Originally planned as the pilot film for the “Batman” TV series, the movie was instead produced between the show’s first and second seasons. The producers took advantage of the larger budget to have a number of new Bat-gadgets constructed, such as the Bat-Boat. Also it helped to promote the series overseas.
The reason why Lee Meriwether took over from Julie Newmar as Catwoman for the movie is a little bit of a mystery. Well I say that as for many years I thought it was because Julie had other film commitments however, many have e-mailed me over the years and told me it was reported that she was suffering from a severe back injury at the time.
Sterling Holloway is listed in the credit list as Col. Terry, all his scenes were, in fact, cut from the film as released. (Scroll down for the full cast/credits list).
The original trailer includes specially-shot footage of the four super villains outlining their plans for the Dynamic Duo. Still frames from these sequences are visible when Batman and Commissioner Gordon watch a closed-circuit TV update on villains at large. The trailer also includes specially-shot footage of Batman and Robin addressing the audience about their first motion picture.
Commodore Schmidlapp was originally called Commodore Redhead.
Originally it was planned for a Penguin exploding umbrella to be used instead of a exploding octopus.
Hecate is the name of Catwoman’s cat.
Sourced from an 2015 post on the 1966 Batman Message Board; Adam West originally wanted $150,000 to appear in the movie (see below for actual finalised salaries). Adam settled on $100,000 providing he was given a lead role worth $125,000 on a non-Batman movie the following year, after the second season of Batman ended. This piece of history was obtained through a message board user named Bob Formanek posting a screenshot/scan of an Fox internal communication from 3rd March 1966. Click here to open a link to view the memo (will open in a new tab).
Gadgets
Here is a list of gadgets used in the movie.
- Instant costume change lever
- Batdrift angle
- Automatic bathold
- Bat-Copter Bat-Camera
- Shark-repellent batspray
- Batradio
- Magnifying bat-lens
- Film development tank
- Navigational aid computer
- Utility belt transmitter
- Batlift (up the the batpoles)
- Lunar Screen
- Anticrime file
- Polarized bat-filter
- Blinding bat-pellets
- Eye retina pattern bat-file
- Drinking water dispenser
- Anti-Penguin-Gas tablets
- Bat-charge weapon
- Super-Molecular Dust Seperator
Who got paid what
Here is a list of the salaries paid to the credited cast and crew. (Sourced from “The Batbook: Revised Edition” written by Joel Eisner)
- Adam West (Batman) -$100,000
- Burt Ward (Robin) – $35,000
- Alan Napier (Alfred) – $3,750
- Neil Hamilton (Commissioner Gordon) – $4,400
- Stafford Repp (Chief O’Hara) – $3,300
- Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet) – $1,250
- Cesar Romero (Joker) – $16,000
- Burgess Meredith (Penguin) – $35,000
- Frank Gorshin (Riddler) – $12,000
- Lee Meriwether (Catwoman) – $10,000
- Gil Perkins (Bluebeard) – $4,000
- Dick Crockett (Morgan) – $2,400
- George Sawaya (Quetch) – $2,000
- Milton Frome (Vice Admiral Fangschliester) – $500
- Reginald Denny (Commodore Schmidlapp) – $1,500
- The voice of United States President – $250
- The Security Council Delegates – $250
- Leslie H. Martinson (Director) – $23,250
- Lorenzo Semple Jr. (Writer) – $50,00
Cast Credited
Adam West
Bruce Wayne/Batman
Burt Ward
Dick Grayson (Robin)
Lee Meriwether
The Catwoman/Comrade
Cesar Romero
The Joker
Burgess Meredith
The Penguin
Frank Gorshin
The Riddler
Alan Napier
Alfred Pennyworth
Neil Hamilton
Commissioner Gordon
Stafford Repp
Chief O’Hara
Madge Blake
Aunt Harriet Cooper
Reginald Denny
Commodore Schmidlapp
Milton Frome
Vice-Adm. Fangschleister
Gil Perkins
Mr. Bluebeard
Dick Crockett
Morgan
George Sawaya
Quetch
Cast Un-Credited
Sterling Holloway
Col. Terry
Del Moore
American Delagate
Wolfe Barzell
Israeli Delegate
Albert Carrier
French Delegate
George Cisar
Man in Window
Maurice Dallimore
United Kingdom Delegate
William Dozier
Narrator (voice)
Gregory Gaye
Soviet Delegate
Jack LaLanne
Himself
Harry Lauter
Mr. Merrick, Times Reporter
George J. Lewis
Spanish Delegate
Charlie Picerni
Guinea Pig #5
Teru Shimada
Japanese Delegate
Fred Stromsoe
Henchman
William Tannen
American Delegate
Ivan Triesault
German Delegate
Van Williams
Voice of the President
Producers
William Dozier
Producer
Charles B. Fitzsimons
Associate Producer
Original Music by:
Neal Hefti (“Batman” theme”)
Nelson Riddle
