8mm Forum: Popeye on 8mm

This is topic Popeye on 8mm in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002320

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 08, 2006, 10:03 PM:

I have only seen a couple of Popeye releases on super 8mm, and it seems for some reason the sailor was not very popular on the bootlace guage. Contrast that with 9.5mm where literally dozens of Popeye films, sound and silent, are listed in Pathescope's 9.5mm catalogue, mainly the classic black and white series from the 30's and 40's. In fact I have never seen Popeye films look as great as they do on 9.5mm, pin sharp with deep rich contrast. By comparison the one or two titles I have seen on S8 are washed out and very poor quality.
Anybody know which Popeye titles were released on S8, and by who?

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 08, 2006, 11:18 PM:

Okay, I do know of one very good black n white release, as I have it, entitled "Blow Me Down" One of the early releases, in sound, (I'll have to look up the film company), and it has very good contrast, sharpness ect.

Then there are the Max Fleischer color Popeyes classics:

Popeye vs. Sinbad the salior (excellent) Niles and Derann
Popeye vs. Ali Baba & 40 thieves (very good) Niles
Popeye as Aladdin (good) Niles

Sadly, the Niles prints have tended to fade badly. The release of Derann's Sinbad thr Sailor has very good colour, (It was distibuted by Derann, but I believe that it was actually another person who released on super 8)

There are others, but I have only seen a few of the classic Popeyes, and, as you said, they tend to have somewhat wash-outed pictures. It's a shame that more of them weren't released, as I have fond memories of them. I'd love to know if additional releases were released.

By the way, those 9.5's, weren't some of them with sound?

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on December 09, 2006, 05:02 AM:

Film Office released more than 30 titles here in 200ft colour and sound, 12 of these were also available in b&w silent.
I also recently sold a bunch of 50ft releases from AVO Film (an italian company)

Posted by Antoine Orsero (Member # 41) on December 09, 2006, 05:34 AM:

I sell a number of films super8 Popeye in black and white of origin edition DCR! Very beautiful pictures

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 09, 2006, 10:09 AM:

Yes Osi, nearly all the Popeye titles were available in 9.5mm optical sound as well as silent versions. Probably more than any other factor, Pathescope's contract with Paramount for the Popeye release rights accounted for the huge popularity of 9.5mm printed films in Europe from 1920 to 1960. Personally I think the original Max Fleischer black and white Popeye's are far superior to the color ones made in the 1950's. Too bad that Paramount never released these classic Popeye's on S8.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on December 09, 2006, 11:44 AM:

Hi Paul,

Popeye is relatively easy found in Italy Prints as well as JM said in France (Film Office).

They come mostly on generic covers like this:

perhaps that helps you.

cheers

Posted by Bill Parsons (Member # 244) on December 09, 2006, 01:15 PM:

Paul, I am a big fan of the Fleischer black and white Popeye cartoons, as you say some of the best were released on 9.5mm and also 17.5mm!
There were several put out in the UK on super 8 some of the best from DCR, a few of these were from my 16mm prints, if you see any of the DCR prints on second hand lists I would grab one, please see list of the black and white Max Fleisher super 8 prints, with the distributors name. I may have missed a few, the spelling of the titles is in Popeye language!

Popeye The Sailor. DCR and Perrys
Blow Me Down. DCR
I Eats my Spinach. DCR
The Adventures of Popeye. DCR. Film Office
I’m in the army now. Perrys
The Paneless Window Washer DCR
I never changes my altitude. Collectors club
Lets Celebrake. DCR
Learn Polikeness. (Unknown std.8)
A date to skate. DCR
Customers Wanted. Niles USA
Ghosts is the bunk. DCR
Puttin on the act. DCR
With poopdeck pappy.Niles USA
Women hadn’t oughta drive. DCR
The spinach overture. DCR
I ski love ski you ski. Niles. USA
Goonland. Collectors club
The man on the flying trapeze. DCR
Brotherly Love. Perrys
Shakespearean spinach. DCR

I believe Derann also released a few from the DCR negs, Film office released many of the inferior colour titles, plus a couple more of the black and white, but I can not remember the titles.
Hope this is of some interest to you.

BILL.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 09, 2006, 03:03 PM:

Hi Bill,
Thank's a lot for that list, now I will know what to look out for. Whatever I get on S8 will be hard to compete with those great 9.5mm Popeye prints, projected on a Pathe Baby - there's just something really magical about that particular combination! [Smile]

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on December 09, 2006, 05:51 PM:

On one Christmas morning I woke to find a new Sankyo Sound 501 projector and three 50 foot Super 8's; two were L & H and the other a Popeye. It was an IE International with the red cover as pictured above by Winbert and called Buddy Brutus.

The cartoon had vivid colour and although a little faded now still dazels.

David

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 09, 2006, 06:21 PM:

Every time I think of Spinach [Eek!]

"Yuk" I think of Popeye and have never thought much of him as a result, and hold him responsible for all those years as a kid having to eat the dam stuff [Wink]

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 13, 2006, 05:50 AM:

I also have some Popeyes although most are on the 9.5mm optical sound film gauge. The one I like best on super 8 is Hyp-nut-ist which I have in my collection on Super 8 and 9~5. I rather like the B&W films best, although I have quite a few colours. Cartoons always go down well at a Christmas film show.

[ December 18, 2006, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: Lee Mannering ]

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on December 15, 2006, 02:06 PM:

Hi Paul,

Another possible Popeye on Super 8mm films from Niles Prints would have generic cover something like this (some can be a bit different style)

cheers,

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on December 16, 2006, 08:01 AM:

Hello all i have a small 50' of popeye called skeleton schooner silent from atlas they released quite a few films.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2