TO THE BATPOLES #206: Neil Hamilton: From silent film star to Gotham’s top cop

[bat-rss]

He’s best remembered as the Gotham City Police Department’s Commissioner Gordon, the Dynamic Duo’s #1 cheerleader. But Neil Hamilton had a long Hollywood career decades before Batman, dating back to the silent film era. This time, we talk about the hills and valleys of his decades in film and television, capped off with the Batman role that earned him the funds to retire.

PLUS: More of Adam West’s 2014 appearance on the YouTube channel Cinefix, the Scott Community High School Band version of the theme, and your response to our discussion of the Rembrandt III treatment!

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[chrisbcritter]

the Scott Community High School Band version of the theme

Adding faces to the music. From the 1967 Scott CHS yearbook:

[BATWINGED HORNET]

Solid research on Hamilton, guys. As much as the lives of so many people associated with Batman have been discussed over the decades, much of the life of Neil Hamilton remained a mystery, or dusty references to his professional life. Further, Hamilton was such a "middle road" kind of personality--meaning he never appeared to present himself in any egocentric way that would have distinguished his professional life like the bigger stars of his generation.

Admittedly, every actor was not going to be Bogart, Cagney, Karloff or Grant, but even some "C-list" performers such as Lester Matthews (Werewolf of London, Mysterious Mr. Moto, The Three Musketeers, etc.) or Nigel Bruce (best known as Dr. Watson from Universal's Sherlock Holmes series) still had a presence that brought attention to themselves. That's the opposite of what I'm seeing in your assessment of Hamilton's career. Even after Batman brought Hamilton more attention than most actors would experience in a lifetime, he was still a quiet mystery, almost a fixture as a character, rather than a living personality known beyond the role in the manner of West and Ward.

Perhaps he was just a lower-key personality, and that's fine, but I do wish he gave more interviews about his life, and perception of being on a series about comic book characters.

[robinboyblunderer]

He’s best remembered as the Gotham City Police Department’s Commissioner Gordon, the Dynamic Duo’s #1 cheerleader.
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I recently re-watched some episodes and found myself enjoying the Gordon office scenes quite a bit more than usual.I don't know if Neil Hamilton had been burned out by the show but if so, it never came across onscreen. His enthusiasm for Batman and Robin remained undiminished.

And his comedic timing is perfect. I love how in part one of the Joke-Penguin three parter, when Batman finds the Joker's listening device, Gordon gives an excited "That's him!" and points at the device when the Joker speaks.

It's hilarious.

I think O'Hara's the same, their partnership and chemistry on screen was great. There's another episode, maybe the Puzzler when Gordon goes on about his usual speech praising them and O'Hara cuts him off and Gordon just bounces right back to make his point regardless.

Their beffudlement, constant loyalty to Batman and Robin and on occasion, their moments of competency really stand out.

Cheers