ThePopeye series (8 linear feet and 1 oversized box) consists of materials from the 1980 film directed by Robert Altman and produced by Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions. The screenplay was written by Jules Feiffer and was adapted from the comic strip created by E.C. Segar. The actors in the film include Robin Williams, Shelly Duvall, Paul Dooley, Linda Hunt, Donald Moffat, Paul L. Smith and Ray Walston.
The legal file contain documents regarding a tax dispute between the State of California and Lion's Gate Films, Inc. This sub-series also contains a variety of agreements and documentation regarding audits of Paramount Pictures and Lion's Gate. Other legal material includes documents from the office of Jerome Walsh. The series includes four versions of the script, including a first draft and a shooting script, and the production sub-series includes several volumes of the Falconette Gazette, a newsletter created by actress Shelly Duvall, which was distributed to cast and crew during production.
All of the original songs in the film were written by Harry Nilsson and the music and scores file contains both song lyrics and sheet music. The publicity and distribution sub-series contain material relating to Altman's grandson Wesley Hurt, who played Swee'pea, as well as domestic and international press kits. Media opinions about the production of Popeye as well as reactions to the film can be found in the articles and reviews sub-series.
Photographs make up the largest file in the collection with over 2,100 items. The photographs span the entire production of the film, and include subject matter such as the construction of the set, rehearsals and recording sessions, which feature images of Harry Nilsson and the film's music arranger, Van Dyke Parks. Additionally, several photographs include the film's producer, Robert Evans. The photographs were taken by Paul Ronald and Melinda Wiekman, and the hand-tinted photographs were created by Jean Pagliuso.
