MovieChat Forums > Batman: The Movie (1966) Discussion > Costume Changing

Costume Changing

posted 11 years ago by grendelkhan
6 replies | jump to latest

So, here, you get the shot of Bruce hitting the costume change lever on the way down the Batpole, but you never see (or are told via dialogue) how it was supposed to work. When I saw this as a kid (in the very early 70s) I thought he and Dick stopped part way down at some kind of changing room, then got back on the poles to get to the cave. Part was due to the angle of the shot, as it looked like there was a ledge nearby, and part due to imagination. It made about as much sense as anything else. Anybody else have any odd theories from when they first saw it?

In later years, the satirical comic book, Lethargic Lad (which did a lot of homages to both Adam West and the Burton film) showed the hero going down a similar pole, where robotic hands reach out and grab his shirt, from which he slides out. He is then caught and flipped over, where he lands in his LL shirt, while new mechanical hands grab his pants, pulling them off as he descends. he is flipped again and plummets into his trousers, emerging fully clothed at the bottom. Complicated, but it worked.

"Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!"

[–] wristwatchraver-1 11 years ago

My dad had the same idea. As a child I had the idea that the costume was attached to the Bat pole in some what an Bruce Wayne just slides into it. I think the premise is you aren't meant to speculate on it suffice it just to say that it happens. But yes, it did confuse me.

If I can't save you, I swear to God, I am gonna stop you!

[–] johnnyb94109 11 years ago

Catwoman's costume changing is difficult to understand as well. She steps behind a dressing screen, and in no time, changes from the tiger skin trenchcoat and kneeboots to the catsuit. She even manages to change her makeup and hair.

[–] tipafo 11 years ago

IMO, they stopped halfway down, exited to a bat-changing bat-chamber, then continued down after changing. We don't see the cut-away to them changing, because it's 1966, and why would we need to see them change? You can imagine what the censors would've said about showing a half-naked Bruce and Dick together.

What kind of man would murder a cow, Gib?

[–] atg_commish 11 years ago

It must have been automatic. They didn't have time to change by hand.
Still more believable than Wonder Woman's wardrobe change. What happened to her old clothes, and how did she get them back later?

[–] grendelkhan 10 years ago

Well, heck, in the comics of that era, Wonder Woman just passed her lasso over herself and she changed costume. The spinning made as much sense as that did.

Batgirl was about the only character where they gave the costume change a consideration. Barbara Gordon's skirt became her cape, a beret rolled down into the cowl, and her purse had the rest. of course, it meant she had to perpetually wear a black knit top and black tights, if she was going to change into costume. They did that in the mini-pilot, but skipped it in the series. It was also used in the comic debut, but quickly dropped there, too.

"Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!"

[–] johnnyb94109 10 years ago

Catwoman changed into her costume behind a simple dressing screen, in a room with three male cohorts! Hairstyle and eye makeup transformed instantaneously....