Comparison between the cut German DVD (released with the same content in e.g. the UK) and the uncut US Blu-ray by Paramount.

- 72 differences, including 11 re-cuts and 8x alternate course
- Difference: 999,4 sec (= 16:19 min) [in PAL]

 

POPEYE as a live adaptation with two film versions

The spinach munching sailor Popeye should be known to most, besides the 1930's comics surely mainly by the cartoons produced mainly in the 60's. Less legendary, but still worth a look for various reasons, is the 1980 live-action adaptation Popeye. Director heavyweight Robert Altman received a generous budget of 20 million US dollars from Paramount and Walt Disney, and with Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall two stars for the leading roles. The whole thing was created with musical elements and elaborate sets, and many small ideas convey a charming comic atmosphere.

However, the filming was overshadowed by some problems and the result seems a bit overambitious here and there. The reviews were not too good and although the film was not a total box office flop, it was not the big blockbuster that the studio had hoped for. In principle, little surprising and yet a great pity actually. Altman was certainly not expected to deliver an action film with wild brawls as in the original, but he has infused the quirky characters with remarkable life.

Perhaps the Blu-ray premiere in the US, available since 1 December 2020, will encourage some viewers to rediscover the film 40 years later. Unfortunately, however, it is region locked to Code A. This is a pity since in the UK, among other places, you only got to see an "EU version" of the film that was shortened by just under 17 minutes. The German and also the British DVD are in any case identical in content and thus heavily shortened.

For historical context, it's worth noting that the BBFC lists two ratings: After the original version was reviewed on 17.12.1980, a new review of the shorter version followed on 12.03.1981. So possibly Disney did it again for the European theatrical release, after the initial reactions to the original version released in the US in December 1980.

The cuts of the British version of POPEYE

What is immediately noticeable is that there are many small cuts, and thus it is revealed from the start that tightening interventions have been made above all. Altman takes a lot of time to show the detailed sets and to introduce the characters. This is where the editing department often cut back a bit. Thus, only a few scenes are completely missing, but especially in the first half, the European version is often simply cut much faster. This works quite well here and there, but some cuts are a bit bumpy and you can tell that they were forced on too much.

In this context, it is also noticeable that songs were occasionally removed or significantly shortened and at the same time the content of the plot was kept compact with recuts of the essential footage of the scene. This also works sometimes more and sometimes less well. Ultimately, the musical aspect is part of the film and still comes into play in the EU version, so that these cuts are often rather annoying. Especially the song of Popeye's father, in which Bluto then also interferes with parts of his previous numbers, is quite worth seeing.

In general, the screentime of Poopdeck Pappy, Popeye's father portrayed by Ray Walston, was significantly reduced. Besides the song just mentioned, a rather long scene on the deck of the boat before the finale also fell under the table. Here, Popeye and him argue about the family bond, which alone makes the film much more rounded because of the previous subplot that Popeye had been looking for his father for a long time before. This results in a minute-long rant about typical worries with offspring, which is quite entertaining.

Exactly in this scene, as well as in so many previously recut scenes, you can find some exclusive material as a substitute in the EU version as well. This is therefore to be seen as a full-fledged "alternative version", so that you as a fan must have seen both to know all the material. Admittedly, there aren't really many exciting moments. All in all, the original American version is the preferred choice for those interested. Whether this will ever make it to other markets and whether you'll even get to see an HD upgrade of the film anywhere in Europe is currently written in the stars.

Runtimes are ordered as follows: German DVD in PAL / American Blu-ray

The German DVD has a bit more black screen to start.

+ 1.8 sec .



05:52 / 06:05-06:08

The kids come running in a little early, and as they do, Popeye can be heard saying off-camera, "Here's a red cent."

2.6 sec

05:58 / 06:14-06:15

The follow up shot of him is also a little longer.

0.8 sec.



06:52 / 07:12-07:19

Popeye goes after Mrs. Oxheart earlier.

7.5 sec

Recut / Alternate.
07:01-07:16 / 07:29-08:22

The walk to the village is much longer in the original version. Several people run away from Popeye in fear.
This is accompanied by various little comments from him: "Friendly here. Huh. Little scary, too. I think I'll spend a year."

In the EU version, at least three shots of it come in a different order.

original version 36.8 sec longer



07:22 / 08:28-08:39

Another few steps and another door is locked in his face; "They seem to got my number, but no one's lookin' it up, ain't it?"

10.1 sec

07:30 / 08:47-09:03

Popeye comes to Geezil earlier and asks for food with vitamins. Castor is stumbling around in the background.

Popeye: "Bunch of carricks?
Geezil: "No. No."
Popeye: "You ain't got no carricks? What are those, prunes?"
Geezil: "Phooey on carrots. Take broccoli."
Popeye: "I am in the mood for carricks. I need me vitamins."

14.6 sec

08:00 / 09:34-09:59

The tax collector addresses Popeye some more, but then rather quickly disappears to go after some kids. Popeye takes more steps up and almost bumps into another guy.

Tax collector: "You're not up to no good, are you? 'Cause if you are, there's a 50-cent up to no good tax. Kids. Kids."
Popeye: "Cherubs there."
Tax collector: "Come here. Come back."
Popeye: "Hey, careful there. What blew him into town? The short arm of the law, huh?"

24.2 sec

08:43 / 10:45-10:56

Popeye staggers around grumbling some more before entering the house; "Scums, I'll find you!"
In the process, he also tears off a piece of the railing in between; "Don't make 'em like they used to."

