Attempting to block the elusive The Wizard's theft of a high explosive, Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (Johnny Duncan) tangle with the arch-villain's henchman at the start of "Robin Rescues Batman," fifth chapter of Columbia Pictures' 1949 Batman and Robin serial ... with the Caped Crusader nearly electrocuted in the encounter. Escaping death by a hair's breadth when a lead pipe cudgel short circuits the device that might have spelled Batman's doom, the Dynamic Duo gives chase through the streets of Gotham City, only to be misled by a decoy "robot car" that leads them in the wrong direction. Columbia's follow-up to its 1943 Batman serial cuts costs at every corner, to the point of denying Batman and Robin a proper Batmobile; to pursue the Wizard's thugs they have to hitch a ride with the Gotham City PD! Nonetheless, the serial continued to exert an influence on Batman creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Visiting Columbia during pre-production, Kane took note of the Vicky Vale character to be played by Jane Adams and incorporated the photo journalist into the 49th issue of the Batman comic, which hit newsstands six months ahead of the first chapter of Batman and Robin. Far from sidelining the character (as had Batman with Linda Page, Bruce Wayne's fiancée), "Robin Rescues Batman" puts Vicky in the center of the action, when she discovers her own brother is a member of the Wizard's gang!

By Richard Harland Smith