The Longest Popeye in the Fleischer Era-Aladdin and his wonderful lamp (54 years before Disney took a stab at the immortal tale)

After many setbacks that hindered me from making a Popeye post which include GPU 12VHPWR cables, anti-sag support holders, finding a perfectly good print off of Archive.org, missing photos, and my MSI Laptop breaking on me, I present to you the LAST good Color Popeye Cartoon.

I say last because I don't have respect for the Famous Studios era of Popeye. I prefer the Fleischer era but anyhow, here it is:

Believe it or not, I had a Popeye DVD during the 5th grade that started with this cartoon but it was a cheapo print that cut off the Paramount Logo and may have been sourced off a VHS.

Not this time. I have this wonderful print with Paramount Logo Intact and no AI upscaling involved...

Anyway, this 1939 Three-Strip Technicolor film starts off with... a Movie Studio.

Adeptly called:

Totally not a parody of Paramount Pictures, The company that helped produce the Fleischer Popeyes and to a later extent, the Famous Pictures Popeyes as well as the 1980 film.\

Anyway back to 1939, 

As usual, Olive Oyl's on her typewriter in the most cartoony way possible.

I always liked how Fleischer Studios animated Olive's lanky arms when she types on that typewriter and preventing that feed roller from falling onto the floor.

Sure, this cartoon was made during the time Fleischer decided to imitate Disney in the wake of Snow White's Success but at least they never forget how to animate a really funny way to operate a typewriter.

As usual, Olive is at her damnest to finish her screenplay which is a loose adaptation of Aladdin.... the original "1001 Arabian Nights" story that is.

You have to understand that this cartoon was released a good 54 years before Disney produced their own take on the tale in 1992 so don't ask further questions.

So What's Olive thinking about?

Who to cast the parts of the characters to.

Obviously, Olive's going to be the princess. Back then, there was no Princess Jasmine so my guess is that Olive casts herself as Princess Badroulbadour.

But who to cast the role of Aladdin?

"Why Popeye the Sailor is perfect for the part!"

And there she goes, back to work typing her screenplay...

And preventing her Feed Roller from Falling on the floor again. I love classic cartoons.

And then it segues into the actual plot as told by Olive's script

Aladdin is hard at work making chains.

"Them finks at Fleischer may have borrowed from Disney after Snow White but at leasts I still haves me Great Depression era Strength. A true man should have raw strength and boiling outlines for muscles."

What's the noise?

"Make way for the Princess!"

Olive Oyl at her regal finest.

As usual, Popeye falls in love at first sight. Good thing he beat the over loving stuffing out of Ham Gravy back in the early 30's just to live this long to get the part.

Who's this? Some goon hired by Bluto? No.... it's just the vizier. 

What's different about this Color Popeye from the Fleischer era is that Bluto is not cast as anybody. I guess by this point because Fleischer wanted to imitate Disney so fiercely that Bluto was considered to intimidating and too manly for Disney lovers, even when portrayed by Pinto Colvig.

So they created this schmuck 

"BAH!!! Disney, Fleischer, or Warner Bros., I still got a nasty ol mug that nobody and I mean nobody can top!!!!"

"Except for Frieza but that's not for another 50 years."

Any how, after a Silent Film shoutout story card,

At last, you found it!

Gimme!!!

What are you looking at me for you dolt!!!

And other things. Did I forget to mention this is the longest Popeye short to date?

Hello Popeye! I'm the Genie!!!

"You ain't no Genie! You don't even look like Robin Williams!!!"

"My My Popeye! You're an idiot. Robin Williams wasn't even born until 1951"

"Also, unlike the Robin Williams Genie, I can grant an infinite number of wishes. However, I still drawn the line at using my wishes for malicious intent."

Amongst other things where I'll end this post with these last few screenshots...

well... sort of. Just a little Spoiler Alert:

And no, Olive Oyl getting laid off by Surprise Pictures did not predict the awful Layoff trend that so many jobs were obsessed with in 2023. The cartoon was made in 1939, at the tail-end of the Great Depression and before WWII happened so no predictions conspiracies please.

At least I used a proper .MP4 file of Popeye Aladdin here. I found another on it's Wikipedia page but that version was edited to use the Famous Studios Popeye Theme and was a victim to a minor case of acetate celluloid vinegar syndrome so I didn't use that version anyway.

Anyway, this is the last color Popeye post I'll ever do because let's face it, The Famous Studios era sucks and Fleischer's Popeye shorts are superior to anything else Paramount did to the Popeye IP with the exception of the 1980 Robin Williams film which I've been meaning to watch but haven't had a chance yet. I actually can get Paramount+ in Canada but I haven't signed up for it yet.

As a matter of fact, I don't think it's on Paramount+.

And no, despite Disney's name being in the opening credits of the 1980 film, 

POPEYE IS STILL PARAMOUNT PROPTERTY!

Anyway, see you next blogpost... whatever subject tickles my fancy.