Kitty Foiled (1948)

 

The title of this short film is a play on Kitty Foyle, a 1939 bestselling book by Christopher Morley that was turned into a hit live action movie in 1940 (which gave Ginger Rogers a best actress Oscar). This cartoon is in no way a parody of either the book or the live action feature though. 

This film's plot is incredibly simple. This time instead of just after Jerry, Tom is often both Jerry and his little bird friend. They work together to outwit the cat. 

This is a near perfect Tom and Jerry cartoon. Though it may have the slimmest of plots, that actually works to the film's favor. It allows this short to be nothing but gag after gag. This allows the film to move at a very fast pace and never lose its comedic energy. This is why even if you have seen this cartoon enough times to know everything that is going to happen, it is still a lot of fun. It simply so easy to get caught up in the pure energy of this cartoon. Like all Tom and Jerry films of this era, this energy is enhanced by Scott Bradley's wonderfully fun music. None of this is to say that the jokes aren't funny though because they are wonderful. Once again, the best part of these gags is the delivery. The wonderful sequence with Tom, Jerry and the bird shaking hands is perfectly timed and features some incredible character animation. The way Tom goes from being confused to becoming caught up in the moments is truly hilarious and is what makes this simple joke work. Tom riding on the train is probably one of the simplest and most elementary chase cartoon gags, but the goofy-ly devious look on Tom's face is truly hilarious. The same can be said with Tom going into a George Raft imitation during his "dying" scene. The sheer ridiculousness of that moment makes what could have been a gruesome gag, very silly and funny. Most of all though this film is just Tom and Jerry boiled down to their bare essentials and shows us that sometimes this is more than enough. 

This is the debut of Jerry's little bird friend. This character has been named Cuckoo by Tom and Jerry fans, yet I can't think of an instance where he is named in any of the films. Perhaps he received this name, from a brief gag (in this film) where he pops out of Tom's mouth like a bird in a cuckoo clock. He would appear in a few Tom and Jerry cartoons after this one. He would have another major role in The Flying Cat (1952) and a smaller role in Hic-cup Pup (1954). He would also appear in Life with Tom (1952) and Matinee Mouse (1966), but only in clips reused from Kitty Foiled and The Flying Cat. 

The credited animators on this cartoon are Ed Barge, Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse and Irving Levine. This is the only animation credit Irving Levine got on a Tom and Jerry cartoon. However, the same year as this film, he got credit on another MGM cartoon, The Bear and the Hare (1948) starring Barney Bear. The title of Kitty Foiled appears on a movie theatre in an episode of TV's The Tom and Jerry Show entitled, It Ain't Over Until The Cat Lady Sings (2014). Cartoon Network and Boomerang have often run cut versions of this film without the scene where Jerry and the bird dress up like Native Americans. On some channels in the UK the scene involving the gun was cut. This film would be reissued to theatres in 1956 and again in 1964. 

The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "KITTY FOILED: Tom and Jerry Cartoons— Tom and Jerry cartoons are the best in the cartoon field. This one was exceptionally funny. - Arthur Lee Burke Jr., Venita Theatre, Herculaneum, Mo." 

The movie poster for this cartoon is well above average for a Tom and Jerry movie poster. Not only this but it actually depicts a scene from the film. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

 

The Invisible Mouse (1947)

 

This short film continues the winning streak that the Tom and Jerry cartoons were on during this time period. 

In this film during a typical Tom and Jerry chase, Jerry hides in a bottle of invisible ink. Finding that he has turned invisible, he decides to use this to torment Tom. 

