Search

» » Batman Penguin Sets a Trend (1966–1968)

Short summary

In order to keep a close eye on the Penguin (and hopefully locate the stolen chain mail armor), Batman and Robin rejoin Penguin's movie efforts. The next part of his film is to take place in medieval times. Therefore, Penguin has the Dynamic Duo dress in armor suits, but only to trap them with a giant magnet while he snatches top-secret papers from the Hexagon. Batman and Robin free themselves and follow the villain, but after a losing battle with him, the Penguin has them hauled off as scrap metal to be crushed.

Guest Star Bob Hastings would later perform the voice of Commissioner Gordon on the 1990's Batman Animated series and related spin off projects. And of course in this episode he is parodying his sycophantic "Lt. Carpenter" character from "McHale's Navy."

When Penguin's henchman break into the storage room in the Hexagon, two of the labels on the lockers inside read "Corn Cob Pipes," (a reference to WWII & Korean War General Douglas MacArthur who sometimes smoked one) and "Pearl Handled Revolvers" (a reference to WWII General George S. Patton who was reputed to carry one, but actually carried an ivory-handled Colt Single Action Army revolver).

The 2016 book "Batman: a Celebration of the Classic TV Series" reveals an alternate title considered for this installment: "General Penguin Sets a Trend".

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Mr.mclav
    "Penguin Sets a Trend" finds the catapulted Dynamic Duo saved by a preprogrammed Batmobile, driving itself to the right location with safety net attached. Returning to the set of Penguin's movie, both are incapacitated by their magnetized suits of armor, unable to prevent Penguin from using his stolen 15th century chain mail armor on an unannounced visit to Gotham City's Hexagon building. That provides the best scene in this chapter, with Alan Reed, the famed voice of Fred Flintstone, delightfully hamming it up as General MacGruder, conned by a five year contract offer from The Penguin, whose desire to shoot in Room X succeeds after he makes a similar pitch to Major Beasley (Bob Hastings, THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW, McHALE'S NAVY), the resulting disappointment on the General's face alleviated by Penguin's upping his contract to 10 years! Room X is connected to Rooms Y and Z, and it's in Room Z that Penguin's men accompany their boss, protecting him from the army's bullets as they make their getaway (Reed's amusing call to 'charge!' definitely recalls Fred Flintstone). Knocked cold by Penguin gas, the pursuing 'clanking crusaders' are dumped in a trash compactor as scrap metal. The one short time we see Marsha (Carolyn Jones) and Aunt Hilda (Estelle Winwood) is on a jaunt to find old toads!
  • Episode cast overview:
    Adam West Adam West - Batman
    Burt Ward Burt Ward - Robin
    Alan Napier Alan Napier - Alfred (credit only)
    Neil Hamilton Neil Hamilton - Commissioner Gordon
    Stafford Repp Stafford Repp - Chief O'Hara
    Madge Blake Madge Blake - Mrs. Cooper (credit only)
    Burgess Meredith Burgess Meredith - The Penguin
    Carolyn Jones Carolyn Jones - Marsha, Queen of Diamonds
    Estelle Winwood Estelle Winwood - Aunt Hilda
    Alan Reed Alan Reed - General MacGruder
    Bob Hastings Bob Hastings - Major Beasley
    Frank Baron Frank Baron - Henchman #1
    Ted Fish Ted Fish - Truck Driver
    All rights reserved © 2017-2024 hd.thomson-multimedia.com