this was a great video.enjoyed it very much.seems if they left out the campy stuff,lyle waggner would of been the batman.this seemed to be a straight forward video[as] the green hornet was.thankx for sharing.
Waggoner gives a really great, polished line delivery that I think I might actually prefer to West's screen test footage with the same lines--though I definitely prefer West's comic style throughout the series. Deyell knocks the combat scene out of the park, and in the fight, makes a great Boy Wonder. I far prefer Ward's line delivery, though, and West and Ward definitely had a more palpable sort of chemistry. Deyell would have made Ward a much better stunt double than he had on the series!
I'm surprised West and Ward got the roles...Waggoner and Deyell seem so much more professional, and Waggoner if I'm not mistaken was a well known actor at this point.
its so awesome that in the history of batman and robin on film that lyle and peter played batman & robin its fascinating that this would have been a more serious darker toned version that the campy version even the batcave looks scarier!!
Lyle was a stud. Plus he clearly had the comic chops (ever see a lil show called Carl Burnette?). Still, West had the best possible voice for the role.
Much like Gilligan's Island, it loses a lot without the music. No doubt it would have been a very different show with these two, but I can't say one is better then other, obviously. I am surprised that the costume failed to show off Lyle's musculature, looks more like a sweater.
you should all remember that these are test reels. the sound recording was not equalized or remastered in the studo, so everything sounds flat and unlively. not to mention the camera work and editing are low budget too. these were just done to give the producers an idea of how the actors looked more than anything else. and on that criteria, i think it looked pretty good. not as campy as what the actual series was.
The stagnant acting reminds me more of the serials from the 1940s when they were trying to be a tad bit more serious. The hammy acting of West and Ward were flipping perfect.
Interesting to see just how different the show would have been had Aunt Harriet became Mrs. Harriet the housekeeper, Batman didn't have that yellow background to the bat symbol on his chest and, most importantly, they didn't treat the whole situation like a joke. (For example, metioning Bruce Wayne's parents being murdered, even though his father was a doctor, not a lawyer.)
I watched both (Adam's & Burt's as well). Even being so used to West & Ward, it's still a close call, imo. The deciding factor for me was W&W had deeper voices---not by much, though. Also, Waggoner didn't seem to have the aptitude to pull off CAMP the way West (and Ward) did.
varanid8 is so right about the fight. It's choreographed, which takes more effort than the punch paste and edit fight scenes they create in today's films.
I say the network made the right going with West and Ward, they may have hammed it up as the Dynamic Duo but they had at least had energy and chemistry. Lyle Waggoner looks the part but is a bit bland and Peter Deyell is too wooden for Robin.
Actually Mike Henry was offered the part of Batman first, for a movie version that was never made, because he was still under contract to the Tarzan people, so the Batman project became for a TV show.
Look up Mike Henry Tarzan on Youtube to see what he looked like.
I must say....Adam and Burt had the advantage with their voice and body language......Adam and burt complimented each other ...... righto' decision ABC
I really don't think it's possible for the actors to sound like they care any less about this screen test than they do here. I'm not a person who bores easily, but this bored me. A lot. I'm really glad that these guys didn't get the part, since they quite obviously didn't want it at all.
And what exactly goes on during these fishing trips?...horrible casting, people! Lyle Waggoner may be one of most handsome actors in the industry. Needless to say, he did not make a good Batman. Yeah, I think the casting of Adam West and Burt Ward was the right choice.
Hey Buddy here's a part of the Batman Pilot in the 60s with Lyle Waggoner of Carol Burnett Show as Batman/Buce Wayne!!! I always thought he was really HOT!!
I agree. Lyle Wagoneer was not cut out for Batman. Ironically he would go on to play Steve Trevor, Diana Prince's boyfriend in Wonder Woman. Of course he is more known for the Carol Burnett Show. But in superhero shows he's pretty bland. He was a supporting charcther on Wonder Woman, so it didn't matter as much.
Robin's / Peter Dyell's read was less manic ( ? ) & Lyle Waggoner was a believable Bruce Wayne / Batman without so much camp, at least here in this scene.
This really makes me mad. Why? Because this young actor (and Burt Ward as well) got to tussle with stunt guys for their screen test. Bruce Lee, on the other hand, was stuck with some ancient old guy when he was demonstrating his Wing Chun. Why didn't these producers (same for the Green Hornet) let Bruce cut loose with a couple of burly dudes like this kid got to? That would have been one heck of a screen test if they had...
@jrcarter9175: For YOU. I loved this serious version of Batman, and wished that it had become a TV show instead of the shitty program that we all got.
I think the reason the green Hornet didn't work out, it was way too serious. Batman was supposed to be fun. "Theater of the absurd " as Adam said. That is why it worked for as long as it did. I think what killed it was adding Batgirl. I suppose we could do a google about her persona, and why it was necessary for Barbra to become her alter ego. But in the storyline of the tv show, she was the Commissioners daughter and a Librarian.
You know, this MIGHT have worked if they'd tried Lyle with Burt. Didn't it ever occur to them to mix them up and see if maybe the respective actors worked better with others. Although, I did love Adam West in the role. But yeah, just sayin'.
While the show was campy the 1st 2 seasons also had a cool side to them. They had the best people @ that time wanting to be villians. The 3rd season, the quality went to hell. To hear the producers and cast tell it people just got tired of it and it was cancelled. They dont like to admit they started making horrible episodes. Kinda like how Gearge Lucas acts like all the S Wars films are the same but we are just jerks for saying theyre not.
The kid is terrible. He blinks too much and runs his words together. Burt Ward blows him away.
Waggoner did a decent job, but he seems uncomfortable with the dialogue. Listen to him say "You got it, Chum" and it's obvious that Waggoner is more comfortable with dramatic scripts and/or straight comedy a la The Carol Burnett Show.
