Cat and Dulpi-cat (1967)

 

This short film marks the first Tom and Jerry cartoon of 1967 and returns Chuck Jones to the director chair. The cartoon marks a very strong start for 1967 for our favorite cat and mouse duo.

In this short film, Tom is drifting along the sea singing classical music when he spies Jerry. He decides Jerry would make a tasty snack. Unfortunately for Tom, another cat spies Jerry as well and the two cats fight over him. 

This is a surprisingly good Tom and Jerry cartoon for being this late in the game. The film has a unique feel to it. The abstract night themed backgrounds and the dock setting give this whole cartoon a great sense of atmosphere that helps it stand out from other Tom and Jerry shorts of this era. The opening with Tom singing as he is floating down is simply lovely, especially when paired with the beautiful backgrounds. This opening scene has stayed in my mind since I first watched this film as a kid, and I still find it just as charming today. However, as well as having a lovely sense of atmosphere this film has pretty good gags in it. The timing and execution of these gags is prefect and multiple of them made me chuckle. The character animation here is also perfect, making the characters seem completely real to us without any dialogue needed.  

Terrence Monk (sometimes spelled Terence Monck) provided Tom's singing voice in this cartoon. He had previously provided Tom's singing voice for The Cat Above and the Mouse Below (1964). Born on January 10, 1936 (in Long Beach, California), Monk was a trained opera singer studying at UCLA and Juilliard as well as the San Francisco Opera. In 1964 (the year this cartoon was released) he won the San Francisco Opera auditions. Over the course of his career, he had appeared with such stars as Judy Garland, Shirley Jones, Carol Lawerance, Anne Bylth and Barbara Eden. He would appear in such productions as My Fair Lady, Panama Hattie, Mack and Mabel, I Do, I Do! and See-Saw. He would also appear in soap operas including Days of Our Lives.  Despite his impressive career it is these Tom and Jerry cartoons that he is best known for. He passed away on January 3, 2003 (in Long Beach, California) at the age of 67 from lung cancer. 

Jerry's falsetto singing voice is provided by Dal McKennon. Dal is a voice actor who should be familiar to most cartoon fans. He was the voice of Woody Woodpecker's arch-enemy Buzz Buzzard. Art Clokey's Claymation character Gumby and eternal teenager Archie Andrews. This was his only credit on a Tom and Jerry cartoon. 

The song, they are singing is Santa Lucia. This song from Naples has sometimes been credited to Teodoro Cottrau. However, the actual writer of the song is unknown. Teodoro Cottrau translated the song from Neapolitan into Italian. That Italian version of the song was published in 1849 making it the first Neapolitan song to be translated into Italian. This is not the only language the song would be translated into. The song would also be translated into English. One of the English translations would be entitled Here In The Twilight. This version of the song by American lyricist Howard Johnson (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream, When the Moon Comes over the Mountain) and was copyrighted in 1932. However, the most popular American versions of the song were sung in Italian including when Elvis Presley sang in the movie, Viva Las Vegas (1964) and later on the 1965 studio album, Elvis for Everyone. 

The lyrics we hear in this film go:

Sul mare luccica I'astro d'argento,

Placida e l'onda, prospero e il vento.

Sul mare luccica l'astro d'argento,

Placida e l'onda, prospero e il vento.

Venite all'agile barchetta mia,

Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

Venite all'agile barchetta mia,

Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

   

