| Bulldozing the Bull | |
| Number 63 | |
 | |
| Guide | |
| previous Popeye the Sailor with the Jeep |
next Mutiny Ain't Nice |
Bulldozing the Bull is Popeye's 63rd theatrical cartoon. It was produced by Fleischer Studios and released on August 19, 1938.
Plot[]
In Spain, everyone goes to a bullfighting arena. When Popeye passes by the arena, he is given a free ticket but declines to attend, as he considers the sport inhuman (or, as he puts it, "inkindness to aminals"), tearing the ticket. A Spanish girl appears at the arena, buys a ticket and takes face powder out of her bag. The attractive girl (Olive Oyl) reveals herself to Popeye and flirts with him while powdering her face. Attracted by Senorita Olive, Popeye changes his mind and reassembles the ticket with his pipe. Inside, Popeye attempts to woo Senorita Olive, asking her if she would like to spend time with him. Although she finds him attractive as well, Senorita Olive declines the offer and takes her seat to move to another spot. Popeye follows and asks her again, in response, Senorita Olive takes her more normal appearance and says to him that he is doing the bullfight. Popeye does not want to fight, but Senorita Olive summons two men to take him in, saying that bullfighting is what amuses her. Popeye tells the Senorita that bullfighting is cruel, but the latter does not believe that and Popeye is carried to the arena despite his protests. He breaks the swords he is offered, being against animal abuse, but then the bull sends him flying. He manages to ride it for a while, and then grab it in a choke-hold with his legs, only to be sent flying once again, eventually finding himself buried to his chest while the bull keeps trying, and failing, to gore him. The public is not amused by this spectacle, throwing vegetables at the arena. Senorita Olive realizes what she had done to Popeye and manages to redeem herself. She tries to stop the spectators from throwing produce at Popeye, but fails and runs in to protect the sailor from the vegetable shower. Senorita Olive sees the bull charging at Popeye and tries to use her sarape against the animal, but ends up being chased by it just as a can of spinach is thrown before Popeye. Eating it transforms the sailor into a matador that soon dominates the beast, using his fists and even performing the mighty Twisker Sock, but when he is handed another sword, he again breaks it, restating his unwillingness to finish the bull. Popeye and Senorita Olive hug each other, with the bull about to charge them again, but this time it is to give Popeye a handshake. He gives him and Senorita Olive a ride as the whole stadium celebrates. As Popeye concludes the cartoon, Senorita Olive gives him the reward of a kiss.
Trivia[]
- First cartoon in which a bull is spared instead of killed. In this case, Popeye and the bull become friends as the former refuses to kill the latter.
- The bull looking at the audience is similar to what the bull from I Eats My Spinach did.
- First Popeye cartoon to use the 1938 Paramount Cartoons logo. The 1932 Paramount Cartoons logo is used in tandem with the 1938 one until 1939.
External links[]
- Bulldozing the Bull at the Internet Movie Database