. . . a Popeye episode, almost always occurring in the final minute of the short. Breaking with tradition, RODEO ROMEO features FOUR Spinach Times--two of them authentic, and two of them fake, thanks to the villain "Badlands B-l-u-t-o." America's favorite sailor becomes so upset that the fickle Olive Oil is eyeing another guy that he indulges in a premature Spinach Time about 2:34 into this tale. Then the cocky bully Pluto or whatever fiendishly substitutes loco weed for Popeye's green leafy vegetable of choice for the second Spinach Time, and then inadvertently ingests some of the bogus contents of this can himself for the third S. T. However, when Popeye breaks out a new can of spinach at the 6:22 mark of this story, a stirring rendition of "Yankee Doodle" alerts the viewers that this time, it's for real.
4 Reviews
This one takes some daring chances
rscottwhite23 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Besides the rather obvious association of "grass" with hallucinogenic drugs, "the end" was interesting too (and very funny). The writers in this time period (1947-52 or so) were also starting to have some fun with the question "What should Bluto do with that little spinach problem?". Reasons to see it: - The humor is quite good in this one. - Historic references to Marijuana. - Classic Bluto/Popeye/Olive interaction Reasons you might not like it: - The standard Popeye cartoon using violence as a solution. - Hallucinogens may not be everyone's idea of a cartoon invention. - How many Popeye cartoons do you get tired of when punched bulls turn into a steak dinner hanging on the rafters?
Funny (and not just a little subversive)
Seamus282929 July 2008
Here we have another post WWII Popeye animated short,this time set in the Rodeo. Popeye & Bluto (this time with an obviously phony Texas accent)are in competition for Olive's affections (what else is new here?)by trying to out do one another in their Rodeo abilities. What sets this one apart from the other shorts in the long running series is some not so thinly veiled reference to marijuana (both Popeye & Bluto ingest some locoweed,stashed in Popeye's Spinach can & act totally stoned out of their heads). I can only think that it must have been a total goof to try & get those jokes past the studio censors at Paramont back in 1946 (although there were other animated shorts that had their protagonists either drunk or stoned on various substances---including cocaine back then). I can only imagine that this short would have been really appreciated at midnight movies back in the late 1960's or early 1970's, when audiences usually showed up stoned for some of the psychedelic head films & concert films back then (unfortunately,most of the animated shorts back then were very limited to badly scratched and/or choppy 16mm prints moldering in TV studio film libraries).
Psychedelic Popeye
TheLittleSongbird28 October 2019
From 1942 and 1957, taking over from Fleischer Studios (the studio that originated the Popeye series in 1933), Famous Studios made 122 Popeye cartoons to Fleischer's 109. Despite the Fleischer period being quite a bit shorter, will admit actually to generally preferring it over Famous Studios, although a lot of the latter's output for the Popeye series is entertaining. Especially the late-30s cartoons which saw a lot of the best Popeye cartoons.
The 1946 output got off to a promising start and it was a solid but not great output on the whole. 'Rodeo Romeo' though is for me the first "great" post-war Popeye cartoon. It may not be one of the very best of the series, or at least one of my favourites, but as far as the post-war Popeye cartoons go it is one of the best and most unique. If asked as to whether 'Rodeo Romeo' is recommended, my answer would be a pretty easy yes and it's the first 1946 Popeye cartoon that would be considered a must watch from personal view.
It still feels odd not having Jack Mercer, on temporary military duty at the time, as the voice of Popeye. Am not saying that Harry Welch is bad, he does amuse and Popeye is as likeable as ever, but Mercer relished the asides and mumblings (which are hardly unfunny still) more and did more with them.
Popeye though is as amusing and likeable as said, while Bluto is even funnier and even more interesting. Their chemistry really carries 'Service with a Guile' and has considerable energy and sees a lot of funny out-smarting moment between them. Olive works well here too, Popeye and Bluto have more memorable material but she does have more to do than the previous post-war cartoons and she isn't bland.
When it comes to the gags, there is hardly a shortage of them, quite the opposite. All of it works, yet what is most striking about 'Rodeo Romeo' is the atmosphere with the whole locoweed in the spinach thing and the consequences having quite a surreal effect. While the story may be a somewhat formulaic one, it is elevated by the chemistry between Popeye and Bluto and by a nice ending that is not exactly a twist but didn't come over as predictable either.
Moreover, the animation is bright and colourful with nice attention to detail and the finesse is there. The music is also outstanding, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish.
In conclusion, surprisingly great and quite unique when it comes to the post-war Popeye cartoons. 9/10
The 1946 output got off to a promising start and it was a solid but not great output on the whole. 'Rodeo Romeo' though is for me the first "great" post-war Popeye cartoon. It may not be one of the very best of the series, or at least one of my favourites, but as far as the post-war Popeye cartoons go it is one of the best and most unique. If asked as to whether 'Rodeo Romeo' is recommended, my answer would be a pretty easy yes and it's the first 1946 Popeye cartoon that would be considered a must watch from personal view.
It still feels odd not having Jack Mercer, on temporary military duty at the time, as the voice of Popeye. Am not saying that Harry Welch is bad, he does amuse and Popeye is as likeable as ever, but Mercer relished the asides and mumblings (which are hardly unfunny still) more and did more with them.
Popeye though is as amusing and likeable as said, while Bluto is even funnier and even more interesting. Their chemistry really carries 'Service with a Guile' and has considerable energy and sees a lot of funny out-smarting moment between them. Olive works well here too, Popeye and Bluto have more memorable material but she does have more to do than the previous post-war cartoons and she isn't bland.
When it comes to the gags, there is hardly a shortage of them, quite the opposite. All of it works, yet what is most striking about 'Rodeo Romeo' is the atmosphere with the whole locoweed in the spinach thing and the consequences having quite a surreal effect. While the story may be a somewhat formulaic one, it is elevated by the chemistry between Popeye and Bluto and by a nice ending that is not exactly a twist but didn't come over as predictable either.
Moreover, the animation is bright and colourful with nice attention to detail and the finesse is there. The music is also outstanding, lots of merry energy and lush orchestration, adding a lot to the action and making the impact even better without being too cartoonish.
In conclusion, surprisingly great and quite unique when it comes to the post-war Popeye cartoons. 9/10
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