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Batman creator William Dozier on what makes a good Batman villain
What made these actors so good at being bad?
Batman's creator William Dozier wasn't especially interested in making any deep moral statements with his television program. He was simply content with making people smile.
"It's entertaining a lot of people, and we're in the entertainment business," said the 1960s series creator during an interview with The Buffalo News. "We don't pretend it will elevate anyone culturally."
Dozier was aware of who was watching Batman and argued that the younger the viewer, the better. "Adults may not necessarily like Batman, but they are amused by it," he said. "Young kids take it seriously and teenagers see the humor in it."
One of the most important parts of Batman, without a doubt, has to be the villains. Dozier seemed to have specific criteria for the baddies depicted on screen.
"They must be classic actors," said Dozier. "John Barrymore would have been great because the character must have a Machiavellian quality, a sense of humor, and above all be capable of murder."
Adversely, Dozier made the caped crusader fiercely defensive of the law, even if at times he bent the rules.
"Yes, Batman does drive fast," he said in an interview with the Associated Press. "But he usually abides by the rules of the road except in pursuit of criminals or hurrying to the scene of a crime. Then he functions as a law officer and must cut corners and occasionally cross the center line. But he has spoken to Robin about the importance of fastening seat belts."
"The caped crusader has often told the boy wonder to respect the police and uphold the law," he said.
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