My Favorite Popeye Films

 It is time to celebrate Popeye's 90th Film Anniversary. The reason I include the word film is because this is the anniversary of Popeye's first short film, but the character had already existed beforehand in E.C. Segar's Thimble Theater comic strip. This original short film was called Popeye the Sailor (1933) and it was actually part of the Betty Boop series, though Popeye is clearly the star (with Betty really only having a cameo in the cartoon). Soon afterwards Popeye would have his own series of short films. This long running series, first made by Fleischer Studios then later Famous Studios, features many wonderful cartoons that animation fans still love very much today. 

Due to this anniversary, I am going to take a look at some of my favorite Popeye cartoons. These cartoons are in no specific order and are a list of my favorites, rather than what I critically think are the best. 

Hello How Am I (1939)

If it were just for the premise alone I would still love this short. Wimpy disguses himself as Popeye to get a hamburger dinner, Olive is making for Popeye. When Popeye runs into this fake Popeye he becomes very confused. However this film does not rely solely on a wonderful premise, there are also plenty of great gags and quotable dialogue. All this adds up to a wonderful cartoon. " My dear man, is there but only one Washington?" 

Too Weak to Work (1943)

In this film Bluto and Popeye are working on a ship together, when Bluto pretends to be in bad health to get out of working. This short is pure unhinged insanity and that is just the kind of cartoon I like. There is no gag too crazy or nonsensical for this movie and as the cartoon goes on it keeps finding ways to get even crazier. Even the animation itself is wild and crazy (including work by the cult-favorite animator Jim Tyler). 

Let's Celebrake (1938)

In this film Bluto, Popeye and Olive all plan to go out for New Years Eve. However when Popeye sees that they are going to leave Olive's grandmother alone on the holiday, Popeye, decides to take her along with her as his date and Olive as Bluto's. This is an oddly sentimental Popeye cartoon, but it works very well. It manages to feel very heartfelt without ever feeling forced or cloying. Not only this, but it is also a very funny movie with some great gags. 

Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba and His Forty Thieves (1937)

This is easily my favorite of the three two-reel Popeye films (longer than the average Popeye short but still a short film). While some may prefer Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor (1937), I think this cartoon has better gags and a more epic scale. 

Mister and Mistletoe (1955).

In this film Bluto pretends to be Santa Claus to get in good with Olive and get revenge on Popeye. Remember when I said that these are my personal favorites and not what I think are the best. Well this is where that is especially true. This is a fun cartoon, but it can not be called on of the best Popeyes. However I have a real fondness for anything Christmas and this cartoon is as Christmas-y as they come and I simply love it. 

Goonland (1938)

In this cartoon Popeye travels to Goonland to save his pappy who is being held captive there. This is as good as Popeye cartoons get. The humor constantly works with each gag working very well and often times getting even funnier with each one. The one with the film breaking is simply perfect. This film also has probably the best use of Poopdeck Pappy and the dialogue between him and Popeye is simply perfect. There is also a wonderful sense of atmosphere here, as Goonland has a completely different feel than any of the locations used in other Popeye films. The Goons by the way had been used in the Thimble Theater comic strip before ever appearing in any of the animated cartoons. 

Can You Take It (1934)

A lot of the Fleischer cartoons of the 1930's have a distinctly tough urban feel to them and that has never been truer than with this cartoon, where Popeye tries to join a club of tough gags (led by Bluto). This film also captures the feel of Fleischer cartoons of this era by having some truly bizarre and surreal gags. This is the type of Popeye cartoon, you would not see a couple years later and I love it. 

The Hungry Goat (1943)

Sans Bluto and Olive, this film has Popeye unsuccessfully trying to stop a goat from eating a ship before his captain returns. This cartoon has a completely different feel from any other Popeye cartoon and feels more like a Looney Tunes short. I doubt this movie ranks among anyone else's favorites, but I simply have a real soft spot for it. Maybe this is because it is simply so different. 

Popeye the Sailor Present Eugene the Jeep (1940)

This is another cartoon where Olive and Bluto don't appear. Instead Popeye shares the screen with Eugene the Jeep, a dog like character with magical abilities. I simply have a love for this character, whether it be in animation or the comic strips. This may be my favorite of the cartoons featuring this character, because it is simply him, Popeye and a simple story (Popeye trying to put the Jeep out for the night). Nearly every gag works in this delightful film.