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.

"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!"

It was probably a measure that Nora Clavicle sought only power that she was one of the very few special guest villains ever to bother neither with an alias nor a costume; which is presumably why she dismissed potential ally Selena Kyle as one of those small-time costume-wearing freaks and left her to languish in jail along with Policewoman Mooney while she engaged in the serious business of plundering Gotham City to finance a matriarchal New World Order.

As befits her originally purely mercenary aims (although she's obviously starting to get a kick out of the violence a life of crime can facilitate, since her eyes light up like Catwoman's when holding a sharpened knitting needle to Batgirl's neck), Ms Clavicle instead wears a professional businesswoman's suit; but interestingly one the same colour as Batgirl's costume.

A few lingering questions remain. Was Mrs Linseed promptly clapped in handcuffs as soon as Nora's diabolical scheme was foiled? Did she and Nora occupy adjacent cells at the Women's Division of Gotham City Penetentiary (which presumably had to be enlarged to house all Ms Clavicle's followers; although a few evaded capture, like an ambitious twenty year-old called Hillary Rodham)? And if so, was Mrs Linseed assigned to the prison laundry to resume ironing her husband's shirts?

Women take over Gotham City.

Firstly, I should say I totally understand some viewers being a little bothered by this episode. So please don't bombard me with "not useful" votes. This adventure does seem a tiny bit out of character in the Batman series. Many women would view this as the most sexist 25 minutes of television ever. However, one thing needs to be remembered here: this is Batman.

This series does not make statements about the human condition. This is not Star Trek or The Outer Limits. It is Batman. A series that is adventure for the kids and a show that is meant to be humour/adventure for the adults. However, maybe I am wrong, if someone has proof that I am wrong (maybe Adam West has spoken up about this episode) please let me know about it and I will correct this review.

Perhaps this episode could be described as a 1968 version of South Park or The Simpsons?

Look, I love the campy old 60s Batman, for fun, ridiculousness, fun, even some satire at times.

I watched the entire series in it's initial run, not fervent fan, but would always watch as kid. So here I am tonight and see it on the guide with "Nora Clavicle" in the description as villain, and for the life of me I didn't recall this villain! So, I figured I would give it a watch.....

But THIS one is just THE WORST of any episode! Fine, some episodes BAD, but they have at least some good moment or line or something. But THIS one has NONE!

No fights (OK understood not having Batman and Robin fight females, but how about BatGirl stepping in and subdue them?

But no.

Worst "peril" ever, Human knot! Knot even a good moment there (pun intended)! How about if BatGirl had come up with the solution out of some Yoga training or something!?

But no.

Worst ending. Alfred brings them in for what? Speeding?

Worst villain. Not campy fun, like a professor conking head and become Tut. When you watch Tut it's by NO means the idea that ALL Professors have this proclivity..... Yet with this episode you're left with the idea that ANY/ALL women's libber would be essentially Nora!!

I know "it's the 60s" and to some degree those type ideas existed, but this one just goes WAY over any boundaries, even taking that into account.

But even the episode compared to all other Batman's just doesn't have any good moments.

The reviewers here have it right, most 1s and 2s. But so how the overall average is at 5.8 is also WAY beyond any understanding. Free Speech, fine..... Here's mine: if you rated this higher than 3, you're not being honest or responsible.