Take a Really Good Look
The legendary mariner, Popeye, superhuman dynamo, protector of the weak, hero of mythic proportions versus… a bunch of bugs? Well, yeah, that’s pretty much the deal here. The one eyed gob is trying to save his suburban home from termites in “Insect to Injury.” The sailor man is just too stubborn to call the Orkin man, I guess. Truth be told, until they break out the spinach can, this one plays a lot like a Donald Duck cartoon — plenty of destruction and frustration gags.
But here’s the thing — it’s actually a pretty good cartoon, way above average for a mid fifties Popeye entry. At about this time, Paramount Famous Studios were slacking off all over the place, cutting budgets, reusing old stories and old footage, and greatly simplifying the house style. But this 1956 film is fairly inventive, with very full animation — and the backgrounds are rendered with far more detail than any other contemporary Paramount toon I can think of. Veteran animator Dave Tendlar directs this one, his first and only time, I think, overseeing a theatrical Popeye. Did a good job, don’t ya think?
More creepy crawlies tomorrow, as “Insect Infestation Week” scampers on at ReFrederator.
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On June 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Gosh, didn’t Tendlar oversee “King Of The Mardi Gras” (and others?) back in the Fleischer days? Or am I confusing him with someone else?
C’mon Popeye scholars… a little help?
On June 22nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Hmmm… well I probably stepped in it this time (again). What I should have said is this may be the only theatrical Popeye cartoon giving Tendlar the official director’s credit. But you’re right, the whole ‘Dave Fleischer as credited director’ issue makes these things a little sticky.
On June 26th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Didn’t mean to get all nerdy and pedantic.
Perhaps this is the only Popeye cartoon for which Tendlar ever received screen credit as director.
Keep up the good work here, all youse Refrederators!