Popeye
Shelley Duvall may be synonymous with Wendy Torrance , but it ’s her role as Olive Oyl in the 1980sPopeyethat is the true high watermark of her vocation . The 1980Popeye , ndirected by Robert Altman and asterisk Duvall , Paul L. Smith as Bluto , andthe tardy great Robin Williamsas the titular sailor boy , is a fascinating piece of soda pop culture that , for all spirit , should not have exploit , and yet it ’s wound up as one of the most memorablenon - DC or Marvel comic adaptations , and it ’s will a surprising bequest , with a birdsong even appearing inPunch Drunk Love .
The film , ground on the E. C. Segar risible fiber of the same name , follow Popeye ’s first venture into Sweethaven , where he searches for his father , Poopdeck Pappy ( Ray Walston).There he fulfill the scrappy , sweet , and unattackable - willed Olive Oyl , who is set to marry the hulking and crude Captain Bluto . Popeye does n’t stand for bully and his attracter to Olive Oyl and lookup for his father all come together in a musical , energetic , singular film . While Williams may have toy the deed of conveyance grapheme , it ’s Shelley Duvall who steal the show in arguably thebest purpose of her vaunted career .
Shelley Duvall Is Iconic As Olive Oyl In Popeye
Duvall Steals The Movie From Robin Williams
Popeyeostensibly star Robin Williams ; it ’s in the name after all , but Olive Oyl has always been amajor part of thePopeyeuniverse . The gangly , shrieking , saucy Olive is as memorable a risible slip creation as there is and probably should have been unplayable . Somehow , Shelley Duvall make the fictional character study in alive - activity and becomes the undecomposed part ofPopeye , even with Williams ' unbelievable functioning . For one Duvall looks like Olive Oyl . She has the lean face , large eye , straight black pilus , and the tall frame to utterly match the character .
One of Robin Williams ' other movies was Popeye , and it was a source of foiling for him , who uproariously called it one of his adult regrets .
It ’s not just her look , however . Duvall has always been known for the frenzied vim she can bring to her persona . In everything fromThe ShiningtoThe Portrait of a Lady , Duvall always act like her characters were hold on to a springy conducting wire . This energy is the perfect tonic match forPopeye , making Olive Oyl feel like she jumped right out of the amusing pages and onto the screen door . Just the agency she moves her fundament or have up closemouthed and personal to William ’s Popeye is like a stop - motion character come to aliveness .
Duvall is also called upon to tattle several numbers inPopeye , with " He Needs Me " being a far-famed example of her power to emote and sing all at once . The song is about Popeye the Sailor , so it ’s dizzy , butDuvall care to make it a moving ode that ’s intemperate not to pipe down down for . IfThe Shiningwere not indisputably a better picture , it would bePopeyethat Duvall would be intimately get laid for . Olive Oyl remain a fixture of vitality as much as Mickey Mouse or Charlie Brown , and Duvall is the only alive - action embodiment that makes sense .
Olive Oyl Is A Much More Fun Role Than Wendy Torrance
Duvall Gets To Showcase Her Range In Popeye
For years , there was an accepted rumor swash around thatShelley Duvall had left Hollywoodbecause of her experience on the circle ofThe polishing . It was order Stanley Kubrick drove Duvall to rip on multiple occasion and she was constantly traumatized by the conductor ’s exacting approach to filmmaking . However , thatstory about Duvall has been challengedin recent years , and it appear that she had a fine clock time on set . Or at least , as a fine meter on set as anyone can have on a Kubrick because there were still long 60 minutes and multiple takes .
Even if Duvall could palm the stress , that does n’t mean she was n’t stressed , everyone was . Scatman Crothers reportedly had to do 148 take of the same prospect . So seeing her inPopeye , which came out the same class asThe Shining , but experience serious . She is clearly having a large time in her character , perform song , saltation , getting involved in the action , and spitting line back at Robin Williams as fast as he is gravel them past his corn cob pipe . There is more for Duvall to do as Olive Oyl , by virtue of the character ’s role in the film .
However , it sure feel like her free freewheeling carrying into action as Olive Oyl is more " Duvall " than the haunted Wendy Torrance desperately swinging a bat at Jack Nicholson .
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That is n’t to say Duvall ’s operation as Wendy Torrance was bad or that character was bad . Her functioning is fabled , and it ’s a major part of whyThe Shiningstill remains a classic so many years later . Her abject terror and confusedness is intestine - wrenchingly substantial and the only response anyone could maybe have to the events that her character experiences . However , it certainly feels like her free freewheeling performance as Olive Oyl is more " Duvall " than the haunted Wendy Torrance urgently drop a bat at Jack Nicholson .
Duvall Was A Better Actress Than Audiences Give Her Credit For
Many Actresses Commemorated Duvall After She Passed
Shelley Duvall ’s life history lasted from 1970 with her launching inBrewster McCloudas Suzanne Davis to 2023 , when she total out of retreat to play Mama inThe Forest Hills , her net office before her demise on July 11 , 2024 . In between , she resign two studio albums , garner two Emmy nominations , hostedSNL , appear in 26 film including the seminalNashville , andplayed roles in 24 boob tube shows , which included host two series , Faerie Tale TheatreandShelley Duvall ’s Bedtime Stories .
Shelley Duvall ’s Notable Performances
Title
Based on the comic strip character created by Jules Feiffer, Popeye is a 1980 musical comedy that starred Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall. While searching for his missing father, Popeye arrives in the town of Sweethaven to meet the future love of his life, Olive, while dealing with her overbearing fiance.
Role
Nashville(1975 )
Martha
Annie Hall(1977 )
Pam
Suburban Commando(1991 )
Jenny Wilcox
The Portrait of a Lady(1996 )
Countess Gemini
Duvall was not defined byThe Shining , nor any other carrying into action that audience would recognize her from . Duvall was a movie star , though she is rarely ranked among the greats . Which is a shame . After her pass , numerous actresses came forwards to say how much Duvall meant to them and how much she inspired them . Jamie Lee Curtis posted onInstagramthanking Duvall for showing how an actress can become a manufacturer .
Julianne Moore also get hold of toInstagramto carry her appreciation .
Shelley Duvall is not the classic picture show star . She was not part of big franchises and she never had any major Oscar roles . Duvall ’s component could only have been play by her , and in some way , that makes her life history hard to grasp . However , asPopeyeproved , she could take any part , even one as two - dimensional as a toon character , and turn it into something particular .
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Cast
Based on the comic landing strip theatrical role created by Jules Feiffer , Popeye is a 1980 melodic comedy that star Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall . While searching for his missing father , Popeye get in the town of Sweethaven to foregather the succeeding love of his living , Olive , while dealing with her overbear fiance .
