cycle made true appearances in a few episodes of the television show. The Bat Copter and Bat Boat only appeared via stock footage long shots. I found it interesting that apparently there was a crew at Gotham City airport assigned to maintain the Bat Copter.

Answer: Shark

"Hand me down the Shark Repellent Bat Spray," he calls to Robin. As I re-watched the movie to write this quiz, I couldn't help but notice how the "shark" was obviously a rubber dummy. In a storage area of their vehicle, they have a whole shelf of oceanic repellent "Bat Sprays", including ones for barracudas, whales, and manta rays.

Later in the movie, Batman and Robin find the cage where the shark, who had been stuffed with dynamite, was held. "What cruelty," Robin says. Batman replies, "Nothing's sacred to those devils!"

Answer: Moscow Bugle

She mentions the name of a paper when she introduces herself at the press conference. Her alias is Comrade Kitanya Irenya Tatanya Karenska Alisoff or Miss Kitka for short. She draws outraged responses from Commissioner Gordon and Chief O'Hara, when she talks about Batman as a "masked Cossack" and asks Batman and Robin, "If you please to take off the mask to take the better picture."

Answer: Two Face as played by Clint Eastwood

The villains have a logo in their lair of an octopus holding the globe in its tentacles. The caption reads, "Today Gotham city. Tomorrow the World. United Underground." Later Batman deduces that if all four villains are working together "their minimum objective must be - the entire world!"

The Catwoman, the Riddler, the Joker, and the Penguin were generally seen as the most popular villains by the producers. They would always have a Penguin script at the ready for when Burgess Meredith had time in his schedule.

While the producers considered the idea of having Clint Eastwood appear as Two Face in an episode, the character was ultimately though too scary for the young children who were some of the show's biggest fans.

Answer: United World Organization

The headquarters of the United World Organization is, according to Catwoman, located along Gotham East River. At one point, Batman and Robin have to run through the streets of Gotham to the United World headquarters.

I found it interesting that when the Arch Villains are attacking the members of the security council later, the members continue to loudly talk and argue with each other as opposed to, say, trying to run away.

Answer: Commodore Schmidlapp

Commodore Schmidlapp is played by Reginald Denny, in his final role. The Commodore is in charge of Big Ben Distilleries. At one point we see The Joker pretend to be a ship's steward and bring tea to the Commodore's room. At the same time, we also clearly see Cesar Romero's mustache underneath his white pancake makeup.

Answer: A sea animal assists Batman and Robin.

"The Fiends! It got us by the metallic objects in our utility belts," Batman says once they are stuck. He uses his bat transmitter to destroy the first two torpedoes with waves of super energy. But, then, "Confound it! The batteries are dead."

Off screen, a porpoise throws itself in the path of third torpedo before it can strike the buoy. "Gosh, Batman," Robin says, "the nobility of that almost human porpoise." "True, Robin," Batman replies, "It was noble of that animal to hurl himself in to the path of that final torpedo. He gave his life to ours."

Answer: He thinks they may have harmed the photographer.

By this point in the movie, Bruce seems to be falling in love with Miss Kitka. He seems quite upset at the climax, when he discovers that Miss Kitka is really the Catwoman.

Answer: Total Dehydrator

The three incorrect answers are other devices that appear in episodes of the television show. The Total Dehydrator draws all of the water out a human body, leaving a small pile of dust behind. Strangely, though, the amount of water drawn into the Total Dehydrator and the amount of dust don't seem to match the amount of material that would be in a human being. Then again, I'm probably analyzing this too much.

During the episode, the Penguin tests the device by using it on five of his henchmen. When he sees it works, he cries, "Delightful!" "Dehydrating!" responds the Riddler. The Penguin tricks Batman and Robin into taking him to the Batcave. Once there, he rehydrates the dust residue of the henchmen. Unfortunately, he uses heavy water from the atomic pile, which makes their bodies highly unstable and they explode at the slightest touch.

Answer: A dolphin swimming in the water

Batman also has to avoid a pair of people in a rowboat and a Salvation Army type band that is playing "Bringing in the Sheaves". In frustration, he exclaims, "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!" Finally, he is able to throw it into the water in an area where no one is in danger and protect himself from the blast by hiding behind some metal rods.

Answer: A gas umbrella

Penguin launches his gas umbrella to knock out the guards while the other villains sneak in through an unused elevator shaft. When the guards fall asleep from the gas, two guards standing on opposite sides of a hallway fall and lean against each other while asleep. Penguin pushes them apart to walk through the hallway and then they fall against each other again.

Answer: They are partially successful. They rescue the Security Council, but the members seem different somewhow.

Batman and Robin are able to capture the Arch Villain's submarine and defeat them in a fight. When they are on the submarine, Commodore Schmidlapp accidentally knocks over the test tubes that hold the dehydrated bodies of the Security Council members.

He sneezes and the various powders are mixed. Batman works to separate the powders. When the bodies are re-hydrated, the Security Council members reappear, but now each delegate speaks the language and uses the stereotypical gestures of one of the other delegates. Deciding that discretion is sometimes the better part of valor, Batman and Robin slip out quietly through the window of the chamber and the movie ends.