FORTRESS OF BAILEYTUDE

There is a part of me that absolutely loves watching the screen tests for the television programs and movies that I see and sometimes like.  It is interesting to watch the selection process and see why this actor was chosen while a score others weren’t.  This was especially the case with the screen tests that were shown on the Empire of Dreams documentary.  In watching the other actors and actresses that were up for the roles of Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia I realized why Harrison Ford, Mark Hammill and Carries Fisher won the parts over the likes of Kurt Russell, William Katt and others.  There was a earnestness in their delivery that made you believe what was being said and with both science fiction and super-hero projects this is essential because if the actor says the lines like he believes them to be true then the audience, consciously or subconsciously, will pick up on that and have an easier time with the sometimes outlandish concepts.

Last week I stumbled upon two of the screen tests for the Batman television series from 1966.  I remember watching Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt back in 2002 and seeing some of the screen test that future Steve Trevor Lyle Waggoner did for the series, so it was very cool to finally get to see the whole thing.

As I mentioned Lyle Waggoner went on to play Steve Trevor in the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman series but Peter Deyell didn’t do a whole heck of a lot after this screen test and I can kind of see why.  He just wasn’t all that good.  Maybe this was a poor representation of his acting prowess, but still.  After watching this I can see why both men were passed over for the roles.  They both looked decent in the costumes¹ but the energy and enthusiasm didn’t seem to be there.

And after watching the following video I can see why the roles of Batman and Robin went to Adam West and Berton Gervis.

Both West and Ward² seemed genuine in their delivery.  Despite or rather in spite of the campy nature of the series they both seemed so gosh darned serious about their roles and I think that is one of the more charming aspects of this series.  It was cool to see the action takes at the end of both videos.  I guess they wanted to make sure that whoever was cast as Robin could deliver in terms of the fight scenes, which as a kid were my favorite parts of the episode.

That’s all for this week.  Hope you found these as entertaining as I did.

More to follow…

Fortress Footnotes