Episode #064 - Read My Lips
Original Airdate - May 10th, 1993
Gotham Police are baffled by a series of crimes executed with
clockwork-like precision. Batman investigates and discovers that the
crimes.
are planned by a mob boss known as Scarface. He traces Scarface to his
lair -- a deserted mannequin warehouse -- and discovers, to his
astonishment, that the crime czar is a wooden dummy, manipulated by a
mild-mannered man called the Ventriloquist.
Media by Bird Boy
Review by Robin III |
Credits
Story by Alan Burnett, Michael Reaves
Teleplay by Joe R. Lansdale
Directed by Boyd Kirkland
Music Composed by Shirley Walker
Animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co.
Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman
Bob Hastings as Gordon
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred
Earl Boen as Rhino
George Dzundza as Ventriloquist-Scarface
Joe Piscopo as Manager
Neil Ross as Ratso |
Screen Grabs
Pans
Quotes
RHINO: Who you lookin' for, Bat-breath?
BATMAN: First guess is you.
RHINO: Don't get wise with me. I may not like ya!
BATMAN: You're breaking my heart, Rhino.
RHINO: I ain't scared of you, but ain't gonna trick me into takin' a
swing at ya. You got nothin' on me.
BATMAN: You seem to have me confused with the police, Rhino. I want
information and I'll get it any way I please. Who's your boss?
RHINO: You want information? Watch the news.
RHINO CHARGES AT BATMAN, MISSES AND LANDS IN SOME GARBAGE. HE TRIES
AGAIN, BUT BATMAN JUMPS OVER HIM AND RHINO FALLS AGAIN.
BATMAN: You've got a hard head. How about using for something other than
a blunt object?
THE POLICE ARRIVE AND BATMAN LEAVES.
OFFICER 1: Well, if it isn't Charles 'Rhino' Daly. Why don't you run
along home?
OFFICER 2: Your ma's probably waitin' up!
RHINO LEAVES, DISGRUNTLED.
OFFICER 1: Phew! Guy like that, I'm not so sure a bullet'd stop him!
OFFICER 2: Hey, I'm not sure a tank'd stop him!
--
VENTRILOQUIST: Now, Mr. Scarface, remember your blood pressure!
SCARFACE: Shaddup! I want your opinion, Dummy, I'll pull your string!
--
BATMAN: My advice to you: Don't make a sound.
--
BATMAN: You can think I'm dumb just don't talk to me like I'm dumb.
--
SCARFACE (to Ventriloquist): Don't put words in my mouth!
--
SCARFACE: Who is it? You don't talk, you get the ultimate massage!
BATMAN: And if I tell?
SCARFACE: Maybe you just get run over by a truck.
BATMAN: Tempting. . . but no.
--
BATMAN (Ventriloquist's voice): Shut up, you blockhead!
SCARFACE: What did you say!?
VENTRILOQUIST: It wasn't me! I didn't say that! My lips didn't move!
SCARFACE: So what?! You're a ventriloquist!
Review: Probably the most
psychological episode of the series, and probably confusing for children
as well. Along with the excellent aspect of two people in one body, the
gangster theme (music and all) was excellently captured in this episode.
The shocker of the episode, censor wise, is in the finale. If children
couldn't really put together that Scarface isn't real, they would
probably have nightmares from the dancing bullet riddled body.
The characters were very well done, personality wise. Rhino was great as
the brainless brute, Ventriloquist's innocence and Scarface's scheming
50's gangster were all great elements of the story that haven't truly
been captured in further episodes. One of the greatest mind game scenes
at the end with Batman using his own ventriloquism was a plus in the
episode, maybe the series.
The animation was nice and dark, fitting the gangster image, but at
sometimes it was jotting or choppy. There were some places which could
have been touched up, but overall it was great.
[ Back to Episodes ]
|
|
