Batman (1966) Episode 119

 

Episodes 119

The Entrancing Dr Cassandra

Plot:Cassandra has a pill which can turn criminals invisible, and breaks six arch criminals out of the Goham Penn to commit crimes.

Guest Stars:Ida Lupino as Cassandra Spellcraft & Howard Duff as Cabala

Trivia:The six arch criminals are not played by the usual actors but by there stunt doubles. As a result we only we see Joker, Riddler, Egg Head, Penguin, King Tut and Catwoman from the back. Obviously stand in’s with dubbed audio. Why? I don’t know. Nor do I know why Catwoman was modeled after Julie Newmar despite Eatha Kitt playing her this season. Even worst is having King Tut appear which akes no sense since we declared cured for good. Actually we do get a quick look a their faces and can recognize it is not the real actors. They probably figured it was safe on the little TV’s of 1969. To bad we can see these episode in crystal clear wide screen.

Niitpick:Ok I never forgot the gimmick here where a ray gun tuned Batman and Robin into two dimensional cardboard cutouts, That the villains slide under the Commissioner's door!! It’s so silly how could you forget it? And how Gordon and O’Hara haven’t figured Alfred is the “voice” on the red phone by now is beyond me. And why even now Batgirl can’t be privy to the Duo’s identities is also beyond me. By the way they try to explain how the pill works, since it makes no sense, and even admit it doesn't reallt make people "inviisble" but the explanation is still lame.

Bat Silliness:Finally we get Batgirl in the Bat Cave! It took some time but I am starting to get used to her now that the writers aren’t trying to force into the star every episode. To bad this is the second to last episode to ever be made :(

Bat Gadget:Thank goodness Batman has a 3 dimensional bat restorer in the Bat Cave! He also has a Arch Criminal Bat Locator in the Bat computer, which seems like something he could have used before.

Bat Trap:As I mentioned an Alvino Ray Gun is used to reduce Batman, and Robin and Batgirl to two dimensional cardboard cut out’s.

Final Thoughts:A bank is robbed by two invisible crooks, and Gordon and O’Hara are stopped by them from calling Batman. They warn the Dynamic Duo there is no they can be stopped. Then Batman checks out a book in the library (yep yet another library scene, How did this show ever function for two whole seasons with no library scenes?) on occult sciences. The real reason for the scene of course is so Barbara can be aware of the plot. The trio set out to stop our villains from robbing a jewelry store, but are stopped by the alvino gun which renders them 2 dimensional. The heroes are delivered to police hq where they call Alfred to see if he can help. It’s Alfred so of course he helps them. Cassandra has let out six escaped prisoners with plans to give them the pills to turn invisible, and commit a rash of robberies. When the trio appear the criminal take the pills and turn invisible. Batman counters his turning off the lights. And we get a fantastic final fight in the dark, which makes tons of sense.

Grade:A-, This could have been a great episode if not for one thing, the budget limits. I mean, a fight in the dark? But for a penultimate episode, not to mention a season 3 one, it’s a cut above the rest.

Our final episode is tomorrow. Is it any good? Well let me put it this way. This episode should have the final one, it would have been a nice sendoff with our final look at the main villains. Instead we get….well, you’ll see.