There is much to love about this cartoon. Once again Willaim Hanna has gotten his comic timing down perfect by this point. This is a very fast-moving cartoon, where the action never stops. Yet never does the film feel rushed or move by too quick for the gags to land. It doesn't hurt that these gags are often excellent. They take great advantage of the premise of Jerry turning invisible and are often quite clever. Like in all the best Tom and Jerry cartoons, these gags are enhanced by great character animation. As Jerry is invisible this use of character animation becomes a great showcase for Tom. Tom is more than up to the task of caring this part of the film. I especially love the animation as the invisible Jerry plays the piano behind him. Also, the animation after he is hit with the golf club makes a very typical cartoon gag truly stand out as hilarious. Tom is truly one of the great pantomime characters in animation history and this is clearly on display here. As great as the premise of an invisible Jerry is, this cartoon is a delight even before Jerry turns invisible. The typical Tom and Jerry gags at the start are delightful and perfectly executed. Even these early scenes move by with a wonderfully fast paced energy. That energy is enhanced by an equally energetic score by Scott Bradley. This episode also benefits from some wonderfully detailed background art that really makes the house environment feel real. 

This may have been the first time Tom had to deal with an invisible Jerry, but it was not the last. This idea would also be the basis of the later Tom and Jerry films, The Vanishing Duck (1958) and Of Feline Bondage (1965). 

Motion Picture Herald, 1947

The following is an exhibitor's review from The Motion Picture Herald, "THE INVISIBLE MOUSE: Tom and Jerry Cartoons - Our most popular cartoon series. This one couldn't have been better. - George E. Janes, Ojai Theatre, Ojai, Cal." The following is a review from The Film Daily, "Completely hilarious in this tale of Jerry who becomes invisible after falling into a bottle of invisible ink, and Tom, his feline opponent. If Tom had troubles before he's really baffled now, much to the merriment of audience. Rates very high." This is one of 15 Tom and Jerry cartoons reissued to movie theaters in 1963. The credited animators are Ed Barge, Richard Bickenbach, Don Patterson and Irven Spence. This is one of only two Tom and Jerry short films where Don Patterson gets an animation credit (the other being A Mouse in the House (1947). 

I have stated that I think the MGM cartoons of this period had some of the ugliest movie posters. Here is an example of that. Though this is still (somehow) one of the better ones. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

 

A Mouse in the House (1947)

 

While most of the Tom and Jerry films of this era are well established classics that all cartoon fans are familiar with, A Mouse in the House is the rare hidden gem of this time period. It is a shame this film is not better known because it is a delightful cartoon. 

In this film Mammy Two Shoes is upset that there is a mouse in the house, even though she has two cats, Tom and Butch (the only film in which the two live in the same house). She states that whichever one of her cats catches Jerry can stay, while the other will be kicked out. 

This is simply a wonderful cartoon. The premise itself is delightful. While Tom and Butch fighting over Jerry is incredibly simple, it leads to a nice twist on the usual Tom and Jerry formula that pays off quite well. There are plenty of great gags throughout the whole film. Like many of the great Tom and Jerry cartoons, the execution of the gags is just as funny as the gags themselves. One of the best bits is near the start of the cartoon. Tom and Butch are looking everywhere and under everything for Jerry. Jerry sees this and joins in the search. This gag is already funny, but it is made even funnier by the character animation on Jerry. The playfully inquisitive look on Jerry's face as he looks around is truly hilarious. The sequence where Tom and Butch have their gun duel is as funny as anything ever put in a Tom and Jerry short. However, it is greatly enhanced by the wonderful "evil" expression on Tom's face as he tries to cheat. This film also moves at a wonderfully fast pace, packing gag after gag. This keeps a great comic energy throughout the cartoon that is simply a lot of fun to watch. Once again this is enhanced by the wonderful score by Scott Bradley. The ending of this film is also fantastic and provides a wonderful twist on the audiences' expectations. 

Part of the reason that this film is not more well known is because it has not aired on regular television in quite a long time. While today few, if any, of the Mammy Two Shoes shorts air today (due to the character being considered a racial stereotype), this one stopped airing on TV much earlier. The reason for this is one scene near the end. Earlier in this cartoon, both Tom and Butch disguise themselves as Mammy from the back to fool the other. When later in the film both of them come across the real Mammy (from the back), they assume it is the other cat and start whacking her in the rear end. Since this scene is integral to the plot and simply couldn't be edited out (the way a quick blackface gag earlier in the film could), the cartoon was simply not aired. 

