Popeye begins his movie career by singing his theme song, demonstrating his strength at a carnival, dancing the hula with Betty Boop, pummeling Bluto, eating his spinach and saving Olive Oyl from certain doom on the railroad tracks.
Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Wimpy land in America thanks to her rowing. Popeye quickly turns some trees into a log cabin. He hunts for ducks and encounters some pesky Indians while another band of natives surround his two friends in the cabin.
Director:
Dave Fleischer
Stars:
William Costello,
Charles Lawrence,
William Pennell
Popeye pushes a baby pram down city sidewalks and lots of noise keeps the kid awake and crying. In typically brutal manner, Popeye deals with the noise makers including a busking Harpo Marx, music school, construction site, and car horns.
Popeye skates over to Olive's house to give her a Christmas present: ice skates of her own. While he's teaching her, Bluto skates up and gets fresh; of course, Popeye fights him. When she ... See full summary »
Directors:
Dave Fleischer,
Seymour Kneitel
Stars:
William Costello,
William Pennell,
Bonnie Poe
Popeye and Olive Oyl go to the rodeo where Bluto performs and impresses Olive. Popeye outdoes him with some fancy riding and steer wrestling. Meanwhile, Bluto makes off with Olive, so Popeye eats his spinach to save her and to stop a bull.
Directors:
Dave Fleischer,
Seymour Kneitel
Stars:
William Costello,
William Pennell,
Mae Questel
Working in the story department of Surprise Pictures, Olive Oyl writes a script based on the story of Aladdin, casting Popeye as the thief and herself as the Princess.
Popeye comes to ask Olive out, but finds she's gone off with the title character. Popeye goes to the circus (ringmaster Wimpy) looking for her, to find she's part of the act; an aerial battle ensues.
Directors:
Dave Fleischer,
Willard Bowsky
Stars:
William Costello,
William Pennell,
Mae Questel
Wimpy is such a terrible helper that blacksmith Olive fires him. Both Popeye and Bluto see the help wanted sign; they compete for the position. Of course, their competition wrecks the shop.
Directors:
Dave Fleischer,
Willard Bowsky
Stars:
William Costello,
William Pennell,
Mae Questel
Popeye introduces himself to us (including a quick live-action shot of newspapers announcing that he's a movie star). The ship docks, and the sailors try to pick up Olive, but she only wants Popeye. They head for a carnival, but Bluto isn't giving up easily. The boys compete at the various games. Betty Boop does a hula dance, and Popeye joins her on stage. Meanwhile, Bluto runs off with Olive and ties her to the tracks. Popeye comes along and rescues her in the nick of time.Written by
Jon Reeves <[email protected]>
In the "Alladin and His Wonderful Lamp" Popeye says to Olive "I've never made love in technicolor before". This racy joke got past the censors of the time and usually goes over the head of the kids who are watching it. See more »
Goofs
In the carnival scene, the "Test Your Strength" mallet suddenly appears out of nowhere on the ground in one shot. See more »
'Popeye the Sailor' is a good debut for Popeye, but there have been better cartoons of his since.
There is not much wrong with it. There is a finding its feet/style feel, and there is a preference to the voice actors who would take on the roles later. Popeye and Bluto were fine courtesy of William Costello and William Pennell, but Bonnie Poe's voice agreed (from personal opinion this is) doesn't really fit Olive Oyl, and it was strange hearing a deeper voice when so used to Mae Questel's pretty iconic interpretation.
On the other hand, the animation is beautifully drawn, smooth and meticulously detailed, the black and white crisply shaded. The music is merry and energetic, though again am more familiar with the scoring of Winston Sharples later.
It's a very entertaining cartoon and smartly written, with a lot of charm and energy. All three lead characters are engaging and their personalities established well even for so early on. Betty Boop makes a small but memorable appearance, that's both sexy and cute.
All in all, a very good debut cartoon but not among my favourite Popeye cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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'Popeye the Sailor' is a good debut for Popeye, but there have been better cartoons of his since.
There is not much wrong with it. There is a finding its feet/style feel, and there is a preference to the voice actors who would take on the roles later. Popeye and Bluto were fine courtesy of William Costello and William Pennell, but Bonnie Poe's voice agreed (from personal opinion this is) doesn't really fit Olive Oyl, and it was strange hearing a deeper voice when so used to Mae Questel's pretty iconic interpretation.
On the other hand, the animation is beautifully drawn, smooth and meticulously detailed, the black and white crisply shaded. The music is merry and energetic, though again am more familiar with the scoring of Winston Sharples later.
It's a very entertaining cartoon and smartly written, with a lot of charm and energy. All three lead characters are engaging and their personalities established well even for so early on. Betty Boop makes a small but memorable appearance, that's both sexy and cute.
All in all, a very good debut cartoon but not among my favourite Popeye cartoons. 8/10 Bethany Cox