Sock-a-Bye, Baby

Popeye wheels a sleeping Sweepea through the tow, where various noises wake the infant. The sailor man responds by biffing the noise makers.

Popeye's voice actor offers some of her real singing voice in this cartoon. It's still in the Fleischer era, so the gags flow freely under the direction of Dave Fleischer, and although the background work is simplified to remove the slovenliness that amuses fans of Segar's Thimble Theater comic strip, there are plenty of mildly askew details.

For some reason Mae Questal is credited in the IMDb listing as the voice of Olive Oyl, even though she never appears.

You just have to be a certain type to appreciate the humor in cartoons like this. It takes a certain sick sense of humor, something not everyone has. Cartoons like "Boom Boom", one of the first Porky Pig cartoons with his co-star, Beans the cat, in which the two spend the whole film dodging malicious bombs with minds of their own. And the present film, in which Popeye proves even more of a bully than Bluto himself ever was. This was the REALLY early days, when Popeye would beat the living crap out of anyone and anything in his path. The cartoon is stuffed with gags, including the theme song which here is, naturally, the lullaby "Rock-A-Bye Baby", which is punctuated with all kinds of violent sound effects.

Like I said, it takes a certain type to savor this.

This is a highly disturbing installment of Popeye. You see Sweetpea for the first time and Popeye is caring for the kid. He is taking him for a walk and wants the baby to sleep so he pretty much beats up or kills EVERYONE who makes noise in the town! Because of this, it's as if he's being worse in this one strange cartoon than ALL of Bluto's bad deeds combined! For example, a ship sounds its horn--and Popeye sinks it-- presumably killing everyone aboard. He also knocks down a building under construction--again, probably killing all the workers! What an unstoppable nut case!! Eventually, however reprehensible a swath of murder and destruction Popeye creates, the little brat awakens anyway. I was half expecting to see Popeye kill the kid as well! Aside from seeing a completely unreasonable and homicidal side of our hero, we also get to see him beat up Harpo Marx--though why Harpo was outside playing his harp, I have no idea!

This is a somewhat well made film but one that cannot help but disturb. Back in the 1930s, out of about every 20 or 30 cartoons they made, the Fleischer Brothers made one that was just insane--and this is one of them. Other inappropriate but entertaining films they made would include a Betty Boop's "Be Human" and "Bimbo's Initiation". Enjoyable but disturbing!

"Action speaks louder than words." At least, that is what some people say. This short proves that the quote is associated with Popeye the Sailor.

This short is about a simple situation: Popeye is babysitting, and no, it is not Swee'Pea but Betty Boop's baby brother Billy; that's what I heard. Anyway, Popeye tries to make sure he takes his nap. But with the sounds of old New York, it isn't easy. If Popeye heard the honk of a horn or the whistle of an ocean liner, he would go and smash the noisemaker to bits. That is what I meant when I chose that precise quote.

My favorite scene is when Popeye tries to sing Billy to put him to sleep. In the first verse of the song, the voice wasn't the familiar "croaky" one. It was the natural singing voice of his voice actor, Billy Costello. I also love the scene when Popeye sends a punch by wire to a radio station and slugs the singer. So anyway, I really love this Popeye short.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

'Sock a-Bye, Baby' is not one of the best Popeye cartoons to me. It is extremely well done and never less than very funny, its best parts being hilarious, though some of the content and Popeye himself here may not be for all tastes. Have always enjoyed many of the Popeye cartoons a good deal and like Popeye very much, Fleischer's efforts were always well animated and scored with lots of entertainment value and great character chemistry. 'Sock a-Bye Baby' has much of makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era, though one does miss Bluto.

The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons). The humour and gags make it even more entertaining, 'Sock a-Bye Baby' is non-stop fast-paced wildness, avoiding the trap of repetition, though it is more brutal than the usual Popeye cartoon, especially with Popeye whose characterisation is a bit of a shock to start with, and youngsters may find it a little disturbing.

William Costello's voice work has been better and more inspired, he is not on complete top form here or as involved.

As ever, 'Sock a-Bye, Baby' is a Popeye cartoon that has so much energy. The baby character is amusing and cute and the chemistry between the two characters drives the cartoon very well. There are many inventive and hilarious moments too beautifully timed.

Furthermore, the animation is beautifully drawn and with enough visual detail to not make it cluttered or static and lively and smooth movement. The music is also outstanding, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish. Fleischer's direction is always accomplished and his style is all over it.

In short, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox