BCDB: Cartoon Reviews: Sock-A-Bye, Baby

TONS of hilarious stuff in this one, I'll name them as I remember them......the way the characters continually bob up and down (again, early Popeye style); Popeye's trademark early belligerence; an opportunity to hear Billy Costello's real voice (in the "Go To Sleep, My Baby" number, when our hero tries singing the bawling infant to sleep--Costello could REALLY YODEL!!!......and hearing him switch back and forth from the Popeye voice to his real voice is a hoot!). Also, the baby trying to smoke Popeye's pipe during the same musical number (the kid gets ill, forcing him finally to sleep).
I also relish the music-school scene, where Popeye busts the trombone, the double bass and the piano; and also when he shakes the water off himself like an animal (after sinking the ship).
Finally, the origin of that kid......I never considered him Swee'pea; when Popeye says, "Me baby's asleep".....
HIS BABY?!?!? Wow--could this be the product of some long-ago tryst (he IS a sailor, after all).

Unlike other early films where Popeye was simply amoral, in this one it may be fair to say that he was down right evil. Okay, the fact that he's minding a baby (See'Pea?) and singing a lullaby may show a bit of his softer side, but he definitely feels the end justifies the means. To allow the baby to sleep, Popeye kills Harpo Marx, punches and beats up several people who had no idea that they were doing anything wrong and even sinks a whole ship! When all of this fails, Popeye simply zips up the baby's mouth, implying that his concern was never really for the baby's comfort, but simply to be free of hearing him cry. Shame on you, Popeye. A fine example you set. (All color copies should be destroyed on sight).