Popeye DVD makes the Papers (or at least just The Boston Globe)

[Howard]

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2004/05/03/popeye_fans_get_animated_in_dvd_debate/

I read this in the paper on my lunch break, and I figured that the people here would be interested in reading it. (although the on-line version is missing a great comic strip drawing of Popeye that ran above the first part of the story in the paper....)

[STASHONE]

Nice to see our partner Jerry Beck representing hard and let me just say, thank god for the likes of fellows like this Gradinetti for relaying the sentiments of all of us here to the public ear and getting the word out there! I hope he continues to get this sort of exposure.

The original Fleisher Popeyes on DVD along with the lesser quality Famous adaptions in a proper chronological collection would be a dream come true for me - these were easily some of, if not the best theatrical cartoons ever made and years ahead of themselves!!

Also, I'll admit that I had to look up the word "mollify" at Dictionary.com... but in context, it seems to be a positive sign however slim. :D

Thanks for posting that!

[Davesnothere]

Ain't it ridiculusk that the most popular cartoon series of the 1930's is shown only for a half-hour (repeated) in the wee hours of Monday morning as if it's a cult show?

[Howard]

Ain't it ridiculusk that the most popular cartoon series of the 1930's is shown only for a half-hour (repeated) in the wee hours of Monday morning as if it's a cult show?
Perhaps, unless you consider that the public's taste may have changed after the passing of 75 years...:sweat: But I do agree that Popeye does deserve better than a slap-dash DVD collection and a late-night TV show. He is a Pop culture Icon, Up there with Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. Along with Popeye, they seem to be the best known cartoon characters of all-time. (Although Bugs and Daffy reccently had a major Movie that just sort of quietly died in theaters, and continues to collect dust in video stores, and people hardly seem to notice the new Disney Comics...so Popeye isn't alone in having trouble connecting with a new audience.) I think that the problem is that, even with Disney Treasures and the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, most people still have a "cartoons are for kids" mentality, and figure that kids won't notice that a collection of two years of 1960's TV cartoons doesn't really work as a 75th anniversary collection. (The box itself now has a line saying that these are from 1960-61...early pictures of it didn't have this statement, so I think that KFS and KochVision may have seen some complaints coming...)

[Mike Toole]

There's more to it than that-- Jerry's Cartoon Brew website also includes the email address of one Claudia Smith, the Hearst PR manager who's quoted in the Globe article as defending the mediocre new 25th Anniversary set.

You can get Ms. Smith's email address at cartoonbrew.com. (Don't want to post it here, as it might just trigger more spamtraps and end up causing junk mail problems for her). Let's all write her a polite letter asking for the original Fleischer Popeyes on DVD. No need to be rude, no need to make demands, no need to start online petitions-- just write and ask her for the good stuff on DVD. :bosko:

[Nelson]

If King Features and Warner Bros, can come to sides and get a deal done, sometime this year, I highy doubt that we would see a deluxe dvd Popeye collectors edition this year in time for his 75th anniversary.There's no way that they can rush a production that quick per say, like a four disc set and think how long it takes to put together a four disc collection.

[Matthew Hunter]

I don't see what's so hard about getting Popeye released. Hell, I'm no businessman, but I don't think they could lose by splitting the cost of producing a DVD of classics and splitting profits.

[Greg Method]

I don't see what's so hard about getting Popeye released. Hell, I'm no businessman, but I don't think they could lose by splitting the cost of producing a DVD of classics and splitting profits.
One would think it would be that easy, but I think what's going on is that after decades of these shorts making money for other companies, King Features now wants an unreasonably large slice of the Popeye pie. Sure, it sounds petty and perhaps beneath a well-respected media conglomerate, but considering the only legal rights King Features has in this whole mess is the name and character of Popeye (I mean, despite the King/MGM snafu two decades ago, Warner owns the shorts lock, stock, and barrel), then what other reason could there be?

They're holding the shorts for ransom, essentially.

[JCorey3rd]

Ain't it ridiculusk that the most popular cartoon series of the 1930's is shown only for a half-hour (repeated) in the wee hours of Monday morning as if it's a cult show?
I bet Mickey Rooney wishes he had that much exposure - and he was the biggest star in the world.

The thing the article didn't talk about was the numerous PD Popeye titles that are on DVD, but in rather crummy shape. All three of Popeyes 20 minute adventures are out on PD discs. I get a kick out of showing the water damaged Popeye For President on the Brentwood release.

Ultimately KFS and TW are losing ground to these PD releases. How are they going to market a quality product when people can pay $5 for a PD release of Popeye cartoons?

[Daniel P]

Jerry Beck has posted the following on Cartoon Brew (http://www.cartoonbrew.com/archives/2004_05.html):
As long as I'm on a rant about POPEYE on DVD, allow me to shamelessly plug a brand new release from the friendly folks at VCI Entertainment (http://www.vcientertainment.com/product.asp?title=POPEYE&episode=75TH%20ANNIVERSARY). This is the same company that brought you the Fleischer Color Classics collection, Somewhere In Dreamland (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000687E3/ref=nosim/cartoonresearch/TARGET=).

