About Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936)
The story behind the film
By 1936 Popeye was one of the most popular cartoon characters in America, rivalling Mickey Mouse. Fleischer Studios, which had made black-and-white Popeye cartoons for Paramount since 1933, decided to give him a prestige showcase: a two-reel cartoon of over sixteen minutes, in full Technicolor, billed as "A Popeye Feature". Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor was the first of three such "Popeye Color Specials", all borrowing characters from the Arabian Nights; the others were Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves (1937) and Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1939).
Sindbad, a bearded, boastful giant (essentially Popeye's usual rival Bluto in a new costume), rules an island full of monsters he has captured, and sings his own praises as the greatest sailor and adventurer in the world. When Popeye sails past with Olive Oyl and Wimpy, singing his own theme song, Sindbad has his giant bird, the Roc, kidnap Olive and wreck Popeye's boat. Popeye then has to prove who's the greatest sailor by taking on the Roc, a two-headed giant called Boola and finally Sindbad himself — with a little help from a can of spinach.
Cast & crew
- Produced by Max Fleischer; directed by Dave Fleischer
- Jack Mercer as Popeye
- Gus Wickie as Sindbad
- Mae Questel as Olive Oyl
- Lou Fleischer as J. Wellington Wimpy
- Title song music by Sammy Timberg, lyrics by Bob Rothberg
Why it's worth watching
It looks spectacular. Fleischer Studios used its "Stereoptical" or "setback" process: miniature three-dimensional model sets built on a turntable behind the animation cels, so that the backgrounds have real depth and perspective as the camera moves. Combined with rich Technicolor, it gives Sindbad's island a rich, dimensional look that was unlike anything else in 1936 animation.
The cartoon is also a joy for its characters. Jack Mercer mutters a constant stream of ad-libbed asides as Popeye; Gus Wickie gives Sindbad a booming baritone; and Wimpy spends the whole adventure trying to catch and cook a duck. It's fast, funny and full of action.
Fun facts
- The cartoon was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoons), losing to Disney's The Country Cousin.
- In 2004 the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry, one of a select group of cartoons to receive that honour.
- Footage from this cartoon was reused in later Popeye shorts.
Public-domain status
The Popeye Color Specials are in the public domain in the United States, and this cartoon is listed among US public-domain films. The original 1929 Popeye character entered the public domain in 2025, but the Popeye name and logo remain trademarks of their owner; Starlite TV is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. See "Rights & source" below.