"A Death Worse Than Fate" finds Zelda the Great (Anne Baxter) convinced by a live broadcast featuring Robin and Bruce Wayne that the money she had stolen before is genuine and not counterfeit, so she agrees to set free Dick Grayson's Aunt Harriet (Madge Blake), on the same corner as Frankie Darro's newsman. A match book planted by Zelda leads the Dynamic Duo to the secret hideout of Eivol Ekdal (Jack Kruschen), who plans to catch them inside his latest creation, 'an indestructible doom trap,' and if they actually find a way to escape, certain death awaits in a pair of hoods waiting to use their machine guns (one of whom is played by Victor French). The hoods wind up blasting each other to kingdom come, thanks to Zelda's timely warning of danger, while Ekdal's hasty retreat isn't quick enough to avoid the Batarang. Bruce Wayne's visit to Zelda in prison is a welcome coda to an unusual two part excursion from the pen of Lorenzo Semple Jr., directed by veteran actor/director Norman Foster, whose only other two parter is the debut of David Wayne's Mad Hatter. One last note of trivia: the doctor who treats Aunt Harriet after her safe return is played by an unrecognizable Douglass Dumbrille, at age 76 the second oldest actor to appear on the show during its three seasons on the air (Burt Mustin the eldest), in the last of his over 200 roles on screen.
6 Reviews
The 42 Year Old Anne Baxter
richardchatten17 July 2020
The scene at the Women's Division of Gotham City Penitentiary that concludes this story demonstrates why Season 1 far surpassed those that followed; marking one of the very few occasions a defeated adversary of the Caped Crusader was ever seen in prison uniform.
Julie Newmar regrettably never filled the snug-fitting striped pants suit fetchingly modelled here by the late Anne Baxter, on which Newmar would have worked her usual magic while graphically demonstrating at a glance the high stakes game the Princess of Plunder had been playing when caught, caged and denied the wet-look working clothes Selina Kyle poured herself into when she embraced the life of an outlaw.
As Zelda swings her trim little hips walking away back down a long corridor and out of the series (eventually to be supplanted by the egregious Madame Olga in Season 3), and Bruce Wayne tucks the rose she has just presented him with into his buttonhole - while a melancholy cornet solo plays the episode out - the series reaches heights it would seldom achieve again.
Julie Newmar regrettably never filled the snug-fitting striped pants suit fetchingly modelled here by the late Anne Baxter, on which Newmar would have worked her usual magic while graphically demonstrating at a glance the high stakes game the Princess of Plunder had been playing when caught, caged and denied the wet-look working clothes Selina Kyle poured herself into when she embraced the life of an outlaw.
As Zelda swings her trim little hips walking away back down a long corridor and out of the series (eventually to be supplanted by the egregious Madame Olga in Season 3), and Bruce Wayne tucks the rose she has just presented him with into his buttonhole - while a melancholy cornet solo plays the episode out - the series reaches heights it would seldom achieve again.
Batman - A Death Worse than Fate
Scarecrow-8825 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
There was nifty deception used by Batman to trick Zelda (special guest star, Anne Baxter, of All About Eve) into believing the latest $100,000 she stole was counterfeit backfires when she kidnaps Aunt Harriet as a means to get not necessarily revenge as much as attention from Bruce Wayne. So ward Dick Grayson must remain mum while his alter ego Robin agonizingly must appear with Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne in an attempt to appeal to Zelda's morality. The program works and realizing her money isn't fake, Zelda releases Harriet unscathed. This is a departure from the villains we are accustomed to who would instead exploit such a development for as much gain as possible. And when it appears as if gangsters are free to plug Batman while hiding in sarcophagi, Zelda actually saves the day
just this change is a nice alternative to the typical comic book formula where the villains would stoop to any level possible to see their nemesis out of the way. A clever trap involving a plastic case, electronic grid, and toxic gas imprisoning Batman and Robin (they do voluntarily "enter the lion's den", so to speak, so the Dynamic Duo do place themselves in this unfortunate situation) could be their end, but "Mad Albanian", Eivol Ekdal (Jack Kruschen) hopes they discover a way to leave it so he can use the device for a future performance involving Zelda. The Gnome Bookstore is the location for which the Caped Crusaders will find the lair of the villainous duo, and Zelda might just earn some real compassion with Batman and Robin after she assists them. A nice way to conclude the episode showing Bruce Wayne as sympathetic to Zelda, allowing her to use her magic for hospital children, granting her a reprieve despite her crimes because she proved that she hadn't lost her humanity even if a detour in crime cost her along the way.
Fear Not The Death Trap
DKosty12329 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Anne Baxter and Jack Kruschen are back for part 2. Jack has designed an inescapable death cube that he wants to trap the Dynamic Duo in. So the trick is to lure them into their lair. Zelda leaves a clue at Wayne mansion when they take Harriett, a business matchbook cover.
So Batman and Robin approach their lair, the escape proof trap there to try their skills. Will they get trapped, and will they escape?
When it is all over, there is a sequence at the women's prison which brings a bit of the adult level to this series. After Bruce Wayne finishes a talk with Zelda (Anne Baxter), the camera shows a great sentimental shot of Baxter's back side walking slowly and swinging away from the camera. West appears to have a good look at this one ending.
So Batman and Robin approach their lair, the escape proof trap there to try their skills. Will they get trapped, and will they escape?
When it is all over, there is a sequence at the women's prison which brings a bit of the adult level to this series. After Bruce Wayne finishes a talk with Zelda (Anne Baxter), the camera shows a great sentimental shot of Baxter's back side walking slowly and swinging away from the camera. West appears to have a good look at this one ending.
A Death Worse Than Fate
Prismark102 April 2024
With Aunt Harriet left dangling over a vat of flaming oil. Bruce Wayne needs to make a live appearance on television to persuade the crooks that Aunt Harriet should be freed.
Despite Robin's abrasiveness. Both Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon persuade the baddies that he stolen money was in fact genuine.
With Aunt Harriet freed. Batman has a fair idea as to who is behind all this.
The real nasty is the mad Albanian genius Eivol Ekdal. His inescapable doom trap awaits the dynamic duo. As only Batman is capable from escaping from such an inescapable device.
While Zelda has second thoughts with this dastardly plan.
At least the story has one baddie lamenting. Zelda spends time behind bars with Bruce Wayne giving her a chance for redemption.
Despite Robin's abrasiveness. Both Bruce Wayne and Commissioner Gordon persuade the baddies that he stolen money was in fact genuine.
With Aunt Harriet freed. Batman has a fair idea as to who is behind all this.
The real nasty is the mad Albanian genius Eivol Ekdal. His inescapable doom trap awaits the dynamic duo. As only Batman is capable from escaping from such an inescapable device.
While Zelda has second thoughts with this dastardly plan.
At least the story has one baddie lamenting. Zelda spends time behind bars with Bruce Wayne giving her a chance for redemption.
BOLD VILLAIN, INTERESTING STORY
asalerno1028 June 2022
Pressured by her producer, a magician expert in escapism commits a bank robbery to pay for her services, which consists of providing her with new ideas for her shows. Intrigued and willing to unmask her, Batman and Robin set a trap for her but far from falling into it, Zelda kidnaps Aunt Harriet for the purpose of blackmailing them. In the second part, Eivol Ekdal plans the visit of the dynamic duo to his lair to make them fall into a deadly trap and hopes that they themselves will find an escape from it that the villain has not been able to solve. An episode with a very good plot, even though Zelda is not exactly a colorful villain like others, the story is intriguing and well developed.
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