OT: Fleischer's Popeye the Sailor on DVD

[Eric Perlin]

Finally, a large collection of Fleischer Brothers Popeye cartoons are available,
and not just the small handful of public domain ones!

The picture and sound quality on these is excellent!

The first 60 cartoons are included, all in consecutive order. The set spans the
period from 1933 to 1938.

I can hardly wait for volume 2, as three of my favorites are from slightly after
1938: "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (in which Popeye and Bluto attempt to act
like refined gentlemen for the benefit of the Popeye fan club), "Hello, How Am
I" (in which Wimpy impersonates Popeye in order to get a hamburger dinner from
Olive), and "Puttin' On the Act" (in which Popeye and Olive rehearse a
vaudeville act; Popeye imitates both Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel).

[JLN]

here's my review of the set:

http://www.roguecinema.com/article-1080--0-0.html

JN

[Phil P.]

Post by JLN
http://www.roguecinema.com/article-1080--0-0.html
JN

Nice review Jim. In fact WB intends to release all the Popeye cartoons over the
four sets, including all the Paramount/Famous (througn 1957) and, I believe, the
tv episodes through the 60's.

I'm eagerly awaiting my copy of the first set in the mail. I understand some
people are disappointed with the commentaries, but I'm really just interested in
the cartoons.

[Eric Perlin]

Phil P. wrote:

} Nice review Jim. In fact WB intends to release all the
} Popeye cartoons over the four sets, including all the
} Paramount/Famous (througn 1957) and, I believe, the tv
} episodes through the 60's.

I'm glad to hear that. IMHO, some of the earliest Famous-period Popeyes were as
good as the Fleischer Brothers cartoons, such as "Me Musical Nephews" and
"Cartoons Ain't Human". The Popeye series seems to have begun its gradual
downhill slide after switching to color at around 1945.

The made-for-TV Popeyes of the early 1960's were never very good, but I might
want to see a few of them again just for nostalgia's sake.

BTW, the Popeye set contains several distinguished silent cartoons from various
studios as bonus material!

For Volume 2, I hope Warner Home Video considers including a bonus booklet
reprinting some classic Segar Popeye comic strips.

[Phil P.]

On Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:17:05 -0500, Eric Perlin

Post by Eric Perlin
} Nice review Jim. In fact WB intends to release all the
} Popeye cartoons over the four sets, including all the
} Paramount/Famous (througn 1957) and, I believe, the tv
} episodes through the 60's.
I'm glad to hear that. IMHO, some of the earliest Famous-period Popeyes were as
good as the Fleischer Brothers cartoons, such as "Me Musical Nephews" and
"Cartoons Ain't Human". The Popeye series seems to have begun its gradual
downhill slide after switching to color at around 1945.
The made-for-TV Popeyes of the early 1960's were never very good, but I might
want to see a few of them again just for nostalgia's sake.

Yes, I only intend on getting the first two sets;

Post by Eric Perlin
BTW, the Popeye set contains several distinguished silent cartoons from various
studios as bonus material!

Right, I was going to mention that to drag us back on topic. :)

Post by Eric Perlin
For Volume 2, I hope Warner Home Video considers including a bonus booklet
reprinting some classic Segar Popeye comic strips.

Are you aware that Fantagraphic is reprinting all the Segar strips from 1929
(Popeye's debut in Thimble Theater) on. The first volume "I Yam What I Yam" is
out now.

[The Space Boss]

Post by Eric Perlin
Finally, a large collection of Fleischer Brothers Popeye cartoons are available,
and not just the small handful of public domain ones!
The picture and sound quality on these is excellent!
The first 60 cartoons are included, all in consecutive order. The set spans the
period from 1933 to 1938.
I can hardly wait for volume 2, as three of my favorites are from slightly after
1938: "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (in which Popeye and Bluto attempt to act
like refined gentlemen for the benefit of the Popeye fan club), "Hello, How Am
I" (in which Wimpy impersonates Popeye in order to get a hamburger dinner from
Olive), and "Puttin' On the Act" (in which Popeye and Olive rehearse a
vaudeville act; Popeye imitates both Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel).

The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping there would be
more color cartoons on it :(

[Jim Reid]

Post by The Space Boss
The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping there would be
more color cartoons on it :(

Hopeless.

[Phil P.]

Post by The Space Boss

Post by Eric Perlin
Finally, a large collection of Fleischer Brothers Popeye cartoons are available,
and not just the small handful of public domain ones!
The picture and sound quality on these is excellent!
The first 60 cartoons are included, all in consecutive order. The set spans the
period from 1933 to 1938.
I can hardly wait for volume 2, as three of my favorites are from slightly after
1938: "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (in which Popeye and Bluto attempt to act
like refined gentlemen for the benefit of the Popeye fan club), "Hello, How Am
I" (in which Wimpy impersonates Popeye in order to get a hamburger dinner from
Olive), and "Puttin' On the Act" (in which Popeye and Olive rehearse a
vaudeville act; Popeye imitates both Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel).