One of the highlights of this film is the scene with Tom and another cat doing what is known as the mirror routine. In this classic comic skit, one character pretends that his is the other's reflection but mimicking everything the other character does perfectly. Though this skit has appeared in countless films, its origins date back to the stage. By 1911 a German comedy duo named the Schwartz Brothers had a good following due to a popular routine known as the broken mirror routine. A critic for Variety described this routine, "The master of the house, who is an actor, is suffering from the effects of a late night.  When he goes to look at himself in the mirror he sees what he thinks is a reflection of himself, but which is actually his manservant.  The movements of the two are identical, the only appreciable difference being that the manservant is by no means. . . [as] good-looking as his master.  Finally, the master tries to kiss the maid, and the manservant in his jealousy knocks the mirror over, leaving the impression that it has been newly broken." This is hardly much different from the skit that we know today. The success of this routine made it so that the team was able to tour in London. While in London they discovered an act that had a routine was uncomfortable close to their own. Lauri Wylie, starred in this similar comedy skit titled "Early Morning Reflections." However, that skit has supernatural elements where a man saw his disembodied spirit. Despite this the Schwartz Brothers took Lauri Wylie to court on December 8, 1911. Unfortunately for the Schwartz Brothers, it was decided that the skit wasn't exactly original. A similar comedic sketch had appeared in H. A. Du Souchet's play, My Friend from India. In that play a man in drag pretends to be an elderly woman's reflection as she passes by a broken mirror. That play was published in 1894. It debuted in France and later had an American version which premiered at Broadway's Bijou Theatre on October 6, 1896. In 1897 the play was adapted from British audiences as My Friend the Prince. In 1900, the American vaudeville team the Lyman Twins were performing the skit on the American stage. With all these previous versions in mind, the judge ruled the skit as being public property. 

It was only natural that this routine would find its way to the silver screen. A very early example is a silent film from the French comedian Max Linder entitled Le Duel de Max (1913). Linder would later repeat the gag in Seven Years Bad Luck (1921). Charlie Chaplin would do a variation on the routine in his short film, The Floorwalker (1916). However, the routine is best associated with The Marx Brothers. Their version of the routine in the classic movie, Duck Soup (1933) is considered the best version of the skit. The skit has become so associated with the Marx Brothers that when in 1955 Harpo Marx guest starred on the beloved TV show, I Love Lucy, Lucy and Harpo did a version of this skit together. Everyone from Charley Chase to the Muppets to Stewie Griffin to Woody Allen has done this beloved comedy sketch. 

THe credited animators on this film include Dick Thompson, Ben Washam, Ken Harris, Don Towsley and Tom Ray. Philip DeGuard is the credited background artis. Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese share a story credit. Maurice Noble is credited as a co-director. Eugene Poddany is credited for the music. This marks the 152 Tom and Jerry cartoon. 

This film is available on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 6, Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection and Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! as well as the VHS set Tom and Jerry: Cat and Dupli-cat and the Laser Disc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume III: The Chuck Jones Cartoons.

The cartoon was shown in its entirety on the Toon in With Me episodes Meet the Tooners (2021), Toons & Temptations (2021), Bill Is Predict-a-Bill (2022) and Rival of the Ages III (2025). A brief clip is shown in the show's opening as well. 

Resources Used

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Cat_and_Dupli-cat

https://www.italyheritage.com/italian-songs/regional/campania/santa-lucia.htm

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/traditional/santa-lucia

https://anthonybalducci.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-pirates-of-palace-troubled-stage.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061455/?ref_=ttcnn_ov_i

   

Catty-Cornered (1966)

 

Catty-Cornered marks the 151st Tom and Jerry cartoon and the fourth directed by Abe Levitow. 

In this short film, Jerry lives in the wall between two apartments. On one side of the wall lives Tom and on the other side lives another cat. 

This is probably the best Abe Levitow directed Tom and Jerry cartoon. The premise is a very strong one. While two cats have fought over Jerry before, there is a nice twist here where neither cat notices each other. That makes it feel surprisingly fresh for a film this late in the game. The gags themselves are honestly quite funny and clever, especially the ones involving the swordfish and the slingshot and cannon. 

It does however have the same faults as the other Abe Levitow directed shorts. The timing can be off on some gags and there are some weak drawings. 

Some sources state that the orange cat here is Lightning, the same orange cat from the Hanna and Barbera directed Tom and Jerry shorts. If so, this is his first appearance since Mucho Mouse (1957) and his last appearance in a theatrical short.  

Tom and Lighting in Old Rockin' Chair Tom (1948)

The supposedly same cat in this cartoon. 

There is a 1953 Tweety and Slyvester cartoon with the same title. In that cartoon Tweety is a valuable bird who is kidnapped by gangsters Rocky and Mugsy. Slyvester of course sees Tweety and wants to eat the canary but must first get past Rocky and Mugsy. That short film has a delightfully clever ending, where Slyvester catches Tweety but before he can eat the bird, he is hailed a hero for saving the poor kidnapped bird. 