I think that once the producers saw Adam West's version they knew exactly where they wanted the series to go. West and Ward then became the obvious choice.
Waggoner looked absolutely ridiculous once he put the mask on, and came off too carefree in his delivery. Deyell was a complete "gee whillikers" innocent in his performance, but man, he sure set up a great fight scene.
they should have tested the mythical steve reeves! he would have been 40 in 1966 just the right age to play a handsome millionaire and can you even begin to fathom seeing reeves body in the batman suit and those gorgeous piercing blue eyes under the cowl? wow! granted, reeves wouldn't have probably even wanted to play batman and don't know if he could do the campy aspects. but picturing musclebound drop dead handsome reeves with his twink boy wonder in all those homoerotic captured scenes!
by far ward and west deserved the historical accolades that we remember of batman. but i remeber the times and i think that waggoner's batman reflected the comic book more accurately than the camp of west's portrayal. i think the campiness was deliberate to take the minds of people off of vietnam, civil rights and the growing peace movement of the times. it presented pure escapism. a darker batman wouldnt have worked during the period. but hey! the 60s were some of the best years of my life!
PROS: Lyle looked just like the Silver Age Bruce Wayne/Batman. The kid playing Robin was more age appropriate and nearly the same size as the comic version. The Batcave looked more like a cave.
CONS: These guys were in dire need of an acting coach. The kid seriously needed to work on that voice. Would've been nice to have seen the finalized Bat-costume on Lyle without that ugly insignia.
To be honest I liked this version aswell.Much darker and sinister.Who knows if Fox went with these 2 and it was more darker and less camp.Lost in Space would have remained seroius aswell.Maybe more shows too as this set a trend in the 60s.
wow... i've never seen this ..this is great but I fully understand why West got the job. As campy as the show was it worked at the time and the acting of the other two is just awful.
Wow! This screen test makes Adam West and Burt Ward look like Marlon Brando and James Dean in comparison. It's no wonder they didn't go with these guys!
It's certainly obvious why they chose West and Gervis/Ward. Waggoner's line delivery was all over the place - emphasizing wrong words, skipping punctuation, going from low to high pitch all the time, etc. And Deyell sounds like his voice hasn't changed yet.
Both these screen tests are great for the Batcave scenes. Putting on the masks only when venturing out of the cave, and the random use of props from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (many of which were recycled from The Fly from 1958).
Now I understand that Peter Deyell was 16 at the time this was filmed and it was just a test screening but could he have at least tried to act...I mean I know why they went with Burt Ward cause even though he was 19 he had that youthful exuberance they wanted for the boy wonder this guy is just a dead fish and bland.....now if I were to choose between Waggoner and West it would've been a tough choice they were both great.
West auditioned in the same costume, maybe the very same, since it didn't seem to fit either one of them.
Carmine Infantino was just then revamping the Batman look, with the yellow oval around the bat, in the comic books, but he dropped Alfred and put in Aunt Harriet to make it seem less gay oriented as Dr Frederick Wertham complained about in his screed .
But because of the TV s show, Alfred was returned and the TV show had both him and the aunt.
i can see why they didn't cast this two, although i like the batman this robin sucks when he talks, im not saying that ward was a better actor but he was more natural and sounded better. but looking goofy still. i think that if this two would had been cast the serie would of be more serious and thats why they pick adam west, he was more naturally idiotic and every line he delivered was funny even when it wasn't meant to be.
Great clip; is this from a special edition DVD boxset? What a completely different show it would have been. It would've been great to see what would've turn out but I love the charm and silliness of the Adam West show.
I wonder if any other superhero has been depicted with such a various range as Batman has on the screen. You wouldn't believe, even in this clip, that this character is the same one to be depicted in the "Dark Knight" movie.
Wow I'm impressed,, although Burt ward had no acting experience prior, he's still a better actor,, but I'm very impressed by this kids stunt performance,, not to mention he's actualy around robins age in the comics which is 14, I feel bad 4 this kid, probly flippin burgers or paintin fuckin houses by now lol
Lyle may have made a good Batman, but West and Ward gave a better test. People seem to rate the series and West and Ward on the horrible last year, stupid motion pic and the sillier episodes from season 2. The 1st episodes looked better, had better humor. The show degraded much like the 1st Trek in appearance and writing and it seemed the performers and developed bad takes on their characters as they seemed to lose respect for their roles and just went silly with them.
The show would have been definably different if the producers would have went with Waggoner and Deyell. More dark and possibly not as funny as with West and Ward. (Gervis) very rare treat to see these vintage clips. Thank you for posting.
I like the bat-cowl on Waggoner, tho the retro bat symbol on his chest was too ornate as to be distracting. Enjoyed the alternate bat-cave set...much spookier than what they eventually used. And Robin was too monotone, tho the kid could fake-fight better than Dick-head Ward. Interesting...Thank you!
I didn't think Waggoner was too bad, he played him much more serious then West did, more true to the comics of that era. Deyell was terrible though, I mean when he says "To the Batcave" it's like he's saying "Hey, let's go get some lunch" lame!
Pitch is another name for tar. Considering the era this footage is from, the phrases are different than what we recognize in today's English. He was stating the gloom of their situation.
That was actually a pretty dam good fight scene....these days with all thechop-socky type editing which can make Don Knotts look like a badass, we forget the skill it takes to do an extended fight sequence in one take, such as in the Wild, Wild West.
...#2. While still young, he didn't come off like a prepube and have a girlish voice, though his voice was still young sounding, and there wasn't the worry about him having a huge growth spurt or his voicing cracking during the show, which would cause them to have to go back to the drawing board to recast another Robin. #3. Adam West had the better groove and personality for Batman, so they really wanted him, and him and Burt obviously had great chemistry together.
