Robert Altman directed, Popeye, a musical comedy produced by Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney.
Based on E. C. Segar’s comics character of the same name, the script was written by Jules Feiffer, playwright and scribe known for the movies Little Murder and Carnal Knowledge.
The cast was head by Robin Williams as Popeye the Sailor Man and Shelley Duvall, who was born to play Olive Oyl.
Its story follows Popeye’s adventures as he arrives in the town of Sweethaven.
The film premiered on December 6, 1980 in Los Angeles, and opened wide the following week.
Contrary to popular notion, Popeye was not a box-office fiasco, and eventually not only recouped its budget, but also made profit.
It grossed $6.3 million in its opening weekend, and $49.8 million worldwide, against a budget of $20 million.
It received mixed reviews from critics when it was first released, but its reputation and appeal have improved over time due to the release of the film on video.
Cast
Robin Williams as Popeye
Jack Mercer as the voice of Popeye in the opening
Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl
Paul L. Smith as Bluto
John Wallace as Bluto’s singing voice
Paul Dooley as J. Wellington Wimpy
Richard Libertini as George W. Geezil
Ray Walston as Poopdeck Pappy
Donald Moffat as The Taxman
MacIntyre Dixon as Cole Oyl
Roberta Maxwell as Nana Oyl
Donovan Scott as Castor Oyl
Allan F. Nicholls as Rough House
Wesley Ivan Hurt as Swee’Pea
Bill Irwin as Ham Gravy
Sharon Kinney as Cherry
Peter Bray as Oxblood Oxheart
Linda Hunt as Mrs. Oxheart
Geoff Hoyle as Scoop
Wayne Robson as Chizzelflint
Klaus Voormann as Von Schnitzel
Van Dyke Parks as Hoagy the Piano Player
Dennis Franz as Spike
Carlos Brown as Slug
Robert Fortier as Bill Barnacle
