ANIMATION SPIN
November 20, 2018 posted by Greg Ehrbar

Popeye Goes to the Movies – on Records

Jack Mercer made his final vinyl appearance in four fine Peter Pan original stories and Robin Williams made his feature film debut in Popeye’s year of big, splashy showbiz glitz.

POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN BOOK & RECORDING
Jack Mercer and Cast
Peter Pan Book and Record Set BR-523 (12” 33 1/3 RPM LP or Cassette / Stereo / 22 minutes)

POPEYE: 4 FUN-FILLED STORIES
Jack Mercer and Cast
Peter Pan Records 1113 (12” 33 1/3 RPM LP or Cassette / Stereo / 47 minutes)

Released in 1980. Executive Producer: Donald Kasen. Producer: Arthur Korb. Running Time: 47 minutes.

Stories: “Popeye in the Movies,” “ Spinach on the Spanish Main,” “Gold Fever” (#1113 only), “Who’s Afraid of a U.F.O.” (#1113 only).

The steamrolling impending release of Paramount and Disney’s 20 million dollar big-screen musical version of Popeye gave the sailor man and his pals what amounted to his last multi-media and merchandise blitz. As is the delightful fallout of a remake or reboot, no matter how the new enterprise nets out, fans of the original can look forward to as many iterations of their favorite character to reappear in its original form—if possible—in reissued materials and even some new products in the classic vein.

The latter describes these two Peter Pan Records releases totally four stories. All four were released on a single LP, just two of them were packaged with a comic-style book and LP. These apparently mark the last Jack Mercer performance on children’s records. AA Records (formerly Golden) reissued the excellent 1960 Popeye the Sailorman and His Friends LP on its lower budget Merry label (which we covered here on Spin) with Mercer and Mae Questel shortly after the release of the movie Unable to use the copyrighted cartoon images, the cover was illustrated with a generic tugboat (as was the case with the Popeye safety songs EP).

Peter Pan released both of their previous Popeye albums (one from the early ‘70s with Mercer, another from the early ‘60s with Harry F. Welch—subject of this Spin). The 1980 stories, produced by the prolific Arthur Korb, sound very much like Peter Pan’s Power Records super hero and science fiction series (which were being produced at the same time) with the versatile stock company playing multiple roles. Mercer likely was working with the cast on the East coast, as he was a resident of suburban New York, making occasional visits to Hollywood to work on the Hanna-Barbera Popeye cartoons being produced for CBS.

It can’t be an accident that the signature story on both new album releases is “Popeye in the Movies,” since that was indeed what the sailor man was doing in 1980. The record’s story finds Popeye and Olive (another uncredited actor) touring a Hollywood movie studio where four movies are being filmed at once. Popeye finds the action so realistic, he can’t help saving anyone who appears to need him-ruining take after take. The other story on the book and record set is “Spinach on the Spanish Main,” a rivalry story pitting Popeye against Bluto in the Caribbean in search of treasure.

The remaining two stories—not included with the book—are another Popeye and Bluto face off called “Gold Fever” that brings Wimpy into the search for riches; and the inventive “Who’s Afraid of a U.F.O.” in which a simple picnic becomes an invasion from space involving several different planets and interplanetary cousins of Popeye’s from another world. Take that, ancestry.com!

GIVE A LITTLE LISTEN

“Popeye in the Movies”

Besides the actors, a distinctive characteristic of Arthur Korb’s Peter Pan Records is his consistent choice of library production or “needle drop” music. If anyone hearing this lived in the Miam/Fort Lauderdale area from the ‘50s to the 80s, you might recognize one of the music cues as the theme for WTVJ’s “News at Noon.”


POPEYE
Deluxe Edition
Music from the Motion Picture
Varese Sarabande Compact Disc #302 067 430 8 (2 Discs / Stereo / September 29, 2017)
Original LP Released on Boardwalk Records SW-36880 (1980)

Album Producer: Harry Nilsson. Arranger/Conductor: Van Dyke Parks. Underscore: Thomas Pierson. Recording Engineers: Doug Dillard, Ray Cooper, Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks, Klaus Voormann, Phil Dunne, Bob Gravenor, Randy Honaker, Rick Riccio, Mike Hatcher. Music Contractor: Carl Fortina. Music Consultant: Lennie Niehaus. Executive Producers for Varese Sarabande Records: Cary E. Mansfield, Jerry McCauley, Chas Ferry, Byron Davis. Executive in Charge of Music for Paramount Pictures: Randy Speedlove. Soundtrack Album Coordinator: Michael Murphy. Project Consultant: Lukas Kendall. Liner Notes: Jerry McCulley. Mastering: Chas Ferry, Daren Chadwick, Richard Karst. Transfers: John Davis. Art Direction: Bill Pitzonka. Package Design; Rachel Gutek. Lyric Reprints & Drawings Courtesy of The Harry Nilsson Estate. Recorded in Malta and Burbank. Running Time: 122 minutes.