Very impressive coreagraphed fight scene, very impressive. IMO the three reasons they went with Burt is #1. While this kid had an impressive coreagraphed fight scene, Burt proved he could fight for real with his Karate, thus making the scenes that will be coreagraphed anyways look more realistic, and handle it without getting hurt, thus being able to get good closeups of Burt in action scenes because they wouldn't need a stunt double as often.......
@Neville6000 because it was BRUCE LEE! It's like saying Rachel Ray being outclassed by Julia Child or Justin Bieber being outclassed by Elvis Presley.
I grew up watching Lyle Waggoner on Wonder Woman and the Carol Burnette show, but Adam West was thr right choice for the campy version of Batman we've come to know. Dyell was clearly not the right choice.
Lyle Waggoner was in 2 hit shows--The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman. He left Carol Burnett after 7 seasons on that show. I don't think he was happy on that show-cause they reduced him to the background somewhat-in favor for Harvey Korman and later Tim Conway
You know, Lyle Waggoner plays a better Batman than Adam West did. And Peter Deyell wasn't too bad either, although he needed to do a less boyish voice.
Batman could have been a great show if they didn't put that campy feel to it and they had Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell (or Burt Wart) playing the parts in a serious manner.
FWIW, the blue magic marker lines on the film at various points are editor's marks to indicate where opticals are to be created. The marks at the beginning denote a fade in, the one where they leave the mansion is for a dissolve, and the one at the end a fade out.
More I look at it I just fail to see how Wagoner and Dyell was not chosen for the series.
Poor choice of actors also leads to a poor series, after 2 seasons of hype the show was scrapped after Season 3 because it fail to appeal to any of Batmans original characteristics from the comic.
No. The camp craze was over. Things were changing in the late sixties with the war and all. People lost interest in the show. Laugh-In became the new comedy staple on TV.
The series won't hurt Batman if released on DVD. The series was supposed to be funny. What stalks Batman is his worst moments: Batman Forever and especially Batman and Robin!!
It's unfortunate that the producers were aiming for comedy. Had they been attempting a serious Batman, Lyle would have been the right choice. Still, I don't know if the public would have been ready for a serious superhero series. Even the Superman series eventually became a camp fest.
there is no way. the show was written as a comedy - these two performances contain NOTHING of that. They just didnt understand the material - West and Ward did, and that's what made the difference.
This serious batman carrying out all these absoloutely ridiculous tasks, spouting ridiculously righteous talk would not have flown if played too straight.
That doesn't mean that it wouldn't have gone that way in future episodes. I'm sure that Lyle can do camp just as good as Adam West. His years on the Carol Burnett show is total proof of that.
Very interesting video. I had never seen the Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell screen test before. Hell, i never even knew Peter Deyell was up for the role of Robin. Thankyou very much for giving me the opportunity to see this.
Peter's problem was that he sounded too stiff, especially in the bat cave scenes. As for handling Bruce Lee, it was Robin vs Kato, not someone vs Lee. Lee's ego wouldn't allow him to separate himself from his character. He went on to bigger things, and Batman did just fine.
Im glad they picked West and Ward. Deyell is just way too bland for robin. Robin is an upbeat character, this just proves that Deyell couldnt pull that off.
"The Waggoner and Deyell couple seemed like favourites but after this screentest producers deceided on West and Ward."
In "The Official Batman Batbook" by Joel Eisner, series executive producer Bill Dozier claimed that he wanted Adam West to play Batman all along. But he knew from dealing with network executives that they would insist on screening other actors. Dozier asked Lyle Waggner to play Bruce Wayne in test footage, with the understanding that he wasn't in the running for the part.
There are some interesting differences to the final product. Bruce talks about their housekeeper Mrs. Cooper. It was changed to Aunt Harrriet with Alfred delivering the line about her finding out about the supposed fishing trips.
Also no Alfred. I belive Alfred was thought dead in the comics at that time but he was alive and had amnesia. He became a villain for a while.
Eh, Burton Gervis and Adam West's Screen Test Were More Interesting and Actiony, Peter Deyell's Voice Was Too Slow And Boring... Thanks For Uploading!
Peter as Robin would've been excellent. His stunt he exhibits more moves than Burt verging on the martial arts. Burt was ok too. But Peter probably would've been able to handle Bruce Lee more believably when B&R met up with Green Hornet & Kato. Wagonner doesn't come off so well, but maybe the directors could have drawn a 'West-ian' performance out of him. After watching Lyle you can appreciate Adam West.
this was a great video.enjoyed it very much.seems if they left out the campy stuff,lyle waggner would of been the batman.this seemed to be a straight forward video[as] the green hornet was.thankx for sharing.
mrkatoman1 3 weeks ago in playlist 15-Batman-TV Shows!
Enjoyed very much. Thanks for sharing.
newfypearl 4 weeks ago
A non-camp version of the series with Waggoner and Deyell would have been verrrry interesting.
DesScorp 1 month ago
Waggoner gives a really great, polished line delivery that I think I might actually prefer to West's screen test footage with the same lines--though I definitely prefer West's comic style throughout the series. Deyell knocks the combat scene out of the park, and in the fight, makes a great Boy Wonder. I far prefer Ward's line delivery, though, and West and Ward definitely had a more palpable sort of chemistry. Deyell would have made Ward a much better stunt double than he had on the series!
grakk64 2 months ago in playlist More videos from ukbatmania
Lyle's not cheery enough, but he does put on a good fight. But, yeah, as everyone else says, these two played it for seriousness, not laughs.
EyeSea4VseMoHajaEsAi 3 months ago
this is dogshit
stardaddyo9 3 months ago
Remember, Adam and Burt played it for laughs. These two are playing it straight. Different approaches, different effects.
psjlund 3 months ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
@psjlund I can't say it any better.
