This is probably one of the very most famous Popeye cartoons and one of the ones that is most fondly remembered by the fans and I can definitely see why. I know my own 60 year-old mother remembered the Goons from when she was a little girl when I recently showed her this again. I love all of the usual strange Fleischer touches in the backgrounds of the volcanic Goon Island, like fer instance the rock formations that almost look like ghostly figures and leering faces. The atmosphere is certainly odd and uncanny, but I find it all bizarrely whimsical and adventurous more than owt else. It feels to me very similar to the excellent Sinbad Popeye special that they later did. I don't know, I can see how it could be considered one of the surrealistic old cartoons the style of which is easily capable of giving folks the heebie-jeebies just by how random and completely different it is to anything that's animated from today. The Goons are very weird and interesting creations that are to me not quite creepy but definitely ain't lovable either! Something about their lanky and super-strong designs, how their mute and dull-witted, and their names..makes me think that they were intended as a mean animated joke on the mentally-handicapped. And I am positively not saying that in a nasty way or anything, it was just what they immediately made me think of. The scene where it shows them all toiling in their caves is remarkably similar to how the Morlocks would later look in the 1960 classic "The Time Machine", so much so that it makes me wonder if this is where they got their inspiration from! It made me laugh when Popeye was shadowing the movements of the Goon and when he puts on the seaweed to make himself look like one of them while cheerily muttering to himself like a crazy person! His classic under-the-breath lines gag was always good for a laugh. My favourite part of the short is when Pappy eats the spinach and breaks out of his cell and comes through for the earlier rejected Popeye by saving him from a boulder that the Goons were planning to ritualistically flatten him with by uppercutting it back up the cliff and onto them, which causes the cartoon's film reel to break and you see a pair of live-action hands race to put back together! It still looks really cool after so many years and was probably one of the first "breaking of the fourth wall" jokes ever! And the awesome sight gag was reminiscent of Fleischer's earlier-still "Out of the Inkwell" animations. There's something cute and very long-lastingly appealing about this short, it's one of the good ones, and I think it'll always be. See ya!
9 Reviews
Popeye Finds His Pappy
ccthemovieman-128 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
It's been 40 years since baby Popeye has seen his dad, "Pappy." For some reason, Popeye thinks he's on this remote island, "Goonland." It turns out he is right.
The island is inhabited by these tall, hairy (in spots) big goons and one normal human: Pappy, who's in a cave/prison playing checkers against himself.
The fun starts when Popeye gets outnumbered and captured by the goons and his old man, who at first shows no interest in his son, has a change of heart and comes to the rescue.....in a humorous way, of course.
This isn't all that funny but it's a feel-good Popeye with a good ending and good change of lyrics to the normal ending song.
The island is inhabited by these tall, hairy (in spots) big goons and one normal human: Pappy, who's in a cave/prison playing checkers against himself.
The fun starts when Popeye gets outnumbered and captured by the goons and his old man, who at first shows no interest in his son, has a change of heart and comes to the rescue.....in a humorous way, of course.
This isn't all that funny but it's a feel-good Popeye with a good ending and good change of lyrics to the normal ending song.
On a strange island
TheLittleSongbird13 December 2018
Many of Fleischer Studios' cartoons were good to classic. As said a few times already, the best of them had fun and charm and even if there some cartoons that had more interesting characters than others they were always outstandingly scored, very hard to dislike and extremely well made, some of the techniques used even were unique for back then.
This cartoon is not just one of the best late-Fleischer cartoons, of Popeye (and in general actually), but also one of my favourites of Popeye overall. It is always great to have a change of pace once in a while, with Popeye being the one regular character, and the conflict different to usual, and this is one of the finest examples of that. One where one doesn't miss Olive Oyl and Bluto too much. Changes of pace have happened many times with Popeye, both with Fleischer and Famous Studios, and many have been done remarkably well, just that this is a particularly well done example.
Popeye is as amusing and likeable as ever, Pappy is a fun character though his indifference initially takes some getting used to. The conflict provide great entertainment but also a freaky feel brought to life brilliantly. Popeye's mumbling and asides are relished by Jack Mercer, the longest serving voice actor for the character for good reason.
As ever, the music is lush and full of energy with no fault with how it fits with what is going on the gags and animation. The story is one of the least formulaic for a Popeye cartoon and is filled with energy and charm, as well as from beginning to end fun.
Best assets though are the animation and dialogue. The animation is excellent and makes for one of the best-looking Popeye cartoons, just love the meticulousness, fluidity, vibrancy and attention to detail. One can tell hearing the witty dialogue that the writers were having a great time writing the dialogue here, mumbles and asides at their funniest.
In summary, really great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
This cartoon is not just one of the best late-Fleischer cartoons, of Popeye (and in general actually), but also one of my favourites of Popeye overall. It is always great to have a change of pace once in a while, with Popeye being the one regular character, and the conflict different to usual, and this is one of the finest examples of that. One where one doesn't miss Olive Oyl and Bluto too much. Changes of pace have happened many times with Popeye, both with Fleischer and Famous Studios, and many have been done remarkably well, just that this is a particularly well done example.
