This film marks the first animated appearance of Nibbles the mouse. However, Jerry's little gray friend (and sometime nephew) had existed before this cartoon. He had in fact appeared with Tom and Jerry in comic books. He made his debut in 1942 in the comic book, Our Gang #1. The comic book was named after the popular child comedy team, Our Gang (also known as The Little Rascals). It featured various comics featuring many of MGM's short subject stars, both live action and cartoon. This included Tom and Jerry. Our Gang #1 featured Tom and Jerry's first appearance in comic books and included in their first story was this little gray dipper wearing mouse. Rather than being called Nibbles, in this comic he was called Tuffy. Even after being named Nibbles in his first animated film, the character would continue to be called Tuffy. Later TV cartoons and direct to video movies, you also used the name Tuffy for this character.
In this film, a basket is left outside Jerry's door. When Jerry opens the basket, Nibbles is inside and there is a note that asks Jerry to take care of this little mouse. The note also lets Jerry know that this little mouse is also always hungry. Jerry tries to feed Nibbles from Tom's milk, but Tom doesn't take too kindly to this. Jerry must defend himself and Nibbles from Tom.
There is a lot to love about this cartoon. This is a fast-moving film and once it gets going it is truly one gag after another. Most of these gags are simply wonderful. One of my favorites is one of the simplest. Jerry is running towards his mousehole. Tom simply grabs the mousehole and moves it to a different part of the wall, causing Jerry to run into the wall. This is a very simply gag, but the timing, the impossibility of the gag and Tom's facial expression all cause me to laugh every time. The timing in this cartoon is also perfect and can often make gags that shouldn't be that funny still work. Nibbles hitting Tom on the tail with a hammer isn't a funny gag in itself. However, the delivery is simply perfect. One of the funniest moments is the ending, which I will not give away here. Nibbles is also a really fun character in this cartoon. I personally prefer this childish and silent version of the character over the talking version that comes later. Nibbles also works great here because the contrast between his cuteness and his violence is simply a lot of fun.
There is one scene of this film, which even some seasoned Tom and Jerry fans might not have seen. This scene involves Jerry and Nibbles disguising themselves using blackface. During this scene Jerry is voiced by Lillian Randolph, the voice of Tom's owner Mammy Two Shoes. This scene is not only cut out in nearly all TV airings, but it is even cut in Tom and Jerry Spotlight DVDs.
In this film, a basket is left outside Jerry's door. When Jerry opens the basket, Nibbles is inside and there is a note that asks Jerry to take care of this little mouse. The note also lets Jerry know that this little mouse is also always hungry. Jerry tries to feed Nibbles from Tom's milk, but Tom doesn't take too kindly to this. Jerry must defend himself and Nibbles from Tom.
There is a lot to love about this cartoon. This is a fast-moving film and once it gets going it is truly one gag after another. Most of these gags are simply wonderful. One of my favorites is one of the simplest. Jerry is running towards his mousehole. Tom simply grabs the mousehole and moves it to a different part of the wall, causing Jerry to run into the wall. This is a very simply gag, but the timing, the impossibility of the gag and Tom's facial expression all cause me to laugh every time. The timing in this cartoon is also perfect and can often make gags that shouldn't be that funny still work. Nibbles hitting Tom on the tail with a hammer isn't a funny gag in itself. However, the delivery is simply perfect. One of the funniest moments is the ending, which I will not give away here. Nibbles is also a really fun character in this cartoon. I personally prefer this childish and silent version of the character over the talking version that comes later. Nibbles also works great here because the contrast between his cuteness and his violence is simply a lot of fun.
There is one scene of this film, which even some seasoned Tom and Jerry fans might not have seen. This scene involves Jerry and Nibbles disguising themselves using blackface. During this scene Jerry is voiced by Lillian Randolph, the voice of Tom's owner Mammy Two Shoes. This scene is not only cut out in nearly all TV airings, but it is even cut in Tom and Jerry Spotlight DVDs.
The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Jerry, aided and abetted by a homeless mouse he has adopted, makes life twice as difficult for Tom the Cat. Trying to appease the homeless one's hunger, they run all sorts of risks but always manage to outwit be-whiskered and bewildered Tom. Most enjoyable it makes the best of many situations. Detailed, it has a certain touch which distinguish the best." The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "THE MILKY WAIF: Tom and Jerry Cartoons— The Tom and Jerry cartoons are tops with us. Our audience cry for more. W.F. Caudell, South Miami Theatre, South Miami, Flo." This film was reissued to theaters in 1953.
This cartoon's storyline was later used as the basis for part of a 1949 Tom and Jerry storybook. You can take a closer look at that here.
Resources Used
https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/a-tom-jerry-storybook-1949/
https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/The_Milky_Waif
https://lantern.mediahist.org/
This cartoon's storyline was later used as the basis for part of a 1949 Tom and Jerry storybook. You can take a closer look at that here.
Resources Used
https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/a-tom-jerry-storybook-1949/
https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/The_Milky_Waif
https://lantern.mediahist.org/
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