I Never Changes My Altitude

This is a marvelous short. Olive runs off with Bluto (again) and it turns out badly for her (again-will she never learn? Will Popeye?) until Popeye flies to the rescue. Visually wonderful, as Fleischer shorts usually were. Originally in black and white, this was colorized. Black and white is much better. These were drawn for black and white. The requirements for color are different. But what can you expect in a world where, on the packaging for Young Frankenstein, the pictures are in color? *SIGH* This short is well worth looking for and most recommended.

Olive Oyl has flown the coop with aviator Bluto. Popeye is broken hearted. Then he spots Olive being mistreated by Bluto in the air, and takes off in a plane after them. Olive gets to safety while the two guys fight like junior birdmen.

Director Dave Fleischer was fond of packing as many gags as possible into his cartoons, and this is a fine example of that. To make things even better, the movie starts with one of the better example of the Fleischer's. Tabletop Process a technique that lends a real sense of three dimensions to this cartoon.

We think of Walt Disney as a great innovator in cartoons, and he was quick to latch onto new techniques. At Fleischer, they invented them.

I Never Changes My Altitude (1937)

*** (out of 4)

As this short starts off, Popeye is crying because he received a letter from Olive Oyl saying she's left him for an aviator. Soon she's in terror because of his mean ways so Popeye must come to the rescue.

Surely I'm not the only fan of this series who watches shorts like this and wonders why Popeye even puts up with Olive Oyl's attitude. For whatever his reason, Popeeye decides to go into battle with Bluto as the two take the air to straighten things out. For the most part this isn't the greatest short in the series but as usual the animation is terrific and certainly helps keep the film going. There are some creative scenes in the sky and especially when Popeye feeds spinach to a duck.

At the airport, Popeye is heartbroken after getting a Dear John letter from Olive Oyl. She has run off with pilot Bluto. He's abusive and she wants to go back to Popeye. That's when Popeye comes to the rescue. I'm more and more disappointed with Olive Oyl as I see more of these cartoons. Popeye is nothing but good to her. Yet she is often running off with Bluto. What's up with that? Maybe Popeye should look for another girlfriend. Also Popeye should rescue Olive Oyl at the end of the episode, not the middle. There is an interesting opening scene that is unlike the normal Popeye drawings. It's also fun that Popeye gives spinach to the duck. Overall, this is good Popeye fun.

Fleischer Studios' cartoons more often than not amused and charmed and were always well made. Not without over-cuteness at times and stories were seldom a strong suit, but they were always made up for significantly in appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

'I Never Changes My Altitude' is not quite one of the best Popeye cartoons or one of the best Popeye cartoons from 1937 in the best period for the series (the late 30s). That is not knocking it in any way as it's still a great cartoon and saying what was said about it not quite being one of the best 1937 Popeye cartoons is only because really that 1937 was one of the best and most consistent years for the series where all the cartoons pretty much were very good and more, great in the case of many. Everything that is good about many of the cartoons, in primarily the series' prime era, is here in 'I Never Changes My Altitude'.

Have no issues, as ever, with the chemistry between the three leads. Olive's material is not as interesting or as funny as that for Popeye and Bluto but she does amuse and it is not hard to see what the two see in her. Popeye and Bluto always did have stronger material and their animosity always had plenty of fun and tension. Both are obvious in 'I Never Changes My Altitude'. Absolutely love their chemistry, which is deservedly legendary and just sparkles in energ, while Popeye is immensely likeable with great comic timing (Jack Mercer's voice acting helps quite a lot) and Bluto is a mix of funny and formidable.

What could have been formulaic in story is instead done with a lot of energy, entertainment value that never lets up and fresh execution, with some creative moments when in the sky. Lots of gags spot on in timing, with not a misfire in the lot. An example of a memorable bit is with the duck and the spinach. As always, love Popeye's mumblings and asides and there were not many other animated characters to be as funny as Popeye in that regard.

The animation is smooth and detailed enough and the music is full of merriment and lushness.

Voice acting is very good, especially from Jack Mercer while it is not hard to see why Mae Questel was the most popular voice for Olive Oyl.

Altogether, great fun. 9/10