Michael_Elliott You're a Sap, Mr. Jap (1942)*** (out of 4)Popeye is out at sea when he comes across a Japanese ship and it's his American duty to try and destroy them all by himself.Obviously with a title like YOU'RE A SAP, MR. JAP, you're not dealing with something that is politically correct by today's standards but that's why it's so important to remember that when this movie was made Japan was the enemy. We were fighting them in WWII and I'm sure Americans got a kick out of seeing Popeye beat them up on the screen. The stereotypes that are shown here will probably be offensive to a lot of people but that's why keeping them in context is so important. As far as the film goes, it's pretty fun as it's non-stop action and there are several funny bits including the tricks the Japanese soldiers try to pull to kill Popeye.

John T. Ryan THE FEELING of the need to have someone play the role of Arbiter of Public Taste and Political Correctness always manages to get under our skin. It does seem that these self-appointed, self-superior, pseudo-intellectual types do appear everywhere; be it in one's family, church or bowling league.THESE are the guys who would have society completely disregard and ignore all that went before us; unless, of course, whatever 'it' is does not fly in the face of today's "acceptable" language, mores and general "standards" of "proper" behavior.SO it is that these latter day, high tech book burners have targeted a great deal of what was Hollywood's greatest achievement; namely their participation in our own Allied Propaganda via their unselfishly crafted message and theme films.COLDLY brutal in its generation, the Banned Code and List of Now Unacceptable extends into the Wartime Cartoons that don't meet with the new touchy, feely socially engineered 'official' attitudes; which these "Thought Police" have foisted down upon us.WE were truly surprised to see that there seem to be volumes of such animated short subjects. The majority we are aware of are from Warner Brothers' LOONEY TUNES and MERRIE MELODIES; featuring Bugs, Daffy, Elmer & Porky, all in conflict with Hitler, Goerring, 'Il Duce', Tojo and the like. Surprisingly though, we found an ample supply of cartoons from MGM, Walt Disney, Lantz, Paramount-Famous Studios and the Brothers Fleischer.YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP (Famous Studios/Paramount Pictures, 1942) is a prime example of just what we're talking about.BEING virtually indiscernible from the cartoons that were the output of the Studios of Max and Dave Fleischer before the 1941 business coup-de-tat that moved them out, bringing the new name of "Famous" Studios, YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP bore none of the bland plot elements that would reduce the latter day Popeye Cartoons down to the level of the ultimate formula short movie.WE all remember how we'd have Popeye and Olive Oyl together. Enter Bluto, usually the exponent of wolf whistle and an on acceptable on-screen version of a Male reaction to feminine pulchritude. Olive falls for Bluto's less than honorable attentions; until he gets a little too physical and invariably blurts out, "Hey Babe, how 'bout a kiss?" At this point we hear "Help! Help, Popeye and the diminutive sailor shows up to save the day; replete with the obligatory can of Spinach! DO we exaggerate, Schultz? ONCE again this JAP SAP cartoon is nothing like any of that. Oh sure, it follows the storyline of now having Popeye in the U.S. Navy. The Brothers Fleischer put the little guy in the service in 1941 to conform to the mood in the country and as an open gesture of support for the men now being conscripted in the first Peacetime Draft in United States History. Max and Dave even put Popeye in service aboard the mythical Battleship, the U.S.S. Pensyltucky.OUR point is just this. YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP and others like SPINACH FER Britain aren't cartoon vehicles for comic relief in the Theatre's program at all in the true sense. Rather they are a sort of grouping of Editorial Cartoons much like those from any "Great Metropolitan Newspaper". These animated shorts, much like those still one panel illustrations, have characters that are highly symbolic and representative of Nations, Ideas and Ideals, such as a just and lasting Peace. In most cases, the hero (Popeye, Bugs Bunny or whoever) is alone with the symbol of the Enemy. Both are highly exaggerated visual metaphors for abstract concept and thought; even if they are cloaked in humorous trappings for wider palatability.OUR liberal stupidgencia (the antithesis of intelligencia) may not see themselves this way; but for this sort of behavior, they are no more than Neo Nazi Book burners.PLEASE, allow the future generations to view and appreciate a view of past happenings that is both Historical and Humorous.POODLE SCHNITZ!!

theowinthrop Unlike Bugs Bunny or Daffy Duck, who have to be drafted or accidentally stumble onto the Axis, Popeye the sailor has an open invitation to involvement. He is a sailor - he's in the navy usually. So he is on patrol when he spots a Japanese fishing boat with two sailors on board (though both are wearing robes associated with home-life in Japan). They try to brain him with a mallet, and blow off his foot with a small stick of dynamite (pretending all the while they want a peace treaty signed with him - keep in mind this cartoon is from 1942, and probably had memories of the diplomats from Japan who were presenting an ultimatum when Pearl Harbor was attacked). When Popeye starts retaliating effectively (using a lobster in a bouquet of flowers - don't ask), the gloves formally come off.The fishing boat decoy is the top of a super Japanese battleship , which sinks Popeye's craft (with the assistance of two submarines. But he starts eating his spinach - and it becomes the normal mopping up operation.Just two points of interest again:1) The battleship is "made in Japan" and the concept of shoddy manufacturing is again spread here - like in the Warners' cartoon TOKIO JOKIO. 2) A Japanese officer decides of symbolic sacrificial suicide by drinking gasoline and swallowing ammunitions (gun cartridges). I'm just surprised it was not a samurai sword through the stomach.Again it was passable in 1942-45, but now it is hard to stomach, with or without hari-kiri.

Robert Reynolds This short was the first short released by Paramount Famous Studios and was one of several done by the studio showing Popeye engaged directly against the enemy, most often the Japanese. While Warner Brothers, Disney and, to a lesser extent, other studios, did shorts often depicting Germans as foils, the majority of Famous Studios efforts focused on the Japanese. Given Pearl Harbor and Popeye's naval ties, this is quite understandable. This is an average short. Seein' Red, White an' Blue and Spinach For Britain have aged better. But it's still worth watching. Recommended.