The Crystal Brawl (Popeye the Sailor)

The Crystal Brawl (episode 227)
Imagine a cartoon where Popeye and Bluto face off, yet in this twist, it's Popeye who takes on the role of the antagonist.
Directed by: Seymour Kneitel Written by: Carl Meyer Release date: April 5, 1957 Franchise: Popeye the Sailor Prequel: Nearlyweds (previous short) Sequel: Patriotic Popeye (next short)

The Crystal Brawl is a 1957 Popeye the Sailor cartoon produced by Paramount Cartoon Studios. It is the 227th cartoon and reuses footage from "Quick on the Vigor" and "Alpine for You".

Bad Qualities

1. This cartoon is yet another clip show short, a common practice during the late Famous Studios era, as it recycles footage from "Quick on the Vigor" and "Alpine for You."
2. The animation has become even more restricted than previously.
3. In the cartoon, Olive is portrayed as quite gullible, believing Bluto's deception that Popeye has abandoned her for another girl.
4. In this particular cartoon, Popeye is portrayed as rather unlikable, a departure from his usual character, as he takes on the role of an antagonist. He disrupts Olive and Bluto's date in an attempt to win Olive back, despite Bluto not harassing her as he has in past episodes. Initially, Bluto's behavior is not problematic; he does not act inappropriately towards Olive nor does he mistreat her.
5. The cartoon did not provide a satisfactory conclusion to the love triangle between Popeye, Bluto, and Olive in the classic shorts.

Good Qualities

1. Good voice acting by Jack Mercer, Jackson Beck, and Mae Questal.
2. The conclusion is satisfactory as Popeye and Olive Oyl reconciled in the end.
3. Bluto is a likable, if not, a tolerable character in this short.
4. Despite Popeye being unlikeable, it can be seen as the sailor finally had enough of being a Butt-Monkey in the previous episodes and gets back at Bluto for all the abuse the sailor had to endure, even if it makes Popeye far from likable here and the fact that he would be tortured again in the subsequent episodes.
5. Animator Al Eugster lets Olive gets full-UPA on the audience when she sees Bluto chasing her on the boardwalk.

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