Even the Seahag shudders in fear at this DVD
Zack Davisson | Seattle, WA, USA | 09/13/2002
(1 out of 5 stars)
""Popeye: When Popeye Ruled the World" continues the tradition of sub-par Popeye DVD releases, and manages to find a new low. Most of the available Popeye DVDs are a mixed bag of Fleischer classic toons and the later, cheaper produced Famous Studios toons. "Popeye: When Popeye Ruled the World" includes no Fleischer animation and is purely a Famous Studios production.Included on this DVD are "Garden Gopher," "Insect To Injury," "Cookin' With Gags," "Private Eye Popeye," "Popeye For President," "Out To Punch," "Shuteye Popeye," "A Haul In One," "Taxi Turvy," and "Bride And Gloom." Most of these cartoons are available on the Winstar Popeye DVD series. All of the cartoons are color, and from the "cheap gag" era of Popeye animation.Also included on this DVD are the bizarre updated sound effects that have become a hallmark of Popeye on DVD. The sound blares in inappropriate places, footsteps sound like mallets and the dialog is obscured. The picture quality is the usual, and no restoration seems to have been done.As a "special feature," the documentary included on "Popeye: When Popeye ruled the Seven Seas" makes a re-appearance. It is an interesting feature, but not good enough for a rerun.I will look much closer before I buy another DVD in this Goodtimes Popeye series. Even in the desert that is Popeye on DVD, "Popeye: When Popeye Ruled the World" is worth a miss."
Well, blow me down!
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 04/08/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"All of the Popeye shorts on this GOOD TIMES VIDEO DVD were produced by Paramount's FAMOUS STUDIOS cartoon division. Animator and storyman Jack Mercer provided the sailor's voice. Orchestrations were by Winston Sharples (formerly of Van Beuren Studiios).
(NOTE: "Garden Gopher" is an MGM short and is not related to Popeye in any way.)
Fourteen more "Sailorman" animations (incuding a Fleischer 2-reeler) are available on DIRECT SOURCE's POPEYE THE SAILOR.
PROGRAM LIST for "Popeye the Sailor: When Popeye Ruled the World" (includes synopses)
GOPHER SPINACH (1954) - Pesky gopher ruins Popeye's spinach patch.
INSECT TO INJURY (1956) - Popeye's new house is consumed by termites, so he builds another out of steel.
COOKIN' WITH GAGS (1955) - Bluto goes too far with his April Fool's jokes.
PRIVATE EYE POPEYE (1954) - Popeye chases a thieving butler around the world after he steals society dame Olive's priceless diamond.
POPEYE FOR PRESIDENT (1956) - Political rivals Popeye and Bluto need Olive's lone vote to win the election.
OUT TO PUNCH (1956) - Bluto tries derailing Popeye's training regimen for their big boxing match.
SHUTEYE POPEYE (1952) - A snoring Popeye is attacked by a spinach-eating mouse.
A HAUL IN ONE (1956) - Popeye and Bluto are moving men partners who battle over a new client (Olive).
TAXI-TURVY (1954) - Popeye and Bluto's competing cab companies vie for Olive's fare.
BRIDE AND GLOOM (1954) - Bride-to-be Olive gets cold feet after some nightmares of a future with Popeye."