Performers: Robin Williams (Popeye); Shelley Duvall (Olive Oyl); Ray Walston (Poopdeck Pappy); Big John Wallace (Bluto/Singing Voice); Paul Dooley (Wimpy); Robert Fortier (Bill Barnacle); Allen F. Nichols (Roughhouse); The Toughs, Barbershop and The Steinettes, Harry Nilsson.

Songs: “Sweethaven,” Blow Me Down,” “He’s Large,” “I’m Mean,” “Sailin’,” “I Yam What I Yam,” “He Needs Me,” “Swee’ Pea’s Lullaby,” “It’s Not Easy Being Me,” “Kids” by Harry Nilsson; “I’m Popeye the Sailor Man” by Sammy Lerner.

Deleted Songs: “Everything is Food,” “Din’ We” by Harry Nilsson.

Instrumentals: “Rough House Fight,” “March Through Town,” “The Grand Finale,” “Skeleton Cave,” “Now Listen Kid,” “To The Rescue,” “Mr. Eye Is Trapped,” “Back Into Action,” “Saved,” “Still At It,” “The Treasure,” “What? More Fighting,” “Pap’s Boy,” “Olive & The Octopus,” “What’s Up Pop,” ”Popeye Triumphant” by Thomas Pierson; “End Title Medley” by Harry Nilsson, Thomas Pierson.

Demos: “Sweethaven,” “I’m Mean,” “Swee’ Pea’s Lullaby,” “Blow Me Down,” “Everything Is Food,” “He Needs Me,” “Everybody’s Got To Eat,” “Sail With Me,” “I Yam What I Yam,” “It’s Not Easy Being Me,” “Kids,” “I’m Popeye The Sailor Man,” “I’m Mean,” “He Needs Me,” “Everybody’s Got To Eat,” “Din We,” “Sailin’,” “I’d Rather Be Me” by Harry Nilsson.

According to the fascinating, highly detailed album notes by reissue co-executive producer Jerry McCulley, the perception of failure often leveled at 1980’s musical version of Popeye is wrong. Actually, it was highly profitable at the box office and outshone The Shining, Caddyshack, Friday the 13th, Urban Cowboy, Raging Bull and The Elephant Man. What it didn’t do was satisfy the astronomical—and arguably unrealistic—projections established for it.

Consider the logic. They wanted Annie, but Columbia got the rights (and it didn’t work out very well for them). They wanted a full-fledged family musical based on a beloved cartoon character. They hired Jules Feiffer, who based the screenplay on the Segar comics, not the cartoons—and so fiercely defended his position, the original star, Dustin Hoffman, walked off the project.

It was an attempt to make something mainstream in an era of deconstructive entertainment. Producer Robert Evans and director Robert Altman (neither exactly Arthur Freed themselves) hired the brilliant—but unconventional—Harry Nilsson, whose had ideally scored the animated Yellow Submarine-like The Point, but has also musicalized the baffling Skidoo. His score for Popeye is quite wonderful and plays marvelously on recordings. On screen however, the undulating pace of several tunes can run counter to advancing the proceedings. One thing is for sure, hearing the composer sing his demos makes it powerfully clear how ideally the songs are suited for his own unique style of performance.

The casting was remarkable. The movie actually pleased many critics and is often dismissed by many who never saw it. Whatever disappointment is might have wrought can be interpreted from Leonard Maltin’s negative review, in which he said that watching Max Fleischer cartoons would be better. Therein lies the dilemma. Generations each have their own Popeye in their heads and it’s a tough job to fulfill all of them. One wonders how it would work on stage, though.

The album is definitely worth having, for fans of Robin Williams—if only for the tender, heartfelt way he sings to Swee’ Pea; Harry Nilsson; Van Dyke Parks; and Popeye himself. The music is lovingly restored, with the lavish background music that was not included on the vinyl album and loads of demos featured Nilsson and members of the cast. It’s over two hours long and relatively inexpensive—but I have a feeling that won’t be for very long.