StanBennet 3 months ago
I'm surprised West and Ward got the roles...Waggoner and Deyell seem so much more professional, and Waggoner if I'm not mistaken was a well known actor at this point.
GrandFunker 3 months ago
Lyle Waggoner definitely had the proper physique for Batman,But he was a bit more serious than West
ecayari 4 months ago
its so awesome that in the history of batman and robin on film that lyle and peter played batman & robin its fascinating that this would have been a more serious darker toned version that the campy version even the batcave looks scarier!!
BatmanAndRobinOnFilm 4 months ago
Comment removed
skinwalkerxxx 4 months ago
Lyle was a stud. Plus he clearly had the comic chops (ever see a lil show called Carl Burnette?). Still, West had the best possible voice for the role.
Stepper11 4 months ago
black as piss?
rickw1100 4 months ago
Burt Ward's enthusiasm was what made the Robin character. This guy sounded like "THE BEAVER"
testiclesDOTca 5 months ago
Lyle's not too bad but that kid playing Robin is awful. He has a weird affectation to this voice.
DA90027 5 months ago
wow, that's a fucking huge lamp in the middle of the room! ;o)
playgirlc 5 months ago
It looks black as piss, Dick.
crizzy71 6 months ago 3
this robin is horrible I can't help seeing Lyle and think of stever trevor was this before wonder woman
power992000 6 months ago
Much like Gilligan's Island, it loses a lot without the music. No doubt it would have been a very different show with these two, but I can't say one is better then other, obviously. I am surprised that the costume failed to show off Lyle's musculature, looks more like a sweater.
PtolemyJones 6 months ago
This is awesome! I wanna watch this show.
x3r0k4i 6 months ago
Wagner is not bad ..I believe the kid lost it for him.
Atomicflash500 6 months ago
I think the idea here is to deliberately be bad
BuckNekkid3000 7 months ago
Me not like .
vasp99 9 months ago
these guys make burt and adam look real good ! robin here ie really bad!
jsilence418 9 months ago
you should all remember that these are test reels. the sound recording was not equalized or remastered in the studo, so everything sounds flat and unlively. not to mention the camera work and editing are low budget too. these were just done to give the producers an idea of how the actors looked more than anything else. and on that criteria, i think it looked pretty good. not as campy as what the actual series was.
evh1000 9 months ago
This is HILARIOUS! It's one double entendre after another, Black as pitch dick, up the shoot, doing on those fishing trip. Chewed over this one,
MauricioElGata 10 months ago
The stagnant acting reminds me more of the serials from the 1940s when they were trying to be a tad bit more serious. The hammy acting of West and Ward were flipping perfect.
happydragonpics 10 months ago
what exactly were you doing on those fishing trips Bruce? lol
ThanatosRW 10 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
If you are interested in buy with special discount this articles:
1966 Utility Belt replica
1966 Bat-Cuffs replica (functionals) or
1966 Batcave model kit 1:64
send me a PM
Regards
batmaniac66 11 months ago
Peter Deyell sounds like robin on a helium balloon this is sad
dj2bklyn 11 months ago
LYLE WAGGONER was great on Wonder Woman series These two are bland and horrible acting.
heebieandjeebie 11 months ago
Interesting to see just how different the show would have been had Aunt Harriet became Mrs. Harriet the housekeeper, Batman didn't have that yellow background to the bat symbol on his chest and, most importantly, they didn't treat the whole situation like a joke. (For example, metioning Bruce Wayne's parents being murdered, even though his father was a doctor, not a lawyer.)
MarkFanboyX 1 year ago
Man, Lyle was hot back then. Slurp!
ElRatondeMenomonie 1 year ago
These two guys are too earnest. West and Ward were in on the joke and that made all the difference.
archer1949 1 year ago
I watched both (Adam's & Burt's as well). Even being so used to West & Ward, it's still a close call, imo. The deciding factor for me was W&W had deeper voices---not by much, though. Also, Waggoner didn't seem to have the aptitude to pull off CAMP the way West (and Ward) did.
msk7046 1 year ago 8
@msk7046: Thank God. At least I can enjoy this version a lot better than the stupid show that we all got.
What would/could have been...
Neville6000 7 months ago
varanid8 is so right about the fight. It's choreographed, which takes more effort than the punch paste and edit fight scenes they create in today's films.
bikefixer 1 year ago
I say the network made the right going with West and Ward, they may have hammed it up as the Dynamic Duo but they had at least had energy and chemistry. Lyle Waggoner looks the part but is a bit bland and Peter Deyell is too wooden for Robin.
DoctorPretorious616 1 year ago
Peter Deyell was a better actor than Burt Ward, but he doesn't project real well.
spiderlarry 1 year ago
So bad, it's good.
ForkliftJoe 1 year ago
Lyle was actually picked to play Batman but couldn't as he was under contract with Carol Burnett.
abuiltmale 1 year ago
@abuiltmale
Actually Mike Henry was offered the part of Batman first, for a movie version that was never made, because he was still under contract to the Tarzan people, so the Batman project became for a TV show.
Look up Mike Henry Tarzan on Youtube to see what he looked like.
ysbaddaden2003 1 year ago
I must say....Adam and Burt had the advantage with their voice and body language......Adam and burt complimented each other ...... righto' decision ABC
siribuddy 1 year ago
Peter Deyell sounds too high and Lyle Waggoner sounds to low, plus these actors sound dull Burt Ward and Adam West made it more exciting
RoseAerin 1 year ago
I really don't think it's possible for the actors to sound like they care any less about this screen test than they do here. I'm not a person who bores easily, but this bored me. A lot. I'm really glad that these guys didn't get the part, since they quite obviously didn't want it at all.
