The short is in the public domain in the United States after its copyright holder neglected to renew the copyright.
The trick that Popeye uses to subdue the alligator, and then the alligator uses to subdue him, does, in fact, work. But only on the alligator not on a human. Flipping the animal on its back, extending its neck, and stroking the belly induces a hypnotic state called tonic immobility. This is not recommended to be used on alligators.
This cartoon makes use of Fleischer's Tabletop process, which animates the cells vertically between set pieces, in this case a model of the city street, in order to create the feeling of depth. The effect is lost in the color version, as the background is a flat redraw.
Sweet Pea is shown riding a leopard, even as the popular song Hold That Tiger is heard.
Attention to detail is on display in this short, as was the case in many featured works of the era. For example, the African elephant is carefully rendered, right down to the feet.
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