Voices: Jack Mercer (Popeye), Mae Questel (Olive Oyl), Gus Wickie (Bluto as Abul Hassan).Director: DAVE FLEISCHER. Screenplay: Jack Mercer, Dan Gordon, Cal Howard, Tedd Pierce, Isidore Sparber. Adapted from a tale in The Arabian Nights. Popeye, Bluto and Olive Oyl based on characters created by Elzie Segar. Photographed in Color by Technicolor by Charles Schettler. Head animator: Willard Bowsky. Animators: George Germanetti, Orestes Calpini. Music: Sammy Timberg. Songs by Sammy Timberg, Sammy Lerner, Vee Lawnhurst, Tot Seymour. Producer: Max Fleischer. Copyright 26 November 1937 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. Presented by Adolph Zukor. U.S. release: 26 November 1937. 2 reels. 19 minutes. SYNOPSIS: When their plane crash-lands in the desert, Popeye, Wimpy and Olive Oyl tangle with Ali Baba and his band of cut-throats.COMMENT: Once again, as in Sindbad, Bluto not only makes the innings in this one but also gets to render another delightfully self-congratulatory song, this time joined by a rousing chorus of sold-out followers. True, Popeye does enjoy a few jests before tangling with the outlaw band and bowling them out with his usual spinach-induced strongarm stuff; but, aside from the satisfying closing shot in which the camera inventively tracks from right to left (instead of the customary left to right), it's the images of Bluto and his superfast-moving gang we remember rather than Popeye waiting for a desert traffic signal or energetically pumping water into a parched Wimpy and Olive Oyl.

"Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves" is a 17-minute cartoon from 1937, so this one will have its 80th anniversary next year. The title already gives away the hero and antagonist for this one. Yes, it is another Popeye cartoon and there are so so many out there. However, this one here is different compared to what they usually look like. It has color, runs for almost 20 minutes and takes place far far away from Popeye's home that is the usual location for these (usually 7-minute) cartoons. But this does not mean it is a good or at least decent watch. The animation admittedly has creative moments from Fleischer on some occasions, but it is never a film that is funny or interesting in terms of the action. It is basically a poor man's version of the earlier short film in which Popeye goes up against Sinbad the Sailor, also played by Bluto as always. But back to this one here. I have no idea why Olive and Wimpy were even include as they add absolutely nothing to this one really. It is all about Popeye and, to a lesser extent, Bluto. Maybe they tried to hide the fact that it is a relatively weak film story-wise with all the action they gave audiences and audiences back then may have accepted it. I however will not and that's why I give it a thumbs-down. One of the weaker Popeye cartoons and don't be fooled by the rating here on IMDb. It may have been a solid achievement at an essential 7 minutes. But at 10 more, it's a disappointment. Don't watch.

I love Fleischer's Popeye better than all the other versions of the character. This cartoon is my favorite out of the "Arabian Nights" trilogy of featurettes filmed in color, and also "Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp" too.I love the desert scene where the three heroes Popeye,Olive Oyl and Wimpy trudge through the sand and Wimpy sees a feast which was really a mirage; also the "tank roll" part too. I also love the scene at the cafe, when Popeye snatches Abu Hassen/Bluto's underwear from him...without removing his clothes! One last scene that I love is when Olive give Popeye a kiss while pacing on guard duty back and forth on the dock. So that makes it four parts I love and overall, it's another Popeye classic to favor.

In a vast Abrabian desert there's a group of thieves lead by Bruno(Ali Baba) and the 40 thieves. As they rob and steal everything in site. Popeye, Olive, and Wimpy run a coast guard post. When they got word to be on the watch for thieves. Which takes them on an air travel towards the Abrabian desert. After traveling for many days and nights, they finally made it to civilization which is one of the sites that Ali Baba has set his eyes on. And it's up to Popeye to fight and take down this aggressive thief.Like "Popeye meets Sinbad" this one is worthy of being one of the best Popeye cartoons ever made.It's original, it's humorous, and it has plenty of great moments with your spinach loving sailor.Highly recommended to those who liked the Popeye meets Sinbad one.