It seems only appropriate in a Presidential election year to play this Popeye short from 1948. Olive Oyl (Mae Questel) is curious as to why women don't run for President, and Popeye's joking response doesn't provide her with satisfactory answers.
In an era when radio star Gracie Allen posited similar ideas on her show, maybe "Olive Oyl For President" wasn't quite as far-fetched as you might think. You'll be forgiven if you even think this might've been what gave Sarah Palin the idea to even consider a run for the White House before dropping out of the race earlier this year.
Not among the better of the series, but still serviceable. Rating: B-.
2 comments:
If it's one thing this short proves is that politicians never change.
The Reps & the Dems are about the same too, one will automatically reject what the other accepts!
Dang Olive was cruel to Popeye! She didn't have to hit him so hard! Popeye's response was reasonable given the times; although women have held political office at all levels by 1948, they preferred to spur their husbands to run for the Oval Office rather than go for it themselves.
Funny how Dream!Olive kept promising things that weren't even the responsibility of the Feds.
Now that I think of it, this might've been inspired by the Burns & Allen radio show, and Gracie's run for office. Olive, remember, despite her short temper, wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the drawer herself more often than not.
I don't think they tried to posit Popeye in the same position, in the interest of equal time, though. That would've had the same effect as, say, Superman for President. That is to say, implausible and unlikely.
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