"Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

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epaddon
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"Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by epaddon »

Just got a copy of the final shooting script for the S1 finale "Fine Finny Fiends/Batman Makes The Scenes" and when following it while watching the episode I was able to detect signs of some final changes that had to have been made during production as well as evidence of what might have been some on-set ad-libs.

1-The script called for Penguin to have three henchmen with lines, Octopus, Shark and Swordfish. In the final product, only two were given lines (Octopus, Shark) while the third was an uncredited stuntman who only appeared in fight scenes with no lines to save costs.

2-Batman's admonition to "look both ways" was not in the script.

3-When Batman answers the Batphone after crossing the street, the script has him conversing with O'Hara. This was changed during shooting to Gordon (did Neil Hamilton argue for these lines, perhaps?)

4-Alan Napier would add a few British touches to his lines not in the script like "My good man etc."

5-Some of Penguin's descriptions of Finella and his henchmen were also on-set ad-libs and are not in the script. Also, some of Robin's "Holys" like his "Holy Wayne Manor" in the teaser where on-set changes.

6-Finella and the bathing beauties at Wayne Manor are described in the script as wearing bikinis. One suspects the censors insisted they be attired in one piece swimsuits instead. Curiously, when Finella appears at the party in the Part 2 tag, she is described as wearing prison stripes under her fur coat but the thankfully changed this to a stylish gown (the same one Julie Gregg wears in her cameo in the movie as the French nightclub singer)

7-The first big change is in Part 2 and Batman's explanation of how he got out of the trap. In the script, Batman says that while the air was disappearing from the tank, he took advantage of the fact that the remaining balloons still had air before they popped and he hid several away and drew air from them while Penguin wasn't looking, buying him more time. Awkward as this might have sounded, I like it better than the utility belt cop-out explanation they had him give in the actual episode.

8-Some staging was changed to have Gordon meet Bruce Wayne outside an office building during Part 2 that wasn't called for in the script.

9-The scene where Batman and Robin give Alfred false information on the location of the party ran longer and also had Batman explain why Bruce and Dick can not be at the party. This cut material incidentally then explains the later scene where the manager tells Miss Natural Resources that Bruce Wayne is out of town and Batman will be escorting her instead.

10-After Penguin calls Alfred and gets the information, a scene was cut showing Penguin explain to his henchmen how FInella will have her own umbrella inside the cake. The scene added nothing and was wise to go.

This was a nice way of determining how even after a "final" script was in place, it was still possible for last minute changes to be made during shooting itself.
Gleeps, it's Batman
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by Gleeps, it's Batman »

Cool. Thanks for posting that, epaddon :)
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Batguy
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by Batguy »

Funny, I was just thinking about this episode the other day. Thanks for posting the information. I couldn't recall if Batman gave an explanation of their escape, I just recall him opening his eyes after Penguin had left. Can't wait for the DVDs so I can see things like this.
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clavierankh
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by clavierankh »

it's always interesting to see how things change during production.

I never really liked the resolution of this cliff hanger. It's one of the few where we don't see them escape.

Some problems:

Did they use oxygen masks , if so why didn't Penguin see them? If Batman just opened a tank of air it would have registered on Penguin's gauge and been sucked out.

Even with masks, they are in a vacuum tank, the least you can expect is a bad case of bends.

A better escape would be Batman using something to foul Penguin's gauge so he only thinks the tank is empty.
robinboyblunderer
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by robinboyblunderer »

That is interesting, thanks for sharing this info.

The escape from this death trap is one of the least interesting of the whole series.

I agree, using the balloons for air would've been better than what they showed; though if he could've done that, why not just untie him and Robin and escape the room? Or put on a bat-oxygen mask or something?

Is the fight scene from part one detailed in the script or was that up to the stunt coordinators. Did Finella have any role to play in that first fight besides just looking at herself in the mirror and asking about her appearance in her swimsuit?
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epaddon
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by epaddon »

The Part 1 fight is not detailed. It just reads "Quick Cuts, Various Angles" and was clearly left to the stunt coordinators. Finella's line about "I'm not sure this is the right bathing suit" wasn't in the script (otherwise her entire role is pretty much as it was in the script, apart from the wardrobe difference).

Ultimately, they wouldn't have shown the balloon thing. It still was written with Batman opening his eyes and calling to Robin as we saw, the difference was just in his explanation in the Commissioner's office, which still played better in the script since it demonstrated some improvised thinking on Batman's part (and Robin reproached himself for not thinking of it).

