In Can You Take It (1934), Popeye leaps into a Fleischer version of the fight club and (non-twisker) punches the guy to his right. The fighters are in a circle and fall like dominoes. But the force of the punch is so strong, Popeye gets knocked down, too.
He punches the guy on his left. Same result.
Finally, Popeye hits on a solution by hitting the wooden floor with his fist. Perspective animation follows.
The music in the background is “You’ve Got to Be a Football Hero,” though there are no footballs in sight. Myron Waldman and Tom Johnson get the rotating screen credits. The cartoon was made when Bonnie Poe was playing Olive Oyl.
I'm generally pretty unflappable when it comes to outré cartoon gags, but jokes involving Popeye's 'pop eye' socket--as seen here and in I Wanna Be a Lifeguard--just come off as gross to me. I guess one could say they're "disgustipatin'".
ReplyDeleteDo you prefer the later refined Popeye with both eyes and teeth? At least the eye gags establish Popeye's toughness, as opposed to the cartoons which portray Popeye as a cowardly weakling until he eats the spinach, or worse the '50s Popeye who skips as he serves his nephews spinach.
DeleteCripes, I only take issue with one particular gag--Doesn't mean I'm going over to the dark side.
DeleteI'm 74 years young and still enjoy the 'FUN" in the Fleischer POPEYES. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteThere's a straight line from Popeye cartoons to the DC Animated Universe.
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