"Come Back, Shame" was one instance in which the producers wanted a certain actor, in this case Cliff Robertson (soon to win an Oscar for 1968's "Charly"), and allowed him to suggest what kind of villain he'd like to play. The actor's response was to do a cowboy villain who took himself very seriously, named for the Alan Ladd Western of 1953, "Shane," complete with idolizing little boy in tow (Eric Shea), who continues to follow the ornery Shame around because the big galoot stole his radio! (Robertson's young daughter wasn't very impressed with his movie career, but once she met Adam West, she knew her father was working with important people!). Shame has been stealing custom cars and go carts all over town, his trademark a platinum bullet left at the scene of each crime, his goal to build a super fast model that can outrace the swift Batmobile. Gorgeous 1958 Playboy Playmate Joan Staley is his moll Okie Annie, while his desperados are Timothy Scott as Messy James (so named for his inability to pour whiskey without spilling it), and Rip Snorting (John Mitchum, younger brother of Robert, later seen in "Surf's Up! Joker's Under!"). The climactic barroom brawl at the Demon Rum Saloon ends with the Dynamic Duo trussed up and waiting to be stampeded by approaching cattle, with comedian Jack Carter popping up unbilled as disc jockey Hot Rod Harry.
Review of Come Back, Shame
