RIP Leslie H Martinson

[johnnygobbs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37288862

Leslie H Martinson, a prolific director of US television whose credits included the 1966 film version of Batman, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 101.

A statement on his website said he died on Saturday "at home with his family".

Born in Boston in 1915, he started out as a script supervisor before earning his spurs as a director on The Roy Rogers Show and others in the 1950s.

He went on to direct two episodes of the Batman TV series, starring Adam West, and its big-screen spin-off.

The show and film developed a cult following thanks to its knowing humour, outlandish villains and fight scenes illustrated by cartoonish exclamations.

Emblematic of its tone was the scene in the film in which Batman, unable to find a safe place to dispose of an explosive, mutters the legend: "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."

According to the IMDB website, Martinson's many other TV credits include episodes of CHiPs, Fantasy Island, Dallas and Wonder Woman.

He also directed such films as PT 109, inspired by the wartime exploits of John F Kennedy, and the 1967 Raquel Welch vehicle Fathom.

Martinson is survived by his wife, the TV host and writer Connie Martinson.

A post on the website of Brezniak Rodman Funeral Directors said he would be buried on Friday in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

Sad to hear of the passing of the guy who made the first non-serial Batman feature film.

RIP

[Paul (ral)]

[The Dark Knight]

He lived to a ripe, old age and saw the show finally released on home video.

The B66 brand is stronger than ever.

RIP.

[The Joker]

RIP