Kickin' the Conga Round (1942) *** (out of 4)Popeye gets leave while stationed in South America so he goes to visit Olive but soon Bluto is right there trying to steal his woman.Here's another Popeye short that has a military tie-in, which was obviously inspired by the fact that America was in WWII during this period. For the most part this is an entertaining short as it takes the "war setting" and mixes in your typical three-way battle between Popeye, Olive and Bluto. Olive is made to appear a lot darker than normal due to her supposed to being South American. There are a couple good fight scenes and the dancing gags are good as well.

Kickin'the Conga Round was one of the later Fleischer Popeyes, before Max and Dave were bounced. Here, Popeye and Bluto are on a Navy vessel in South American waters. Both were granted shore leave; Popeye seeks out the girl whom he loves, Senorita Olive Oyla, whose phone number is Conga 1-2-3. Though Bluto gets to her first, Popeye lets Bluto have it, and escorts Olive to la Cafe Conga. She urges Popeye to join in the dancing; he replies "I don't dance no conja", so Bluto asks her to dance. So Popeye orders spinach, which a waiter brings him and he eats, turning the "conja" into a brawl with Bluto. Olive calls for help, so two members of the Shore Patrol come and arrest Popeye and Bluto. They must have been put in the brig. Not only is this cartoon funny, but it illustrates that which is NOT funny! If one wants to be sailor(air person, soldier, etc.), one must not only do assigned duty but be on BEST behavior at ALL TIMES, yes, even on liberty or leave. Such misdeeds as brawling, getting drunk, etc. are just as inimical to military discipline as being AWOL or failing to salute. So, here is word to the wise for one who aspires to military service.

Hey, Bluto is back! After being absent from a number of Popeye cartoons in the beginning of this decade (the '40s), Bluto resurfaces as he, Popeye and Olive Oyl wind up on an island called "Conga," where Olive is a senorita.Popeye and Bluto are sailors on a big ship and the latter is jealous when Popeye shows him a picture of his sweetheart, "Seniorita Olive Olya." Bluto beats him ashore and tries to steal his girl but you know Popeye - he'll figure a few clever ways to stop this animal from taking his girl.Cafe La Conga - must have been the big dance in 1941/42 because this is the second or third time the dance has been done in recent Popeye cartoons.Popeye out-congas him and beats him up and the same time but is so violent that Olive calls the SPs and they take both sailors back to the hip. Definitely an odd Popeye cartoon.