The following are exhibitor's reviews from the Motion Picture Hearld. "Mouse in the House: Tom and Jerry Cartoons — Above average laffs in this good mouse cartoon. - Stanley Leay, Stanley Theatre, Galena, Ill." "MOUSE IN THE HOUSE: Tom and Jerry Cartoon — These gay fellows are very popular here and it is a great pleasure to show so good a cartoon as this. - Jussi Kohonen, Kino-Halli, Kotka, Finland." The later of these reviews comes from an issue dated April 2, 1955. This is much later than the cartoon was released but perhaps the film arrived in Finland around the mid-50's or perhaps since the exhibitor, who obviously likes Tom and Jerry, purposely got older Tom and Jerry films for the theater to play them there. The very same page features 2 exhibitor's review from the same exhibitor. Both of these are for feature length films, Orchestra Wives (1942) and Lucky Me (1954).  A Mouse in the House would be reissued to U.S. movie theaters in 1964, along with 14 other Tom and Jerry shorts. 

Motion Picture Exhibitor, 1963. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/A_Mouse_in_the_House

https://mediahistoryproject.org/

Salt Water Tabby (1947)

 

The Tom and Jerry films continue their winning streak with Salt Water Tabby. 

In this film Tom is ready for a nice day at the beach, when he spies Toodles. He flirts with Toodles until he realizes that someone is eating the food inside of Toodles' picnic basket. Taking a look inside he sees Jerry eating her food. Tom tries to stop Jerry and the two begin to have a battle on the beach with Tom trying to get the better of Jerry and Jerry trying to ruin Tom's chances with Toodles. 

This is simply a fantastic cartoon. Though it very much follows the established formula for these films, the beach setting allows for all sorts of very clever gags. Not only are many of these gags are laugh out loud funny, but there is not a single gag that misses. This film is also full of wonderful character animation. Many of the best bits of character animation comes from Tom flirting with Toodles. Tom's sheer self-confidence and complete obliviousness to the fact that Toodles is no interested is simply wonderfully conveyed through this animation. As soon as we see this two together, we fully understand the personalities of both these characters making both of them feel real to us. Probably the best moment of character animation is after Jerry puts a seashell into a sandwich Tom is eating. This is really only a moderately funny gag in and of itself. However, watching Tom try to act nonchalant and like he is actually enjoying the sandwich in front of Toodles is downright hilarious. This is another example of the character animation in a Tom and Jerry short greatly enhancing a gag. Not to be left out, Jerry gets a wonderful bit of character animation with the smug look on his face as he makes Tom eat sand. Again this is a decent gag that becomes very funny through the animation. This film also shows how perfect Bill Hanna's timing was by this time period. This is one of the fastest paced Tom and Jerry cartoons. There is gag after gag with little time between. However the pace works perfectly with the action. At no point does the action ever feel rushed and at no point does the pace take away from letting these character's personalities show. 

The bathing suit that Tom wears (yes, I know he wears a bathing suit to the beach despite being unclothed most of the time) in this film would later reappear in the later Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon, Muscle Beach Tom (1956), in a beach-based level of the 2003 video game Tom and Jerry in War of the Whiskers and in an episode of TV's Tom and Jerry Tales entitled Beach Bully Bingo (2006). A clip from this film would appear in the later Tom and Jerry short, Smitten Kitten (1952). 

The following is an exhibitor's review from the Motion Picture Herald, "Salt Water Tabby: Tom & Jerry Cartoon - Another hit in our most popular cartoon series. For my money, these have Bugs Bunny wiped off the face of the map. - George E. James, Ojai Theatre, Ojai, Cal."  

The credited animators on this short were Ed Barge, Michael Lah and Kenneth Muse. The cartoon would be rereleased in theaters in 1954 and again in 1963. 

Box-office, 1963

Here is the movie poster for this cartoon. While I would hesitate to call this a good poster, it is honestly quite better than the average movie poster for this series. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Resources Used

https://lantern.mediahist.org/

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Salt_Water_Tabby