The credited animators on this film include Tom Ray, Dick Thompson, Ben Washam, Ken Harris and Don Towsley. John Dunn is the credited writer. Hal Ashmead is the credited artist. Don Morgan is the credited layout artist. Carl Brandt receives a music credit. The vocal effects are credited to Mel Blanc and June Foray. As far as I am aware Hal Ashmead only received two cartoon credits. Those were this cartoon and the TV classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). Don Morgan on the other hand has many credits to his name. AS well as working on these Tom and Jerry cartoon he worked on such animated feature films as The Phantom Tollbooth (1970), Charlotte's Web (1973), Heavy Traffic (1973), Coonskin (1974), Hey Good Lookin' (1983), The Pagemaster (1994), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) and Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure (2002). He also worked on such animated TV shows as Off to See the Wizard, Where's Huddles, Wait Til Your Father Gets Home, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Super Friends, The Smurfs, Muppet Babies, Adventures of the Gummi Bears and Danger Rangers. 

This film is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 6 and Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection as well as the VHS set Tom and Jerry: Cat and Dupli-cat and the Laserdisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume III: The Chuck Jones Cartoons.

This cartoon appeared on the Toon in With Me episodes Open Mic Night #1 (2021), Show & Tell Day #2 (2021), March Mayhem (2022), Cartoon Mashup (2024) and Trekkin' Finale: Land of Lincoln (2026). 

-Michael J. Ruhland 

The A-Tom-inable Snowman (1966)

 

This marks the 150th Tom and Jerry short and the third directed by Abe Levitow. 

In this short film, Tom chases Jerry through the Alps. Whenever Tom gets hurt from his failed efforts a St. Bernard brings him to with his barrel of alcohol making Tom drunk.

Like most Abe Levitow directed shorts this cartoon is considerably weaker than the Chuck Jones directed ones. There are some weak drawings here and the timing can feel quite a bit off. Meanwhile the gags feel overly familiar, repetitive and not that funny. The ending gag simply feels out of place and more strange than funny. 

In defense of this cartoon though, the background art is nice to look at, and the musical score is quite fun

The credited animators on this film are Ken Harris, Don Towsley, Tom Ray, Dick Thompson, Ben Washam and Philip Roman. Bob Ogle gets a story credit. Dean Elliott gets a music credit. The credited layout artist is Robert Givens and the credited background artist is Bob Inman. This is one of only three Tom and Jerry cartoons Bob Inman worked on. The others were Love Me Love My Mouse (1966) and The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. (1967). He would also work with producer Chuck Jones on the TV specials How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), The Pogo Birthday Special (1969) and A Very Merry Cricket (1973). He also worked on many animated TV series including The New Three Stooges, Off to See the Wizard, It's the Wolf, Motormouse and Autocat, The Roman Holidays and Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space. 

This cartoon appears on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Paws for a Holiday, Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection, Tom and Jerry: Winter Wackiness and Tom and Jerry: Winter Tails as well as the VHS sets Tom and Jerry: Blue Cat Blues, Christmas Cartoon Capers and Christmas Collection: Looney Tunes (despite having Looney Tunes in the title this VHS features three Tom and Jerry cartoons (the others being The Night Before Christmas (1941) and Snowbody Loves Me (1964))) plus the Laserdisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume III: The Chuck Jones Cartoons. It also appeared on the Toon in With Me episodes The Snow Day (2021), No Rats, Ands or Buts (2021), A Most Unusual Winter (2023), On Location (2024) and Holiday Markets (2025). 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Matinee Mouse (1966)

 

Matinee Mouse marked the first Tom and Jerry cheater cartoon since Smarty Cat (1955). For those of you who need a refresher, this term refers to a cartoon that heavily relies on clips from previous films. While this short was made during the Chuck Jones era, the cartoons clips that are used all come from the Hanna and Barbera era. As such William Hanna and Joseph Barbera get a director's credit here. This is one of only two (the other also being a cheater) Tom and Jerry shorts from this era that Chuck Jones does not take credit on. This film uses clips from the shorts, The Truce Hurts (1948), Professor Tom (1948), Love That Pup (1949), Jerry's Diary (1949), Jerry and the Lion (1950), The Flying Cat (1952), The Missing Mouse (1953) and The Flying Sorceress (1956).