TotzthePlaid 1 year ago
And what exactly goes on during these fishing trips?...horrible casting, people! Lyle Waggoner may be one of most handsome actors in the industry. Needless to say, he did not make a good Batman. Yeah, I think the casting of Adam West and Burt Ward was the right choice.
dwalex97209 1 year ago
Hey Buddy here's a part of the Batman Pilot in the 60s with Lyle Waggoner of Carol Burnett Show as Batman/Buce Wayne!!! I always thought he was really HOT!!
rtususian 1 year ago
damn these guys are bland and boring and have no personality..the producers definitily made a good choice when they chose burt ward and adam west
cobra42029 1 year ago
@cobra42029
I agree. Lyle Wagoneer was not cut out for Batman. Ironically he would go on to play Steve Trevor, Diana Prince's boyfriend in Wonder Woman. Of course he is more known for the Carol Burnett Show. But in superhero shows he's pretty bland. He was a supporting charcther on Wonder Woman, so it didn't matter as much.
Superbatfan 11 months ago
@cobra42029 Yeah, but this is how the acting was in that superman series
MauricioElGata 10 months ago
wow.... not a hair out of place!
mc4102 1 year ago
I like the fight scene at the end, cool!
clsarashimmer 1 year ago
This is actually really good.
CadillacL 1 year ago
The producers definitely made the right choice.
jrvenice1999 1 year ago
I think if they were going for a more dramatic approach, then Lyle Waggoner would've been perfect
Peter Deyell wasn't as good an actor as Burt Ward, but he certainly put up a more convincing fight than Ward
painlessissuicide 1 year ago
Wow. It's like a whole different idea. Much more serious. I especially like Deyell as Robin.
Allen2saint 1 year ago
@Allen2saint I agree. I think this version would've been really cool.
JimmyDaKoik 1 year ago
Interesting how that was played a lot less campy.
wydok 1 year ago
Lyle coulda been kinda cool
Roper122 1 year ago
@Roper122 I think he would have made a good batman.Then Adam West could play Steve Trevor.lol
stluee1 1 year ago 2
@stluee1 so that would put adam west on the carol burnet show, and lyle as mayor wagoner on the family guy!
etraig 1 year ago
@etraig yes, in the Bizzaro world, hello.
MauricioElGata 10 months ago
They didn't have the same chemistry as Adam West and Burt Ward :)
Tina2300 1 year ago
this 1 was more interesting ~ I guess they wantd something more impressive n ' cartoony ~
TJae1 1 year ago
@TJae1
This had ALL KINDS of potential. It makes you wonder what might have been. It looks WAY less campy.
knoxvilleguy2 1 year ago 2
@knoxvilleguy2 agreed
optimusblack 1 year ago 2
@optimusblack
Robin's / Peter Dyell's read was less manic ( ? ) & Lyle Waggoner was a believable Bruce Wayne / Batman without so much camp, at least here in this scene.
knoxvilleguy2 1 year ago 6
@optimusblack; Seconded.
Neville6000 7 months ago
This really makes me mad. Why? Because this young actor (and Burt Ward as well) got to tussle with stunt guys for their screen test. Bruce Lee, on the other hand, was stuck with some ancient old guy when he was demonstrating his Wing Chun. Why didn't these producers (same for the Green Hornet) let Bruce cut loose with a couple of burly dudes like this kid got to? That would have been one heck of a screen test if they had...
GatewayGhettoProd 1 year ago
@GatewayGhettoProd
Don't worry about it ... Bruce got to cut loose on The Green Hornet series often enough.
spider9137 1 year ago
theyre great
immortalcelsius 1 year ago
Whats up with the Batman logo on his chest???
markrosario75 1 year ago
Yeah, this Robin is horrid.
jrcarter9175 1 year ago 8
@jrcarter9175: For YOU. I loved this serious version of Batman, and wished that it had become a TV show instead of the shitty program that we all got.
Neville6000 7 months ago
@jrcarter9175 this robin is cool!
Movieworldexpress 4 months ago
this is actually really good. lil more serious. but with same campiness
hiswork2009 1 year ago
@hiswork2009
Somewhat more serious. What about the " supposed fishing trips " they went on ?
Robin ( Dyell ) isn't as agitatible.
knoxvilleguy2 1 year ago 2
I think the reason the green Hornet didn't work out, it was way too serious. Batman was supposed to be fun. "Theater of the absurd " as Adam said. That is why it worked for as long as it did. I think what killed it was adding Batgirl. I suppose we could do a google about her persona, and why it was necessary for Barbra to become her alter ego. But in the storyline of the tv show, she was the Commissioners daughter and a Librarian.
yogertlvr 1 year ago
You know, this MIGHT have worked if they'd tried Lyle with Burt. Didn't it ever occur to them to mix them up and see if maybe the respective actors worked better with others. Although, I did love Adam West in the role. But yeah, just sayin'.
superstaff 1 year ago 2
I don't think that Waggoner got that the show was supposed to be campy.
hanoc101 1 year ago
While the show was campy the 1st 2 seasons also had a cool side to them. They had the best people @ that time wanting to be villians. The 3rd season, the quality went to hell. To hear the producers and cast tell it people just got tired of it and it was cancelled. They dont like to admit they started making horrible episodes. Kinda like how Gearge Lucas acts like all the S Wars films are the same but we are just jerks for saying theyre not.
bobisdark 1 year ago
This makes me appreciate Adam west and Bert Ward.
invisibledragoninja 1 year ago
The kid is terrible. He blinks too much and runs his words together. Burt Ward blows him away.
Waggoner did a decent job, but he seems uncomfortable with the dialogue. Listen to him say "You got it, Chum" and it's obvious that Waggoner is more comfortable with dramatic scripts and/or straight comedy a la The Carol Burnett Show.
