Director: Dave Fleischer
Release Date: April 25, 1938
Stars: Popeye, Olive Oyl
Rating: ★★★
Review:
The title character of this cartoon is a stereotype Indian chief who longs for a squaw, as he immediately tells us in his opening song.
Enter Popeye and Olive on a stubborn donkey. At one point the donkey kicks Olive inside the Indian camp, and she seems to fall for the chief’s advances. The Indians, meanwhile, order Popeye to perform some difficult tasks, and with spinach he does them much better than his Indian rivals.
‘Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh’ is an uneven cartoon, and suffers from inadequate storytelling, and severe stereotyping. The cartoon is saved by Jack Mercer’s constant mumbling, which is particularly inspired.
Watch ‘Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh’ yourself and tell me what you think:
This Popeye film No. 59
To the previous Popeye film: The House Builder Upper
To the next Popeye film: I Yam Love Sick
‘Big Chief Ugh-Amugh-Ugh’ is available on the DVD Box Set ‘Popeye the Sailor 1933-1938’
Dr. Grob's Animation Review 
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October 13, 2017 at 18:53
Bobb Edwards
The Big Chief was voiced by Gus Wickie, who played Bluto in most of the Popeye shorts of the 1930s. This was his last film. It was long believed he died in early 1938. In reality the Fleischer studio relocated to Miami at this time, and Wickie, a New York-based entertainer, refused to make the move. It’s a tribute to his talents that without him Bluto disappeared from the Popeye series for years. When the reorganized Famous Studios returned to NYC in 1943 they revived Bluto with a younger actor, Jackson Beck. Wickie died in 1947.
October 13, 2017 at 23:17
Gijs Grob
Ah, that explains a lot – Gus Wickie didn’t make the move to Forida… Thanks for the information! Much appreciated.
October 16, 2017 at 05:17
Bobb Edwards
My pleasure! Keep up your great work – I enjoy your blog very much!