Popeye the Movie

About this episode

The episode explores the bizarre and beloved film Popeye, discussing its production, performances, and lasting impact.

Episode 197 — Popeye (A Very Strange Movie We Love Anyway) Welcome back to The Conner & Smith Show! This week, we dive into one of the strangest big-budget films ever made — Popeye — a movie that somehow shouldn’t work… and yet, for us, absolutely does. Equal parts baffling, brilliant, and bizarre, this episode is a full-on exploration of a true cinematic oddity that has quietly become a guilty pleasure favorite. Joined by our producer Ryan Dean Halbrook, we unpack the wild story behind the making of the film — from its famously chaotic, cocaine-fueled production to the fully practical seaside town built on the coast of Malta (which, incredibly, still exists today). We talk about: • 🎬 Why Popeye feels so unlike any other movie ever made • 🌊 The surreal, hand-built world of Sweethaven and its lasting legacy in Malta • 🎭 Why this might be one of Robin Williams’ most fascinating performances • 💄 Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl — and why this may be her perfect role • 🎶 The comic-strip-inspired score that somehow feels both spot-on and completely unhinged • 🤔 How the film walks the line between cult classic, misfire, and misunderstood masterpiece This is a fun, weird, and…

People in this episode

Host: Stephen Smith

Guest: Ryan Dean Halbrook

Topics covered

• Popeye movie
• cinematic oddity
• behind-the-scenes
• cult classic
• Robin Williams performance
• production chaos

Keywords

• Popeye
• Robin Williams
• Shelley Duvall
• cult classic
• cinematic oddity
• Malta
• production chaos

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Popeye

Places: Malta, Sweethaven

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