Long ago, when life in the movies occurred in the darker tones of black and white, and when the stardom of Batman was unknown, the first Batman movie was released to the big screen.

Before the most acclaimed film of this summer ‘The Dark Night’ staged its masterpiece, there was a time when Batman fought crime alongside Robin while Alfred chauffeured the two superheroes in a 1940’s black Cadillac.

The first version of Batman staged in 1943 introduced important sites as the Batcave and the portrayal of Alfred as a stylish, refined butler.

Starring unknown actors such as Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin, the 1943 film version of Batman drew some from Bob Kane’s comics and portrayed Batman in an almost comical goofy manner rather than the obscure invincible character we know today.

Dressed in the original Batman costume and sided by his sidekick in shorts Robin, Bruce Wayne/Batman (a government employee) battles Prince Daka who terrorizes governments with atom-smasher ray bombs and a device that turns its victims into zombies.

The movie was shown as a serial, and it contained 15 chapters filled with back to back action stunts, rudimentary special effects and adventure driven to a finale with the destruction of Prince Daka.

The list of famous super villains was not present, but instead the main villain resembled the real villains of the 1940’s yet with a comical physique reminiscent of villains such Dick Dastardly whose plans were always frustrated.

Throughout the film, audiences can observe the old special effects like the stationary car close up with running film strip in the back, the sound of a splash made with aluminum foil, and the explosion of a mine with little damage left.

The movie also reflected the era of World War II with the themes of spies, intrigue and mass destruction machines.

The heroine of the film is shown as a damsel in distress yet a loyal companion to Bruce Wayne.

Seen from today’s point of view the 1943’s Batman is funny and amusing due to its film techniques and antique plot, but after some minutes of film, one can truly appreciate the pioneering work that this movie did for the super hero Batman.

A former teenager in the 1940’s, Mr. Enrique Torres who saw the film when it premiered said, “The movie was well liked during its premiere and new to all audiences who had not seen comic super heroes in action.”

It seems Batman’s start, as rudimentary as it may have been, was liked throughout; after all it was the movie that started it all. So for all those true Batman fans this is the “don’t miss” movie which any respectable fan must know about.