Hello fellow Bat-Fans and welcome to Part 2 of the classic Batman TV Series Retrospective. This time we run down and give thoughts on the two-parter that features the first appearance of The Penguin, ‘Fine Feathered Finks’ and ‘The Penguin’s a Jinx’.
I hope you enjoy reading the article and I’d appreciate your thoughts on these episodes. You can either give them in the relevant spot below or feel free to give them on our social media pages (Twitter: @DC_ComicsGeek or @_DCWorld). As always, we look forward to hearing from you and we hope that you’ll join in with any discussion on this series of articles. You can still take a look at Part 1 of this series here – https://dcworld.org.uk/batman/2018/11/06/classic-batman-series-retrospective-part-1-hi-diddle-riddle-smack-middle/
PLOT SUMMARY
Fine Feathered Finks
Awaiting release from prison, the Penguin, the “pompous, waddling master of fowl play“, schemes to get Batman to plan his crimes for him; his first step is to attract Batman’s attention. Penguin has his henchmen Hawkeye and Sparrow distribute free umbrellas to patrons outside the House of Ali Baba Jewelry store and a local bank. The men passing them out call it a promotion, but the owners of the jewelry store and bank know that they were not hired by them.
While everyone’s inside with the umbrellas, they explode and start spinning and cause a distraction, however even though it was the perfect setup for Hawkeye and Sparrow to commit a robbery, no heist was pulled. When Commissioner James Gordon hears of it, he knows Penguin has returned and calls Batman and Robin in to investigate. Along with Warden Crichton, they view Penguin’s security camera from prison but are able to find out little on his next crime except he has the idea of somehow making Batman help him. Batman and Robin decide to pay a call on Penguin, who, under the alias K.G. Bird (“cagey bird” – love it) now operates an umbrella store. As soon as they leave, Penguin launches a giant umbrella, featuring a multicolored umbrella (complete with hidden transmitter) attached to its handle, from his store’s roof.
The umbrella lands in the middle of the street, and the Duo investigate. While they discover nothing special about it beyond its immense size, they do retrieve the normal-sized umbrella that is hanging from the giant’s handle. Convinced it’s a clue to Penguin’s next crime, Batman and Robin take the umbrella back with them to the Batcave to further examine it. Unable to discover the significance of the Batbrella, Batman goes in his true identity as Bruce Wayne inside the umbrella store and, while the Penguin is not looking, he plants a tiny transistor microphone (disguised as a spider) there so they can find out what he’s up to.
Unfortunately, Bruce apparently did not count on the Penguin actually installing a burglar alarm in his store, and a siren goes off to alert there is a bug being placed in the room. The Penguin, Hawkeye and Sparrow immediately release a net on Bruce and, unaware of his identity but mistaking him for a spy from a rival and competing umbrella store, the Penguin knocks him out with his “gas-umbrella”. He then has Hawkeye and Sparrow tie him up and toss him into the furnace. Still entangled in the net, Bruce is placed on a conveyor belt that leads to the 10,000 degree furnace.
The Penguin’s A Jinx
Picking up from the last episode, Bruce Wayne’s burning feet revive him just in time, and he retrieves from his pocket his cigarette lighter containing a lifetime supply of butane gas, and throws it into the fire. A sudden blast ensues, eating up the oxygen, putting the furnace out, and throwing Bruce free from the net, far enough to make his escape.
Later, at the Batcave, as the Penguin and his “Finks” cleverly eavesdrop courtesy of a bug he planted on The Batbrella, Batman and Robin decide that the Penguin’s scheme is kidnapping actress Dawn Robbins, who is in town at a penthouse apartment. Batman then discusses the whole scheme the Penguin must have, which the listening Penguin plans to carry out with an added detail of his own. Batman and Robin go to Dawn (who is bored from the life of a movie star and wants to experience something exciting). They notify her that they believe she is in danger, and she agrees to let them stay and stake-out the place.
The Penguin, Hawkeye and Sparrow swing across to Robbins’ terrace on giant umbrellas; Penguin enters through the screen door and he gasses Dawn to sleep. As Batman and Robin try to stop the Penguin, a powerful magnet the Penguin had positioned just outside is turned on and they are pulled to it because of the metal in their utility belts, immobilizing them. It is later revealed that Batman and Robin had escaped from the magnet by a room service waiter and return to police headquarters.
Knowing Penguin is listening in through the umbrella’s bug, they announce that the ransom will be paid at Wayne Manor and that Batman and Robin will be waiting inside the armor statues immediately inside in the entrance hall. The Penguin goes to Wayne Manor and returns the actress. He then uses his gas-umbrella to knock out anyone inside the statues. He returns to his hideout to find out that Batman and Robin were waiting there; there had been dummies inside the statues all along. The Penguin is apprehended, back to jail for some more bird.
My thoughts
Burgess Meredith makes his debut as Penguin here, how wonderful is he? A complete contrast from the performance of Gorshin as The Riddle. The Penguin is nowhere near as sinister as Riddler and that gives this episode a much lighter tone (not that’s the first story was hugely dark). But it’s not justMeredith that brings a lighter tone, it’s the story as a whole. No mention of Brice Wayne’s parents and no death. We also ended up with Mickey Rooney as Penguin but due to a scheduling conflict it was Burgess who got the role. For me, a blessing.
Love that Batman gets Robing told for challenging the police over the Penguins release.
The cliffhanger at the end of the first episode was extremely well done. There was no way that anyone watching would fail to tune in for the second part…
…and a wonderful use of Batman’s utility belt to get him out of the hot situation.
Based on the comic book story “Partners in Plunder”, as with all stories it’s given the series colourful and fun twist.
Funboy – love it!
Like that we get an explanation as to why Bruce dresses as a bat – Commissioner Gordon makes the point that the form of a giant bat is scary to a cowardly criminal.
Much more in there too, but safe to say it’s another great early episode of the show.
Other thoughts
James from DC World:
It’s such a contrast watching Batman work so closely with the police and even giving orders to police on the streets, where every movie incarnation we have seen Batman is always a foe to the police.
Penguin is a good villain and very clever in getting Batman to figure out the best way to commit a crime. Oddly there never actually seems to be a crime or plan for penguin other than just annoying Batman.
The cliffhanger at the end of episode 3 with Bruce Wayne slowly being pulled towards a furnace was really well done and surly would have made people tune in the next day same bat time same bat channel.
What ever happened to Batman’s trusted Batzooka, everybody seemed to know what it was just by sound.
And that’s it. Hope you enjoyed this little article, as I mentioned last time it’s likely to evolve in time.
if you’d like to leave your thoughts on this or any of the other articles then please do so below or on any of our social media pages, always a pleasure.
Be sure to join us on the Bat-Channel extremely time as we see the first appearance in this show of The Joker in…
The Joker Is Wild / Batman is Riled
Get your thoughts in for that episode too. It would be much appreciated and a great addition to the articles in this series.
Any comments can come to me directly on Twitter @DC_ComicsGeek or email john@dcworld.org.uk or the team Twitter @_DCWorld
Cheers, John
