I’ve touted these things over an’ over on these boards- but with the release of a second volume, I can’t help but do it again.
In 2007, what seemed imposskible finally came to be, as Time Warner finally made a deal with King Features Syndicate that allowed them to put the classic Popeye cartoons out on DVD. And I’m thankful for it- rediscovering these black-and-white gems from the Fleischer studios after not having seen them for years (and only then having seen them in poorly-redrawn colorized versions) gave me a newfound love for the quirky sailor with a poor grasp on the English language, but a keen grasp on justice.
The first volume, issued last year, covers Popeye’s debut in 1933 to the death of Gus Wickie, the original Bluto, in 1938. It’s so fun to watch Popeye evolve- he starts out a very flat character in terms of animation (probably since he was taken from a comic strip, after all), and doesn’t really do much except punch things and eat spinach in order to punch things. In one disturbing cartoon, 1934’s Sock-A-Bye Baby, it’s clear that he hasn’t fully developed a sense of right and wrong, as he punches everything he can that makes noise to keep a baby (who is not Swee’pea) quiet- including killing Harpo Marx! Thankfully, Popeye eventually became a do-gooder, a guy who “proteks the weakerist” and always rights wrongs- of course, that wrong is usually Bluto. The depictions of run-down New York streets are always interesting to look at, as are the sometimes-used 3-D backgrounds. Sammy Tinberg’s original musical numbers get stuck in your head (in a good way), and Jack Mercer is always entertaining as Popeye. (Popeye went through a few actors- Mercer took over in 1935. Before that, Bill Costello did his voice, and Floyd Buckley, who sounds nothing like Popeye, did it in one cartoon). And the Technicolor cartoons are gorgeous.
The second volume just came out, and even though it has less cartoons than the first, it’s still a must-buy. By this time, the Fleischers had moved to Miami, but the characters evolved even more. There are some very funny cartoons which comment on the relationship between these characters, such as Fightin’ Pals, which sends Popeye to Africa to rescue the missing Bluto- turns out the two like beating each other up. Goonland is one of the most entertaining cartoons, and also introduces Poopdeck Pappy, a very funny character actually created to tone done the actual Popeye and give Pappy his more agressive traits. Hello, How Am I? gets my vote for funniest cartoon as Wimpy dresses up as Popeye in order to steal a hamburger dinner meant for him. There are some great lines in this one (“You oughta be ashamed of yourself for looking like Popeye!” “If I’m not me, who am I- and if I’m somebody else, why do I look like me?”) In fact, many of the cartoons are filled with great lines. Bluto has never been so honest as in Stealin’ Ain’t Honest, when after he hits a wall attempting to dig into a gold mine, starts sobbing, “Sometimes I get so discouraged!” And although Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is the weakest of the three color 'toons, it has one of the best lines, as a blushing Popeye sheepishly admits, “Ooh, I’ve never made love in Technicolor before…”
Do yourself a favor and pick up these sets if you haven’t already. Just don’t be surprised if you start speaking like Popeye and humming Brotherly Love while you skip down the street. So far, though, I haven’t got a craving for spinach…yet. Looking forward to Volume 3 in September!
(Note: Vol. 2 has two cartoons which accidentially have TV titles instead of the standard ship-door open. Although I think this is rather interesting, it is obviously an error, and I commend Warner Home Video for offering an optional replacement for those interested. If you want one when you buy the set- or if you have it already- call 1-800-553-6937. Also, there’s a “Popeye and Friends Vol. 1” out there also from Warner. This is a collection of inferior Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and should not be confused with the real Sailor Man.)