The POPEYE ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS EDITION (http://www.vcientertainment.com/product.asp?title=POPEYE&episode=75TH%20ANNIVERSARY) dvd VCI is releasing on May 25th contains all 34 public domain Fleischer & Famous Paramount Popeye cartoons, with prints taken from 35mm elements - and re-instated original titles. This is the best Popeye collection on dvd we will see until Warner Bros. releases restored versions some day in the far off future. It's $19.00 retail from VCI (http://www.vcientertainment.com/product.asp?title=POPEYE&episode=75TH%20ANNIVERSARY) or $16.99 from Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001WTWLK/ref=nosim/cartoonresearch/TARGET=)Jerry also posted a small image (http://www.cartoonresearch.com/popeye75dvd.jpg) of the cover art.


-Dan

[Jack]

Here's larger version of the DVD cover (http://www.vcientertainment.com/large/Popeye75.jpg), complete with scary seagul-type things.:p

I may just get that VCI disc if the prints are about as good as those on TV and have re-created titles (no Cartoon Network logo, hooray!). The price is right for 34 cartoons. I honestly don't see Popeye officially coming out on DVD anytime in the next year, especially since I recall someone stating that Warner Home Video plans its DVD releases about two years in advance.


Jack:bosko:

[STASHONE]

Does anyone have a tracklist for this release?

[JCorey3rd]

You can get the VCI Popeye collection for $12 at deepdiscountdvd - they have free shipping no matter what the price.

Not sure what is on the DVD - but supposedly these are the PD Popeyes:

Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp Color 21:44 Popeye
Ancient Fistory Color 6:58 Popeye
Assault And Flattery Color 6:26 Popeye
Big Bad Sinbad Color 9:29 Popeye
Bride And Gloom Color 6:15 Popeye
Cookin With Gags Color 6:32 Popeye
Crystal Brawl Color 7:50 Popeye
Customers Wanted B&W 7:09 Popeye
Date To Skate, A B&W 7:11 Popeye
Don'T Scare, I Color 6:07 Popeye
Floor Flusher Color 6:05 Popeye
Fright To The Finish Color 6:20 Popeye
Gopher Spinach Color 6:25 Popeye
Greek Mirthology Color 6:42 Popeye
Haul In One, A Color 6:01 Popeye
I'M In The Army Now B&W 6:07 Popeye
Insect To Injury Color 6:07 Popeye
Little Swee' Pea B&W 7:06 Popeye
Me Musical Nephews B&W 6:40 Popeye
My Feelings Is Hurt B&W 6:13 Popeye
Nearlyweds Color 6:15 Popeye
Never Changes My Altitude, I B&W 6:00 Popeye
Out To Punch Color 6:09 Popeye
Paneless Window Washer, The B&W 6:17 Popeye
Parlez Vou Woo Color 6:11 Popeye
Patriotic Popeye Color 6:05 Popeye
Popeye Meets Ali Baba And His 40 Color 17:23 Popeye
Popeye Meets Sinbad The Sailor Color 16:03 Popeye
Popeyes 20th Anniversary Color 7:31 Popeye
Private Eye Popeye Color 6:32 Popeye
Quiet Pleeze B&W 6:10 Popeye
Shuteye Popeye Color 6:22 Popeye
Spooky Swabs Color 6:04 Popeye
Spree Lunch Color 6:03 Popeye
Taxi Turvey Color 6:03 Popeye

[STASHONE]

Hey thanks JC,

I just inquired about this over at Jerry's forums before reading your resonse - It sounds great!

I just have one question though... did you decide to list them alphabetically or will that be the order in which they'll be presented on the set?

Also, do you know of any extra supplements? I read that the one of the new Goodtimes releases will be including some 1950's commercials and television spots as bonus features... I was just wondering if we'd see anything like that on this set?

I hope it's handeled with the same quality and care as the Dreamland set, I'm going to get my pre-order in right now!

Thanks again!!!

:)

[JCorey3rd]

That is just a list from a public domain information website - which is why it is alphabetical. I have no clue about the actual line up except Jerry Beck has posted that Disc 1 is Fleischer and Disc 2 is Famous

Commentary by noted animation historian Jerry Beck
Popeye Classic Movie Poster Gallery
Special Collector's Edition "Liner Notes" Booklet written by Jerry Beck
Animated Motion Menus

[STASHONE]

Looks great!

[J Lee]

"Seein' Red, White & Blue" and "You're A Sap, Mr. Jap" also have turned up on public domain tapes, though given their content, I'd be surprised if they made onto the VCI release list (which would be too bad, because the first cartoon is one of the best-ever Famous Studio Popeyes and both count as the first shorts of any kind where the famous Jim Tyer mangle/squash/crush animation style appears on screen).

[Howard]

Wow, that sounds like a good 2-disc set! I like the cover art, too. (I have a reproduction of the poster those creepy bat-winged birds are from.)

[Bobby B]

I think "With Poopdeck Pappy" is PD; it's on the tape from Nostalgia Family Video. It wasn't on Snappy Video's Popeye tape, but maybe they couldn't find a print; Snappy's print of "Customers Wanted" is very washed-out and grainy.

[mobo85]

I bet Mickey Rooney wishes he had that much exposure - and he was the biggest star in the world.
And the biggest box office draw from 1939 to 1940-spanning two decades!

(Sorry, I always thought that was a funny line.)

[JCorey3rd]

Jerry Beck has posted at animation show that My Feelings Is Hurt is still protected by copyright so that is the extra title on my list that isn't on the disc.

As long as the prints look better than the water damaged Popeye for President on 60 Classic cartoons, I'll feel that I spent $12 wisely.