How a gorgeous old movie set in Malta became a tourist destination where couples get married

Popeye Village

In 1980, Paramount released the live-action feature film version of “Popeye,” directed by Robert Altman.

Starring Robin Williams as the comic character in his first film role, the movie/musical was a critical disaster and many involved found it to be a disappointment — though it was one of Altman's highest-grossing movies, making $49 million. 

But the unique set of the town of Sweethaven that was built from scratch for the film in Anchor Bay, the northwest corner of the Mediterranean island of Malta, was a highlight. Created by production designer Wolf Kroeger, its slanted, ramshackle structures made it look like it was pulled right from the comics.

After production wrapped, the set was never demolished, and following some refurbishing, the "town" was turned into a tourist attraction called Popeye Village, which is still open to this day.

Business Insider talked to Kroeger about building the set, and we look at how decades later, the location has become one of the top destinations on the Maltese Islands for family vacations and weddings.

Construction of the village happened in June 1979 and took seven months to complete. "There were a few little fishing houses there, that was it," Kroeger told BI of what stood when the crew showed up.

"We had to bring in materials from outside [Malta]," he said. Lumber came from the Netherlands and shingles for the roofs came from Canada.

Though the film was a bust, Kroeger said the people of Malta loved the set and it was decided that it would not be torn down.