Johnny H. Max Fleischer is the man responsible for the blossoming American animation film industry and he inspired the likes of Walt Disney, Walter Lantz and even Leon Schlesinger. Popeye became the most popular short-film series in the United States when Fleischer bought the film rights to the character, thus resulting in classics like 'Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves' and so forth.These early Popeye shorts employed what is commonly referred to as 'rubber hose animation' where the characters lacked any specific points of articulation making their arms and legs look 'bendy'. I love these shorts because of the surreal charm they still have eighty years on. They're not trying to pretend that its animation is perfect, they just want to entertain the audience with its fast-paced and ridiculous animation.I really do like these cartoons' they're lovely time capsules in spite some of the inherent racism that was unfortunately prominent in the 30s. With that said, these cartoons were never made with the intent of offending anyone through any inappropriate characters, they were just products of the time which we can thankfully look beyond now.Popeye is still a beloved cartoon icon around the world and for good reason; he made the United States and the world happier during the Great Depression, and for that he's become a real superhero in his own right.

Michael_Elliott Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves (1937) ** 1/2 (out of 4)Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpy are in a plane that crashes in the desert and soon Ali Baba sees the lady and wants her, which doesn't sit well with Popeye.This here was the second two-reeler to feature Popeye going up against a famous character. The first had him going up against Sinbad and it was much better than this here. As with that film, this one here mostly benefits from the beautiful Technicolor that jumps right off the screen. The animation is the high level that you'd expect but there's no question that the colors are what makes this. Just take a look at the skyline during the opening credits or the shot of the plane going around the globe. As far as the story goes, it's pretty typical for a Popeye short and it honestly doesn't work that well with the 17 minute running time.

davegibson1962 For those who hasn't see Popeye meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves digitally remastered on DVD, you're in for a revelation! I'm so happy that Warner Bros. got rid of the dreadful A.A.P. opening and closing titles of all Fleischer Popeye cartoon movies and put back the original Paramount titles where it belongs. I love the cartoon. Especially Abu Hassan (Bluto) and his boys singing that catchy tune back in 1937 which is still timeless to this day. Can't stop singing! It's now available either can buy or rent it as part of the Popeye collection (1933 - 1938) available exclusively from Warner Home Video.

ccthemovieman-1 First of all, I've seen this cartoon twice and what a difference! The first look was on a generic DVD collection of cartoons and a was a cheap buy. This second look was on the "Popeye The Sailor Man 1933-1938 Volume One" DVD set" with a "restored" picture and it looks stunning. The colors are rich and bold, the contrast great and it almost like something made in recent years.The story pits "Abu Hassan" (Bluto) against Popeye, the Coast Guard man (along with Olive Oyl and Wimpy). The radio announces Hassan and his 40 thieves have just committed some crime so Popeye takes off in his flying ultra-modern-looking boat. (The radio then changes shape, reaches out and snatches Wimpy's hamburger from his mouth!)As cool as the plane-boat is, however, it conks out and crash lands in the desert. Our good guys look like Moses and Hebrews crossing the long desert. Only Popeye seems to be holding up and then figures out a clever way to get all three of them to a place where they can get food and water, and then go looking for the bandit. By now, he doesn't have much further to go. They are there in that Casablanca-like cityRather than going into all the details in this special, 17-minute Technicolor cartoon, suffice to say it was not only interesting but very clever (especially Popeye's butchering of words) and a real hoot to see in that "restored" cut of it. This cartoon features the normal Popeye humor and heroics, all packaged in one beautiful- looking animated short!