GIVE A LITTLE LISTEN
Popeye End Title Medley

As some soundtrack albums began to resemble pop albums in the ‘70s and either repositioned or omitted main and end title music, those of us who treasured these features would watch the films and wish it was otherwise. That’s why restored and extended albums like this edition of Popeye are such treasures. This is an example: the end title medley offering Thomas Pierson’s exquisite arrangements of Nilsson’s score, giving us a chance to hear it in a different dimension.


A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE EDITOR OF CARTOON RESEARCH

Presenting POPEYE THE SAILOR: The 1940s Vol. 1 (Warner Archive Collection) Street Date: 12/11/18.

Here we go again. To all of you who wish and hope the vaults of Warner Bros. could reopen to allow more of the classic cartoon treasures to emerge – Now is your time. Here’s what you can do to help (Take Two).

Last year I used whatever super powers I had to make a set of black and white Porky Pig cartoons available in an effort to convince to the studio there was an audience out there for such compilations. After several bumps in the road the set eventually broke even. But “brake even” isn’t good enough for a mega corporation. Long story short – we have one more shot. One. This is it. Perhaps a set of color cartoons, films the collectors do not have, or never had on home video (no VHS, no previous DVD or cable broadcast). A small set – 14 cartoons perhaps.

Here it is – a continuation of the Paramount Popeye cartoons. The next 14. No frills, no bonus materials, no audio commentaries. Transferred from the original Technicolor negatives. Jim Tyer animation. Politically incorrect shorts, uncut. The set will be available, separately, on both DVD and blu-ray.

The website to pre-order is now up: Order the $21.99 blu ray here – and/or the 19.99 DVD here. I highly recommend this set – I think you will be pleased. The frame grabs below were snapped off my living room flat screen by my iPhone, off the blu-ray. If this looks good to you – I ask that you pre-order, or order it in December. Let’s prove to Warner Bros. that we want further volumes of Popeye 1940s and 1950s – and we want more Warner and MGM cartoons restored and released. It’s seriously up to you.

57 Comments

  • Looks snazzy Jerry. I like how the cover art looks the same as those Warner Home Video ones (keep the tradition alive).

  • YES!!!

    THANK YOU, JERRY!!!

  • WOW! Vintage color Popeyes in the best possible quality! Jerry Beck DOES IT AGAIN!
    All the inevitable whiners and complainers? Please form a line next to that steep mountain cliff over there, and then jump in.

    • Majestic Mountain cliff, the logo of Paramount. Jump, but watch out for the crested stars!

      This Blu-ray could be a great novelty Christmas gift for my Grandma along with a personal copy with me as well, since I am a HUGE Paramount cartoon buff.

      You might have taken this for granted, but this first time a properly restored set of Famous Studios cartoons past the 1942-1943 season. So you’ll get some smooth animation (especially in the last few titles of Vol 1), colors popping in glorious Technicolor, and restored Paramount logos.

  • Is it preferable to order direct from Warner Archive again?

    Also, do we know if the DVD version will be pressed through the Archive like Porky was?

    • Yes, it’s preferable (for the cause) to order through Warner Archive (through WBshop.com). In fact, I’m not sure it will be available via Amazon at first.

      I’ll look into the issue of if the DVD is being pressed or MOD – I think the DVDs are not being pressed, but I do not know for sure. That’s not my department.

    • >In fact, I’m not sure it will be available via Amazon at first.

      The DVD set is thrilling news. But how can WB expect more than break even when customers of five continents (not counting Antarctica) are barred from ordering this set from Warner Archive? Scratching my head…

    • So far, Warner Archive Blu-Rays have always been available through Amazon; It’s usually how I’ve ordered them.

    • Not available for shipping to Canada either.

  • Terrific! Thanks Jerry for what you’ve done/you are doing/you’ll do for us classic animation fans!

  • This is fantastic news, and I’ll be checking, periodically, to seek out the proper address at which to order this thing. Can’t wait to check out the first 14 cartoons in the Paramount Studio’s color POPEYE series…and where can I get a copy of the POPEYE movie soundtrack? I didn’t know it was available.

