Shoot a Crooked Arrow

Infobox Television episode | Title = Shoot a Crooked Arrow


Series = Batman
Season = 2
Episode = 35
Airdate = September 7, 1966 (ABC)
Production = 9705-Pt. 1
Writer = Stanley Ralph Ross
Director = Sherman Marks
Guests = Dick Clark
Sam Jaffe
Myron Dell
Robert Cornthwaite
Robert Adler
Doodles Weaver
Barbara Nichols
Loren Ewing
Steve Pendleton
Lee Delano
Archie Moore
Special Guest Villain: Art Carney as The Archer
Prev = Batman Makes the Scenes
Next = Walk the Straight and Narrow

"Shoot a Crooked Arrow" is the thirty-fifth episode of the "Batman" television series. It was the series' second season opener on ABC, originally airing September 7, 1966 (with a repeat taking place on May 31, 1967), as well as the first to air first-run on The Alphabet Network since the release of the 1966 Batman motion picture, and guest starred Art Carney as The Archer.

Plot

In The Caped Crusader's second season opener, The Archer, a medieval crook modeled after Robin Hood, escapes from Police Headquarters in a moving van from The Trojan Hearse Company, driven by Maid Marilyn. Together, with his band of merry malefactors - Crier Tuck and Big John - he pays a surprise visit to Wayne Manor. The inhabitants are gassed and cash is stolen. Later, the crew attacks Police HQ. When they are giving out other stolen cash they are apprehended by Batman and Robin. The Gotham citizens enriched by the muggers save them from arrest.

The Dynamic Duo trace The Archer to his hideout at The Earl Of Huntington Archery Range (Robin Hood was the alias of The Earl of Huntington) in Gotham's Green Forest section, where Alfred Pennyworth attempts to divert the crooks long enough for The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder to inspect his GHQ. The two are trapped in a giant net.

The Archer threatens to behead Alfred if he does not get the location of the Batcave, so the crime computers can be destroyed. Knowing the guillotine is fake, Batman refuses. The Archer then sets up Batman and Robin to be skewered by lances.

Cliffhanger Text

:DOTH THIS FOUL DEED SPELL FINIS FOR THE CAPED CRUSADERS?:WILLST THE DYNAMIC DUO ESCAPE TO FIGHT AGAIN THE VILLAINOUS SWINE WHO THREATEN HOME AND HEARTH?:TAKE HEART, CITIZENS. THE ANSWER TO THESE AND OTHER POINTED QUESTIONS TOMORROW!:SAME BAT-TIME! SAME BAT-CHANNEL...!

Trivia

* Art Carney (The Archer) is best known for his role of Ed Norton on "The Honeymooners".
* Alfred was known as "The William Tell Of Liverpool," and is an expert with the long-, short-, and crossbow.
* Episode production numbers appear at the end of the show's end credits throughout this season.
* A villain named "The Archer" first appeared in "Superman" #13 (November-December 1941). The criminal wore a green archer's costume and worked alone, extorting money from wealthy victims whom he would murder if they refused to pay.
* Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark makes an appearance.
* Beginning this season, all of the action word titles which appear during the climactic fight sequences were inserted in between scenes, as opposed to being superimposed over scenes (like the first season and the movie), due to cutting down the massive budget devoted to camera and art work.
* Howie Horwitz's producing credit is now moved from the end credits to the episode sub-main title sequence.