You're a Sap, Mr. Jap
You're a Sap, Mr. Jap
| 06 August 1942 (USA)
You're a Sap, Mr. Jap Trailers

Popeye takes on the Japanese Navy single-handedly.

Reviews
Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?
Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
Wyatt There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Michael_Elliott You're a Sap, Mr. Jap (1942)*** (out of 4)Popeye is out at sea when he comes across a Japanese ship and it's his American duty to try and destroy them all by himself.Obviously with a title like YOU'RE A SAP, MR. JAP, you're not dealing with something that is politically correct by today's standards but that's why it's so important to remember that when this movie was made Japan was the enemy. We were fighting them in WWII and I'm sure Americans got a kick out of seeing Popeye beat them up on the screen. The stereotypes that are shown here will probably be offensive to a lot of people but that's why keeping them in context is so important. As far as the film goes, it's pretty fun as it's non-stop action and there are several funny bits including the tricks the Japanese soldiers try to pull to kill Popeye.
MartinHafer During WWII, the film studios went into full patriotic mode-- churning out tons of films supporting the war effort. So it wasn't at all surprising that they'd also create cartoons which featured barely human Germans and Japanese characters being foiled by the likes of Bugs Bunny, Donald Duck and Popeye. However, this created a huge problem after the war when we were suddenly allies with these same nations and it was no longer fashionable to hate them! Add to that, modern political correctness and it's not at all surprising you never films like "You're a Sap, Mr. Jap" on television these days! While I certainly can understand this, I am glad you can find them on YouTube and hope they're also available on DVD as this IS a part of our history. So, in light of this is this Popeye cartoon worth looking for on the internet? Perhaps. If you want to see a chunk of history and are not someone who is so worried about political correctness that you might have a coronary, by all means watch it. I don't recommend it for young kids but older folks who understand the context should give it a try. Plus, the cartoon, despite the giant toothed 'Japs', is funny and well made. Popeye takes his ship in search of the enemy and finds a battleship full of devious and suicidal Japanese sailors. Not exactly a must-see, however, and the Private Snafu cartoons (also on YouTube as well as archive.org) are a lot funnier.
John T. Ryan THE FEELING of the need to have someone play the role of Arbiter of Public Taste and Political Correctness always manages to get under our skin. It does seem that these self-appointed, self-superior, pseudo-intellectual types do appear everywhere; be it in one's family, church or bowling league.THESE are the guys who would have society completely disregard and ignore all that went before us; unless, of course, whatever 'it' is does not fly in the face of today's "acceptable" language, mores and general "standards" of "proper" behavior.SO it is that these latter day, high tech book burners have targeted a great deal of what was Hollywood's greatest achievement; namely their participation in our own Allied Propaganda via their unselfishly crafted message and theme films.COLDLY brutal in its generation, the Banned Code and List of Now Unacceptable extends into the Wartime Cartoons that don't meet with the new touchy, feely socially engineered 'official' attitudes; which these "Thought Police" have foisted down upon us.WE were truly surprised to see that there seem to be volumes of such animated short subjects. The majority we are aware of are from Warner Brothers' LOONEY TUNES and MERRIE MELODIES; featuring Bugs, Daffy, Elmer & Porky, all in conflict with Hitler, Goerring, 'Il Duce', Tojo and the like. Surprisingly though, we found an ample supply of cartoons from MGM, Walt Disney, Lantz, Paramount-Famous Studios and the Brothers Fleischer.YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP (Famous Studios/Paramount Pictures, 1942) is a prime example of just what we're talking about.BEING virtually indiscernible from the cartoons that were the output of the Studios of Max and Dave Fleischer before the 1941 business coup-de-tat that moved them out, bringing the new name of "Famous" Studios, YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP bore none of the bland plot elements that would reduce the latter day Popeye Cartoons down to the level of the ultimate formula short movie.WE all remember how we'd have Popeye and Olive Oyl together. Enter Bluto, usually the exponent of wolf whistle and an on acceptable on-screen version of a Male reaction to feminine pulchritude. Olive falls for Bluto's less than honorable attentions; until he gets a little too physical and invariably blurts out, "Hey Babe, how 'bout a kiss?" At this point we hear "Help! Help, Popeye and the diminutive sailor shows up to save the day; replete with the obligatory can of Spinach! DO we exaggerate, Schultz? ONCE again this JAP SAP cartoon is nothing like any of that. Oh sure, it follows the storyline of now having Popeye in the U.S. Navy. The Brothers Fleischer put the little guy in the service in 1941 to conform to the mood in the country and as an open gesture of support for the men now being conscripted in the first Peacetime Draft in United States History. Max and Dave even put Popeye in service aboard the mythical Battleship, the U.S.S. Pensyltucky.OUR point is just this. YOU'RE A SAP MR. JAP and others like SPINACH FER Britain aren't cartoon vehicles for comic relief in the Theatre's program at all in the true sense. Rather they are a sort of grouping of Editorial Cartoons much like those from any "Great Metropolitan Newspaper". These animated shorts, much like those still one panel illustrations, have characters that are highly symbolic and representative of Nations, Ideas and Ideals, such as a just and lasting Peace. In most cases, the hero (Popeye, Bugs Bunny or whoever) is alone with the symbol of the Enemy. Both are highly exaggerated visual metaphors for abstract concept and thought; even if they are cloaked in humorous trappings for wider palatability.OUR liberal stupidgencia (the antithesis of intelligencia) may not see themselves this way; but for this sort of behavior, they are no more than Neo Nazi Book burners.PLEASE, allow the future generations to view and appreciate a view of past happenings that is both Historical and Humorous.POODLE SCHNITZ!!
Robert Reynolds This short was the first short released by Paramount Famous Studios and was one of several done by the studio showing Popeye engaged directly against the enemy, most often the Japanese. While Warner Brothers, Disney and, to a lesser extent, other studios, did shorts often depicting Germans as foils, the majority of Famous Studios efforts focused on the Japanese. Given Pearl Harbor and Popeye's naval ties, this is quite understandable. This is an average short. Seein' Red, White an' Blue and Spinach For Britain have aged better. But it's still worth watching. Recommended.