In this short film, Tom and Jerry are fighting as usual, when they decide to call a truce. Now deciding to be friends the two decide to go to their local movie theater. That movie theater just happens to be showing Tom and Jerry cartoons that day. Each of them laughs at the other's pain onscreen which leads to them fighting again. The idea of Tom and Jerry watching their own films in a theater was done before in Cruise Cat (1952). 

This is definitely the better of the two cheater Tom and Jerry cartoons from this era. The premise is quite charming. While the storyline may be predictable, it is fun. It suits the characters of Tom and Jerry perfectly and it is fun to see their reactions to what is happening on screen. I also loved the cameo by Droopy on one of the movie posters. 

This said, it has the flaw of every one of these Tom and Jerry cheaters. The previous material simply works much better in the context of the original cartoons. Because of this while I laughed at some of these scenes in the original shorts, I did not laugh seeing them presented simply as isolated clips. There is also the flaw here that the Chuck Jones era versions of these characters don't always match the Hanna and Barbera versions. Because of this there are some very jarring moments as we cut from the new to the old footage and back again. 

The credited animators on this film are Ken Muse, Ed Barge, Irven Spence, Ray Patterson and Lewis Marshall. These are all animators from the Hanna and Barbera era. Tom Ray gets a story credit. Dean Elliott gets a music credit. This is the 149th Tom and Jerry cartoon. 

This cartoon is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 6 and Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection as well as the VHS set Tom and Jerry in Matinee Mouse and the LaserDisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume III: The Chuck Jones Cartoons. It aired on the Toon in With Me episodes When Jimmy Met Mabel (2021), A Tribute to the Movies (2021), Soup-Off (2022), A Cracker Barrel of Laughs (2023), Time for Recess (2024) and 2024 Rewind (2024).

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Filet Meow (1966)

 

Once again Abe Levitow returns to the director's chair for another Tom and Jerry cartoon. 

In this short film, Jerry tries to protect a goldfish from Tom, who plans to eat her. 

The plot here is quite similar to that of Jerry and the Goldfish (1951), however this cartoon doesn't reuse any gags from that previous film. The Tom and Jerry Wiki states that the goldfish here is the same one who appeared in that previous short. If that was indented to be the case (which I have my doubts about), the character was heavily redesigned for this film. This is a much more obviously feminine fish down to wearing lipstick and eye shadow.  

This is an enjoyable if unexceptional cartoon. The storyline is while not new has also not be overdone either. While most of the gags aren't great, there are a couple of good ones, especially those involving the shark. The characters are just as likable as ever. Probably the film's greatest asset though is Dean Elliott's jazzy score. This score is very fun and memorable. When I saw that this would be the next cartoon I would review for this blog, I could hear the music in my head before rewatching it. 

Once again though, these cartoons directed by Abe Levitow lack the great timing and superior drawings seen in those directed by Chuck Jones. 

This cartoon has the distinction of being the first Tom and Jerry cartoon to air on the METV channel. This was on January 2, 2021 as part of the premiere of the channel's Saturday morning cartoon block. It would later play on the channel as part of the Toon in With Me TV series on the episodes, Toony Can't Swim Because of the 20 Minute Rule (2021), 1970s Fashion Trends (2023), Scrappy Living (2023), Bill & Toony's Tops (2024) and World Tuna Day (2025). 

The credited animators on this cartoon are Don Towsley, Tom Ray, Dick Thompson, Ben Washam and Ken Harris. Bob Ogle is the credited writer. Philip DeGuard is the credited background artist and Robert Givens is the credited layout artist. Mel Blanc and June Foray provide the vocal effects (though no actual words are spoken in the film). 

This film is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 6 and Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection, the VHS set Tom and Jerry: Little School Mouse and the LaserDisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume III: The Chuck Jones Cartoons. 

