Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club

Under pressure from his wife, the mayor of Gotham fires Commissioner Gordon and appoints ultra-feminist villain Nora Clavicle in his place. She is immediately in charge of replacing all the male members of the Police Department with women and launches an unusual plan that consists of dispersing thousands of toy mice with an explosive charge so that at midnight when they explode simultaneously they destroy the City. This is an extremely entertaining episode that perhaps today can be considered sexist, since it presents women as fools who only deal with superficial tasks. The writers were very creative in adapting the famous Pied Piper of Hamelin story into a Batman story, which has a hilarious result. Many describe this episode as the worst of the series due to its sexist content, but you have to place yourself in time and space to be able to enjoy it and understand that everything is done as a joke and in an exaggerated way. I personally found the episode hilarious and very entertaining.

Most 1966 Batman episodes are still campy fun, but this episode is hard to watch. The 60s sexism and satire don't age well at all. Feel free to skip this one unless you want to cringe and feel uncomfortable.

The Pied Piper bit is the only thing worth watching. The rest of the episode makes both men and women look bad.

Truth will set you free, But first it will piss you off!

...at Stanford Sherman

~jodawa.

"Nora Clavicle and the Ladies' Crime Club" spoofs militant feminism and those women who pretend to champion same while seeking to enrich themselves, not that a male screenwriter could manage to do so in entertaining fashion. Byron Keith's ninth appearance as Mayor Linseed (first since "Batman's Anniversary") finds him dismissing Commissioner Gordon after 25 years of dedicated service and appointing as new commissioner Nora Clavicle (Barbara Rush), the name spoofing on the infamous Gloria Steinem, with Linseed's wife Millie (Jean Byron) replacing Chief O'Hara, in turn firing all men from the police force and hiring women to take their place. What results is a laughable excuse for feminism on display, policewomen more interested in applying makeup or discussing recipes to foil a bank robbery, to the consternation of harried bank manager Larry Gelman (THE ODD COUPLE, THE BOB NEWHART SHOW). The ultimate goal of Nora Clavicle is to destroy Gotham City using mechanical mice carrying tiny explosives set to go off after sunset throughout the city, then collect $10 million on a guaranteed insurance policy! Batman, Robin, and Batgirl get tied up in a Siamese human knot that looks kinky, if decidedly uncomfortable, and after being freed by wiggling two ears and one finger (insert inappropriate comments here!), the Caped Crusader hits upon a set of musical notes at the right frequency to lure the entire population of radar-like rodents to the dockside for a final splashdown, all three in effect becoming Pied Pipers to avert disaster. Even taken as satire it remains a chore to watch, virtually every policewoman frightened into a faint at the mere sight of one mouse, the men just as helpless in their clichéd way. Statuesque June Wilkinson is a pleasant sight, not to mention attractive twins Alyce and Rhae Andrece from STAR TREK's "I, Mudd," plus the early appearance from Elizabeth Baur, three years before her starring role opposite Raymond Burr in IRONSIDE. Its just inclusion as worst ever episode is a simple one, reminding me of a line uttered by Pam Dawber on assignment on MORK AND MINDY: "Feminism, myth or Mrs!"

I rate this episode 5 for one reason... I don't know if I should have enjoyed it or not.

This entire episode I spent open jawed at the blatant sexism on display along with the worst jeopardy of any episode (and this being Batman that says a lot)a human knot? REALLY? Upon the request of Nora Clavicle, the new Commissioner of Gotham, all the police officers are replaced with women. Batman and Robin having nothing to do decide to investigate the reason women are now in charge. After a "human knot" involving the dynamic trio and a bank robbery with the most sexist of overtones (undertones far to subtle for this show) we run into the greatest plan ever... because all women... and only women... are scared of mice.

I feel dirty after watching this. Like a car crash. I shouldn't crane my neck and slow down to see, but somehow I do.

I'm glad this sexism doesn't exist today but my god I laughed... I just hope I did it ironically. As I hope will you, if you dare watch.