Meow! Mattel saved this feline felon for last, but not least of it's first round of
Classic Batman TV Series toys.
The last release for this line, until Mattel's recent release of the Surf's Up! Joker figure, is molded in the likeness of the best known Catwoman of them all, Julie Newmar.
Early production memos between executive producer, William Dozier, and head script consultant, Lorenzo Semple Jr., reveals that the producers originally had Suzanne Pleashette in mind for Catwoman. Not sure what happened there, but Julie ultimately got the job.
Julie describes when she was offered the part:
I had lived in New York at the time on Beekman Place. I remember it was a weekend, Friday or Saturday, and my brother had come down from Harvard with five or six of his friends, and we were all sitting around on the sofa, just chatting away, when the phone rang. I got up and answered it, and it was this agent or someone in Hollywood, who said, 'Miss Newmar, would you like to play the Catwoman on the "Batman" series? They are casting it out here.' I was insulted because he said, 'it starts Monday.' I said, 'What is this?' That's how television is done: they never know what they are doing until yesterday. My brother leapt off the sofa. I mean he physically levitated and said, 'Batman! That's the favorite show at Harvard. We all quit our classes and quit our studies and run into the TV room and watch this show.' I said, 'They want me to play Catwoman.' he said, 'Do it!' So, I said, 'OK, I'll do it.'"
This cunning cat is always top dog! Catwoman is the most purrsistent cat burglar in Gotham City - with the purrfect crime to get Batman in her claws before her afternoon cat nap, conniving and clever, she develops her evil plans in her cat lair, with a terrible trio of tabby thugs in tow. Isn't she just the cat's meow?!
Early previews of this figure revealed photos of
her with a mask, but disappointedly, the final product does not come with one. Probably a cost cutting tactic or Mattel felt they would be lost, but the fact these figures are primarily for adult collectors makes me think Mattel was just being cheap. Mego perpetrated a similar scheme with their Removable Cowl Batman and Removable Mask Robin. Craaack!
Over all, like the rest of line, I am pretty satisfied with the line overall, but I really wish Mattel had the momentum with this line as Figures Toy Company does with their '66 Batman 8 inch figures. Come on Mattel, have a heart will ya. Give us more!
About the author: John Sholtz is an avid toy collector and the interim editor of the
Batcave Toy Room due to the abrupt death of Bruce Wayne. Learn more about him
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