Fatman (1968) Directed by Bryce Malek; Starring Bob
Crabb, Robert Malek, Thomas McHenry, Jeff Lenz, Alinda Campbell, Joe Meyers, and
Bryce Malek. A spoof of the
popular TV show “Batman” featuring a pie fight provoked by an evil villain
named The Baker. 8mm, color, silent.
3:46
Fatman, although widely
considered a failed film usually relegated to the umbrella production, was a
rather ambitious production with interior and exterior scenes, an animated
title sequence, and an extensive action segment. It marked the debuts of both Bob Crabb and Thomas McHenry, as
well as featuring Robert Malek in a female role. Dialogue was handled with unique title cards. Unfortunately, the pie fight footage
was shot with an alternate camera that could be undercranked for a speeded-up
silent film styling, but ended up being too damaged and could not be
saved. Ironically, Bryce Malek
plays the director of the film-within-a-film, who, after the messy pie fight,
tells the cast that there was no film in the camera, and the scene would have
to be reshot. At that point, a
birthday cake was to be photographed being dumped on his head…but all that
remains is the behind-the-scenes shot of Bryce after being hosed off.