Twitter
FAQ
Contact RWF
Back to the Robin Williams Fansite Home
General Information
Poster for Popeye
Directed by
Robert Altman

Screenplay by
Jules Feiffer

Music Composed by
Harry Nilsson

Theatrical Release Date
December 12, 1980

DVD Release Date
June 24, 2003

Production Companies
Walt Disney Productions, Paramount Pictures

Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures

Summary

Sweet Haven is a ramshackle seaside town, home to a number of quirky residents: Wimpy, the hamburger-loving freeloader; Olive Oyl and her family; and Bluto, a big bully of a pirate who has the whole town under his thumb. Enter our hero, Popeye, a one-eyed sailor man with bulging muscles and plenty of attitude. Popeye's in search of his long-lost pappy, but he has enough time to clear punks out of the local hamburger joint, fight a champion boxer, woo and win Olive, and take care of a foundling baby named Swee'pea. Armed with his trusty can of spinach, Popeye might even find the strength to take down Bluto.

Trailer
Quotes

Popeye
Blow me down!

Popeye
Another thing I got a sensk of huminligration. Now maybe one of you swabs can fool your intelligensk, and sees I'm aksing you for an apolgicky.

Popeye
If I was gonna be Swee'pea's mother, I should've at least let Olive be his father. Or viska versa. I ain't man enough to be no mother.

Popeye
Bluto! Even though you're bigger than me, you can't win, 'cause you're bad, and the good always wins over the bad.

Photo Gallery
Main Cast

Robin Williams
Popeye

Shelley Duvall
Olive Oyl

Paul L. Smith
Bluto

Wesley Ivan Hurt
Swee'pea

Ray Walston
Poopdeck Pappy

Paul Dooley
Wimpy

Tagline

The Sailor Man with the spinach can!

Filming Info

Locations
Anchor Bay, Malta
Mellieha, Malta

The makeup appliances for Robin's fake forearms were not ready when filming began, so in early shots, Popeye wears a long-sleeved raincoat to hide his normal-sized arms.

Most of Robin's muttered Popeye voice was discovered to be inaudible once filming wrapped, and he had to re-dub much of the dialogue.

During filming of the scene where Ray Walston throws Robin the can of spinach, Ray hit Robin in the head so hard that he required several stitches in his scalp. This delayed filming for several weeks.

International Release Dates

Australia
May 7, 1981

Japan
July 25, 1981

France
West Germany
December 17, 1981

Sweden
December 19, 1981

Denmark
Finland
December 25, 1981

International Titles

Sweden
Karl Alfred the Movie

Finland
Kippari-Kalle

Italy
Popeye - Braccio di ferro

West Germany
Popeye, der Seemann mit dem harten Schlag

Greece
Popeye, o naftis

Finland
Skeppar-Kalle (Swedish title)

Denmark
Skipper skræk

Media Availability

This title is available on:

DVD
Video

Soundtrack Info

This soundtrack used to be available on vinyl, but is out of print. Your best bet is to check secondhand record stores and websites for a copy.

Box Office Details

Budget
$20,000,000

Gross
$49,823,037 (USA)
N/A (international)
$49,823,037 (total)

Opening Weekend
$6,310,520 (901 theaters)

Widest Release
901 theaters

Awards

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
Nom - 1981 - Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film