Une vie de perdue, juste à la fin du 1er tour...Ca m'a légèrement agacé, mais bon...en même temps, je suis pas ici pour prouver quoi que ce soit, mais juste pour jouer, donc....ne nous énervons pas.^^
I remember this classic, but I don't recall the ladder reaching the third level from the second on the first stage. Thought Popeye was only able to climb down, but not up.
Yes you're right about the ladder, that's curious. Also the background used to be black in the first level. Maybe it's a different version (bootleg?) of the game.
This is a slightly easier version known as Rev F, the original is Rev D. This version as you pointed out allows you to move up and down the ladder, restores the spinach after you lose a life, requires a lower score to earn an extra life and probably a few other changes too. Also notice it doesn't have the black backround but rather that magenta one instead.