Movies by Dave Fleischer

Popeye Meets William Tell

Popeye Meets William Tell

William Tell shoots an arrow, barely missing Popeye, then tells Popeye that he has just lost his son in an unfortunate arrow incident. Tell then defies the High Governor and is ordered to shoot an apple off his son's head; Popeye stands in for his son.

My Friend the Monkey

My Friend the Monkey

A hurdy-gurdy man goes by Betty Boop's house; she wants to buy his monkey, which causes plenty of trouble for Pudgy the Pup.

Bed Time

Bed Time

First, Max, in his pyjamas, gets back up and draws an isolated mountain area and puts Koko on top of a steep mountain. "That will keep you busy for the night," says the real-life somewhat nasty cartoonist to his subject. The cartoon really gets wild from that point with guest appearances from Mutt and Jeff, and other "stars" of the day as Koko experiences one adventure after another from the "Cave Of The Winds" to Goliath chasing him all over.

Reaching for the Moon

Reaching for the Moon

A Screen Song from the Fleischer Studios with the Irving Berlin song "Reaching for the Moon".

Chess-Nuts

Chess-Nuts

An initially realistic chess game becomes a chaotic, animated quest for the favors of Betty Boop (the black queen) by Bimbo (white king) and others, with elements of bowling and football. Koko appears.

Doing Impossikible Stunts

Doing Impossikible Stunts

Mystery Pictures is looking for a stunt man. Swee'pea tags along with Popeye, but he sends the tot home. Popeye shows clips of his stunts to the director, who is impressed; when he goes to put on the last reel, Swee'pea, who snuck back in, hands him Lost and Foundry (1937), which features Swee'pea saving the day. The director signs Swee'pea.

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp the Boys Are Marching

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp the Boys Are Marching

“Tramp, Tramp, Tramp the Boys Are Marching” features a song that dates back to the Civil War, one which was still familiar to audiences of the 1920s. The cartoon begins as Koko the Clown emerges from an inkwell-- an iconic image for animation buffs --and then steps over to a chalkboard to draw an orchestra. The band, “Koko's Glee Club,” marches to a nearby cinema (accompanied by a dog who beats cymbals with his tail) where they lead the audience in the title song.

Bulldozing the Bull

Bulldozing the Bull

Popeye visits the bullfight only because of lovely Senorita Olive. He finds himself accidentally in the toreador box, even though he doesn't want to fight because it's cruelty to animals. Popeye rides the bull like a bronco, then gets tossed around a bit. The bull plants Popeye in the ground and attacks; the crowd turns on Popeye. Olive comes down to help and the bull chases her. The crowd throws vegetables at Popeye, including (fortunately) spinach.

Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive

Wimmin Hadn't Oughta Drive

Popeye has a new car; Olive wants a driving lesson. Things don't go well.

Max Fleischer's Superman 1941-1942

Max Fleischer's Superman 1941-1942

More than just a landmark in superhero animation, Max Fleischer's Superman shorts were no less than the foundation for so many shows that succeeded it. Playing in theaters in 1941-42, only a few years after the Man of Steel made his debut in Action Comics, these 17 exciting films were produced by Fleischer and made famous the phrase "This looks like a job for Superman!" At 10 minutes, each film had just enough time to run the opening credits, establish the threat, let Lois Lane make a headstrong rush into peril, and allow Clark Kent to chang...

Snow-White

Snow-White

Trouble starts when the queen's magic mirror says Betty Boop is fairest.

Cops Is Always Right

Cops Is Always Right

Popeye is heading over to see Olive when he hits a traffic island where a cop is directing traffic; when he gets there, he manages to get more tickets for blowing his horn and parking illegally. The cop rings the bell, and Popeye manages to wreck Olive's apartment by dropping what he's doing, each time he writes a ticket.

Customers Wanted

Customers Wanted

Popeye and Bluto are running competing penny arcades, trying to bring in customer Wimpy. Of course, he would gladly pay Tuesday for a penny today. And of course, their competing arcades show clips featuring each of them, with well over half of this short thus recycled.

Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix

Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix

Popeye and Bluto agree that women are too much trouble, so they agree to swear off them, which lasts about five seconds, until Olive comes on board ship for a tour. The boys vie for her attention.

The Chinaman

The Chinaman

Max Fleischer considers hiring a new cartoonist. While the new guy draws Max's portrait, Koko gets into a fight with a cartoon Chinese man.

The Circus

The Circus

One of the "Out of the Inkwell" series of silent short films featuring a combination of live action and hand-drawn animation.

Nurse-Mates

Nurse-Mates

The boys show up simultaneously to take Olive to the movies. She needs to visit the hairdresser first, and tells the boys to take care of Swee'Pea: bath, dress him, and nap. Of course, with these two, nothing is simple.

A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight

A drunk mouse dances out of a newspaper office and posts leaflets advertising a Hot Time.

Stoopnocracy

Stoopnocracy

An animated short chronicling the adventures of Colonel Stoopnagle and Budd.

Training Pigeons

Training Pigeons

Betty Boop is training a flock of pigeons, but one stray leads Pudgy the pup on a precarious chase.