Popeye is abducted by Martians who conduct a series of hideous experiments on him, but thanks to his copious spinach supply (4 cans), all the experiments fail.Popeye is abducted by Martians who conduct a series of hideous experiments on him, but thanks to his copious spinach supply (4 cans), all the experiments fail.Popeye is abducted by Martians who conduct a series of hideous experiments on him, but thanks to his copious spinach supply (4 cans), all the experiments fail.
Jackson Beck
- Martians
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Jack Mercer
- Popeye
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Sid Raymond
- Martians
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Seymour Kneitel
- Al Eugster(uncredited)
- Writers
- Carl Meyer
- Jack Mercer
- Otto Messmer(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOne of two Paramount cartoons filmed in 3-D; the other was Boo Moon (1953).
- Crazy creditsThe opening credits are slightly different from the usual credits of the Famous Studios Popeye cartoons (with the inclusion of "A Stereotoon"). Also, animated clouds are seen drifting to the right from the bottom. At the end, after Popeye sings "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" and makes his trademark tooting sound with his pipe, the smoke from his pipe begins to take shape while the rest of the picture fades out and becomes the mountain and stars for the Paramount logo (sans the "A Paramount Picture" text). The smoke (from Popeye's pipe) then morphs into the text for "A Paramount Picture."
- Alternate versionsOriginal theatrical version was in 3-D, whereas regular TV versions feature it without the 3-D effect. In the original opening credits, under the "Paramount Presents: Popeye The Sailor" title card (which, this time, fades in a second after Popeye's head-on-a-star fades out) reads "A Stereotoon" (right over "Color by Technicolor"). The shadowy texture around the titles (like in the other Famous Studios Popeye cartoons) is conspicuously absent, also notable in the Famous Studios credit (which also fades in a second after said title card fades out). Also notable are clouds at the bottom drifting to the right. Note that in non-3-D versions of the print, the said logos and texts are slightly shifted to the left from the Paramount mountain/stars (because of the 3-D effect). The opening and closing credits were replaced in subsequent TV versions with either the standard Paramount opening credits and/or Associated Artist Productions (AAP) logos, respectively. However, on December 23, 2001, the short in its integrity (sans the 3-D effects) premiered on Cartoon Network's POPEYE SHOW. The original opening credits and ending (where Popeye's pipe smoke morphs into the Paramount logo) were restored.
Featured review
Popeye and the martians
Do get a lot of enjoyment out of most of the Popeye cartoons. They are formulaic story-wise, especially the later ones and more Famous Studios' than Fleischer Studios' (prefer the latter's Popeye output in general too), but most are well made, they are entertaining if again more Fleischer Studios' than Famous Studios' and it is hard not to love Popeye and Bluto and their chemistry together. Olive is a little more mixed for me though.
With both Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios, there were changes of pace where there was either no Olive or no Bluto and sometimes it's just Popeye and different characters like animals and his nephews. There were also some "cheater" cartoons that varied in quality. A semi-remake of 1946's 'Rocket to Mars' (enjoyable if not great), 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of those change of pace cartoons. Personally find this cartoon the better of the two and it's a no-brainer, it's funnier, it has more interest value and it stands out more. Plus Jack Mercer, the best and most popular Popeye voice actor, voices Popeye here, whereas he didn't in that cartoon and it didn't feel the same.
'Popeye the Ace of Space' is interesting because it features neither Olive, meaning no amorous chemistry, or Bluto, so not quite as wild and not having their acrimonious chemistry. Instead having a different setting and different conflict characters, even if the conflict itself isn't hugely original. Story-wise, it is not as formulaic as most of the series which is a good thing, due to the things just mentioned. Of the early-50s Popeye cartoons, and the Famous Studios Popeye output in general, this stood out as one of the best.
It is one of the studio's most interesting Popeye, and overall, cartoons visually. Also think 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of the most interesting and striking-looking cartoons of the whole Popeye series (both studios combined) actually. Namely because it is one of just two Paramount cartoons made in 3D, the 1954 Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoon 'Boo Moon' being the other one, the colours are gorgeous to look at and the depth and detail of the backgrounds is to be admired. The music is equally outstanding as one expects from Famous Studios regular composer Winston Sharples in a way that is immediately distinctive of him, beautiful on the ears and its character is infectious.
The gags are many and there is nothing corny or fatigued about them, they may not be innovative but they are funny at least. The conflict has a little tension, there is a lot of energy on display and the martians are fun. Popeye is as ever the amusing and easy to like character and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting.
Summing up, one of Famous Studios' best Popeye cartoons, of the 50s decade and overall. 9/10
With both Fleischer Studios and Famous Studios, there were changes of pace where there was either no Olive or no Bluto and sometimes it's just Popeye and different characters like animals and his nephews. There were also some "cheater" cartoons that varied in quality. A semi-remake of 1946's 'Rocket to Mars' (enjoyable if not great), 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of those change of pace cartoons. Personally find this cartoon the better of the two and it's a no-brainer, it's funnier, it has more interest value and it stands out more. Plus Jack Mercer, the best and most popular Popeye voice actor, voices Popeye here, whereas he didn't in that cartoon and it didn't feel the same.
'Popeye the Ace of Space' is interesting because it features neither Olive, meaning no amorous chemistry, or Bluto, so not quite as wild and not having their acrimonious chemistry. Instead having a different setting and different conflict characters, even if the conflict itself isn't hugely original. Story-wise, it is not as formulaic as most of the series which is a good thing, due to the things just mentioned. Of the early-50s Popeye cartoons, and the Famous Studios Popeye output in general, this stood out as one of the best.
It is one of the studio's most interesting Popeye, and overall, cartoons visually. Also think 'Popeye the Ace of Space' is one of the most interesting and striking-looking cartoons of the whole Popeye series (both studios combined) actually. Namely because it is one of just two Paramount cartoons made in 3D, the 1954 Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoon 'Boo Moon' being the other one, the colours are gorgeous to look at and the depth and detail of the backgrounds is to be admired. The music is equally outstanding as one expects from Famous Studios regular composer Winston Sharples in a way that is immediately distinctive of him, beautiful on the ears and its character is infectious.
The gags are many and there is nothing corny or fatigued about them, they may not be innovative but they are funny at least. The conflict has a little tension, there is a lot of energy on display and the martians are fun. Popeye is as ever the amusing and easy to like character and Jack Mercer doesn't disappoint with the voice acting.
Summing up, one of Famous Studios' best Popeye cartoons, of the 50s decade and overall. 9/10
helpful•51
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 7, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Ace kosmosu
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime7 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Popeye, the Ace of Space (1953) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer