Sock-a-Bye, Baby

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

Popeye has been given the task of looking after a baby. Because his environment is so noisy, he sets about destroying, with his fists, everything that comes in his path. This includes destroying buildings, cars, musical instruments, and other obstacles. He also kills Harpo Marx and probably others working on construction.

This is a really funny early Popeye, with some really excellent visual effects. Swee' Pea is making life most unhappy for all concerned-himself, Popeye and all the poor souls Popeye silences in order for the little noisemaker to stay asleep (a consummation devoutly to be wished) and thus to be silent. Costello is okay as Popeye here, though he never really did very well in my view. I'm not sure he understood the character terribly well. All in all, a fairly good cartoon largely consisting of sight gags of a fairly violent nature. Good early effort and worth seeing. Recommended.

"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.

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.