BATMAN 67-The Sandman Cometh

 

BATMAN-THE SANDMAN COMETH

 

 

Robin’s buzzing in his ears leading into the theme song is hilarious and I find Burt is VERY, VERY good in this show and especially this episode. Instead of Batman, he does the usual countdown with his fingers.

 

The show improves by shifting around the expectations as Batman and Robin don’t get the call via the bat phone as Bruce has taken Dick and other boys on a camping excursion and Harriet is getting annoyed by the Bat Phone beeping.

 

Michael Rennie just adds class by just showing up, though I was expecting this to be a lame episode, it’s not. Julie is, again, totally special. Having a policewoman (Mooney) is interesting. I’m sure her name must be a play on someone’s name. She’s undercover but Cat Woman captures her and knocks her out with something (cat nip?). Cat Woman has two OTHER hench women.

 

J. Pauline Spaghetti is surely a play on JP Getty. Spring Byington would play Tony’s mom in I DREAM OF JEANNIE in MEET MY MASTER’S MOTHER. She was also Aunt Daisy Cooper in LARAMIE.

 

The famous Gypsy Rose Lee plays the newswoman that Catwoman is interviewed by on TV, Cat Woman posing as just a woman who supports Dr. Somnambula and his sleep help. He is, of course, Sandman and they are trying to lure Pauline into a trap. The episode starts off in the lair of the two villains, who plan to double cross each other. There’s not mystery here or no wonder who is doing what but that’s okay, for this is a comedy first and foremost.

 

BTW what is that nearly invisible string after Batman and Robin get out of the Batmobile? Is it pulling the car around?

 

As the duo climb the building it feels as if a cameo is about to come but then seems edited out!?

 

It’s been told that this was not supposed to have Cat Woman in it so maybe there was material removed that had to be?

 

As the duo enter the Morpheus Mattress Factory, a feather seems to fall from the ceiling? Robin’s mask in Pauline’s apartment bedroom looks….odd as if the line over the nose is crooked. Uhm, Burt’s “issue” is still very much in evidence.

 

Sandman’s henchmen Nap and Snooze are decidedly pale and creepy in black, though one of them thinks the Dynamic Duo are weirdos!

 

The Bat Fight, in, on, under, against and around a huge bed and mattresses is inspired, though, again, Robin is taken by two men and has to be kick-saved by Batman who swings over and kicks men away from him. Early on, a few pillows burst and feathers fly around the fight and fill the room.

 

Sandman says to Robin, “Okay, Wonder Boy or whatever they call you….”

 

I like that Robin is taken over by Sandman and throws the switch on the stitching machine which will stitch Batman. Sandman leaves with Robin in tow for Cat Woman.

 

Inspired episode and not at all bad. Actually, quite funny.