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