    I guess there were aspects of the Popeye live action movie that didn’t feel right, despite the inclusion of the performers, here, who simply had to understand the original Fleischer cartoons. Then again, if you’re going for the purest version of this character, chances are you’d go with the Segar comic strip, as hard-edged as it might seem. Jack Mercer gave so much humanity to the character, as has been pointed out so many times in posts on this and other animation forums.

    I can’t say I am as versed in the original comic strip as I am the Fleischer or Famous cartoons, and I thought that certain steps had been taken to give the film an overall Fleischer-esque appearance. I wonder how this conflict was dealt with from day to day on the set, aside from Dustin Hoffman’s departure from the production. I wonder if film of Hoffman’s performance as Popeye actually exists. Most recorded performances of the sailor man were gruff, while, again, Mercer neatly refined it so that we can see and feel the soft spot beneath the seemingly hard exterior. Hey, even the Paramount cartoons broadly conflict with Segar’s original vision when creating the character…so where does one begin? Well, I’ll certainly enjoy the Paramount cartoons, whenever the proper information shows itself!

    • Kevin,
      Amazon still has the Popeye movie soundtrack at a surprisingly low price considering it’s a two-disc set. It’s also sold direct through Varese Sarabande Records and Film Score Monthly. It was the first time ever on CD. I don’t think it was a limited run, but if it goes out of print as hard copies do, I would guess the second hand prices might jump.

  • Thanks for the announcement of the Popeye color cartoons on Blu-ray/DVD, Jerry. But I have to say: I’m really disappointed that you shoe-horned it into one of the regular columns on Cartoon Research. Basically, you are only allowing the readers who are interested enough to click into this particular column to discover the news (as well as those who saw the teaser under the Exposure Sheet column yesterday). An announcement like this deserves its OWN post with its OWN headline. It has a potential of interest way beyond readers who are curious about Popeye on vinyl records.

    One question that pops to mind: You write that there are no bonus materials, which is understandable; but since this set will also be on Blu-ray (yay!), will the cartoons be restored? Or will these be raw transfers?

    • This announcement is “shoe-horned” into one of the regular columns because I’m giving you guys, the regular readers, first crack at the news. This project hasn’t been announced yet to the public. I was told today was the day, however, I’m actually still awaiting the official word. Heck, I could get in trouble for ‘shoe-horning’ the info here.

      There will be a full blog post devoted to this announcement – it will be on my news site, Animation Scoop – as soon as I’m given the go-head to do so. I’m also waiting for the website link – so you can order.

      I will answer more questions about this set tomorrow when I put in a cameo appearance on Stu’s Show (I’ll pop in during the first half hour – Skype be willing) – and more so on on my full-length appearance on the show Dec. 19th.

    • It’s good to hear that there will be a full announcement on Animation Scoop. But please – publish the full announcement on THIS site (cartoonresearch.com) as well. Speaking for myself, I visit Cartoon Research much more often than Animation Scoop, simply because I like this site better, and its contents is more up my alley. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have thought of checking Animation Scoop for the announcement; and I have to think the same is also the case for many other classic cartoon fans. In my eyes, this site is the place where an announcement about classic Hollywood cartoons on home video will have the best chance of finding its audience.

    • I appreciate your loyalty to this blog.

      I will be placing a box on the right column (where the Porky 101 box is now) on each page of Cartoon Research when the film is officially announced.

      My policy here is one post per day. As I have most days on Cartoon Research booked up in advance, “shoe-horning” special announcements such as this is what I will do when the news is particularly “breaking”. I would refer readers who want breaking news about my doings to check my facebook page and the Cartoon Research facebook page – as well as Animation Scoop.

    • I think this is a more than good enough reason to break with the “one post per day” policy, just for once. Nobody will expect you to keep doing two posts a day just because you do it once in a while. The result will simply be that the Popeye set gets more exposure.

      Anyway, will try to keep an eye out on Animation Scoop for the announcement too. But given the subject matter and audience of the Cartoon Research site, it REALLY is the perfect place for announcements of classic cartoon releases.

  • YES!! I was hoping they would start releasing the color Popeyes! Thank you, Jerry! You’ve given me something to put on my Christmas wish list!

  • You had me at “Jim Tyer animation.”

    • Same here. I’m drooling already. 😉

  • Will they have original titles?

    • Yes. These are all from the original Technicolor nitrate three-strip negatives

  • I’m in for Marry-Go-Round!

    Thanks Jerry!

