Stealin Aint Honest

Popeye and Olive Oyl are looking over a map. She has a secret treasure. We know this because when they get to the island, there is a sign that says, "Olive's Secret Treasure." There are other subtle clues as well. Bluto wants in on this and photographs the map. The treasure isn't gold ore. It is turned into coins and rings and other stuff. Anyway, it all leads to Popeye and Bluto getting into it and, believe it or not, there is spinach involved.

Stealin Ain't Honest (1940)

*** (out of 4)

Fast and fun short has Popeye and Olive Oyl discovering a treasure map but sure enough Bluto spies on them and discovers the location. Now it's a race to the gold.

STEALIN Ain't HONEST runs right at five-minutes so it's a very short film and it runs extremely fast as it seems every is on speed and rushing through things. This makes for an entertaining film even though the story itself really wasn't anything fresh or original. There were several funny moments but the highlight is obviously the violence where Bluto and Popeye are beating each other to a pulp. As you'd expect the animation is top-notch.

Like to love a vast majority of the Fleischer Studios Popeye output, the late-30s cartoons being particularly good and where the high quality was the most consistent. 1940 saw Fleischer Studios starting to decline significantly, the cartoons were mostly well made and scored but they tended to not be very funny, too cute with un-compelling stories and characters. The Popeye cartoons though were among the better ones from this period, in its best theatrical series in the early 40s bar none.

'Stealin Ain't Honest' may not one of the best Popeye cartoons overall though or one of the best of the 1940 output. Considering that Fleischer Studios' pre-40s output was mostly decent to brilliant, it is a little disappointing. At the same time though, despite a couple of major problems there are a lot of well done things and 'Stealin Ain't Honest' actually compares favourably amongst the 40s Fleischer Studios output in general. If there is an interest point, it is that this is a rare instance of Tedd Pierce voicing Bluto.

Do agree that it has not held up (am trying to say something a little more kind than describing something as dated, know a lot of people that hate that word) as well as other Popeye cartoons, with very of the time references sprinkled frequently throughout. Don't think many people today will have heard the term claim jumping too, a term not heard very much at all these days from personal experience. Am still not completely crazy about Margie Hines Olive and Tedd Pierce as Bluto, while an improvement over Pinto Colvig, could have sounded more sinister.

Olive has hardly anything to do and her material is very weak (neither amusing or interesting), to the point that one cannot be blamed if they feel that her presence wasn't necessary. She is also characterised in a way that makes one wondering what Popeye and Bluto, much better characterised, see in her. It is formulaic story-wise and the energy is stronger and more alive elsewhere.

The animation though is neatly and expressively drawn (especially with Popeye) and still very much like the work that goes into the backgrounds. The music is as beautifully orchestrated and characterful as ever. The voice acting from Jack Mercer is on point as always. And don't worry, despite the title the cartoon is not thick on saying that greed is wrong, it's not like 'Never Sock a Baby' that was pretty heavy-handed in this respect.

Popeye is amusing and likeable and Bluto is equally fun in comic timing and a good contrast in terms of personality. Their chemistry is fun to watch, not as energetic as before and since but drives 'Stealin Ain't Honest'. The gags don't feel too predictable and we are not short-changed when it comes to the number of them. The final third has the excitement not there as much before.

All in all, nice but could have been much better. 7/10

Not one of the finer members of the Popeye canon. Popeye and Olive fight Bluto over access to a gold mine, which lamely is full of gold coins lying on the ground. Popeye and Bluto have some half-hearted fighting over the gold, while Olive prances around like an idiot putting it in her basket. Also, this is one of the more dated Popeye cartoons, heavily laden with references to early standard tunes and the frequent use of the word "claim jumping."

Here is another 1940 Popeye the Sailor cartoon from the Fleischers that I like. Popeye and Olive are racing to Olive's secret goldmine before Bluto, the claim jumper, can get there. If it's not a secret, how can it be a "goldmine"? Oh well, for the humor.

I like the scene where Popeye and Olive begin digging elsewhere in search of the gold vein. Their tunnel, however, brings them back to the cave Bluto is trying to exploit. When Poeye bursts in, Bluto, who was blubbering because of a dead end, asks, "Who's that?" And Popeye: "Nobody." Another animated moment by Frank Endres that I especially appreciate is when Popeye hits Bluto, causing his face to skid over the ground. Popeye then cleverly uses Bluto as a drive-on plow. Meanwhile, Olive sings a playful version of "Nuts in May" as she plucks gold nuggets.

You know, I've read some negative stuff about this cartoon, but personally, I think it's another great Popeye cartoon with its "dialogue-humor."