User Reviews

Popeye discovers it's more relaxing fighting WWII than being home with his nephews. That twisted message should tell you something about this lame Popeye effort.

The poor sailor is anxious to see Olive and the little ones, but all they do is run over him (Olive, with a car) and torment him (the kids, with their Home Defense Program tests - with Popeye as the victim.)

Generally, the artwork was poor and the jokes lame. I miss the days when the Fleischer Brothers did these cartoons; they were far better. Popeye even gets a little mean-spirited at the end, when he shoots the messenger. No wonder a popular expression over the last half century is, "Hey, I'm only the messenger."

This wartime Popeye cartoon begins with Popeye taking on a fort full of Japanese soldiers and single-handedly wiping them out! As a result of this and other great acts of heroism, Popeye is granted leave--and he goes home. However, Olive is too busy with the war effort and the boys (Peepeye, Pipeye, Poopeye and Pupeye) entertain him by showing off what they've learned about home defense, camouflage and the like. In the process they end up beating the snot out of Popeye--and so he rushes back to the war in order to get some peace and quiet.

Overall, this is a good WWII propaganda film--clever and able to make some good points about the war effort at home. My only complaint is the oddly drawn messenger bird. It looks like it was made by another studio and is oddly animated. But, it's a minor quibble.

Do have a preference for the Fleischer era Popeye cartoons, that are generally funnier, more imaginative and of higher quality. Many of the Famous Studio offerings entertain still, just inferior in quality especially the later ones with tighter and lower budgets and less time. This is coming from someone who likes to loves many of the Popeye cartoons, if more Fleischer's than Famous Studio's, and likes the character himself very much.

'Jolly Good Furlough', another Famous Studios offering made during the wartime, is really not one of the best Popeye cartoons to me. Actually consider 'Jolly Good Furlough' a lesser effort, of the Famous Studios Popeyes (both the early and late ones, certainly the earlier ones) and even overall. Also one of the weaker wartime Popeye cartoons. Just felt that others are funnier, more interesting and better made and that is including most of the other wartime Popeye cartoons (none classics themselves), 'Jolly Good Furlough' is one of the Famous Studios cartoons that shows why the Fleischer cartoons are held in higher regard and why there is a personal preference for them.

Here are the plus points. Although nowhere near up to Fleischer's level and the finesse in the character designs is not quite there in spots especially with the odd looking pigeon, the animation is decent enough with some nice detailed backgrounds. The best thing though is the music, which was always a strength in the Popeye cartoons even in the lesser ones, and is very characterful, lush and adds a good deal to the action.

Some amusing moments, with the invisible paint coming off best. In 'Jolly Good Furlough', the nephews actually are the most interesting characters and steal the show from under Popeye, while the character one feels the most for is the pigeon. Jack Mercer does a fine job as always.

On the other hand, mostly 'Jolly Good Furlough' is disappointingly not particularly funny. Gags are too few and only the invisible paint stands out properly. Didn't find it particularly interesting either, there are no surprises, the material is generally thin and the pace doesn't come to life enough. Or educational, not much illuminating here, a danger with wartime cartoons, and even some films then, is heavy-handedness and it felt that way here.

Parts are not for the easily offended, really do try to judge cartoons on their own terms and take into account when they were made but a few parts won't fly today. Did find myself cringing at some of the impersonations and the nephews and Popeye exchange mentioned elsewhere. Most of the characters don't work. Olive Oyl is underused and pointless (plus Mae Questel fits better far more than Margie Hines does), the stereotypes are not subtle or interesting but most disappointing is that Popeye is neither amusing or likeable, even getting mean-spirited at the end.

In conclusion, interesting for Popeye cartoon completests but far from an essential. 5/10 Bethany Cox

I've been watching propaganda movies recently. I don't think we appreciate the government influence on the industry, and its easiest to see here.

In this case, the message seems to be that GIs can be relatively happy away compared to home.

The story is that Popeye comes home to his girlfriend and family and finds them a hassle, so much so that he runs back to the front and shoots at the messenger that brings further leave. You can almost see the memo about what it was supposed to illustrate.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

This cartoon with Popeye the Sailor is another cartoon made when the United States were in a war with Japan. It is a racist cartoon, but you can not really judge it that way since it was made back then. Even today people make fun of people when they are in war with them.

Popeye is fighting the war against the Japanese but he gets a furlough. When he gets home all he wants to do is rest a little but that seems impossible. First Olive hits him a couple of times with the car and then his nephews show him their own "Home Defense Program". They show him and also test it on him making sure he will not rest very much.

The racist part is in the middle where the nephews ask Popeye whether he killed some Japanese people (Japs). The nephews impersonate the Japanese in a racist way, but I have to say it is also a very funny part. Other parts are pretty nice as well since Popeye is the biggest victim here. This time spinach can not save him. Entertaining enough.

Popeye is fighting against the Japanese enemy when he gets a couple of weeks off to see his family. He decides to visit his 4 nephews, who began a 'home defence' program on their own. They decide to try it on Popeye himself so he gets slapped around, beaten and kicked by his nephews so hard, he decided to go back to the ocean to fight the Japanese again. Anything's better than this bunch!

This short propaganda film isn't as racist or offensive as others, except for the moment Popeye's nephews ask him: 'Did you kill any Japs, uncle Popeye?' and he answers: 'yes, we're all doing our duty!'.

But mostly it's just slapstick-comedy, quite entertaining I must say: 7/10.

Popeye is fighting the Japanese single-handedly. After sinking a Japanese island base, he gets mail granting him an one month leave. He goes home to see Olive and his nephews. It's not very restful as Olive runs him over with her car before the nephews get their hands on him. This is Popeye during the war years. He is very much part of the propaganda fight. It may or may not be effective. The basic premise has comedic potential but I don't know if it's good propaganda.

A Jolly Good Furlough (1943)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Popeye does his time during WWII and returns home where his nephews want to show him the special training they've been doing.

A JOLLY GOOD FURLOUGH is yet another mildly entertaining entry from 1943. I say that because a lot of the shorts from this year weren't all that memorable. They were at least entertaining while you watched them but they weren't nearly good enough to where you'd revisit them very often. There are some funny moments here including the invisible paint that the kids created and the ending has a nice laugh as well. The animation is good as you'd expect but there's nothing overly great here.