Popeye is as amusing and likeable as ever, Pappy is a fun character though his indifference initially takes some getting used to. The conflict provide great entertainment but also a freaky feel brought to life brilliantly. Popeye's mumbling and asides are relished by Jack Mercer, the longest serving voice actor for the character for good reason.
As ever, the music is lush and full of energy with no fault with how it fits with what is going on the gags and animation. The story is one of the least formulaic for a Popeye cartoon and is filled with energy and charm, as well as from beginning to end fun.
Best assets though are the animation and dialogue. The animation is excellent and makes for one of the best-looking Popeye cartoons, just love the meticulousness, fluidity, vibrancy and attention to detail. One can tell hearing the witty dialogue that the writers were having a great time writing the dialogue here, mumbles and asides at their funniest.
In summary, really great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
My VERY FAVORITE Popeye cartoon
wdbasinger10 August 2006
This has the best cartoon art in the series. This is one of the finest things to come out of Fleischer studios. The Popeye and Betty Boop cartoons are classic.
The story starts with Popeye heading toward a mysterious island in search of his pappy. We get an idea of Popeye's age when he states that his pappy was missing for forty years. The island upon which he arrives is atmospheric, mysterious, and downright spooky.
The goons are brilliantly hideous, comparable to the kind like the characters from the classic thriller "Island of Lost Souls" (1932).
The goon is another brilliant Segar character. From the comics, I remember a neat character called "Alice the Goon".
Now we are finally introduced to "Poop-Deck" Pappy, a great character in his own way and obnoxious as can be, but he shows his true meddle by eating the can of spinach and breaking out of the prison in order to save his son Popeye's life in a thrilling climax. (I won't reveal it here, but the ending is just great.)
10/10
Dan Basinger
The story starts with Popeye heading toward a mysterious island in search of his pappy. We get an idea of Popeye's age when he states that his pappy was missing for forty years. The island upon which he arrives is atmospheric, mysterious, and downright spooky.
The goons are brilliantly hideous, comparable to the kind like the characters from the classic thriller "Island of Lost Souls" (1932).
The goon is another brilliant Segar character. From the comics, I remember a neat character called "Alice the Goon".
Now we are finally introduced to "Poop-Deck" Pappy, a great character in his own way and obnoxious as can be, but he shows his true meddle by eating the can of spinach and breaking out of the prison in order to save his son Popeye's life in a thrilling climax. (I won't reveal it here, but the ending is just great.)
10/10
Dan Basinger
One of the best Fleischer cartoons!
Conservative_Critic3 December 2008
Some claim that as the 1930s and '40s wore on, the Popeye shorts of the Fleischers lost their touch. I would say that, in light of "Goonland" (1938), this is NOT true. The Fleischer brothers very brilliantly bring the Goons, freakish creatures from E.C. Segar's comic strip, "Thimble Theatre," to life, as they encounter the ever-heroic Popeye on a quest to find his long-lost Pappy (also portrayed faithful to the original character). The music, voice acting, imagery and special effects all contribute to an adventurous, fun, and enduring Popeye cartoon. Very highly recommended! Popeye fans will also be delighted to know that "Goonland" (1938) is available on the DVD collection, "Popeye the Sailor, Volume 2: 1938-1940," which would make an excellent Christmas gift for any Popeye or nostalgic cartoon lover.
Goonland was a nice change of pace for a Popeye cartoon
tavm29 August 2014
After years of this being the first thing I favorite on DailyMotion, I finally watched this Popeye cartoon. He's looking for his long-lost Pappy who he hadn't seen in about 40 years (probably not much older than that). His ship lands on Goonland which is inhabited by these tall gangly creatures with hair on their bottoms and arms. Popeye disguises himself as them to fool them. I'll stop there and just say this was quite funny with both Popeye's mutterings and some of the visual gags. A nice break from his usual outings with Olive Oyl and Bluto and the way it ends you may or not be able to predict. So on that note, I recommend Goonland.
Simply wonderful
neil-47618 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When the Paramount Popeye cartoons were shown on UK TV during the 50s and 60s, this was the one I always hoped would feature in the half hour programme. Whenever it popped up, I was delighted.
In the late 70s I was lucky enough to obtain a super 8mm sound copy of it. I also managed to videotape it off air on one of the rare occasions that some of the classic cartoons were shown on UK TV.
Finally, I managed to get the two restored DVD compilations of the 100-odd Fleischer Popeyes, so I now have it in that format.
