It's the Natural Thing to Do

It's the Natural Thing to Do (1939)

*** (out of 4)

Popeye and Bluto are involved in a violent fight when Olive receives a telegram from the Popeye Fan Club. The telegram asks the three to quit fighting so much and act more mature. The three decides to give it a try.

I'm sure there were some complaints from people back in the day. I'm sure there were some who thought these cartoons were a bit too violent and sent the wrong message at times so it's pretty funny seeing this short address that issue. Of course, it's all done in a funny way as the three characters were really stupid when it came to acting normal. The title song is certainly the highlight of the film as Olive really gets to shine. The rest of the film is certainly entertaining but the laughs aren't as big as the sarcasm.

1939 was a very solid year for the mostly very enjoyable Popeye series, if not quite the best (1936-1938 were great years for the series) in for me a contender for its best and most consistent period. Not just for Popeye but it was on the most part one of Fleischer Studios', whose Popeye cartoons were of better quality than those for Famous Studios, better periods too, pre-code Betty Boop and the Koko series were good periods similarly.

'It's a Natural Thing to Do' is very nearly one of the best 1939 outings if not one of my favourites of the period. Do agree that it was nice to have something a little different from the usual formula, a little more restrained than usual to match the attempts at sophistication that forms a large part of the story, the premise was a very promising one from the very start and gets better and better as 'It's a Natural Thing to Do' goes on. Sure, there are recognisable elements but there is nothing recycled-feeling here.

The first portion is a bit slow, though the very opening, which is another thing that was different from usual, sets things up for what's to come very promisingly.

Do think too that Pinto Colvig and Margie Hines don't fit Bluto and Olive's character designs and personalities as much as Gus Wickie and Mae Questel, Wickie is far more menacing as the character and it has always felt odd hearing Olive being voiced by somebody else other than Questel.

Once it gets going, which it does very quickly, 'It's a Natural Thing to Do' is enormous fun and keeps delivering on the hilarity and charm. Popeye and Bluto's attempts at sophistication and how badly they fail makes for a plentiful number of gags that are often hilarious. The energy gets wilder leading to a riot of a final third. The whole complaints from fans angle was interesting and like the cartoon was poking fun at any reservations anybody watching the Popeye cartoon had about them.

Popeye and Bluto are both on top form in equal measure and this is among Olive's better appearances. The animation is especially impressive in the backgrounds, previously described as meticulous and that sums them up very well (my way of summing them up too) and the expressions and body language of Popeye. The music is playful and beautifully orchestrated, fitting perfectly with the action. The title song is a highlight. Jack Mercer as always nails it as Popeye, the character's best voice actor by default as nobody else brought to life Popeye's asides and mumblings in the way he did.

In conclusion, very good and nearly great despite a slightly slow start and Hines and Colvig not quite doing it for me. 8/10

This episode in the Fleischer's Popeye series doesn't waste any time. It starts with Popeye and Bluto fighting in the yard when Olive receives a telegram asking them to cut out the rough stuff. So the three of them abandon their usual clothes and awkwardly join Olive for afternoon tea.

It's a very meta episode of the series, and becomes something of a comedy of embarrassment, far from the usual range of the series, with a maid serving piles of food and t everyone talking about conversing, while Olive breaks in occasionally to note that it's the natural thing to do.

It's a commentary about the then-current fad of claiming that good manners were merely being natural. It might be for some people, but for Popeye and Bluto, the natural thing to do is to beat the tar out of each other.

In the 1930s, the Fleischer Studios made a ton of Popeye cartoons. And while the quality of the animation was amazingly good, the cartoons suffered from two things. First, despite great animation, until WWII, they still were black & white--even when other studios were making full-color cartoons. Second, for the most part, when you've seen one, you've seen them all, as the same basic plot was recycled again and again. This time, however, the cartoon starts off normally BUT Popeye receives a letter from his fans saying they wanted a nice and non-violent cartoon--one that is sophisticated. So, Popeye, Bluto and Olive decide to be sophisticated and they try so hard--and fail so miserably! It's quite clever and worth a look--even if you hate Popeye.

Olive receives a telegram from a Popeye fan who is upset with the violence. It asks that the three of them become more refined. What happens is Popeye and Bluto make a concerted effort to make nice. We know that will be short lived, especially when they start to get bored with their efforts. Olive is as bad as they are when it comes to the craziness.