I think that once the producers saw Adam West's version they knew exactly where they wanted the series to go. West and Ward then became the obvious choice.
Holdenon3 1 year ago
Lyle actually comes off pretty well as Batman and could have been good in the role. Peter as Robin seems to have no expression in his acting.
neonmoon82 1 year ago
ok, but really- a milk-crate coffee table in the mansion? lol
MyLatestEscape 1 year ago
I think the only thing that Robin could beat up would be his teddy bear. Truly terrible.
Apophisguard 1 year ago
I'll take Adam and Burt over them.
duderman96 1 year ago
Waggoner looked absolutely ridiculous once he put the mask on, and came off too carefree in his delivery. Deyell was a complete "gee whillikers" innocent in his performance, but man, he sure set up a great fight scene.
NeoSquirrel 1 year ago
they should have tested the mythical steve reeves! he would have been 40 in 1966 just the right age to play a handsome millionaire and can you even begin to fathom seeing reeves body in the batman suit and those gorgeous piercing blue eyes under the cowl? wow! granted, reeves wouldn't have probably even wanted to play batman and don't know if he could do the campy aspects. but picturing musclebound drop dead handsome reeves with his twink boy wonder in all those homoerotic captured scenes!
mbblover 1 year ago
that Robin test sounds like a pussy to me!
1coteca 1 year ago
this is unbelievable
41057 1 year ago
by far ward and west deserved the historical accolades that we remember of batman. but i remeber the times and i think that waggoner's batman reflected the comic book more accurately than the camp of west's portrayal. i think the campiness was deliberate to take the minds of people off of vietnam, civil rights and the growing peace movement of the times. it presented pure escapism. a darker batman wouldnt have worked during the period. but hey! the 60s were some of the best years of my life!
oldschoolsituationz 1 year ago
PROS: Lyle looked just like the Silver Age Bruce Wayne/Batman. The kid playing Robin was more age appropriate and nearly the same size as the comic version. The Batcave looked more like a cave.
CONS: These guys were in dire need of an acting coach. The kid seriously needed to work on that voice. Would've been nice to have seen the finalized Bat-costume on Lyle without that ugly insignia.
kobakommander 1 year ago
Say what you will. Lyle definitely had a better physique than Adam West.
TheRichcraft 1 year ago
To be honest I liked this version aswell.Much darker and sinister.Who knows if Fox went with these 2 and it was more darker and less camp.Lost in Space would have remained seroius aswell.Maybe more shows too as this set a trend in the 60s.
reticulan5 1 year ago
Yes it could have been more in the tone of genre tv shows of the time like Mission Impossible and so forth. Still fun but more realistic.
skinwalkerxxx 1 year ago
Nice
56thAlbanyProd 1 year ago
wow... i've never seen this ..this is great but I fully understand why West got the job. As campy as the show was it worked at the time and the acting of the other two is just awful.
Keyo717 2 years ago
Wow! This screen test makes Adam West and Burt Ward look like Marlon Brando and James Dean in comparison. It's no wonder they didn't go with these guys!
discardedbard 2 years ago
It's certainly obvious why they chose West and Gervis/Ward. Waggoner's line delivery was all over the place - emphasizing wrong words, skipping punctuation, going from low to high pitch all the time, etc. And Deyell sounds like his voice hasn't changed yet.
Both these screen tests are great for the Batcave scenes. Putting on the masks only when venturing out of the cave, and the random use of props from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (many of which were recycled from The Fly from 1958).
tavery80 2 years ago
@tavery80: Aprapos, since Robin is supposed to be a teenager anyway.
Neville6000 7 months ago
I like that Bruce Wayne better. He looks more of a man that can take care of himself.
skinwalkerxxx 2 years ago
Now I understand that Peter Deyell was 16 at the time this was filmed and it was just a test screening but could he have at least tried to act...I mean I know why they went with Burt Ward cause even though he was 19 he had that youthful exuberance they wanted for the boy wonder this guy is just a dead fish and bland.....now if I were to choose between Waggoner and West it would've been a tough choice they were both great.
Johnnyv335 2 years ago
interesting prospects though ~ beats the high camp of the finals
TJae1 2 years ago
young boy/grown man ~ not good ~
TJae1 2 years ago
I understand that Peter Deyell was actually 16 at the time, whereas Burt Ward was 19 when he auditioned, and 20 when the show started.
ysbaddaden2003 2 years ago
West auditioned in the same costume, maybe the very same, since it didn't seem to fit either one of them.
Carmine Infantino was just then revamping the Batman look, with the yellow oval around the bat, in the comic books, but he dropped Alfred and put in Aunt Harriet to make it seem less gay oriented as Dr Frederick Wertham complained about in his screed .
But because of the TV s show, Alfred was returned and the TV show had both him and the aunt.
I wish Mike Henry got the part.
ysbaddaden2003 2 years ago
@ysbaddaden2003: I wish that Mike Henry got the part too. Either him or Waggoner.
Neville6000 7 months ago
Black as piss?
motleyhar 2 years ago 2
@motleyhar, it's "black as PITCH"....
bbflemm 1 year ago
Comment removed
tmxd81 1 year ago
i can see why they didn't cast this two, although i like the batman this robin sucks when he talks, im not saying that ward was a better actor but he was more natural and sounded better. but looking goofy still. i think that if this two would had been cast the serie would of be more serious and thats why they pick adam west, he was more naturally idiotic and every line he delivered was funny even when it wasn't meant to be.
ghostninjazx6r 2 years ago
Great clip; is this from a special edition DVD boxset? What a completely different show it would have been. It would've been great to see what would've turn out but I love the charm and silliness of the Adam West show.
