What happens when Robert Altman directs Mork from Ork? Well, “Popeye,” I’m afraid.
I always had a soft spot for this 1980 film, generally cited as Robin Williams’ first (earlier he had appeared in “Can I Do It ‘Til Need Glasses?”), though it received mostly tepid reviews. The film made $60 million worldwide – a respectable gross for the time – but it was a financial disappointment in light of the studio’s blockbuster expectations. Overall, “Popeye’s” reputation took a pretty sound drubbing.
The film was written by Jules Feiffer, with a marvelous assemblage of talent in all the character roles – Paul Dooley, Linda Hunt, Bill Irwin, Paul L. Smith (best known as the unforgettable warden Hamidou in “Midnight Express”) as Bluto, and Ray Walston as the definitive Poopdeck Pappy. And of course, Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. The film had the added interest of being shot on the island of Malta. The songs, which were generally regarded as pretty weak, were by Harry Nilsson.
Hard to believe the producer originally wanted Dustin Hoffman for the lead (this was before it became the vogue for big actors to play comic strip characters, and Hoffman was at the peak of his career), opposite Altman regular Lily Tomlin as Olive (which could have been an interesting choice).
Williams made a lot of bad films in his career, much worse than this one, but scanning his filmography I can say with confidence that he left behind his share of good ones, or at least ones that connected with the public. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, and took home an Oscar for his role in “Good Will Hunting.” He was certainly never hurting for work. His television series may have been cancelled, but allegedly there are four more films in the pipeline.
Of course his genius was best displayed in front of a live audience, where his freewheeling free association could scale manic, surreal heights. I had the privilege to see his act once in Philadelphia, back in the mid-‘80s. He was unrelenting under the best of circumstances, but when someone dropped a drink into the crowd from the balcony, it sent him into overdrive. You did not want to make yourself the target of Robin Williams.
It’s always sad when a comedian gets old, but it’s even sadder when one dies. Comedy is vitality, and Williams was nothing if not vital. It really bothers me that he’s gone. I don’t know about you, but I need all the laughter I can get.
PHOTO: I yam what I yam!