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Happy Birthdaze (1943)
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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!
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Woodpeckin' (1943)
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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.
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Marry-Go-Round (1943)
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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.
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Moving Aweigh (1944)
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Shorty again! Thankfully it's
his last appearance. He "helps" Popeye move Olive.
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Barking Dogs Don't Fite (1949)
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Mostly a
"small animal gets chased by a large animal" cartoon with Popeye
and Bluto thrown in.
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The Fly's Last Flight (1949)
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A fly
beats up Popeye and drives him crazy. Some hero!
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Pilgrim Popeye (1951)
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A
thanksgiving turkey saves Popeye from Indians in this turkey of a film.
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Popeye's Pappy (1952)
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Popeye
discovers his long-lost father. Vastly inferior to the Fleischer
version of the story. WARNING: Contains racial stereotypes.
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Shuteye Popeye (1952)
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This time
a mouse eats the spinach and beats up Popeye. It's bad enough that
Mickey Mouse gets all the press, but this?
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Big
Bad Sinbad (1952)
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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.
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Popeye's Mirthday (1953)
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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.
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Baby Wants A Battle (1953)
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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!!
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Bride And Gloom (1954)
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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...
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Gopher Spinach (1954)
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Another
cartoon where Popeye is pitted against a "funny animal."
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Cookin' With
Gags (1955)
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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 chastises him.
It seems, though, that Bluto can do whatever he wants.
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Gift Of Gag (1955)
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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.
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A Job For A Gob (1955)
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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.)
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Hillbilling And
Cooing (1956)
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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.
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Popeye For President (1956)
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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)?
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Patriotic Popeye (1957)
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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.
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