The 1966 Batman movie is a pretty good summary of the Adam West style, if you want to experience it in 90 minutes.
There was an ongoing friendly competition between the writing team to make things as silly as possible, and Adam West to play the lead part as serious as possible.
It’s funny on the surface, and then hilarious once you realize that there’s a game of “putting words in your mouth” being played.
It reminds me of playful writing between Michael Che and Colin Jost - but much more censored as it was 60s prime time TV.
The result is that Adam West has brought an exceptional heroic gravitas… to some of the stupidest lines ever said by a Batman.
I think we can all agree that Adam West won, long term, as many of his performance styles were picked up by Conroy and others for use with more serious Batmen.
Though I’ll admit that Batman: The Brave and the Bold owes a lot to Adam West’s writers.
Oh, and watch for the Animated Series episode where Bruce has a mentor. That mentor is a voice acting cameo by Adam West, if I recall correctly.
Talking about Kevin Conroys masterful delivery reminded me of a very different, but equally amazing line delivery by Adam West.
“Those patriotic porpoises sacrificed their lives to save me.”
Also, after answering a phone just introduced as being only available to the president, with a voice full of shock and awe:
“Robin… It’s the President”.
I never saw the live-action TV series with Adam West.
I watched more of the animated one with Kevin Conroy.
The 1966 Batman movie is a pretty good summary of the Adam West style, if you want to experience it in 90 minutes.
There was an ongoing friendly competition between the writing team to make things as silly as possible, and Adam West to play the lead part as serious as possible.
It’s funny on the surface, and then hilarious once you realize that there’s a game of “putting words in your mouth” being played.
It reminds me of playful writing between Michael Che and Colin Jost - but much more censored as it was 60s prime time TV.
The result is that Adam West has brought an exceptional heroic gravitas… to some of the stupidest lines ever said by a Batman.
I think we can all agree that Adam West won, long term, as many of his performance styles were picked up by Conroy and others for use with more serious Batmen.
Though I’ll admit that Batman: The Brave and the Bold owes a lot to Adam West’s writers.
Oh, and watch for the Animated Series episode where Bruce has a mentor. That mentor is a voice acting cameo by Adam West, if I recall correctly.