This endearingly surrealistic cartoon has it all. Popeye is sailing to find his long lost Pappy, and ends up at the foreboding Goon Island. The Goons are strange looking creatures with barrel chests, clumps of fuzzy body hair, and long noses like teardrops. They wander about with clubs in a vaguely threatening manner, so Popeye mimics their appearance and finds the jail cell where Pappy is incarcerated. Unfortunately, Pappy rejects Popeye and, as Popeye is wandering dejectedly away, he is set upon by the Goons. They outnumber him and knock his spinach out of his hand, bearing him away and staking him out at the foot of a cliff from where they propose to roll a boulder down onto him. Fortunately the spinach can rolls to where Pappy can reach it. Pappy eats the spinach, breaks out of his cell, and is trying to tear away the ropes holding Popeye when the film breaks. Popeye and Pappy manage to hold on to the torn edge of the film, but all the Goons fall off. The projectionist mends the film, and all ends happily.
The music in this cartoon is great. First of all there is Popeye's song about finding his Pappy, then there is the Goon theme which exactly suits these odd individuals. It also makes the scene where Popeye disguises himself as a Goon and walks along in time with the music (as they do), but rather more flamboyantly, and doing a scat singing version of his usual muttering very funny. In fact Popeye's mutterings are particularly good in this movie (and the DVD set is recommended because you can set the subtitles and actually find out what he is muttering!).
This cartoon is 8 minutes of heaven.
In the late 70s I was lucky enough to obtain a super 8mm sound copy of it. I also managed to videotape it off air on one of the rare occasions that some of the classic cartoons were shown on UK TV.
Finally, I managed to get the two restored DVD compilations of the 100-odd Fleischer Popeyes, so I now have it in that format.
This endearingly surrealistic cartoon has it all. Popeye is sailing to find his long lost Pappy, and ends up at the foreboding Goon Island. The Goons are strange looking creatures with barrel chests, clumps of fuzzy body hair, and long noses like teardrops. They wander about with clubs in a vaguely threatening manner, so Popeye mimics their appearance and finds the jail cell where Pappy is incarcerated. Unfortunately, Pappy rejects Popeye and, as Popeye is wandering dejectedly away, he is set upon by the Goons. They outnumber him and knock his spinach out of his hand, bearing him away and staking him out at the foot of a cliff from where they propose to roll a boulder down onto him. Fortunately the spinach can rolls to where Pappy can reach it. Pappy eats the spinach, breaks out of his cell, and is trying to tear away the ropes holding Popeye when the film breaks. Popeye and Pappy manage to hold on to the torn edge of the film, but all the Goons fall off. The projectionist mends the film, and all ends happily.
The music in this cartoon is great. First of all there is Popeye's song about finding his Pappy, then there is the Goon theme which exactly suits these odd individuals. It also makes the scene where Popeye disguises himself as a Goon and walks along in time with the music (as they do), but rather more flamboyantly, and doing a scat singing version of his usual muttering very funny. In fact Popeye's mutterings are particularly good in this movie (and the DVD set is recommended because you can set the subtitles and actually find out what he is muttering!).
This cartoon is 8 minutes of heaven.
A lot of fun.
planktonrules24 September 2013
I usually do not watch Popeye cartoons, mostly because 90% are variations on the same plot--Bluto tries to rape Olive and Popeye eats spinach and beats the snot out of the guy. However, "Goonland" was a nice departure from the formula--and gets points for weirdness.
Popeye is in search of his Pappy--who has been missing since he was a little boy. The trail leads to a very weird place called 'Goonland' and it's inhabited by these semi-humanoid mutes. I thought it was rather funny when Popeye pretended to be one of them to sneak past the guards and get to Pappy. I also really liked listening to Popeye's little aside comments--some of which were pretty funny. And, I liked that Pappy really was a bit of a jerk! All in all, a fun and imaginative film.
Popeye is in search of his Pappy--who has been missing since he was a little boy. The trail leads to a very weird place called 'Goonland' and it's inhabited by these semi-humanoid mutes. I thought it was rather funny when Popeye pretended to be one of them to sneak past the guards and get to Pappy. I also really liked listening to Popeye's little aside comments--some of which were pretty funny. And, I liked that Pappy really was a bit of a jerk! All in all, a fun and imaginative film.
Consistently ranked in the Top 100 "Movie Puns of All Time" . . .
pixrox18 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
. . . "Popeye's" immortal observation, "Hair today, goon tomorrow" is enough all by itself to make GOONLAND a worthwhile experience. With this summer's release of ANGEL HAS FALLEN, many Popeye aficionados are making the obvious comparison between the father-son pairings of Pappy-Popeye and "Nick N.-Gerard B." This, of course, begs the question of, "Which team is Nick representing?" After a careful review of "Clay Banning's" attributes, 57% of those poled by AT&T place Nick's character among the goons. (Obviously, the make-up and hair designers for ANGEL HAS FALLEN based Clay's "look" upon a composite of Nick's Real Life mug shots and the noggin stylings of GOONLAND's inhabitants.) In Real Life, America yearns for a "Band of Brothers" serving our Homeland under the eye of a watchful leader (preferably, someone like "T. Hanks"). However, the sort of fratricide documented in ANGEL HAS FALLEN more often proves to be the sad Reality. Therefore, the U.S. Military should use GOONLAND as a Boot Camp training film, teaching all the future grunts, jarheads, tars, and fly boys to stick together, goon fashion.
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