Popeye the Sailor (1933)

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.

Director:

Dave Fleischer

Stars:

William Costello, William Pennell, Bonnie Poe

Cast

Uncredited cast:
William Costello	...	Popeye (voice) (uncredited)
William Pennell	...	Bluto (voice) (uncredited)
Bonnie Poe	...	Olive Oyl / Betty Boop (voice) (uncredited)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

popeye | bluto | betty boop | carnival | singing | 

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Genres:

Animation | Short | Musical | Family | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 1933 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fleischer Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

7 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Popeye's appearance is based on that of a fighter named Francis "Rocky" Fiegel whom his creator, Elzie Segar, used to know. Because of this, a tombstone was put on his hitherto unmarked grave in 1996. Segar paid Fiegel a small fee for the use of his likeness, as he was still alive when Popeye first appeared.

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Connections

Referenced in Porky's Spring Planting (1938)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Popeye the Sailor Man"
Words and Music by Samuel Lerner
Performed by William Costello

User Reviews

"Popeye's a Movie Star!"

I always wonder when Popeye started his animated career,until I've watched this cartoon online, I found out that this short was intended as a test cartoon to see if Popeye could work as a animated character, he is a character from a comic strip by a guy named E.C. Segar. It's like a combination of my two favorite Fleischer characters coming together - Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor; though Betty's appearance is more of a cameo then an full-time character in the short.

The one thing that bother me about is cartoon, is Olive's voice, I didn't really like it; I really prefer Mae Questel's take on Olive...but I had bear with what they got. My favorite scene is when Betty & Popeye do the hula on stage.