Learn Polikeness

Learn Polikeness (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Olive Oyl wants Popeye to be a proper gentleman so she makes him go to Bluteau's Etiquette School where things start off bad and continue to a fight.

This here is another nice entry into the long-running Popeye series and while this one here doesn't quite reach the "classic" statue it's at least entertaining enough. Once again we're treated to some wonderful animation and so many great details that aren't normally in these animated films. There are some funny moments scattered throughout but the majority of the laughs happen as we see the rather sloppy Popeye trying to be a gentleman and obviously it just doesn't work. The muttering Popeye does is quite funny throughout.

Popeye seems to be immune to proper etiquette when Olive Oyl insists on his attending Professor Bluto's school of good manners. But when Bluto strangle Olive, a little spinach gives Popeye the ability to deal appropriately with the fellow.

It's all an excuse for the one-upmanship and eventual fist fight, instigated by Bluto and finished by the Popster, along with some nicely timed gags, and ornamented by the Fleischer's tabletop process to add a sense of three dimensions.

I could, if I wished, argue that it's another in the long series of the cartoons in which everything leads up to a fight. But I don't wish to. At this stage, it's handled with a lot of big and little jokes, and so it's cartooning at a very high level of excellence.

"For a little dough, you can be well bred," reads the sign outside of Professor Bluteau's School Of Etiquette. Bluto teaching etiquette? Do you believe it?

Well, he's a phony, of course. Stupid Olive doesn't see that until the brute is trying to put the make on her, after impressing her with all his manners. Popeye, meanwhile, gets insults and bashed and has to come to the rescue.

The best of this cartoon was the humor from Popeye. If you have this on DVD and can use English subtitles, please do so to catch everything Popeye says at "etiquette" class - very funny material.

This also is another very original story, different from others. It's the creativity of these writers who can keep the material fresh and fun every time, even though the basic plot - Popeye besting Bluto - is usually the same. I have yet to find a Popeye cartoon from 1936 to 1938 that wasn't outstanding.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.

'Learn Polikeness' may not quite be one of the best Popeye cartoons but have always had a fondness for it. Despite liking many of Popeye's cartoons almost all the best came from the Fleischer era, Fleischer's efforts were always well animated and scored with lots of entertainment value and great chemistry between Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto. 'Learn Polikeness' has everything that makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era and does nothing to waste the three main characters or make them less interesting.

The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons), though with an interesting setting. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining, avoiding the trap of repetition, if anything this for a Popeye cartoon the gags and how the story is executed is quite creative.

All three characters are great. Although Olive Oyl is a little underused as she did tend to be around this point she is fun to watch and one can see what Popeye sees in her. Popeye and Bluto are spot on and their chemistry drives 'Learn Polikeness' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable and his role here is imaginatively handled and Bluto is every bit as funny and interesting in a relatively different role for him, it's not everyday you see Bluto teaching Popeye of all people manners.

Furthermore, the animation is beautifully drawn and with enough visual detail to not make it cluttered or static and lively and smooth movement. 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. Fleischer's direction is always accomplished and his style is all over it.

Voice acting is dynamic and of very good quality. Jack Mercer gives Popeye so much character and my favourite of the Popeye voice actors (the longest serving one too for a reason). It is hard to imagine anybody else as Olive Oyl other than Mae Questel while Gus Wickie finishes his stint as Bluto on a high.

Overall, wonderful. 9/10 Bethany Cox

It's Prof. Bluteau's School of Etiquette operating out of the penthouse of a fancy apartment building. Popeye and Olive Oyl are walking by when she sees the sign. She wants Popeye to be a gentleman just like Bluteau.

The basic plot is very much the standard Popeye construction. This story version comes from a different origin, but the general shape is the same. Bluteau choking Olive is quite shocking. Let's be clear. Popeye cartoons are violent and Olive Oyl is often in the middle of it. It is still weird to have her physically chocked by the neck. The funniest bits are Popeye not understanding what Bluteau is saying. I just don't like the choking.