A Clean Shaven Man

Waitress Olive Oyl is singing "I want a clean shaven man" while working. Popeye and Bluto rush out to Wimpy's to get a shave, but Wimpy is out. Bluto has the idea to shave each other. Popeye shaves Bluto first and tries his best. Bluto has other plans for Popeye's shave.

I thought they would give Bluto a Hitler cut although this time is probably too soon for that. I don't know if the sign should say that Wimpy is out for a hamburger although I get the joke. The joke doesn't really work since it's probably more luxurious to get a shave from another barber. It's still good. This is good Popeye.

Mae Questel was a pretty good singer. The woman who voiced Olive Oyl for decades also did Betty Boop, so you know she can sing, even if you voice is a little strange and she has that big New York City accent.

Mae, er "Olive," sounds great in the opening of this cartoon where she's singing behind the counter of a diner while Popeye and Bluto sit there love-struck as she sings "I Want A Clean Shaven Man." The lyrics to this song are pretty funny, too. The lyrics to a lot of songs in the '30s were "cute" and "snappy," as they used to say.

Anyway, it's enough to inspire these two guys to race out of the dinner and race down to "Wimpy''s Barber Shop" to get clean shaven and go back and impressive Olive. The barber shop sight gags are fun to watch, as is the cartoon....and fun to hear.

Somehow Popeye is continually trusting of Bluto. Here they are lusting after Olive Oyl where she is working at a restaurant. She sees their scruffy appearance and sings about clean-shaven men. They decide to go to the barber shop, but Wimpy isn't there so hey take turns shaving and trimming each other. But one of them gets the short end of the stick, and their efforts lead to interesting consequences.

This installment isn't as long on dialogue, but the artwork, animation and music (which stays wonderfully in synch with the action) are all first rate. Listen closely to the music accompanying Popeye and Bluto's barbershop antics and you can appreciate what masters the Fleischers were. One of my favorites.

A Clean Shaven Man (1936)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Popeye and Bluto are in Olive Oyl's restaurant where she's singing that she wants "A Clean Shaven Man." Both men are rather rough looking so they rush to the barber who is out so they decide to shave each other.

A CLEAN SHAVEN MAN is another gem from this era of Popeye shorts. There's a certain graceful flow that really just grabs your attention and takes you through the little journey where there's plenty of fighting as well as some funny lines. The title song itself is rather catchy and it certainly makes for some fun as you know Bluto will double-cross Popeye. Fans of the series will certainly have a good time with this one.