Batgirl’s (Yvonne Craig) horrible theme song is heard again as Louie the Lilac (Milton Berle) comes into Gotham City to mess around with the Flower Children movement, he plans to use his stupefying plant spray to bring them all under his power, and be able to control world events! Written by Dwight Taylor this episode…
Tag: ransom
Batman (1967) – Batman’s Anniversary, and A Riddling Controversy
The Riddler is back, but with Frank Gorshin still in contract negotiations, they recast him… with John Astin. And as much as I love Astin and his style, his look and his delivery, he simply can’t compare to Gorshin’s manic delivery. I’m all for Astin making a guest appearance in the series, but maybe they…
Batman (1966) – The Puzzles Are Coming, and The Duo Is Slumming
With Frank Gorshin held up in contract negotiations over his performance of The Riddler, the series had to create a new villain for this two-part story. Enter The Puzzler. Played by Maurice Evans, the character has a knack for aviation and Shakespeare (and puzzles) and he seems to be in Gotham City to stir up…
Batman (1966) – The Joker Trumps an Ace, and Batman Sets the Pace
The Joker (Cesar Romero) in The Joker Trumps an Ace. Written by Francis M. Cockrell and Marian B. Cockrell this episode was first broadcast on 6 April, 1966. The Joker is on a strange crime wave, and he’s doing a lot of it with mirrors, enough so to even baffle Batman (Adam West) and Robin…
Batman (1966) – Zelda the Great, and A Death Worse Than Fate
Zelda the Great is the first episode of the Batman series to introduce a female villain, but Catwoman does get name-checked here. Written by Lorenzo Semple Jr, and featuring William Dozier’s fantastic narration, this episode first debuted on 9 February, 1966. While Bruce Wayne (Adam West) and his young ward, Dick Grayson (Burt Ward) are…
Batman (1966) – Instant Freeze, and Rats Like Cheese
Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) have their work cut out for them when Dr. Shivel (George Sanders) aka Mr. Freeze returns to Gotham in Instant Freeze. Written by Max Hodge, this episode first debuted on 2 February, 1966. Batman is a little bothered by Freeze’s return to Gotham, not only because of the…
Batman (1966) – Fine Feathered Finks, and The Penguin’s a Jinx
It’s that bat-time, and I’ve got that bat-channel, so it’s time to dig into another pair of episodes of the classic Batman series from 1966. My love for the first two episodes is apparently not a one-off, because I absolutely enjoyed episodes three and four, which combine to form one full story featuring that cagey…
Mission: Impossible (1972) – Ultimatum, and Kidnap
Murray Hamilton (the beaches will be open!) guest stars in Ultimatum. Written by Harold Livington from a story by Shirl Hendryx and Livingston, the episode all guests Donnelly Rhodes! First airing on 18 November, 1972, the episode sees the IMF on familiar ground. Phelps (Peter Graves) and his team are after a nuclear physicist, Cooper…
Apostle (2018) – Gareth Evans
There’s a lot to unpack in Gareth Evans’ film, Apostle, there are concepts of religious tenets, blood, sacrifice, family, worship, deification, and faith, all of it wrapped up in a character driven tale starring Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen. If you try to take it as the straightforward tale that the film’s plotline offers, you’re…
Family Plot (1976) – Alfred Hitchcock
Bruce Dern, Karen Black, William Devane, Ed Lauter and Barbara Harris star in Alfred Hitchcock’s Family Plot. And while not one of the director’s best, there are some fun moments and ideas in the film. The story follows two separate couples, both who work in shades of grey. Bruce Dern is George a taxi driver…
The Mind Reels 