Having foiled an attempt by The Wizard to collect extortion money through the use of radioactive banknotes that have the surprise effect of burning down the warehouse drop point, Batman (Robert Lowery) and Robin (Johnny Duncan) focus next on thwarting the super-villain's bid to grab a shipment of synthetic diamonds that would enable him to "demoralize all traffic" via the remote control device stolen from Professor Hamill (William Fawcett). "The Wizard Strikes Back," ninth chapter of Columbia Picture's 15-part Batman and Robin (1949) serial, is largely a family affair, with photojournalist Vicki Vale (Jane Adams) hoping against hope that her ne'er-do-well brother Jimmy (George Offerman, Jr.), a low-ranking member of the Wizard's goon squad, has turned against his master to help the Dynamic Duo bring the evildoer to justice. A former Conover model and violin prodigy, Jane Adams had a short-lived Hollywood career. Signed by Universal, the native Texan was billed as "Poni" Adams in a pair of B-westerns but is best remembered by classic horror fans as the hunchbacked nurse in House of Dracula (1945). Universal also awarded Adams a prominent role opposite Rondo Hatton in The Brute Man (1946) before the studio, ready to divest itself of movie monsters, sold the film to the Poverty Row outfit Producer's Releasing Corporation. Prior to playing millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne's love interest in Batman and Robin, Adams turned up a small role as a nurse in the noir classic He Walked by Night.

By Richard Harland Smith