From 1926 we have Roland West's "The Bat".
The Bat is a charming and stylishly produced murder-mystery film, which was made in the fleeting years of the silent era and may be more influential then you might think. Brimming with many lurid and distinctive visuals, The Bat was a stunning looking film in it's day, it also has it's fare share of twists and turns - which in turn must have impressed a young Bob Kane, who 12 years after this films release, would go on to create the universally-known icon of comics: Batman - in 1938. For anyone whose seen this silent movie it should be obvious, in regards to the similarities it shares with several of Batman's best-known visual references/trademarks, more on that later, now to the meat of the story.
The film is named after it's central character, an infamous cat-burglar named (you might have guessed it) The Bat, whose game is robbing the rich, while relieving them of their lives, as well as their wealth. His MO for boldness and daring is well established from the very opening scene, as he taunts the victim before the crime, then at the scene of the crime he taunts the police and then vanishes from sight. But not before leaving one of his distinctive calling cards, which essentially says: Beware The Bat! That same night a bank robbery occurs, only someone else beat The Bat to it, so he stealthy follows the thief to a large and lavish mansion on the outskirts of town and it's inside this cavernous mansion that nearly the entire movie is to take place. Inside this house are many interesting characters, some of which are quite amusing in a hokey way (don't forget this movie dates back to 1926), especially Lizzy Allen the suspicious and Superstitious maid, who do to the newspapers, is all caught up on The Bat; she along with "Super Sleuth Bloodhound Anderson" are essentially there to provide comic relief - and their pretty good at it.
This films plot is pretty complex, mostly because there are so many people (who are not always who they claim to be) coming and going at all times and also the existence of a secret room, which plays heavily into the thick of things, that's hidden somewhere inside the cavernous mansion. By my count there are up to 11 characters in all, some are good - some are bad, but they all serve a purpose and as a whole The Bat is an entertaining and stylish film, however it does tend to drag a little at times. Though taking place mostly indoors, the films sparsely-used exterior shots ooze with atmosphere, such examples would be: fog shrouded trees and buildings, a handful of stylish miniature sets, the use of live bats (which actually stay in frame and land as if trained), etc. Veteran film director Roland West was the films director (who a decade later, would be suspected of murder, see: Thelma Todd), who 4 or 5 years later would, ill-advisedly, remake The Bat, in sound this time; however this remake is/was a total failure and it possess none of the charm, that it's silent predecessor has in spades. *Note* I'd avoid that remake if I were you, IT IS a dismal disappointment.
Also it must be said (and this CAN'T go unmentioned) of The Bat, being at cat burglar and all, and as you'll see he wears a distinctive costume to mask his identity and "Mask" is ever the word for it; because along with a black over-coat, The Bat's disguise is completed by a HILARIOUS and very cumbersome-looking black "bat mask", complete with long pointy ears and a muzzle and fangs! THAT MASK... it should have you in stitches (especially for first time viewers), that insanely ridiculously looking mask is something else, a great example of something that's, as the saying goes, "So bad it's good". Mark my words. It really begs the question "just what the hell were they thinking", by going with such a spectacularly stupid-looking mask, but it is - what it is and has been for the past 91 years.
And now for the Batman Connection... in this film you'll see at least two visuals which are commonly seen in Batman comics that can be directly attributed to this movie. For instance in the opening minutes we have with what's The Bat's own personalized calling card, which is undoubtedly the precursor of the "Bat-A-Rang", which as you'll see bears an uncanny resemblance to it. Several minutes later you'll see what is irrefutably the inspiration behind the "Bat Signal" as it's shun through the mansions large gilded windows. But perhaps the most obvious influence of all, is the fact that there's a guy running around -dressed as a bat-, who uses ropes to scale high buildings at night. Ringing any bells? This movie is loaded with "Proto-Batman" visuals.
One The Edge of Oblivion: There is one last nugget of trivia surrounding this film, which I find interesting and even somewhat stimulating. It's the fact that whenever you sit down and watch The Bat, be it a tape, a DVD or a telecast, whatever the case, there all the same, do to the fact that -every- copy of this film originated from the same source, the last remaining print. It's been reported that this film was very nearly lost forever and that only a single print of it remained - anywhere in the world - and naturally had anything happened to that print... well that'd just be it for The Bat. So the next time you pop in your Alpha Video DVD of The Bat, just remember how close to the edge of oblivion this classic film was and it's very likely to have been languishing in that perilous state of existence for many years. Now that's what I call teetering on the edge - just one last print left. Whew, close call.
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