One other thing that was improvised was using the photos of Dozier and Horwitz for the first two criminals Alfred is shown in the Batcave. No one specific was called for in the script, and clearly someone in the chain of command thought it would be a fun inside gag to use their pictures for the scene.
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chrisbcritter
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by chrisbcritter »

Was that line "Look boss - they're still breathing!" (in the first ep when the Duo are trapped by the fishhooks and gassed)in the script you have? Seemed like an odd thing to say, unless it was just to set up Penguin's next line about the vacuum tank.
Come to think of it, how did the script explain the "automatic" fishhooks? :lol:
"To the medical eye, such childish claptrap means only one thing, young man: You need some sleep."
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epaddon
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by epaddon »

Yes the line is there but the script called for Shark to hold a dagger over Batman with the intent of killing them, but Penguin then goes, "No! No!" prompting the response, "But Boss, they're still breathing." In both cases though, it was meant to set up the line about Penguin wanting to kill the using the Vacuum Tank.

The Automatic Fishhooks I suspect came from the same on-set person who decided to change the "Fish Bowl" Alfred was imprisoned in to the "Penguin Box"! :)
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Dr. Shimel
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by Dr. Shimel »

epaddon wrote: One other thing that was improvised was using the photos of Dozier and Horwitz for the first two criminals Alfred is shown in the Batcave. No one specific was called for in the script, and clearly someone in the chain of command thought it would be a fun inside gag to use their pictures for the scene.
So Dozier and Horwitz were part of both the S1 and S3 season finales, the latter in the flesh since both knew this was the final episode.
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epaddon
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by epaddon »

Bumping this thread since I finished scanning my copy of the script. This way everyone else can study the changes from script to production.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gj47xqs8r3s6i ... s.pdf?dl=0
robinboyblunderer
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by robinboyblunderer »

epaddon wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 5:12 pm Bumping this thread since I finished scanning my copy of the script. This way everyone else can study the changes from script to production.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gj47xqs8r3s6i ... s.pdf?dl=0
Thanks for sharing this! While not a big fan of the Penguin episodes with some exception (performance wise Burgess was quite good) I think this is a pretty good one. The scheme is interesting, one of the few times the villains hang around for the death trap and I like Finella's change of heart.

Your putting this online is much appreciated.
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epaddon
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by epaddon »

You're welcome! I admit I like this episode because the plot is pretty good (though the explanation for getting out of the trap is weak) and Julie Gregg's performance is a great acting job since she's playing something she wasn't at all.
robinboyblunderer
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by robinboyblunderer »

epaddon wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:55 pm (though the explanation for getting out of the trap is weak) and Julie Gregg's performance is a great acting job since she's playing something she wasn't at all.
I like the idea of him using the air from the balloons but as to how he would be able to do that seems a bit off; if he can grab the balloons, why not just pull out a batknife and free himself or do something else, use Bat-gas on the Penguin once he's free.

I don't recall if he said he used the balloons in the finished episode or had some unseen Bat-oxygen he was using.

But at least in the script we get to see Batman free himself and Robin. As filmed it really seems weak. I can see why they saved money and time by cutting but doing so neuters the scene.

The script overall just feels sharper than later episodes, like they were really trying to find a balance between goofy humor and an action show.
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chrisbcritter
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by chrisbcritter »

Hmm - no automatic fishhooks in there; Penguin just gasses them "at the right moment" - and according to the Part 2 recap, Robin gets it first instead of Batman.

As an aside, anyone else have trouble with opening the Dropbox files? All I get here is an oversized image of half the cover. Had to access the file through another computer.
"To the medical eye, such childish claptrap means only one thing, young man: You need some sleep."
robinboyblunderer
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Re: "Fine Finny Fiends"....Changes From Script To Production

Post by robinboyblunderer »

chrisbcritter wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:33 pm Hmm - no automatic fishhooks in there; Penguin just gasses them "at the right moment" - and according to the Part 2 recap, Robin gets it first instead of Batman.

As an aside, anyone else have trouble with opening the Dropbox files? All I get here is an oversized image of half the cover. Had to access the file through another computer.
Though it fits the theme, I think I prefer the gas to the fishhooks; especially since Robin is particularly wimpy, even for him the way the Penguin slams him against the wall.

Maybe try a different browser, and you should be able to view/download the script.

cheers
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