Fright to the Finish (Episode 207)

This short was submitted and screened (but not nominated) for the Academy Award. Its plot is partly based upon Fleischer’s Ghosks Is the Bunk (1939). Directed by Seymour Kneitel. Original air date: August 27, 1954. It is Halloween night, and Olive is reading ghost stories to Popeye and Bluto. Both men want to have alone time with Olive, with Popeye wondering why Bluto has not gone home yet and Bluto wondering what to do to get rid of Popeye. Bluto decides to stage various pranks (a headless man, an animated skeleton, and a sheet-over-balloon ghost) to scare Olive and Popeye. He pins the blame on Popeye, whom Olive kicks out of her house, and then Bluto goes to comfort her. Popeye gets back at Bluto by going into Olive’s bedroom through her window, and using a jar of vanishing cream to make himself invisible. He scares both Olive and Bluto (mainly Bluto) and the latter eventually runs out of Olive’s house. Popeye reveals himself and Olive kisses him for saving her, getting red lipstick all over his face. Popeye turns to the audience and says, “Loves them ghosks!”

Genres: Halloween Collection, Popeye the Sailor COLOR