The Riddler's False Notion

Charles Rondeau directed this episode with his usual campy flair, a long time resident of Warner Brothers tv, behind such classics as 77 SUNSET STRIP.

The Riddler (Frank Gorshin) continues his wild tricks, now settling in Hollywood with the intention of filming a silent movie with Batman and Robin, especially for a classic film collector. The legendary silent screen star Francis X. Bushman (in one of his last roles) plays Mr. Van Jones, the hearty collector, who also has a vault of rare films worth a fortune --which the Riddler desires.

There's a fun scene as wise, old Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton) gets a personal tour of the Bat Cave and tries out a new Bat potion on the Riddler's moll (Pauline), played by beautiful Sherry Jackson (from the DANNY THOMAS SHOW). This must have been a sentimental episode; both Hamilton and Bushman were old movie stars, and surely knew each other.

Best scene has the Riddler taunting Robin, making him walk on a building ledge, all while eccentric director von Blofeld films everything. There's more gags and flying pies??

Question: Why does a cowboy wear a belt? To HOLD UP his pants! And the robbery begins, old west style, with the Riddler and his mob dressing up as desperadoes

Stay Tuned! SEASON 1 EPISODE 32 dvd box set.

"The Riddler's False Notion" begins with Batman coming to the rescue of Robin, about to be sawed in half, only to learn it's a dummy, the real Robin stashed away elsewhere. He does manage to capture Pauline (Sherry Jackson), and interrogates her in the Batcave, affording Commissioner Gordon his first ever visit to the 'magnificent' place. The Riddler (Frank Gorshin) continues to leave conundrums to reveal his plot piece by piece, Batman's deduction that he wants to rob a train inexact. In fact, by completing his silent film for collector Van Jones (Francis X. Bushman), the Prince of Puzzlers merely wants to steal his collection of rare titles and hold them for a handsome ransom. Former silent screen star Bushman, a career dating all the way back to 1911, completed only one further role before his death at age 83 only four months after this broadcast. World famous impressionist Frank Gorshin truly has a field day with his many guises in this one, making it rather a shame that his next appearance in the feature film would be followed by only one solitary return for the third season (with four two part episodes this first season, he topped all other villains).

This story has a very original and entertaining first part and a slower and poorer second. It begins with a parody of the silent films of the 30s performed by The Riddler and his accomplices in a movie theater that culminates in the theft of the proceeds. From then on, Batman is led with puzzles through different locations while The Riddler films him with hidden cameras. His intention is to film a silent Batman and Robin movie and offer it to a millionaire collector to gain his trust and then seize his valuable film library. A highly original script with some hilarious scenes that pay homage to the famous movies from the time of Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy or The Three Stooges.

The Riddler plans to split Robin into two. He leaves some devious clues for Batman to follow.

When Batman arrives to save Robin, he finds the Boy Wonder is just a dummy. Batman needs to find Robin's location.

He captures Pauline but she refuses to squeal. So he takes her to the Batcave to make her talk. Commissioner Gordon comes along in case Batman goes too far.

Meanwhile the Prince if Puzzlers is planning to make his silent masterpiece, for film collector Van Jones. It is just another scam for the Riddler to come into some money.

The riddles were bats. The story is campy as hell. Gorshin is a marvel in this story.