backstory:
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp from 1939 is one of those conundrums of intellectual property law. The film which was originally a two reeller from Paramount tumbled into public domain, but the character is still under copyright until 2025. And don't even get me started on the Copyright status of the Aladdin character. Kinda like what came first the spinach or the muscles.... you'll find your strength at PDFU.NET
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What did you think of "Aladdin and his wonderful lamp"?
NOD Review
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp is an interesting Popeye the Sailor Man short film also called a “two reeler” from Paramount. Now Popeye acts the same as he does in all the early shorts. Stalks around like maritime caveman and mumbles in-between his actual lines but the genie comes off like a gay Foghorn Leghorn. As I’m watching the toon, I can’t help thinking how awesome it would be for this short to be remade with the Late, Great Robin Williams reprising his roles as Popeye AND the Genie. Before I finish this review I’m going to rewatch the 1980 Popeye and the Disney Aladdin, just to get in the right mind-set. And I’ll check You-Tube too, maybe someone already put one together with existing footage….
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp is an interesting Popeye the Sailor Man short film also called a “two reeler” from Paramount. Now Popeye acts the same as he does in all the early shorts. Stalks around like maritime caveman and mumbles in-between his actual lines but the genie comes off like a gay Foghorn Leghorn. As I’m watching the toon, I can’t help thinking how awesome it would be for this short to be remade with the Late, Great Robin Williams reprising his roles as Popeye AND the Genie. Before I finish this review I’m going to rewatch the 1980 Popeye and the Disney Aladdin, just to get in the right mind-set. And I’ll check You-Tube too, maybe someone already put one together with existing footage….
Starring Margie Hines, Jack Mercer, Carl Meyer and Gus Wickie. Produced by Max Fleischer. Directed by Dave Fleischer & Dave Tendlar.
Our story opens at “Surprise Pictures Corporation”, where Olive Oyl is hard at work clacking the type-writer keys and rhyming the set-up for the script (i.e. the rest of the cartoon). Explaining how she will play the princess and Popeye will play Aladdin. The remainder of the tale plays out like the standard Aladdin story. Evil Sorcerer, cave with treasures, magic lamp with genie enclosed inside, and a couple cans of spinach thrown in. ‘Cause it's a Popeye movie.
Not the best Popeye cartoon and or the best Aladdin variant, but still pretty good. I’m giving this magical desert romp 4 out of 5 Nods. Here’s a couple reasons why:
That sums up that review (until I correct/rewrite/edit it), the biggest thing personally for this film, was after watching the film and researching the properties I became very interested in the Aladdin and I am thinking of a derivative work based on the characters. I always love the Aladdin story, so who knows? Thanks for reading!
Our story opens at “Surprise Pictures Corporation”, where Olive Oyl is hard at work clacking the type-writer keys and rhyming the set-up for the script (i.e. the rest of the cartoon). Explaining how she will play the princess and Popeye will play Aladdin. The remainder of the tale plays out like the standard Aladdin story. Evil Sorcerer, cave with treasures, magic lamp with genie enclosed inside, and a couple cans of spinach thrown in. ‘Cause it's a Popeye movie.
Not the best Popeye cartoon and or the best Aladdin variant, but still pretty good. I’m giving this magical desert romp 4 out of 5 Nods. Here’s a couple reasons why:
- The dialogue is pretty sharp and stands up even today. It was interesting how Olive Oils and Evil Sorcerer’s lines all rythmed, but once Popeye showed up, the rhyming stopped. Or maybe he doesn't mumble a lot...
- The line when Popeye was lusting after Olive and his face was changing every shade of color but gray: “I don't know what to say, I never made love in Technicolor before…”
- I really liked the Genie, and I tried to research who played the part, but the only thing I could find was that it was POSSIBLY Gus Wickie. If anyone knows for sure, please contact me via form below or by email lostmoviesfound@gmail.com
That sums up that review (until I correct/rewrite/edit it), the biggest thing personally for this film, was after watching the film and researching the properties I became very interested in the Aladdin and I am thinking of a derivative work based on the characters. I always love the Aladdin story, so who knows? Thanks for reading!