Blow Me Down!

Boy, people are hostile wherever Popeye appears....at least in these first few cartoons. In his second cartoon, the one before this, Indians attacked he and Olive when he landed in America. Now, Popeye rows down to Mexico and the locals are taking gunshots at him when he walks down the street.

He finds Olive doing some wild dance in a saloon and we get a few sight gags with that, when suddenly a huge Bluto - bigger than how he looked later in Popeye cartoons - comes in with guns blazing! He's "Bluto The Bandit" according to the big reward sign posted on him at the bar.

The rest is just a sock 'em affair with Bluto and Olive and then Bluto and Popeye, nothing special but enough sight gags to make it worth watching.

This is an early Popeye short, if i'm not mistaken, the first official Popeye cartoon (his first appearance was in a Betty Boop with the title, "Popeye the Sailor") and the seams show a bit here. The basic concepts are started here and it's an enjoyable cartoon, but nothing special. Worth watching. Recommended.

Blow Me Down! (1933)

**** (out of 4)

Popeye travels to Mexico to see Olive Oyl who's working in a Mexican bar when Bluto shows up to start trouble. Once again we get some great humor with a lot of in coming in the politically incorrect form. The scene where a Mexican bandit shoots Popeye in the head only to have to bullet fly back and hit him is great as is the scene where Popeye and Bluto have a shooting contest.

I Yam What I Yam (1933)

**** (out of 4)

Second film in the series has Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpy landing on an island when they're attacked by Indians. There are several funny moments here including a great scene where Popeye goes duck hunting and the Indian coins is another great gag. The spoof of Ghandi also works quite nicely in this politically incorrect short.

In this very early offering in the Popeye saga, the backgrounds are quite primitive with the focus on the principle characters. Popeye finds himself in old Mexico, being assaulted by stereotypical Mexican bad guys. He throttles them without any trouble. Olive is the real star here, working as a dancer. Of course, Bluto shows up as a wanted criminal. Popeye ignores him and then the battle is on. It's pretty basic stuff, but entertaining.

Popeye comes to Mexico to see Olive Oyl. He whomps up a few of the locals before going to the bar where Olive dances. He gives her some flowers. She steps into a spitoon and does a fun dance while trying to get out of it. Then Bluto arrives. There is a 'wanted' poster on the wall. Bluto and the poster notice one-another.

Bluto and Popeye have a battle in the bar. Then, Bluto gets his friends involved. Everything is moving in time with the music soundtrack.

The battle moves to Olive's dressing room. After eating spinach, Popeye stomps Bluto and sends him around the world.

Typical Popeye. Fun mutterings by Popeye, too.

Beware the colorized version.