Stanley Ralph Ross, who died in March 2000, was the most prolific writer for the Batman TV series, and had a lot to do with shaping the tone of the show in the last two seasons. Because of that, he often has been criticized, particularly for creating some original villains that Bat-fans consider weak compared to their comic-book counterparts (such as Archer, Shame and even my personal favorite, Siren.) He also has taken some heat for quantum leaps of logic in his teleplays and for making Batman and Robin look like idiots, particularly when they squared off against Catwoman.
I must admit that I am one of those people who often has criticized him, at least in conversations, if not in print. Among other things, I believed he didn’t develop Siren enough. Plus, I thought his script for Catwoman’s Dressed to Kill subverted an above-average performance and an interesting take on the character by Eartha Kitt with some ridiculous scenarios. (Such as having Alfred in hippie disguise having to rescue Batgirl from the pattern cutter. Why couldn’t Robin meet Queen Bess of Belgravia, while Batman saved Batgirl? Or, heaven forbid, have someone on the Gotham City police force do some work for a change.)
I have, though, softened my stance on Mr. Ross’ script for The Wail of the Siren now that I have gotten a chance to see an original version of it. Once again, sparing no expense, The Batgirl Bat-Trap Homepage! has obtained a copy of the original script, as well as the one for Ring Around the Riddler. (You may remember that a previous Omake discussed the differences between the original Sandman script and the Sandman/Catwoman episodes that eventually were broadcast.)
So, as a companion piece to our current Siren story, we will examine some of the differences between the original scripts for Ring and for Wail, compared to what was broadcast. For now, suffice it to say that the character of Siren/Lorelei Circe that Ross presented in his original script was more well-rounded than what eventually appeared. Her alter-ego was referenced much more as well.
As was noted before, the Wail shoot was not an easy one for Joan Collins. In his book, Back to the Batcave, Adam West noted that for some unknown reason, Wail episode director George Waggner (credited as WaGGner, as Batfans will recall) took an immediate dislike to Collins, and treated her unkindly throughout the production of that episode. West, however, indicated that, in his opinion, Collins was a thorough professional and was well-prepared.
Collins makes no mention of this slight from Waggner in Second Act, her second autobiography. Instead, she wrote that her agent told her that Batman was "in its third season and extremely popular."
Collins wrote, "Only with morons, I mused, as I studied the script for an episode called Ring Around the Riddler, which was ludicrous. I would play a diva-type goddess called Lorelei Circe, a.k.a. the Siren, who uses her high-pitched voice to enslave people."
Joan evidently is extrapolating a little here, because it never was indicated that the Siren is a goddess. (Editor's note: Our previous Batgirl Bat-Trap story featuring Siren finally came up with an explanation for the origin of her powers!) Of course, this wouldn't be the first time Joan Collins has somewhat misrepresented a character she portrayed. She also has angered Star Trek fans with her incorrect explanation of the motivations of the Edith Keeler character, a humanitarian and anti-war activist. In the same chapter of Second Act, she erroneously writes that "Edith was convinced that Hitler was a kind and caring sort of fellow."
Collins also wrote that she and co-star Peggy Ann Garner, who played Betsy Boldface, "discussed the perils of our chosen profession while the hairdresser attempted to tame my enormous wig, which was probably one of the highest worn by any actress since Norma Shearer played Marie Antoinette. The two-feet-tall, white-gold acrylic edifice was a complicated concoction of curls, swirls and plaits and so heavy that at the end of each day I had a severe migraine."
Could that have been the reason for Joan's hairstyle in the scene in the garage underneath Barbara's apartment, in which the Siren instructs Commissioner Gordon of her plan sans wig?
That was my guess, but I was wrong. The stage direction in the original Wail script of that scene refers to her as “Lorelei Circe (Siren dressed for street)” and all of her lines in the scene are listed as being for “Lorelei” (or, in obvious typos, “Lorlei”). So ditching the elaborate bouffant for that scene was an attempt by Siren/Lorelei to be somewhat less conspicuous.
In an interview that is quoted on David Sutton's site, Ross indicated that the Siren character was written specifically for Collins. "When they told me they had Joan Collins, they said, 'Create a character for her,'" Ross said. "I thought Siren was perfect for Joan. She was married to a guy that I later went into partnership with, Anthony Newley. I wrote a musical with him."
Ross, however, also disparaged Collins' talent in an interview that is available on a Wonder Woman site. "Joan had appeared in a Batman episode I wrote, where she played a character called The Siren. I really don't think much of Joan Collins as an actress."
Unfortunately, there is less material from these episodes with which to judge Ms. Collins’ acting abilities than there should have been, as some interesting scenes wound up on the proverbial cutting-room floor. We’ll delve into that next week, as well as a surprise cameo that never made it to the finished Ring Around the Riddler episode.
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