| Happy
Birthdaze (1943) |
This
cartoon introduces Shorty, a dud character if there ever was one.
Instead of facing Bluto or formidable foes, Popeye is done in by his bumbling,
obnoxious friend. Not what I tune into a Popeye cartoon to see.
And our hero actually resorts to murder at the end of the picture! |
| Woodpeckin'
(1943) |
Popeye
versus a woodpecker in a cartoon totally indistinguishable from a hundred
other "funny animal versus the hunter" cartoons from other studios.
And the other studios did it better. |
| Marry-Go-Round
(1943) |
Shorty's
back. 'Nuff said. This time he tries to show Popeye how to
propose to Olive and she winds up falling (for some completely unfathomable
reason) for Shorty.
 |
| Moving
Aweigh (1944) |
Shorty
again! Thankfully it's his last appearance. He "helps" Popeye
move Olive. |
| Barking
Dogs Don't Fite (1949) |
Mostly
a "small animal gets chased by a large animal" cartoon with Popeye and
Bluto thrown in. |
| The
Fly's Last Flight (1949) |
A
fly beats up Popeye and drives him crazy. Some hero! |
| Pilgrim
Popeye (1951) |
A
thanksgiving turkey saves Popeye from Indians in this turkey of a film. |
| Popeye's
Pappy (1952) |
Popeye
discovers his long-lost father. Vastly inferior to the Fleischer
version of the story. WARNING: Contains racial stereotypes. |
| Shuteye
Popeye (1952) |
This
time a mouse eats the spinach and beats up Popeye. It's bad enough
that Mickey Mouse gets all the press, but this? |
Big
Bad Sinbad (1952) |
Just
another "cheater" cartoon that uses footage from the Fleischer two-reeler.
The new framing sequences add absolutely nothing. Yes, the Fleischer
stuff is great, but his time the Famous Studios' stuff stinks. |
| Popeye's
Mirthday (1953) |
Popeye
at the mercy of his nephews as they try to keep him out of the house until
his surprise party is ready. It sounds a lot funnier than it is. |
| Baby
Wants A Battle (1953) |
A sick
cartoon that uses cruelty to children (even cartoon children) and child
abuse for "humor." It's a flashback to when Popeye and Bluto were
infants. Bluto's father encourages him to pick on Popeye in violent
ways and stops Popeye's Pappy from trying to save him. At least we
see where Bluto gets it from. However, this must be apocryphal, because
the Poopdeck Pappy we all know from the comic strip and the Fleischer cartoons
wouldn't have put up with the Bluto Family's garbage for more than two
seconds and he could have done something about it!! |
| Bride
And Gloom (1954) |
Another
sick cartoon that thinks children physically terrorizing their mother is
funny. Granted it's just Olive dreaming of what life would be like
married to Popeye, but still...
 |
| Gopher
Spinach (1954) |
 |
Another
cartoon where Popeye is pitted against a "funny animal."
|
|
| Cookin'
With Gags (1955) |
Olive
spends the whole cartoon out of character, joining in with Bluto as he
laughs uproariously over the painful, cruel, and humiliating April Fool
tricks he plays on Popeye.
If Popeye
tries to object or retaliate in any way, Olive chastizes him. It
seems, though, that Bluto can do whatever he wants.
|
| Gift
Of Gag (1955) |
Both
Popeye and his nephews are unsympathetic jerks in this cartoon as the little
pests try to keep Popeye's surprise birthday present away from him. |
A
Job For A Gob (1955) |
Bluto
turns into a psychotic pyromaniac at the end of this cartoon, doing his
dirty work for no real goal. He's already lost cowgirl Olive and
the job on her ranch. There's nothing to gain by destroying the spread
in full view of Popeye and Olive Oyl. Maybe this cartoon means to
explore the truly irrational depths of his dark soul, but it sure is unpleasant
to watch. (For a further review of
this cartoon, click on the name.) |
| Hillbilling
And Cooing (1956) |
An
attempt at role reversal which leaves you wondering, "Why?" The Fleischers'
did a great job of it in "Never Kick A Woman," But here, in an unfunny
cartoon, a big, backwoods, bully of a woman wants Popeye and Olive has
to stop her. There's something disquieting about seeing our superhero
Popeye helplessly pushed around by Possum Pearl. |
| Popeye
For President (1956) |
Despite
the title, this cartoon mainly deals with Popeye and Bluto competing to
do the chores at Olive's farm so they can get her vote.
Ho-hum.
We've seen it all before. Why couldn't the creators have given us
a look inside Popeye's mind and how he would deal with the country's problems,
like they did with Olive Oyl in the great cartoon "Olive Oyl For President"
(1948)? |
| Patriotic
Popeye (1957) |
The
Sailor comes across as a fussbudget killjoy and the nephews as dangerous,
dumb, little brats in this tale of them trying to shoot off fireworks despite
their uncle's protests. |
