Joe Stultz

Classic holiday tale about a flying reindeer who helps Santa Claus. An interpretation of Robert L. May's 1939 Christmas poem, this animated short was created to run in theaters to advertise Montgomery Ward department stores, publisher of the original story.

Popeye induces Bluto to join the Army. Bluto is a bit reluctant at first, but the might of Popeye's fists convinces Bluto that Uncle Sam needs fighting men.

Popeye and Bluto battle over Olive in an amusement park.

Popeye is doing a great job of sinking Japanese ships (complete with toilet-flush sound effect). A carrier pigeon brings him notice that he's been granted a month furlough, which he plans to spend with Olive and his nephews. But on arrival, he's run over by Olive, who immediately leaves him alone with his nephews, who are practicing home defense.

The race is on for the state railroad franchise: It's the Onion Pacific - Popeye - against the Sudden Pacific - Bluto. There's a kiss from Olive for the winner!

Popeye wants to propose to Olive, but can't work up the nerve. His fellow sailor, Shorty, helps him.

Olive is moving out of her apartment; she's hired Bluto to move her things, but Popeye comes over to visit and won't be shown up.

Bluto builds a Popeye puppet and manipulates it to treat Olive rudely. Then he comes in and takes Olive away. When Popeye discovers the ruse, knocks Bluto out and ties puppet strings to him.

Popeye applies for a lifeguard job when he sees Olive in the pool, but Bluto also wants the job (and Olive). The manager, Wimpy, asks them to demonstrate their skills in a contest. Popeye does well, until Bluto demonstrates lifesaving and first aid on him.

Tired of political rhetoric, Olive lays out her platform.

A young horse says hi to little donkey Spunky. But the horse's mother pulls him away, saying we don't associate with that kind. Spunky makes a few more overtures, and eventually they set off on a chase, running across a bull from time to time. The horse stops to eat a lot of apples and drink far too much water; this leaves him too bloated to move much at all. The two continue to anger the bull, which gives chase; Spunky saves the colt, and they all live in harmony.

Cilly Goose is a bit ashamed since she's only laid one egg and the rest of the farmyard animals are much more productive. So, she lays a plan to become the goose that lays golden eggs.

Bluto thinks he needs a complete rest (and a pretty nurse), at Havarest Hospital. Popeye, however, soon teaches him that honest toil is best as he puts him through a workout in the rest hospital.

A mother puts her baby boy in an outdoor playpen, but he's more mature than she realizes, and quickly breaks out, and with the help of a raccoon and a squirrel, they are soon raiding the watermelon patch. Mother returns: turns out it's moving day, and the family is moving to the city.

Hector is a dog with an easy life and the run of the house when the lady of the house gives him a warning...one more mess and you're out. Hector would be okay if not for the fact that three little puppies have been left on their doorstep. Hector has a hectic time keeping them in line and cleaning up their messes without alerting the lady.

Olive gets a phone call that she has won first prize in a sweepstake. After a frantic search, she locates her ticket, only to have it blow out the window. Help, Popeye!

Blackie the black lamb is chased by a wolf trying to shear Blackie's wool for a winter coat.

Olive Oyl's Farm is desparately in need of a farmhand. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the boys are driving by. They compete for the job. Chores: Getting water from a well, picking apples, shoeing a horse, gathering eggs. Popeye feeds a hen a little spinach, and she produces a mountain of eggs, which eventually end up all over Bluto. Bluto drops an anvil on Popeye, then goes after Olive against her wishes, chasing her into a succession of haystacks (where he finds a needle!). The chicken feeds Popeye his spinach, and he triumphs, sending Bluto into the pigpen (where the pigs won't have anything to do with him).

The captain of a ship's crew, a mouse, goes to the bar to pick up his men. After forcing the initially reluctant sailors onboard, they set sail and hit the (literal) high seas. Spots gags abound such as a cook dumping the garbage overboard into a clam's mouth, the clam getting his revenge by climbing onboard and spraying the garbage back at the cook, and a running gag involving a bear who is splashed by his bucket of water each time he throws it overboard. Finally, we are invited to sing along to the old sea tune, "Strike Up the Band".

Wolfie is hungry and has an appetite for lamb-chops, so he snatches Blackie's nephews. Blackie beats the wolf and rescues them. This setback doesn't deter him as he disguises himself as Little Boy Blue and makes another attempt at a lamb-dinner.

Popeye and Olive are feeding squirrels in the park when the rich and elegant Count Marvo (Bluto), the magician (and practical joker), rides up on his horse and steals Olive away, while tricking Popeye with an exploding cigar and other gimmicks.

Olive Oyl brings her new pet goldfish onto Popeye's ship, but the fish jumps out of its bowl and into the sea. Olive pressures Popeye to go after it.

Bluto is the ringmaster; Popeye is the star attraction. Bluto covets Popeye's assistant Olive. Popeye sticks his head in a lion's mouth, but Bluto has put a steak on Popeye's head. When he gets out of that, he does his high wire act: carrying a piano, and Olive, blindfolded. Bluto sabotages this with a banana peel and tosses Popeye to the monkey cage, while he has his way with Olive - until Popeye eats his spinach.

The boys see lovely nurse Olive pass by and follow her to her hospital. She throws them out, so they scheme to hurt themselves enough to get hospitalized, with no luck. Bluto gets a wall to fall on him, but stands in the window. Popeye tries to get run over by a steam-roller, but a street cleaner saves him. Bluto dives off a skyscraper - into a huge pile of mattresses. Popeye stands in a naval gunnery range, but the gunners miss the target. Bluto taunts a bull, but stands next to a billboard of an attractive cow, which distracts the bull. Popeye crashes a plane, but the ambulance crew rescues the plane. The boys compete to get run over by a train, but punch each other off the tracks just as the train arrives. Finally, Popeye forces a can of spinach down Bluto's throat and gets a pounding. That lands him in the hospital but not Olive's; they failed to notice the sign: "Cat and Dog Hospital." They start fighting like cats and dogs, and get hauled off to the looney bin.