Ration Fer the Duration (1943)

In the heart of World War II, Popeye, a spirited sailor, sets a patriotic example by cultivating his victory garden while his young nephews are engrossed in the simple pleasure of worm collecting for fishing. Believing they are wasting precious time, Popeye spins them the age-old tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, igniting their imagination and prompting them to plant beans. As Popeye drifts into a whimsical dream, a colossal beanstalk sprouts into existence. His nephews, carried away by the tale, convince him to ascend the towering plant. At its peak, they find a castle that houses a giant with an unusual hoarding habit: rather than gold, he amasses sugar, and possesses a hen that lays tires amidst a trove of other World War II rationed goods. Intrigued and daring, Popeye attempts to sneak away with a pile of tires, only to be thwarted by the giant. A humorous battle ensues, with the giant transforming Popeye into a sandwich, complete with a sprinkle of pepper. But Popeye's signature spinach saves the day, empowering him to vanquish the giant and trigger a sneeze that launches the hoarded tires into a woven carpet. Awakening from his dream, Popeye is greeted by an unusual sight: his victory garden is now home to CANtaloupes (cans), POTatoes (pots), squashes (squashed tires), peaches (good tires), and finally a shoe tree that has sprouted under the cast. This enthralling tale of imagination, humor and patriotism is a vibrant metaphor of wartime resilience and resourcefulness.

Ration Fer the Duration is an animation movie featuring Jack Mercer and directed by Seymour Kneitel.

Ration Fer the Duration is currently streaming on TCM.