This is the first filmed appearance of Batman.
Alfred the Butler first appeared in "Batman" #16, a few months before the release of this serial. The story introduced him as new entering Bruce Wayne's employ. However, records indicate that he was created by the writers of the film, and put into the comic book to conform to the film. In his first few appearances, Alfred was drawn as very chubby and clean-shaven. Soon after the release of the film, there was a story where he went to a health spa, lost weight and began to wear a mustache, which made him look quite similar to William Austin. From then on, in the comics (and animated cartoons) Alfred has resembled the Austin image. The comics gave Alfred the surname Beagle in 1945, however, he was renamed Alfred Pennyworth in 1969, whether due to an editor's error or a deliberate revision. In the 1970s he was given a backstory as a military hero, and in the mid-1980s his biography was revised so that he was the Wayne family butler in Bruce's childhood.
At 23 years old, Lewis Wilson is the youngest actor to play the adult Bruce Wayne / Batman on screen.
Shown on Turner Classic Movies in its entirety. One chapter each week on Saturday mornings during 2021, starting 5/15/2021 and ending 10/2/2021. (No chapters were shown in the month of August.)
This serial was reissued under the title "An Evening With Batman and Robin" in late 1965. There was no added footage. The program simply consisted of all of the episodes (complete with titles, credits and cliffhangers--exactly as they were shown in theaters in 1943) presented one after the other in one sitting. Contrary to popular belief, this was not done in response to the success of the Batman (1966) TV show. That began on 1/12/66, and "An Evening With Batman and Robin" was playing in theaters as early as 12/10/65.
Bob Kane: Batman co-creator makes a brief cameo as the newsboy in Chapter One, yelling, "Read all about the Batman!" before handing a paper to Bruce Wayne.