  • Well, this is good news. It’s kind of like the last Popeye piece. They began to degrade after this. My gosh, we waited soooooooooooooo long to get the black and white Fleischers on DVD. This doesn’t feel like we’ve waited as long in comparison. I know there’s a tendency to see what we can get next, so I’ll indulge that. If there is enough response, could we finally get a complete Betty Boop compilation? Talkartoons and all? Anyway, Jerry, I’m VERY happy to get these Popeyes. Thank you for your efforts.

    • Warner Bros. doesn’t have the rights to release Betty Boop or any other cartoons from the Fleischer/Famous Studios. They only have Popeye from Paramount’s library. What we’re hoping for, if this release sells well, is that it can pave the way for more releases of the vast library of cartoons that Warner does own – from the Warner Bros. and MGM libraries. There’s a LOT of great stuff there still waiting for a proper home video release. (Of course, I’d love it it another company did a high-quality Blu-ray release of Betty Boop and Talkartoons.)

    • For the record, Mesterius, Warner Bros. also owns Paramount’s Superman cartoons.

    • Thanks for the correction, Jerry, I forgot about Superman (a character which Warner Bros. of course owns lock, stock and barrell today).

  • FINALLY! No more battered/PD prints! Famous Studios Popeye restored and remastered at long last! Thanks Jerry! 😀

    Will the DVD edition be replicated/factory-pressed for the first run?

  • Long in the works, great to finally be heading our way. Speaking of which, “WE’RE ON OUR WAY TO RIO” is my very favorite of the color Popeyes. But there are quite a few good ones among the early color Famous shorts.

  • Will this be out in non blu ray format as well? Thanks, Jerry Beck.

    • Yes. It will be on blu ray. I’m holding a blu ray in my hands in the picture above.

  • Great news about the DVD.
    As for the Altman film, I’ve revisited it a few times in my life.
    In my opinion, the characterizations are excellent, the story is weak, and as the article said perhaps the music is fine for Nilsson but are not show- stoppers and do not advance the story.
    It was a packed theater when I saw it in 1980.

  • The Popeye movie is maddening because it always feels like there’s a GREAT movie inches away from happening. The talent is there, onscreen and off. It’s almost a companion to Dick Tracy, which for all the amazing visuals and performances (Dick Van Dyke as a villain!) boils down to the most beautiful programmer ever made.

    As for another Popeye, I’m on board. My own top priority after that is Tex Avery, although I’d definitely buy “Rock Odyssey” and a “Saturday Superstar Movie” set. And I’m always up for live action shorts.

  • And here I was happy to just see something besides a Disney album featured today (seriously, Greggers, mix it up a little).

    But a Popeye Blu-ray, to boot? BONUS!!!

  • I really hope that my favourite “Rocket to Mars” will be restored one day. This set looks wonderful – I llive in the UK so hope that AMAZON will be stocking it.

  • Jerry is so right when he states it’s “up to you”. When The Cartoon Network debuted “The Popeye Show” at 1:30 am Monday morning I knew this was a ploy to let this classy show die after 13 episodes (after all Warner Brothers did not own the licensing rights to the Popeye characters). If it bombed the network would say “we told you know one watched Popeye”. I spent a lot of time (& money) to get this show promoted and into an earlier time period. Thanks to the public’s support the show did move to 9:30 pm and later 7:30 pm Sunday evenings lasting three and half seasons. The public’s voice was heard. Let’s do it again and buy this DVD set!

  • Thanks for your efforts, Jerry! As a huge FS Popeye fan, I’m overjoyed. And I hope for future volumes. To me, the quality didn’t decline until the 1950s, and even then there were enough cartoons I liked that I would purchase those volumes.

  • Wow, this is WEIRD… Tonight I was watching some Famous Studio B&W Popeye from the Volume 3 disc, and was thinking (more like pouting) to myself about how badly I wished there would be some color Famous Popeyes officially released. Then I am checking Facebook and see a post from John Paul Cassidy about Jerry’s announcement. WTF?? This is great news! THANK YOU JERRY!!!!

    • I was watching Volume 3 tonight BECAUSE of the announcement. Had forgotten how unusual they are, with a wild post-Fleischer look that was eventually suppressed as all the Famous / Paramount toons became distressingly bland and “safe” (yet with a weird tone deafness, often making slapstick violence look painful rather than funny).

  • I can’t wait till Christmas. I’ll buy it myself.

  • Wow! Now that I’ll be getting, probably for Christmas. Hope this’ll soon lead to Tom and Jerry Golden Collection Volume 2 and a possible Volume 3 finally being released, along with more Looney Tunes on Blu-Ray and Tex Avery’s MGM cartoons.

