We Aim to Please (1934) Online

This starts out like a Betty Boop cartoon, meaning with a song. Popeye and Olive have opened a diner and they are seen outside of it on opening day, singing and dancing "We Aim To Please."

After that, we see Wimpy and Bluto standing on the other side of the street, observing. "Watch me obtain a hamburger without the necessary fee," says Wimpy. He goes inside and says, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." That line went on to be used by him for the next 30 years. It became his trademark, along with the hamburger-eating, of course.

There's not much of a story to this, but it was very entertaining. We only see two customers, but they are Customers From Hell, mainly Bluto. Wimpy won't pay, of course, but Bluto's aim is to demolish the place! He does everything he can to disrupt the the diner and act like some moronic vandal, just for the sake of being a no-good you-know-what.

If you have this cartoon on DVD, freeze-frame she shot where Popeye shows the menu and read it - it's pretty corny and funny.

Make no mistake-although officially Popeye's cartoon, one J. Wellington Wimpy is the star here. Wimpy is (or should be) the icon for the American approach to consumerism-"I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Wimpy never worries about that far off Tuesday, when his hamburgers will come home to roost (no doubt with indigestion not far behind), he just wants his hamburger today and hang Tuesday. Wimpy reminds me a lot of W. C. Fields' persona-he too was always concerned with current results, regardless of future consequences. Both also have just a touch of larceny in their heart. Wimpy is my favorite character in the series and his appearances were always too brief and too rare for my taste. Much better sidekick than the rather annoying Shorty ever was or could be. Here's to you, Wimpy, wherever you are. May all your days be Wednesdays. Well worth seeking out. Most Recommended.

..........................For Segar's Sea Going Sailor Man.

WITH ALL OF the various series that the Sailor Man starred in over the years, it is the Max Fleischer Black & White shorts that are by far the best. Retaining the look and style of the Popeye creator, Elzie Crisler Segar for Hearst's King Features Syndicate.

AS CONTRASTED WITH the Popeye made for television product, there is no real comparison. This brings to mind a family gathering circa 1974. Our first born, Jennifer, was watching a made for TV Popeye with the rest of us (including Gramma Ryan-3 generations), when the usual "Olive Oyl's in trouble" scenario played out. Well, little jumped the gun, beating Miss Oyl to the punch with cries of "Help ! Help. Popeye !" Nuff said about that.

IN SUNSCREEN THIS short recently (courtesy of Turner Classic Movies), it became ever so obvious to us just what made the 1930's B & W format stand out . Most every short was musically centered and most often had some original songs featured very prominently. The animation and artwork was impeccable, with the look of the characters followingnthat which was displayed in the THIMBLE THEATER Comic Strip, which was the title even about ten years before Popeye's arrival and eventual rise to the top as its star.

ALSO INCLUDED WERE other of Segar's creations; such as Bluto and, for real comic relief, Wimpy. For it was one J. Wellington Wimpy's constant and seemingly insatiable cravings for grilled beef patties that gave us the immortal, classic and oft repeated plea of; "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today !"

THE GREATEST AND most coarse and revolting cartoon screen villainy came from that huge, musclebound vulgarian, Bluto. The character had bowed to the public in the newspaper strip and was soon adapted to the animated shorts, becoming Popeye's chief adversary and rival for the affections of Olive Oyl.

IN TODAY'S HONOREE, this production of the Fleischer Brothers (Max & Dave), simply titled WE AIM TO PLEASE, Popeye and Olive have opened up a diner and are anxious to bring in the business. Following the opening song (sung as a duet) Olive complains that their location is all too far from the foot traffic. Popeye quickly remedies the situation, via his already pre-spinach consumption prodigious strength. From there, it's strictly interaction with customers, Wimpy and Bluto and of course, that ever present use of a can of spinach. (Today's ingestion of the iron-rich leafy green comes from a huge, special restaurant sized can.)

ONE THING THAT we've noticed now, in our golden years, is the true beauty of Black & White photography. The various shades of grays, silvers and even black seem to stand out on the screen. Black and white also holds up much better than most colour filming.

We Aim to Please (1934)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Popeye and Olive Oyl open a new diner but things get a little rough when Bluto walks in and refuses to pay. This short contains all the greatness that the series had to offer in that it's fast, hilarious and action packed. There are countless laughs to be found here with the biggest coming from a trick Popeye plays a Bluto, which involves a napkins around his eyes. The action scenes are also very well done with some great fights and a hilarious ending. Wimpy is once again featured here and I believe this was the first short where he asked for a hamburger only to pay next Tuesday.

We aim to please is one of my favorite Popeye cartoons, the concept isn't too exciting, Popeye and Olive running a diner, but everything works out well. First off, Popeye and Olive's musical act of "We Aim to Please" is very well rendered. Then Wimpy and Bluto try their hand at freeloading in Popeye and Olive's diner. I always like the bit where Bluto orders sandwiches and then Popeye and Bluto do a bit of magic. Beware of poorly retraced colorized versions. This is Wimpy's first appearance in a Popeye cartoon and his debut was very good. There is a goof in the original made more obvious in the colored version where Bluto's hair and beard becomes gray in one scene.

Dave Fleischer was responsible for many gems. Ones that 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.

While maybe not quite classic Popeye, though it is close, 'We Aim to Please' is still very good and very funny, using the diner setting cleverly. 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. 'We Aim to Please' has everything that makes the Popeye series so appealing in its prime era and does nothing to waste the three main characters or make them less interesting.

The story is an interesting and beautifully paced one, never being dull, if formulaic (not uncommon with the Popeye cartoons), though with a lot of variety and creative moments. The humour and gags make it even more entertaining with very amusing to hilarious gags that cleverly utilises the diner, and the cartoon is hardly devoid of them.

All three characters are great, though Olive Oyl's material is not as great as Popeye and Bluto's, though she is used very nicely. Those two are spot on and their chemistry drives 'We Aim to Please' and has so much energy. Popeye is always amusing and likeable but for me Bluto is here the funnier and more interesting character. Stealing the cartoon though is Wimpy, always a very entertaining character who should have been in more cartoons and this is one of his funniest appearances with the best line (mentioned already).

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. Fleischer's direction is always accomplished and his style is all over it.

Voice acting is dynamic and of very good quality. Mae Questel fits and voice Olive Oyl well, much better than Bonnie Poe. The same can be said for William Costello, though there is a preference for Jack Mercer.

All in all, nearly a classic but not quite. 8/10 Bethany Cox