Much like Ceasar Romero's Joker, Broadway and Film Star and truly one of the Finest Actors anywhere, Burgess Meredith gave the definitive interpretation of Arch Villain, The Penguin. Mr. Meredith had the face and properly shaped nose(though a prosthetic extension was added, of course!). When seen without the Trademark Top Hat, his down the middle parted hair style, along with his ever present monocle, gave him a certain appearance of being a creature with one foot in our world, the other one being soundly planted in Comic Book Land.
There is always the unavoidable temptation to compare this original filmed Penguin by Mr. Meredith to Danny DiVito's version as the Penguin in Director Tim Burton's BATMAN RETURNS (1992). The Series Penguin was a vicious thug, but has a curtain of gentility which he uses to mask his true nature. To be sure, the Burgess Meredith Penguin has a temper, and even a truly all around nasty disposition.
In contrast Danny Divito's Pengy has an unapologetic abrasiveness of personality that presents itself always, proudly in the open.He is as nasty as his outward appearance reflects the inwardly tormented soul of this version.
In looking around for whatever influences were around at that time in our history, we must ask, just what would have contributed to the genesis of a diminutively sized, tuxedo wearing, bird-like felonious sociopath. As is often the case, we need only to look toward Hollywood. For it was the motion pictures of the times that have come to exert a great influence on American and World social behaviour. A Classic Example of Life imitating Art, but on a Grand Scale.
One look at the film or any one of a number of stills from THE MALTESE FALCON (Warner Brother, 1941). Along with Humphrey Bogart was British Stage Actor, Sydney Greenstreet, appearing in his first film as the 'brains' heavy, Kasper Guttman.* Always spiffy decked out in dark, almost tuxedo-like suits and matching black hat, he was a model of tonsorial splendor. His outfit included the wearing of spats and the carrying of walking stick.
When this appearance and mannerisms are added to the physical qualities of the then 63 year old Sidney Greenstreet, you have a prototype of the Penguin. Even his walk was waddling and swaying to and fro, much like those Antarctic flightless birds. All of these trappings set on the rotund physique of Sydney's gave the appearance of a huge penguin.** Now then, as for FINE FEATHERD FINKS, this was the second week of the Pop Art, 'Camp' Batman Revolution. Like all of those other Batman Comics villains, there had never been a film counterpart, until this Year of A.D. 1966. It was up to Mr. Burgess Meredith and the Production team to put it together.
They opted for a very close to the Comics, both in appearance and personality for TV's second Criminal Foe.
In the opening, a fashionable "smart shop" in downtown Gotham City reports an incident of unusual occurrence involving some incendiary umbrellas. All of the earmarks of a Penguin designed hold-up were present, except no robbery occurred.
Warden Creighton pays a visit to Police Commishiner Gordon for an official meeting with Gordon, Batman & Robin. The Warden has news and a videotaped record implicating The Penguin in planning a new crime spree for Gotham. Following an incident with a giant umbrella, the Caped Crimebusters investigate one of three new Umbrella Factories recently licensed in town, but this one is run by the licensee who used the moniker of K.G. Bird (Cagey Bird).
Entering the shop of Penguin as Bruce Wayne, Batman is he discovered trying to leave a bugging device behind. As this installment comes to its end, we have Bruce Wayne unconscious, strapped onto a conveyor belt, being fed, like a piece of kindling, into the factory's blast furnace, when.........................(see my Review of THE PENGUIN's A JINX!)
* Warner Brothers had planned to cast Edward Arnold as Kasper Guttman. Then, quite by accident, Studio Head, Jack Warner, saw Sydney Greenstreet in as stage play, and immediately knew that they had an actor to portray "The Fatman".
** In the first appearance of The Penguin in the Comics, Bruce Wayne and his Ward, Dick Grayson observed one Mr. Boniface (the only name ever given Penguin) in an Art Gallery. They remarked on how much that he looked like a penguin.
There is always the unavoidable temptation to compare this original filmed Penguin by Mr. Meredith to Danny DiVito's version as the Penguin in Director Tim Burton's BATMAN RETURNS (1992). The Series Penguin was a vicious thug, but has a curtain of gentility which he uses to mask his true nature. To be sure, the Burgess Meredith Penguin has a temper, and even a truly all around nasty disposition.
In contrast Danny Divito's Pengy has an unapologetic abrasiveness of personality that presents itself always, proudly in the open.He is as nasty as his outward appearance reflects the inwardly tormented soul of this version.
In looking around for whatever influences were around at that time in our history, we must ask, just what would have contributed to the genesis of a diminutively sized, tuxedo wearing, bird-like felonious sociopath. As is often the case, we need only to look toward Hollywood. For it was the motion pictures of the times that have come to exert a great influence on American and World social behaviour. A Classic Example of Life imitating Art, but on a Grand Scale.
One look at the film or any one of a number of stills from THE MALTESE FALCON (Warner Brother, 1941). Along with Humphrey Bogart was British Stage Actor, Sydney Greenstreet, appearing in his first film as the 'brains' heavy, Kasper Guttman.* Always spiffy decked out in dark, almost tuxedo-like suits and matching black hat, he was a model of tonsorial splendor. His outfit included the wearing of spats and the carrying of walking stick.
When this appearance and mannerisms are added to the physical qualities of the then 63 year old Sidney Greenstreet, you have a prototype of the Penguin. Even his walk was waddling and swaying to and fro, much like those Antarctic flightless birds. All of these trappings set on the rotund physique of Sydney's gave the appearance of a huge penguin.** Now then, as for FINE FEATHERD FINKS, this was the second week of the Pop Art, 'Camp' Batman Revolution. Like all of those other Batman Comics villains, there had never been a film counterpart, until this Year of A.D. 1966. It was up to Mr. Burgess Meredith and the Production team to put it together.
They opted for a very close to the Comics, both in appearance and personality for TV's second Criminal Foe.
In the opening, a fashionable "smart shop" in downtown Gotham City reports an incident of unusual occurrence involving some incendiary umbrellas. All of the earmarks of a Penguin designed hold-up were present, except no robbery occurred.
Warden Creighton pays a visit to Police Commishiner Gordon for an official meeting with Gordon, Batman & Robin. The Warden has news and a videotaped record implicating The Penguin in planning a new crime spree for Gotham. Following an incident with a giant umbrella, the Caped Crimebusters investigate one of three new Umbrella Factories recently licensed in town, but this one is run by the licensee who used the moniker of K.G. Bird (Cagey Bird).
Entering the shop of Penguin as Bruce Wayne, Batman is he discovered trying to leave a bugging device behind. As this installment comes to its end, we have Bruce Wayne unconscious, strapped onto a conveyor belt, being fed, like a piece of kindling, into the factory's blast furnace, when.........................(see my Review of THE PENGUIN's A JINX!)
* Warner Brothers had planned to cast Edward Arnold as Kasper Guttman. Then, quite by accident, Studio Head, Jack Warner, saw Sydney Greenstreet in as stage play, and immediately knew that they had an actor to portray "The Fatman".
** In the first appearance of The Penguin in the Comics, Bruce Wayne and his Ward, Dick Grayson observed one Mr. Boniface (the only name ever given Penguin) in an Art Gallery. They remarked on how much that he looked like a penguin.
