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Batman: Knightfall
1st Broadcast 1994 BBC Radio 1
Contents
Producer
Dramatized By
Director
Produced for
BBC Radio Light Entertainment BBC Radio 1
Synopsis
A new and sinister enemy, Bane, has arrived in Gotham City.
The entire maximum-security wing of Ardham Asylum has been breached; all the major villains have escaped and are looking for vengeance.
Cast
The Riddler Stuart Milligan
Mayor Krohl Vincent Marzello
The Mad Hatter Chris Emmett
Nightwing James Goode
Scarecrow James Goode
Robin Daniel Marinker
Shondra Kinsolving Alibe Parsons
Scarface Michael Roberts
The Ventriloquist Michael Roberts
Harvey Bullock Eric Meyers
Renee Montoya Lorelei King
Commissioner James Gordon William Roberts
The Joker Kerry Shale
Jean-Paul Valley Peter Marinker
Bane Peter Marinker
Brue Wayne Bob Sessions
Batman Bob Sessions
Tim Drake Daniel Marinker
Alfred Pennyworth Michael Gough
Jack Drake Peter Marinker
Thomas Wayne Kerry Shale
Amygdala William Roberts
Carlton LeHa William Roberts
Tough Tony William Roberts
Leslie Thompkins Lorelei King
Lady Shiva Lorelei King
Young Bruce Lorelei King
Martha Wayne Lorelei King
Sarah Essen Lorelei King
Colonel Vega Eric Meyers
Batcave Computer Eric Meyers
Joe Chill Eric Meyers
Bird Eric Meyers
Jeremiah Arkham Eric Meyers
Firefly Eric Meyers
Nomoz Eric Meyers
Film Freak Michael Roberts
Simpson Flanders Michael Roberts
Benedict Asp Michael Roberts
Hood Michael Roberts
Shondra Kinsolving Alibe Parsons
Maxie Zeus Stuart Milligan
Armand Krol Vincent Marzello
Abattoir Vincent Marzello
Mr. Zsasz Vincent Marzello
Production Crew
Recorded and Mixed
Recorded at
None at this time
Music composed & Arranged
Comment by Dirk Maggs
Released as three cd's called
CD1 A Knight's Fall
CD2 A Hero's Quest
CD3 A Batman Reborn
When it was first suggested we should make action dramas in daily three-minute episodes I was pretty scared but willing to give it a try. There was a lot of gloomy predictions of failure but once we got into our stride it seemed to work pretty well, and it was a format which could be slotted in between the chart records on BBC Radio 1. Also, the first real effort to get to grips with Dolby Surround was ‘Batman Knightfall’ which we made for BBC Radio 1 in 1994.
The idea was to create an atmospheric mood which would be quite scary. Paul Deeley did some amazing sound mixing but some of the effects mixing and panning aren't as focussed as we would do it now on Dolby 5.1. To be honest, everything I have done I would improve if I could go back and do it again ... we are all the same, perfectionists who - but for deadlines - might never finish a job! A quick word for Bob Sessions who played our Batman. What a great presence he has, what a wonderful voice. And he WAS Batman in a uniquely urbane way. My ambition was to do Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ with him ... sadly it was not to be - dear Bob died before it could happen. Thank you, Bob.
Running Time
65 number 3-minute episodes 195 minutes in total
Cast Pictures
Batman Knighfall cast
Other Links
Batman: The Lazarus Syndrome
Review
A Very good Review By Ty Power
What Others have said
“... Dirk Maggs, who wrote and produced, threw everything into the pot and stirred vigorously. The result was richly textured, highly flavoursome, original and wonderfully energetic ... Maggs struck just the right balance between Gothic horror, gung-ho heroism and camp humour, and maintained it. This sort of speed and density is all too rare in radio ...”
NIGEL ANDREW, Daily Telegraph
“... summoned up Gotham’s nocturnal horrors more effectively than the movies...”
DAMIAN THOMPSON, Sunday Telegraph
“... Dirk Maggs productions ‘Composed through' like a Lloyd-Webber' musical - scene boundaries of the lightning cut type - over-aural-excitation - crowded 'mise en scène' - plenitude of sound events...”
STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY February 2001 NEW MEDIA: NEW PRACTICES: NEW PARADIGMS
