Batman Fights Dracula (lost unofficial Filipino comedy parody film; 1967)

File:Batman Fights Dracula.jpg

Batman Fights Dracula theatrical poster.

Status: Lost

Released in 1967 was Batman Fights Dracula, a Filipino comedic parody film directed by Leody M. Diaz and written by Bert R. Mendoza, starring Jing Abalos and Dante Rivero as the titular characters, respectively. As the name suggests, the movie centers around a battle between cult figures Batman and Dracula; it is considered by many to be one of the most sought-after lost Asians films of all time.

Unfortunately, not a great deal of information on the film has surfaced (other than standard production details such as cast and crew, as provided by IMDb), although at least one person has undertaken a personal search effort for the film, which, sadly, went unfulfilled. That is, until a great amount of new information surfaced on the Filipino blog Pelikula ATBP.

Plot

The story concerned the mad scientist, Dr. Zorba, who after repeatedly being defeated by Batman, finds a way through electrical means to resurrect the wicked Count Dracula, while at the same time being able to control him and render him resistant to former weapons such as a Christian cross.

After tracking down Zorba at his underground fortress, he Ruben (a character based on the existing sidekick Robin) and the beautiful Marita, manage to kill the evil Dr by turning the vampire against him.

Although this blog post clarifies the plot and provides a great number of photographs, the actual footage from this film remains elusive.

Notably, this film marks the second of three times that a showdown between Batman and Dracula has been depicted on screen, the first being in Andy Warhol's 1964 effort Batman Dracula (which is, coincidentally, also considered a lost film) and the third being 2005's animated The Batman vs. Dracula.