11.1 sec

09:58 / 12:14-12:17

Before Popeye goes up the stairs, you can see Olive standing at the top again.

2.6 sec

11:36 / 13:59-14:05

After Olive leaves, Popeye goes after her for a moment; "Miss Oyl. Maybe..."
He then breaks off the handle of his door as he does so.

5.5 sec

11:51 / 14:21-14:22

The shot inside starts insignificantly earlier.

1.5 sec.



12:23 / 14:55-14:58

Wimpy and Castor are shown talking at the table in an additional shot; "Says here the Commodore's taxing salt again."

2.7 sec

12:50 / 15:27-15:36

Olive is discussing something else with her mother.

Nana: "What are you looking for?"
Olive: "A glass."
Nana: "Here's a glass."
Olive: "That's a short, fat, ugly glass. I want a tall, pretty, slender glass."
Nana: "They're all broken."

By the way, sloppy editing on the EU DVD: Two frames of the shot of Olivia remained included here as well.

9.2 sec

13:09 / 15:56-15:58

A long shot starts a little earlier, and as it does, you can hear, "You owe me an apology."

2 sec

13:18 / 16:07-16:31

More discussion around the table.

Popeye: "That does look good there. Wish I had a plate, though."
Nana: "Four times engaged is three times much."
Olive: "He can't talk me out of anything. I'm not a child."
Castor: "I'll say you're not a child."
Olive: "Who says I'm not a child?"
Castor: "You said you're not a child, and I agreed with you."
Olive: "Who asked you to agree with me?"
Castor: "No one can stop me from agreeing with you if I want to."
Olive: "I can."
Cole: "Quarreling at my table. You both owe me an apology."
Castor: "Sorry, Pop."

That's also what Olive's indignant "What?" refers to, which is included again in the EU version afterwards.

22.6 sec

13:21 / 16:34-16:35

Shortly after, a shot starts insignificantly earlier.

1.5 sec.


13:37 / 16:52-17:08

Nana asks some more, "Have you, Cole?"
Castor: "I'd never let a girl break my engagement. I'd break her nose before she broke my engagement. And you better not try on me what you pulled on Bluto, because I'm no pushover."
Cole: "You owe your sister an apology."
Nana: "Will you stop fidgeting?"

Another bumbling cut, as Popeye's body position changes abruptly between cuts.

15.6 sec

14:20 / 17:53-18:00

Popeye is left alone at the table and says, "Never good to be too full, I guess."

6.2 sec

14:45 / 18:26-18:28

Popeye lies in his hammock bed for a moment longer.

1.5 sec.



23:02 / 27:05-27:13

After the guy is thrown out of the bar, Popeye comments briefly, "That's wrong, pickin' on innocents."
The follow up shot then begins earlier with Butch going after the drunk guy with a hat.

7.4 sec

23:08 / 27:20-27:38

Another baddie grabs another guy; "Do you apologize?"
The intimidated guy immediately says, "I apologize. Rosie, get my hat. I think it's time we leave. Gotta get back to the dairy--"
The baddie then grabs him and puts him on a stove. When the guy gets up from this shortly after with his butt in heat, he gets a nasty look. Submissively, the guy sits right back down on the stove and the others laugh.

17.3 sec

23:14 / 27:44-27:46

Popeye a moment earlier.

1.1 sec.



24:51 / 29:26-29:44

As Popeye has walked out, another scene outside follows.
A couple walks by, and as they do, the man says, "Remember, my dear, tonight it's my turn to be tall."

17.1 sec

25:01 / 29:54-30:05

Bluto is walking around outside and notes, "Flowers! I forgot the flowers."
He takes a few from a flowerpot.

10.2 sec

25:19 / 30:24-30:26

A first shot of the party.

1.9 sec

25:29 / 30:37-30:43

A longer awkward silence.

6.3 sec

25:36 / 30:51-30:55

Ditto, with Popeye muttering, "Well, hello."

4.4 sec

25:39 / 30:58

The follow up shot of Popeye a little earlier....

0.5 sec


Recut
25:46 or 25:49-25:52 / 31:06-31:17

...As well as a little longer. Recut to the people, then he says, "Well, better be on me way. Au reservoir."

However, the shot of the people (first screenshot) is inserted again shortly after in the EU version.

Original version 8.3 sec longer.

Recut / Alternative.
26:02-26:29 / 31:31-32:10

In the original version, the people are chattering away in confusion again. Then Popeye walks around outside and there you can see Bluto continuing to sort out flowers.
Olive then rolls up her stockings and the follow up shot of her also starts earlier than in the EU version.

In the EU version instead, another shot of Olive and Bluto now comes right closer to the door. On the one hand, here you see previously cut half-totals, then one that actually comes half a minute later. In between, also here the shot where Olive rolls up her stockings.

Original version 10.4 sec longer.



Alternative / Recut.
26:59-27:02 / 32:41-32:51

While the EU version reinserts the shot of the chattering people from the previous cut here, the original version shows Bluto walking up the stairs. This has already been shown shortened in the EU in the previous cut.

Original version 5.8 sec longer.

EU version	Original version

27:22 / 33:11-33:30

Before Bluto comes in, Olive continues singing for a while; "Warm. Oh, boy. He's virile. And he's strong. Strong. He's strong."

17.8 sec