User Reviews

"The Joker's Epitaph" begins in ominous fashion, Bruce Wayne being forced to pull the lever that will squash Robin into the shape of a flat comic book. Fortunately, Alfred is just outside disguised as Batman, overcoming his vertigo long enough to make a Batclimb to the spot where Robin's ready to bite the dust. A pellet of Batgas is enough for The Joker (Cesar Romero) and his cohorts to make their escape, fortuitously with the document signed by Bruce Wayne appointing him vice chairman of the board of the Gotham National Bank. Legally bound by the document, there's nothing that can undo what has been done, but it's enough for Commissioner Gordon to send Chief O'Hara out to arrest an obviously insane Bruce Wayne and take him away in a strait-jacket! The Joker is already thinking ahead in devising a plan to blackmail Bruce Wayne, using a recording of his confession of embezzlement to force him to wed the beautiful Josie Miller (Phyllis Douglas), who confesses that she'll always be faithful: "in my fashion!" Finding the right circuit to reprogram robot teller Mr. Glee (Lawrence Montaigne), Batman sets the wheels in motion for the bank just as the Chief arrives with trusty strait-jacket, though Alfred and Robin follow closely in the Batmobile to help Bruce Wayne back into cape and cowl, racing to the Gotham National Bank to see what happens. The Joker is none too pleased to have Commissioner Gordon dismiss him as vice chairman of the board, but Josie insists they still have Bruce Wayne on the hook. Just then, Mr. Glee shows up to embrace wife Josie, after which Joker's robot tellers begin holding up customers. Only when he orders all three robots to disregard previous instructions does he entrap himself, the inevitable Batfight taking place right there in the bank. The final scene features Oscar Beregi as Teutonic quack Dr. Floyd, who amends his earlier diagnosis of Bruce Wayne's complete insanity, announcing his full recovery, but when he laments that he couldn't examine Batman as well, Wayne suggests that his own brain patterns would not be dissimilar. This is more than an exasperated Chief O'Hara can take: "mother o' mercy, get the smellin' salts, Mr. Wayne is havin' a relapse!" This possible ad lib is enough for even the stone faced Neil Hamilton to burst out laughing! Even at this late stage in the series good writing was still in evidence, enabling Cesar Romero to score another triumph for W.C. Whiteface. Phyllis Douglas is best remembered for two episodes of STAR TREK, "The Galileo Seven" and "The Way to Eden," while Lawrence Montaigne would play an equally stone faced Vulcan in second season opener "Amok Time" (he'd already portrayed a Romulan in "Balance of Terror").

The high campiness continues. 10 Stars.

Joker (Caesar Romero at his very best) is now the vice president of the Gotham National Bank, thanks to some fancy, super villainous footwork. The game plan is to conveniently frame honorable Bruce Wayne, making him look like an embezzler? More over, word starts getting around (right up to Commission Gordon) that the debonaire millionaire is insane and should be fitted for a straight jacket ASAP. Creative writing 101, thanks to series writer Lorenzo Semple.

I agree with the last reviewer. This episode is one of the most original and filled with some terrific supporting actors. Everything clicks.

Bad guy favorite Oscar Beregi, Jr., plays Doctor Floyd, the eccentric psychiatrist, called to check out bananas Bruce Wayne -- and give his expert diagnosis? Look for Lawrence Montaigne (as Mr. Glee), the robot bank teller, programmed by the Joker. Montaigne was the perfect stone face, who appeared in many cop shows, in real life, a master of many languages and good friends with Steve McQueen.

Of honorable mention, pretty Phyllis Douglas returns as Josie and J. Edward McKinley as Mr. F Flamm, with one of the most "creative" character names. McKinley was a staple in sitcoms, generally playing bankers and businessmen.

Trivia note; watch for the news stand scene and the BOGUS detective comic books, featuring Arnold Nooper? This was all prop material, also used in Herb's store on DOBIE GILLIS a few years earlier. The eternal question; whatever happened to this stuff? Collectors items to be sure, and worth a small fortune.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 48 color remastered dvd box set. 4 dvds Released 2005. The purple cover featuring Batman and classic bad guys is the best.

The Joker manages to introduce a robot almost human as a teller of the National Bank of Gotham City and uses it to distribute counterfeit bills. To find out, Bruce Wayne approaches his hiding place and asks him to provide him with a number of those bills to hide a supposed lack in the Wayne Foundation, in exchange he offers him the appointment as Vice President of the National Bank, but at the time of obtaining evidence in his against the villain he manages to escape with the appointment and settles in his position. Now Batman must find a way to prove his guilt by using his own robots against him. A funny, intelligent episode, with excellent performances by Cersar Romero and his accomplice Phyllis Douglas, lots of action and a solid script.