I wonder if any other superhero has been depicted with such a various range as Batman has on the screen. You wouldn't believe, even in this clip, that this character is the same one to be depicted in the "Dark Knight" movie.
shaunclarey77 2 years ago
i like his batman costume, better then west's
although the only difference is the big black bat on his chest
BROKENHOUSEFILMS 2 years ago
Man that Robin sucks. He probably ruined it for Lyle.
lsl70 2 years ago
I was thinking the same thing
007InMiami 2 years ago
Wow I'm impressed,, although Burt ward had no acting experience prior, he's still a better actor,, but I'm very impressed by this kids stunt performance,, not to mention he's actualy around robins age in the comics which is 14, I feel bad 4 this kid, probly flippin burgers or paintin fuckin houses by now lol
bodean137 2 years ago
Jed Calmpet and Jethro Bodine would have been far better choices to play Batman and Robin.
Outlaw1257 2 years ago
Well, that's a whole different vibe to Batman.
RichYan33 2 years ago
"Holy caboose?" WTF?
jpthug4lyf 2 years ago
no wonder they didnt pic that robin he cant read very well.
deadman00 2 years ago
Lyle may have made a good Batman, but West and Ward gave a better test. People seem to rate the series and West and Ward on the horrible last year, stupid motion pic and the sillier episodes from season 2. The 1st episodes looked better, had better humor. The show degraded much like the 1st Trek in appearance and writing and it seemed the performers and developed bad takes on their characters as they seemed to lose respect for their roles and just went silly with them.
bobisdark 2 years ago
The show would have been definably different if the producers would have went with Waggoner and Deyell. More dark and possibly not as funny as with West and Ward. (Gervis) very rare treat to see these vintage clips. Thank you for posting.
yogertlvr 2 years ago
Cool, amazing ;thanks! ;p
duvine 2 years ago
burt ward was cutter that that pric of peter deyell and hes a better actor of course
burt ward was so hot and talented....
Nanuhhh 2 years ago
I like the bat-cowl on Waggoner, tho the retro bat symbol on his chest was too ornate as to be distracting. Enjoyed the alternate bat-cave set...much spookier than what they eventually used. And Robin was too monotone, tho the kid could fake-fight better than Dick-head Ward. Interesting...Thank you!
humongousaldo 2 years ago
@1:07 sounds like up the ass can up the shoot lol
gillman47 2 years ago 2
I didn't think Waggoner was too bad, he played him much more serious then West did, more true to the comics of that era. Deyell was terrible though, I mean when he says "To the Batcave" it's like he's saying "Hey, let's go get some lunch" lame!
drunkmonkeykungfu 2 years ago
who is these guys and did he say"It's black as pitch dick?"what the...where's West...
boodashen 2 years ago
The line is: "It's black as pitch, dick."
Pitch is another name for tar. Considering the era this footage is from, the phrases are different than what we recognize in today's English. He was stating the gloom of their situation.
Nosferatu1022 2 years ago
They made the right choice going with Adam West and Burt Ward.
johnny10301968 2 years ago
That was actually a pretty dam good fight scene....these days with all thechop-socky type editing which can make Don Knotts look like a badass, we forget the skill it takes to do an extended fight sequence in one take, such as in the Wild, Wild West.
varanid8 2 years ago 10
I think it should've been Adam West and Peter Deyell because West is awesome and Deyell has the more "boy wonder" thing
smoshANIMATOR 2 years ago
Lyle Waggnor wasn't corny enough and Peter Deyell sounds like a gay dick.
epgrove1961 2 years ago
...#2. While still young, he didn't come off like a prepube and have a girlish voice, though his voice was still young sounding, and there wasn't the worry about him having a huge growth spurt or his voicing cracking during the show, which would cause them to have to go back to the drawing board to recast another Robin. #3. Adam West had the better groove and personality for Batman, so they really wanted him, and him and Burt obviously had great chemistry together.
BitterCycle 2 years ago
Very impressive coreagraphed fight scene, very impressive. IMO the three reasons they went with Burt is #1. While this kid had an impressive coreagraphed fight scene, Burt proved he could fight for real with his Karate, thus making the scenes that will be coreagraphed anyways look more realistic, and handle it without getting hurt, thus being able to get good closeups of Burt in action scenes because they wouldn't need a stunt double as often.......
BitterCycle 2 years ago
@BitterCycle: Burt knew Karate? You're putting me on! So then, why was he outclassed by Bruce Lee?
Neville6000 7 months ago
@Neville6000 because it was BRUCE LEE! It's like saying Rachel Ray being outclassed by Julia Child or Justin Bieber being outclassed by Elvis Presley.
ArthurFalconetti 7 months ago in playlist Anthony's Network
This duo could of worked, Peter Deyell seemed more Boy Wonderish... Emphaszing the "Boy"
AcesHigh2007 2 years ago
Only Batman can say "To the Bat Cave!"
AcesHigh2007 2 years ago
West & Ward were the perfect selections!
virus007911 2 years ago
Lyle Waggoner just looks the part of Bruce Wayne more.
ysbaddaden2003 2 years ago 4
I grew up watching Lyle Waggoner on Wonder Woman and the Carol Burnette show, but Adam West was thr right choice for the campy version of Batman we've come to know. Dyell was clearly not the right choice.
shannonD68 2 years ago
The stunt scenes aren't bad. But he just has no charisma when he talks. Ward had a real gee-whiz quality that served the part well.
wookie72 2 years ago
they made a good choice.
IQT44 2 years ago
Guy playing batman Could have worked. But The Guy playing robin didn't own the screen the way burt ward did?
Ballbreaker910 2 years ago
Lyle Waggoner was in 2 hit shows--The Carol Burnett Show and Wonder Woman. He left Carol Burnett after 7 seasons on that show. I don't think he was happy on that show-cause they reduced him to the background somewhat-in favor for Harvey Korman and later Tim Conway
tapeduk 2 years ago
You know, Lyle Waggoner plays a better Batman than Adam West did. And Peter Deyell wasn't too bad either, although he needed to do a less boyish voice.
