Many gems were seen with Dave Fleischer. His cartoons often were amusing and charming, though over-cuteness did come through in some efforts and the stories were always pretty thin, with appealing characters, outstanding music and visuals that were inventive and with innovative animation techniques.
1936's 'A Clean Shaven Man' is one of my favourites of the Fleischer Popeye cartoons. Comedic situations in a barber shop in animation is not novel as such, but 'A Clean Shaven Man' still managed something creative and entertaining out of it. It is never less than very funny, its best parts being hilarious. Have always enjoyed many of the Popeye cartoons a good deal and like Popeye very much, Fleischer's efforts were always well animated and scored with lots of entertainment value and great chemistry between Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto. The Famous Studios cartoons were not as good, many are pleasant and entertaining enough but the overall quality was variable, especially the later efforts. 'A Clean Shaven Man' has everything that makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era and does nothing to waste the characters or make them less interesting.
The story is full of energy and is always coherent and interesting, never being dull. It's formulaic, with not an awful lot of surprises going on, but that was common in Popeye. The humour and gags are beautifully timed with not a misfire in the lot when it came to being funny, avoiding the trap of repetition. The action is suitably wild and didn't get too over the top, the chemistry between Popeye and Bluto driving 'A Clean Shaven Man' beautifully.
All the characters are great, though Olive Oyl's material not as great as Popeye and Bluto's (she is well used though and loved her singing). Those two are spot on and their chemistry drives 'A Clean Shaven Man' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character.
Once again, 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. And yes that title song is very catchy with some very witty lyric writing. Fleischer's direction is always accomplished and his style is all over it.
In my mind, nobody voiced Olive Oyl better than Mae Questel, the most prolific voice actress for her and one can see why as she had the voice that fitted the character the most. Gus Wickie is both amusing and formidable as Bluto, but best of all is Jack Mercer's Popeye, not many people made asides and mumblings hilarious in the way Mercer did.
Overall, classic Popeye. 9/10
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