  • Is there any hope for the canceled second Tom & Jerry Blu-ray, Jerry? That was all good to go before the griping started over two missing shorts. If it’s a matter of cost, WB wouldn’t have to put much in to transfer those two last titles (and not such an Archive issue now if they are releasing these Popeyes uncut) and that full set could come out and be a huge seller. Is that a project you could pitch to them, seeing as it’s basically done? Heck, I’d still be up for it without the two toons – slightly annoying, but better than the nothing we have right now! Thanks Jerry!

    • Quimby, the two shorts in question (Mouse Cleaning and Casanova Cat) WERE restored before the decision was made to censor them from the planned Tom and Jerry Golden Collection Volume 2. So Warner wouldn’t have to spend a cent on transferring and restoring them. The problem is, Warner’s attitude to Tom and Jerry is clearly different than with Popeye (remember, Warner Home Video released black-and-white wartime Popeye shorts on DVD already in 2008). I would love to see the second Tom and Jerry Golden Collection myself. But just because Warner releases wartime Popeye shorts uncut and uncensored, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything as far as Tom and Jerry is concerned.

  • Pssst! Drop by https://www.wbshop.com and search for Popeye. The new DVD and Blu-ray sets are live!!!

    Ordered! 🙂

  • Thank you very much for the pre release info, just ordered mine in Blu-ray.

  • “For the record, Mesterius, Warner Bros. also owns Paramount’s Superman cartoons.”

    Holy Cr*p! Really?
    Popeye’s the (sailor) man, Jerry, but…if this set does well, maybe THESE could be next up???

  • Jerry,
    My apologies!! I had no idea that had happened, so please send me to cartoon jail – I can take it.

  • Color Famous Studios Popeye on Blu Ray? SOLD!

  • The Harry Nilsson demos for Popeye have a vinyl release 11/23 as part of the Record Store Day Black Friday event. 1800 copies. Listed as “RSD First”,not an exclusive,meaning it is possible other non-participating indi stores may have access to this.
    Other RSD titles of interest to cartoon freaks include Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas(also RSD First,so it may be available after 11/23 from non-RSD stores)-2000 copies and Stay Awake,a 2LP reissue of the 1988 Disney tribute project produced by Hal Willner. 3500 copies.

  • Now available on Amazon!

  • Ordered my copy of Popeye the 1940’s volume 1 today. 🙂

  • I will buy Popeye on Blu ray. Thanks for this terrific news!

  • I’m in for Popeye on blu if I can get it imported to the UK from Amazon.
    Do Warner own the rights to Barney Bear? I can’t believe no one’s released those great toons on dvd or blu ray.

    • The answer to both of your questions is the same. Yes, Amazon ships Warner Archive’s releases worldwide. 🙂 And yes, Warner does own Barney Bear (along with everything else from MGM’s cartoon library from 1934 onwards).

      Honestly, considering that Warner hasn’t even done a proper release of Tex Avery, I’m not so surprised that they haven’t gotten around to a Barney Bear release. Barney never had the star power of the MGM cartoon leads that came after him, like the cat and mouse or Avery’s wolf, girl and dog. That said, I wouldn’t mind a Barney Bear release either — though I would definitely prioritize Tex Avery first. (As well as the rest of Tom and Jerry, if that ever comes to pass.)

  • Seriously, what’s wrong with Warner ? Ten years ago the B&W Popeyes were all available on DVDs in, at least, both US & Canada. Now, since they started Warner Archives, all of us that doesn’t live in Trumland (I could call it any other name even less flatering, but I’ll stay polite here) get the shaft. Who are they kidding ? The same almost goes for TCM and all of their streaming services. They kill their own market by alienating the possible market autside the US. Lucky us, we have to resort to some less reliable third parties (like Amazon) or scalpers (like ebay and somany others).

    To Jerry. Thank you very much for all your efforts for this release. I would have contributed gladly, but unfortunately I can’t thanks to Warner (unless Anazon gets it because it’s not even available to pre-order).

    Let’s hope that other cartoons and other rare releses will follow soon on Blu-ray (including the earlyer B&W Popeyes).

  • This is AMAZING. I’ve been waiting so long for this. I really HOPE they continue this and we get the rest of the Popeye theatre shorts!
    THANK YOU JERRY!

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