What -- No Spinach?

Popeye goes into Bluto's diner and tries to order roast duck. However, Wimpy is the waiter, and he tries to mooch everything... especially the hamburgers.

Lou Fleischer provides Wimpy's voice, and yes, he was a relative of Max and Dave: their brother. There was a lot of nepotism in Hollywood at the time; Universal was famous for it under 'Uncle' Carl Laemmle. The Fleischers had brothers-in-laws, nephews, and such on the payroll, but they definitely earned their keep.

As is often the case with the Fleischer cartoons in this period, you had to keep an attentive eye open for all the throwaway gags that Dave instructed his staff to put in.

It's Bluto's restaurant. Wimpy is the short order cook, but he's too eager to eat the hamburgers. Bluto catches him and puts the hamburger in his safe. Popeye comes in and orders a roast duck. Wimpy changes the order to hamburger and tries to eat it himself. Bluto stops Wimpy and finally gives Popeye his roast duck. Wimpy still tries to do some stealing. When Popeye refuses to pay, he gets into a fight with Bluto.

This Popeye cartoon is most interesting for making Wimpy the villain. Popeye and Bluto are simply the victims of his antics and some misunderstandings. His addiction to hamburgers is the true villain of the piece and that's an interesting take.

I love the lyrics of songs in the 1930s, from "legitimate hit songs" recorded by stars to little ditties sung in cartoon sung in Betty Boop episodes or these early Popeye cartoons. Here's an example, sung by Wimpy, who is cooking (that traitor) in "Bluto's Restaurant:"

"There's nothing in the world that can compare With a hamburger, juicy and rare

A hamburger lives For the pleasure it gives It's a thrill-on-the-bill affair

Such heavenly food deserves the best A home and contentment Beneath my vest

There's nothing in the world That's so divine As a hamburger tender and fine

I adore you, hamburger mine!

Unfortunately for Wimpy he is clobbered over the head as he is about the devour that "divine" hamburger. Bluto takes it and puts it in the safe! You get in the safe by dialing a telephone. As I've said a number of times, this is one reason I love cartoons: the outrageous things you see.

Anyway, "that's one hamburger he won't get," says the big boss as he locks it into the safe.

This cartoon has a couple of unique sight gags, such as Wimpy having the menu light up on his chest in neon, when Popeye asks what's cooking. It's also different in that Wimpy plays such a large role, and he rather than Bluto, is more of the "bad guy."

The man reason that the early Popeye cartoons were popular was that the characters were depicted as ordinary working-class types in everyday urban surroundings, which many in the Depression era could identify with. This more or less ended when Paramount bought out the series in the early 1940's and put their own take on it.

Very popular among viewers were the asides mumbled by the voice of Popeye Jack Mercer. The quick-witted Mercer would often ad-lib these asides randomly. Some needed to be edited out, because they wouldn't get past the censor, but most were left in as-is. Mercer continued to voice Popeye, except when overseas during World War 2, until his death in 1984.

Gus Wickie was the voice of Bluto in about 20 of the early cartoons. When the Fleischer brothers moved from New York City to Florida, Wickie decided to stay in The Big Apple, where could more-easily find work as an entertainer.

In this cartoon, and others in the series, Wickie was also allowed to ad-lib asides, which were also popular with the public. Neither Wickie's predecessor, William Pennell, nor his successor, the talented Jackson Beck, opted much for the same ad-libbing,

Also, the character of Wimpy had a more prominent role in this cartoon than in others during the era.

The interaction and dialog between the three is among the best in the series.

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.

While maybe not quite classic Popeye, though it is close, 'What- No Spinach?' is still very good and very funny, using the diner setting cleverly. 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 chemistry between Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto. 'What- No Spinach?' has everything that makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era and does nothing to waste the three main characters or make them less interesting.

The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons), though with a lot of variety and creative moments. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining with very amusing to hilarious gags that cleverly utilises the diner, and the cartoon is hardly devoid of them.

All three characters are great, Popeye and Bluto are spot on and their chemistry drives 'What- No Spinach?' and has so much energy, while playing it straight against Wimpy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character. Stealing the cartoon though is Wimpy, always a very entertaining character who should have been in more cartoons and this is one of his funniest appearances with the best line.

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.

Voice acting is dynamic and of very good quality.

All in all, nearly a classic but not quite. 8/10 Bethany Cox