The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping there would be
more color cartoons on it :(

There were only two color Popeye cartoons between 33-38. Alladin and the color
shorts will be on the following sets.

[Eric Perlin]

The Space Boss wrote:

} The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping
} there would be more color cartoons on it :(

Give your set away to someone who can appreciate it.

For entertainment, I suggest buying yourself a big hardcover book filled with
hundreds of b&w stills from classic films, and a set of crayons.

[Cubear]

Post by The Space Boss

Post by Eric Perlin
Finally, a large collection of Fleischer Brothers Popeye cartoons are available,
and not just the small handful of public domain ones!
The picture and sound quality on these is excellent!
The first 60 cartoons are included, all in consecutive order. The set spans the
period from 1933 to 1938.
I can hardly wait for volume 2, as three of my favorites are from slightly after
1938: "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (in which Popeye and Bluto attempt to act
like refined gentlemen for the benefit of the Popeye fan club), "Hello, How Am
I" (in which Wimpy impersonates Popeye in order to get a hamburger dinner from
Olive), and "Puttin' On the Act" (in which Popeye and Olive rehearse a
vaudeville act; Popeye imitates both Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel).

The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping there would be
more color cartoons on it :(

The above line is a joke, isnt it?? PLEASE tell me its a joke!!

[Eric Perlin]

Cubear wrote:
} > The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was
} > hoping there would be more color cartoons on it :(
}
} The above line is a joke, isnt it?? PLEASE tell me
} its a joke!!

The message is serious. The person who posted it is a joke.

[The Space Boss]

Post by The Space Boss

Post by Eric Perlin
Finally, a large collection of Fleischer Brothers Popeye cartoons are available,
and not just the small handful of public domain ones!
The picture and sound quality on these is excellent!
The first 60 cartoons are included, all in consecutive order. The set spans the
period from 1933 to 1938.
I can hardly wait for volume 2, as three of my favorites are from slightly after
1938: "It's the Natural Thing to Do" (in which Popeye and Bluto attempt to act
like refined gentlemen for the benefit of the Popeye fan club), "Hello, How Am
I" (in which Wimpy impersonates Popeye in order to get a hamburger dinner from
Olive), and "Puttin' On the Act" (in which Popeye and Olive rehearse a
vaudeville act; Popeye imitates both Groucho Marx and Stan Laurel).

The set is OK, I picked it up at Costco, I was hoping there would be
more color cartoons on it :(

The above line is a joke, isnt it?? PLEASE tell me its a joke!!- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

I just feel that they should have added colorized versions as an
option only - not to replace the originals. I believe I read somewhere
on this board that they had colored and re-drawn the backgrounds on
these cartoons. I was expecting to see some option like this, and was
a little disappointed.

Cartoons should be in color. I understand early films being in black
and white, but Cartoons?? I was under the impression that only a
handful of VERY early cartoons were in black and white.

[Eric Perlin]

The Space Boss wrote:

} I just feel that they should have added colorized
} versions as an option only - not to replace the
} originals. I believe I read somewhere on this board
} that they had colored and re-drawn the backgrounds on
} these cartoons.

That's correct, and they did a cheap, shoddy job of it! Lavishly detailed
backgrounds were replaced with simple and often sloppy-looking ones; and
movements were reduced or even eliminated (with characters standing still in the
colorized versions when they were moving in the originals).

} I was expecting to see some option like this, and was
} a little disappointed.
}
} Cartoons should be in color. I understand early films
} being in black and white, but Cartoons?? I was under
} the impression that only a handful of VERY early
} cartoons were in black and white.

More than a handful; every animated cartoon made before 1933, and a great many
made up until 1944 or so.

The Fleischer Popeye cartoons were not just IN black and white; they UTILIZED
black and white! The crap re-drawn jobs that were done were nothing short of
vandalism.

Having the crappily colorized Popeye cartoons included along with the black and
white originals would be like buying a set of gourmet cheeses and getting a free
dog turd packaged with it.

If you like to see pretty colors on your TV, just buy some crayons and scribble
some pretty colors on your TV screen. Everything you watch will then be in
color.

[The Space Boss]

Post by Eric Perlin
} I just feel that they should have added colorized
} versions as an option only - not to replace the
} originals. I believe I read somewhere on this board
} that they had colored and re-drawn the backgrounds on
} these cartoons.
That's correct, and they did a cheap, shoddy job of it! Lavishly detailed
backgrounds were replaced with simple and often sloppy-looking ones; and
movements were reduced or even eliminated (with characters standing still in the
colorized versions when they were moving in the originals).
} I was expecting to see some option like this, and was
} a little disappointed.
}
} Cartoons should be in color. I understand early films
} being in black and white, but Cartoons?? I was under
} the impression that only a handful of VERY early
} cartoons were in black and white.
More than a handful; every animated cartoon made before 1933, and a great many
made up until 1944 or so.
The Fleischer Popeye cartoons were not just IN black and white; they UTILIZED
black and white! The crap re-drawn jobs that were done were nothing short of
vandalism.
Having the crappily colorized Popeye cartoons included along with the black and
white originals would be like buying a set of gourmet cheeses and getting a free
dog turd packaged with it.
If you like to see pretty colors on your TV, just buy some crayons and scribble
some pretty colors on your TV screen. Everything you watch will then be in
color.

[The Space Boss]

Post by Eric Perlin
The Fleischer Popeye cartoons were not just IN black and white; they UTILIZED
black and white!

I don't get it what do you mean?

[Eric Perlin]

Eric Perlin wrote:
} The Fleischer Popeye cartoons were not just IN black and
} white; they UTILIZED black and white!

The Space Boss replied:
} I don't get it what do you mean?

I put off replying, hoping someone else will field this question for me.

The Fleischer Popeye cartoons created some great dramatic effects with richly
textured b&w backgrounds that just couldn't have been duplicated in color. The
mountains in "I Ski Love Ski You Ski", the construction site in "A Dream
Walking", and the tall buildings in "The Paneless Window Washer" would have lost
some of their grittiness in color.

The b&w Fleischer Popeye cartoons are excellent exactly as they were made. There
is no point in tampering with them to pander to the idiot market.

[Super Stupid]

Popp-aye iz mush phunnier en
kolour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

an da pritty kolours lookz
kool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eric Perlin]

Super Stupid wrote:

} Popp-aye iz mush phunnier en
} kolour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
}
} an da pritty kolours lookz
} kool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You sound as intelligent as the Space Boss, although unlike him, you are
obviously a fictional character.

Tell me, Super Stupid, which do you prefer, the old AMC or the new AMC?

[Super Stupid]

aye likes da niew AMC but de mooovees git en da way uf da kumershals.

alzo, aye buy uzed candles kuz dey r cheeper.

[Thomas Stillabower]

I remember seeing those gawd-awful "colorized" Popeye's when WTBS ran
them in the late '80's. I thought that my childhood memories has sugar
coated how I remembered them. I was wrong. I found out a few years
later, that they had also been re-drawn as well as colorized. I knew
that the Fleischer Popeye's were top-notch and great. I had acquired a
couple of video tapes of the Fleischer's about 10-12 years ago. While
these weren't remastered editions, they did reveal the details in the
background art that the colorized versions hid. Still have a tape of
them around the house somewhere. If I'm feeling masochistic. I'll dig
'em out and watch a few.

And I've been yelling since I first commenced it, I'm against it.
Groucho Marx, Horsefeathers (1932)

[j***@hotmail.com]

Post by Thomas Stillabower
I remember seeing those gawd-awful "colorized" Popeye's when WTBS ran
them in the late '80's. I thought that my childhood memories has sugar
coated how I remembered them. I was wrong. I found out a few years
later, that they had also been re-drawn as well as colorized. I knew
that the Fleischer Popeye's were top-notch and great. I had acquired a
couple of video tapes of the Fleischer's about 10-12 years ago. While
these weren't remastered editions, they did reveal the details in the
background art that the colorized versions hid.

This page shows some examples of how the colorized Popeyes were
ruined:

http://www.calmapro.com/popeye/history.php?section=colour&current=history

I have the new Warners set. It looks and sounds stunning. I could live
without a few of the commentary tracks (specifically, those done by
the team of John Kricfalusi, Eddie Fitzgerald, and Kali Fontecchio),
but otherwise this is a first-class production.

[Perry Shields]

If these photos don't convince you of the horrors of colorization, I don't
know what will...

Post by j***@hotmail.com
This page shows some examples of how the colorized Popeyes were
http://www.calmapro.com/popeye/history.php?section=colour&current=history

[Eric Perlin]

joesilver wrote:
} > This page shows some examples of how the colorized Popeyes
} > were ruined:
} >
} > http://www.calmapro.com/popeye/history.php?section=colour&current=history

"Perry Shields" wrote:

} If these photos don't convince you of the horrors of
} colorization, I don't know what will...

Rather than watch cheaply-colorized Popeye cartoons, I would prefer to get a
shave from Bluto at "Wimby's Bber".

Excuse me now while I go to the zoo and look at the pretty yellow hippos.