Puss 'n' Boats (1966)

 

This marks the 147th Tom and Jerry cartoon, the 20th produced by Chuck Jones and the 2nd to be directed by Abe Levitow. 

In this short film, Tom is guarding a boat that is full of cheese. This job proves to be much harder than anticipated, when Jerry gets a whiff of the cheese and decides to come aboard. 

This is an enjoyable short. The premise is a strong one and there are some pretty creative gags. I especially like the gag with Tom crawling through the pipe. Tom and Jerry are just as fun of characters here as they always are.  However, the pacing and many of the drawings simply aren't as strong as in the cartoons that Chuck directed himself. 

This marks the first Tom and Jerry short to have a story by Bob Ogle. Ogle would also write the Tom and Jerry shorts, Filet Meow (1966), The A-Tom-inable Snowman (1966), Rock 'n' Rodent (1967), The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. (1967), Surf Bored Cat (1967), Shutter Bugged Cat (1967) and Advance and be Mechanized (1967). He also wrote some Pink Panther cartoons for DePatie-Freleng as well as all 16 of the Crazylegs Crane shorts. He also worked on such TV shows as Groovie Goolies, The Flintstone Comedy Hour, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Yogi's Gang, Scooby's All-Star Laff-a-Lympics and The Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show. 

This marks the first of four Tom and Jerry cartoons for which, Carl Brandt would do the music for. Cartoon-wise Brandt also did the music for the TV series The Dick Tracy Show and The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo. Most of his work was for live action though. He composed music for such movies as THe Cowboy (1954), Seven Angry Men (1955) and Shotgun (1955) as well as for the TV shows Mister Roberts, The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle: USMC, That Girl, Mayberry R.F.D. and Mod Squad.

The credited animators are Ben Washam, Ken Harris, Don Towsley, Tom Ray and Dick Thompson. The credited layout artist is Don Morgan. The credited background artist is Philip DeGuard. This cartoon is available on the DVD set Tom and Jerry: Chuck Jones Collection. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Love Me Love My Mouse (1966)

 

Except for a quick gag in Tom-ic Energy (1965), romance has not yet played a role in Chuck Jones' version of Tom and Jerry. That changes with this short film, which focuses on Tom's relationship with his girlfriend. Many believe his girlfriend in this cartoon to be Toodles, his love interest from the William Hanna and Joseph Barbera cartoons. It is easy to understand why people believe this. Though (if this is Toodles), she is completely redesigned, she is a white cat that serves as Tom's love interest. If we are to take this as Toodles, then this marks the only appearance of a Hanna and Barbera supporting character during the Chuck Jones era. 

In this cartoon, Tom is visiting his girlfriend and bringing her a gift of a mouse (Jerry). Tom intends for them to eat the mouse, but his girlfriend finds it adorable and wants to keep it as a pet. Jerry then tries to get revenge on his foe by making Tom's girlfriend believe that Tom is going to eat him. 

As with many of the Tom and Jerry shorts from this era, this cartoon is more charming than it is funny. While familiar the basic premise is a decent one. The character animation is often excellent. The look on the girlfriend's face during the last gag is even funnier than the gag itself. The story moves at a fast pace and remains enjoyable to watch. The lovey dove backgrounds in the beginning may be too cutesy for some but for me they work. This is because they put you into Tom's frame of mind and make good contrast for how his expectations are quickly dashed. 

However, none of the gags in this cartoon are actually funny. They all have been done before and better. Despite being a fan of Mel Blanc and June Foray, I find the cutesy voices to be very off-putting here.   

The credited animators on this film are Ben Washam, Philip Roman, Don Towsley and Dick Thompson. Chuck Jones is the director. Ben Washam gets a co-director's credit. Michael Maltese is the writer. The credited layout artist is Robert Givens. Eugene Poddany gets a music credit. Mel Blanc and June Foray provide the voices. This is the 146th Tom and Jerry cartoon. 

This film is available on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry: Mouse Trouble and Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection.  

Here are some animation cels for the film (via the Tom and Jerry Wiki). 

-Michael J. Ruhland