..........................For Segar's Sea Going Sailor Man.
WITH ALL OF the various series that the Sailor Man starred in over the years, it is the Max Fleischer Black & White shorts that are by far the best. Retaining the look and style of the Popeye creator, Elzie Crisler Segar for Hearst's King Features Syndicate.
AS CONTRASTED WITH the Popeye made for television product, there is no real comparison. This brings to mind a family gathering circa 1974. Our first born, Jennifer, was watching a made for TV Popeye with the rest of us (including Gramma Ryan-3 generations), when the usual "Olive Oyl's in trouble" scenario played out. Well, little jumped the gun, beating Miss Oyl to the punch with cries of "Help ! Help. Popeye !" Nuff said about that.
IN SUNSCREEN THIS short recently (courtesy of Turner Classic Movies), it became ever so obvious to us just what made the 1930's B & W format stand out . Most every short was musically centered and most often had some original songs featured very prominently. The animation and artwork was impeccable, with the look of the characters followingnthat which was displayed in the THIMBLE THEATER Comic Strip, which was the title even about ten years before Popeye's arrival and eventual rise to the top as its star.
ALSO INCLUDED WERE other of Segar's creations; such as Bluto and, for real comic relief, Wimpy. For it was one J. Wellington Wimpy's constant and seemingly insatiable cravings for grilled beef patties that gave us the immortal, classic and oft repeated plea of; "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today !"
THE GREATEST AND most coarse and revolting cartoon screen villainy came from that huge, musclebound vulgarian, Bluto. The character had bowed to the public in the newspaper strip and was soon adapted to the animated shorts, becoming Popeye's chief adversary and rival for the affections of Olive Oyl.
IN TODAY'S HONOREE, this production of the Fleischer Brothers (Max & Dave), simply titled WE AIM TO PLEASE, Popeye and Olive have opened up a diner and are anxious to bring in the business. Following the opening song (sung as a duet) Olive complains that their location is all too far from the foot traffic. Popeye quickly remedies the situation, via his already pre-spinach consumption prodigious strength. From there, it's strictly interaction with customers, Wimpy and Bluto and of course, that ever present use of a can of spinach. (Today's ingestion of the iron-rich leafy green comes from a huge, special restaurant sized can.)
ONE THING THAT we've noticed now, in our golden years, is the true beauty of Black & White photography. The various shades of grays, silvers and even black seem to stand out on the screen. Black and white also holds up much better than most colour filming.
WITH ALL OF the various series that the Sailor Man starred in over the years, it is the Max Fleischer Black & White shorts that are by far the best. Retaining the look and style of the Popeye creator, Elzie Crisler Segar for Hearst's King Features Syndicate.
AS CONTRASTED WITH the Popeye made for television product, there is no real comparison. This brings to mind a family gathering circa 1974. Our first born, Jennifer, was watching a made for TV Popeye with the rest of us (including Gramma Ryan-3 generations), when the usual "Olive Oyl's in trouble" scenario played out. Well, little jumped the gun, beating Miss Oyl to the punch with cries of "Help ! Help. Popeye !" Nuff said about that.
IN SUNSCREEN THIS short recently (courtesy of Turner Classic Movies), it became ever so obvious to us just what made the 1930's B & W format stand out . Most every short was musically centered and most often had some original songs featured very prominently. The animation and artwork was impeccable, with the look of the characters followingnthat which was displayed in the THIMBLE THEATER Comic Strip, which was the title even about ten years before Popeye's arrival and eventual rise to the top as its star.
ALSO INCLUDED WERE other of Segar's creations; such as Bluto and, for real comic relief, Wimpy. For it was one J. Wellington Wimpy's constant and seemingly insatiable cravings for grilled beef patties that gave us the immortal, classic and oft repeated plea of; "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today !"
THE GREATEST AND most coarse and revolting cartoon screen villainy came from that huge, musclebound vulgarian, Bluto. The character had bowed to the public in the newspaper strip and was soon adapted to the animated shorts, becoming Popeye's chief adversary and rival for the affections of Olive Oyl.
IN TODAY'S HONOREE, this production of the Fleischer Brothers (Max & Dave), simply titled WE AIM TO PLEASE, Popeye and Olive have opened up a diner and are anxious to bring in the business. Following the opening song (sung as a duet) Olive complains that their location is all too far from the foot traffic. Popeye quickly remedies the situation, via his already pre-spinach consumption prodigious strength. From there, it's strictly interaction with customers, Wimpy and Bluto and of course, that ever present use of a can of spinach. (Today's ingestion of the iron-rich leafy green comes from a huge, special restaurant sized can.)
ONE THING THAT we've noticed now, in our golden years, is the true beauty of Black & White photography. The various shades of grays, silvers and even black seem to stand out on the screen. Black and white also holds up much better than most colour filming.