Batman could have been a great show if they didn't put that campy feel to it and they had Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell (or Burt Wart) playing the parts in a serious manner.
Timesobserver 2 years ago 2
@Timesobserver: Hear, hear! I agree with you on that.
Neville6000 7 months ago
Cool, this is a work print.
Trivial info:
FWIW, the blue magic marker lines on the film at various points are editor's marks to indicate where opticals are to be created. The marks at the beginning denote a fade in, the one where they leave the mansion is for a dissolve, and the one at the end a fade out.
pegbars 2 years ago
With the mask on, he looks a lot like Burt Ward.
I'm also surprised they weren't picked.
dahur 2 years ago
More I look at it I just fail to see how Wagoner and Dyell was not chosen for the series.
Poor choice of actors also leads to a poor series, after 2 seasons of hype the show was scrapped after Season 3 because it fail to appeal to any of Batmans original characteristics from the comic.
wwepatriot 2 years ago
No. The camp craze was over. Things were changing in the late sixties with the war and all. People lost interest in the show. Laugh-In became the new comedy staple on TV.
the60sKid 2 years ago
The series won't hurt Batman if released on DVD. The series was supposed to be funny. What stalks Batman is his worst moments: Batman Forever and especially Batman and Robin!!
bobisdark 2 years ago 3
@bobisdark Absolutely! I wish they would do it while Adam West is still alive and can do commentary. His commentary on the movie DVDs is brilliant.
wookie72 1 year ago
It's unfortunate that the producers were aiming for comedy. Had they been attempting a serious Batman, Lyle would have been the right choice. Still, I don't know if the public would have been ready for a serious superhero series. Even the Superman series eventually became a camp fest.
DavidTyler1 3 years ago
Recall that The Green Hornet played it straight and it failed.
nomobties 2 years ago
which was a big mistake, It was the better show.
the60sKid 2 years ago
Of course you folks like West and Ward; that is what you are used to. Although I agree that West did seem to understand the ridiculousness of it.
fruticetum 3 years ago
"fishing trips of ours"...... hehehehehehe
I just saw Brokeback Mounatin ;-)
hcvang 3 years ago
Damn..this performance is as stiff as a board, but really fascinating.
Timmyfunk1 3 years ago
all the comedy would've gone down the drain with these two, and the show would've been off the air after 4-6 episodes.
hcvang 3 years ago
Probably. But Lyle did have that all american look that could've carried the show for maybe a season.
Timmyfunk1 3 years ago
there is no way. the show was written as a comedy - these two performances contain NOTHING of that. They just didnt understand the material - West and Ward did, and that's what made the difference.
This serious batman carrying out all these absoloutely ridiculous tasks, spouting ridiculously righteous talk would not have flown if played too straight.
hcvang 3 years ago
That doesn't mean that it wouldn't have gone that way in future episodes. I'm sure that Lyle can do camp just as good as Adam West. His years on the Carol Burnett show is total proof of that.
Timmyfunk1 3 years ago
Very interesting video. I had never seen the Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell screen test before. Hell, i never even knew Peter Deyell was up for the role of Robin. Thankyou very much for giving me the opportunity to see this.
studmuffin0681 3 years ago
Peter's problem was that he sounded too stiff, especially in the bat cave scenes. As for handling Bruce Lee, it was Robin vs Kato, not someone vs Lee. Lee's ego wouldn't allow him to separate himself from his character. He went on to bigger things, and Batman did just fine.
fjccommish 3 years ago
This seems more like the 40's serials, than the "camp" the TV show was to bring. Good choice going with West and Ward.
mjm4222 3 years ago
Im glad they picked West and Ward. Deyell is just way too bland for robin. Robin is an upbeat character, this just proves that Deyell couldnt pull that off.
mattSIMAS99 3 years ago
"The Waggoner and Deyell couple seemed like favourites but after this screentest producers deceided on West and Ward."
In "The Official Batman Batbook" by Joel Eisner, series executive producer Bill Dozier claimed that he wanted Adam West to play Batman all along. But he knew from dealing with network executives that they would insist on screening other actors. Dozier asked Lyle Waggner to play Bruce Wayne in test footage, with the understanding that he wasn't in the running for the part.
spider9137 3 years ago
Lyle and Burt may have been good.
bobsmash213 3 years ago
There are some interesting differences to the final product. Bruce talks about their housekeeper Mrs. Cooper. It was changed to Aunt Harrriet with Alfred delivering the line about her finding out about the supposed fishing trips.
Also no Alfred. I belive Alfred was thought dead in the comics at that time but he was alive and had amnesia. He became a villain for a while.
Imagine Alan Napier as a Special Guest Villain!
techie990 3 years ago
She was changed to Aunt Harriet but she was still Harriet Cooper.
fjccommish 3 years ago
Wagner has the look of Bruce Wayne and the build for Batman,..but he is dry and has no depth.
swill43507 3 years ago
Eh, Burton Gervis and Adam West's Screen Test Were More Interesting and Actiony, Peter Deyell's Voice Was Too Slow And Boring... Thanks For Uploading!
C3Z4rtv 3 years ago
Peter as Robin would've been excellent. His stunt he exhibits more moves than Burt verging on the martial arts. Burt was ok too. But Peter probably would've been able to handle Bruce Lee more believably when B&R met up with Green Hornet & Kato. Wagonner doesn't come off so well, but maybe the directors could have drawn a 'West-ian' performance out of him. After watching Lyle you can appreciate Adam West.
deepseadirt 3 years ago
Not bad,They look like Adam West and Burt Ward...It would of been just fine with these 2 guys also....
ratedr739 3 years ago 2