8mm Forum: Batman 1943 serial

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Topic: Batman 1943 serial

Joe McAllister
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 179
From: London England
Registered: May 2007

posted August 05, 2010 01:18 PM

I know there was a multipart cutdown of this serial issued, notable for its incorrect packaging colouring, but was it ever released complete?
The second serial Batman and Robin was issued complete by Columbia.

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Always interested in privately produced amateur and home movies.

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted August 05, 2010 06:40 PM

Joe...Yes it was issued complete. I have all 15 chapters but not the original packaging. [Frown]

It is on 4 1200' reels and I have been breaking it down into 400'ers and making my own boxes.

I have only watched the first four chapters and some prints are darker than others, but the overall quality is very good.

It's better taken in small doses!

Bill [Smile]

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 05, 2010 11:30 PM

The Columbia silent version:

Interesting costume you got there, Batman!

.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Joe McAllister
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 179
From: London England
Registered: May 2007

posted August 06, 2010 05:55 AM

Thanks for the info guys!
Looks like I have another item for my wish list.
Saw this when it was re-issued in the '60's and shown all at once in the cinemas. Great to watch in 35mm and a really big screen but I was slightly disappointed not to see the second serial which featured the Wizard as the villain.
By the way Bill is the 8mm version unexpurgated? Apparently the VHS release was censored for some disparaging remarks about the Japanese, which is restored to the DVD release I believe.

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Always interested in privately produced amateur and home movies.

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 06, 2010 07:53 AM

I was surprised a couple of years ago to find that yes, the first Batman serial had been release complete by Columbia...and found three or four chapters. Not as good a quality as the second Batman and Robin serial---which is superb. And yes...some of the chaptes are printed a tad dark...which I hate. As far as I could discern, there was no editing on these releases.

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted August 06, 2010 07:37 PM

Joe...Like Gary said I don't think they are edited but I can't say for sure because I am not that familiar with this serial. I have read that they were givin the PC treatment on video.

Doug...Nice scans...I have parts 1-4 and "Last Chance" on 8mm/silent with the original boxes and liked it and then ran across the whole thing so I picked it up. Do you have the original boxes for the 400' sound versions to scan?

Bill [Smile]

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 07, 2010 12:40 PM

Bill,

Unfortunately I don't have any of the sound versions.
When I first started collecting, a friend had the 1st part of the Columbia silent six. I thought it was so much fun that when my local camera store was selling their Standard 8mm films at a bargain price i picked up all 6 plus the 50 footer Batman's Last Chance.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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