In my opinion, this episode of "Batman" is the very best of season three.
As entertaining as Cliff Robertson is, playing the villainous cowboy 'Shame', it is his henchman 'Fred' who steals the show!
Looking every bit like Pancho Villa, with the sombrero and long, thick moustache, when Fred speaks, his voice sounds just like an upper class British gentleman.
'Fred' is played with glee by the late, Chicago-born great Barry Dennen.
This episode was aired in early 1968, only a couple of years before he found lasting fame as 'Pontius Pilate' in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar", a role he would go on to play in the feature film of the production in 1973.
Sadly, Barry Dennen passed away in September of 2017. My wife and I had the honour of spending a wonderful afternoon with him in 2009 when we visited the United States. I got to know him through his webpage, exchanging emails with him until we were able to visit him in person.
Barry Dennen's performance in this episode is hilarious, and it makes for a wonderful experience.
Rest In Peace my friend!
