Singer Olive Oyl needs an accompanist, and both Popeye and Bluto apply for the job.Singer Olive Oyl needs an accompanist, and both Popeye and Bluto apply for the job.Singer Olive Oyl needs an accompanist, and both Popeye and Bluto apply for the job.
Photos
Jackson Beck
- Bluto
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Jack Mercer
- Popeye
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Mae Questel
- Olive Oyl
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title of one of the stories on the front page of the newspaper Bluto is reading at the beginning of this movie contains an early use of the word "video" in the sense of referencing a "television set".
- GoofsThere are several instances where Bluto and Olive Oyl are talking but their mouths are not even moving.
Featured review
1948 was mostly not an impressive year at all for the Popeye series. Actually like many of the Popeye cartoons a good deal (more the Fleischer ones than Famous Studios'), but too many of the 1948 cartoons fell flat. All had their moments but they all also could have been so much more than they turned out and didn't do enough with initially good ideas executed in a run out of ideas sort of way. Hearing that 'Symphony in Spinach' was a remake, if anybody is feeling a bit nervous and questioning the point that is understandable.
'Symphony in Spinach' turned out to be the biggest surprise of that year. Despite loving cartoons centered heavily around music, part of me was nervous hearing that it was a remake of the excellent 'The Spinach Overture' and did question the point. To me remakes can be indicative of running out of ideas. 'Symphony in Spinach' turned out to be by far the best 1948 Popeye cartoon, the only great one, and one of the few attempted remakes of pre-existing Popeye cartoons to be as good as the original.
Olive again is underused and the lack of movement for the mouths was disconcerting, but there is very, very little to dislike here in 'Symphony in Spinach'.
The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons). It is a familiar premise, and wasn't new around then, but it is one of the best examples of it because of the fresh and funny execution and that there were characters worth caring for. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining, avoiding the trap of repetition. Even the running gag with the trombone slide, thanks to some nice variety in how it is used. Some of the dialogue makes one smile and laugh.
Music-themed cartoons is not a novel concept but it feels fresh here (maybe there was some slight bias on my part, seeing as any cartoon centred around music and especially classical immediately has me sold) and it is so exciting and fun to watch, with a snappy pace and beautifully crafted and sometimes creative visuals with the use of instruments. All three characters are great, though Olive Oyl is a little underused. Popeye and Bluto are spot on and their chemistry drives 'Symphony in Spinach' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character. Love the choice of instruments and who to play them.
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. The musical interpolations are witty and the voice acting is strong. Especially Jack Mercer, considered the definitive voice for Popeye for very good reason (no other Popeye voice actor relished and embodied Popeye's asides as much as Mercer).
Concluding, great. 9/10
'Symphony in Spinach' turned out to be the biggest surprise of that year. Despite loving cartoons centered heavily around music, part of me was nervous hearing that it was a remake of the excellent 'The Spinach Overture' and did question the point. To me remakes can be indicative of running out of ideas. 'Symphony in Spinach' turned out to be by far the best 1948 Popeye cartoon, the only great one, and one of the few attempted remakes of pre-existing Popeye cartoons to be as good as the original.
Olive again is underused and the lack of movement for the mouths was disconcerting, but there is very, very little to dislike here in 'Symphony in Spinach'.
The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons). It is a familiar premise, and wasn't new around then, but it is one of the best examples of it because of the fresh and funny execution and that there were characters worth caring for. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining, avoiding the trap of repetition. Even the running gag with the trombone slide, thanks to some nice variety in how it is used. Some of the dialogue makes one smile and laugh.
Music-themed cartoons is not a novel concept but it feels fresh here (maybe there was some slight bias on my part, seeing as any cartoon centred around music and especially classical immediately has me sold) and it is so exciting and fun to watch, with a snappy pace and beautifully crafted and sometimes creative visuals with the use of instruments. All three characters are great, though Olive Oyl is a little underused. Popeye and Bluto are spot on and their chemistry drives 'Symphony in Spinach' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character. Love the choice of instruments and who to play them.
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. The musical interpolations are witty and the voice acting is strong. Especially Jack Mercer, considered the definitive voice for Popeye for very good reason (no other Popeye voice actor relished and embodied Popeye's asides as much as Mercer).
Concluding, great. 9/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 14, 2021
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Symfonia o szpinaku
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime6 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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