Cruise Cat (1952)

 

Cruise Cat marks an interesting first in Tom and Jerry's filmography. With Robert Gentle's name being credited in the opening titles, this film marks the first time a background artist would be credited in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Robert Gentle would not only work with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on these theatrical shorts but also many of the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoons. He worked on such Hanna-Barbera shows as The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Yogi Bear Show, Quick Draw McGraw, Top Cat, The Flintstones, Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo Where Are You, Super Friends and many more.  

In this short film, Tom is the mascot on a cruise ship and his one job is to keep mice off. Of course, when Jerry comes on board this ends up being a much more difficult job than he bargained for.

While this may not rank among the best Tom and Jerry cartoons, it is a very fun watch. Few of the gags are as laugh out loud funny as the ones in the 40's Tom and Jerry shorts. However, many of them do make me smile and each of them worked well enough. The basic story may be familiar, but the cruise ship proves to be a wonderful setting and gives the short a unique feel. The background art may be simply, but it is very effective and charming. There is something about it that is simplistic but completely charming. Both Tom and usual are their usual wonderful selves. Even though the character animation may not be as elaborate as in previous shorts, it is still very expressive and helps bring these characters to life. William Hanna's comic timing is still as great as ever. While this may not be the funniest Tom and Jerry short, it has a wonderful sense of comic energy throughout. 

This film features a scene where they enter the ship's movie theatre. Playing at that theater was the Tom and Jerry cartoon, Texas Tom (1950). The cat and mouse stop their fighting to watch themselves. However, when each laugh at a moment in Texas Tom where the other gets hurt they get angry and begin fighting again. This is a clever scene that always puts a smile on my face. This basic premise of this scene greatly resembles the later Tom and Jerry short, Matinee Mouse (1966). In that film Tom and Jerry would call a truce and go to the movies together. However, when their cartoons start playing, the two end up laughing at each other and fighting again. 

The credited animators on this film are Irven Spence, Ray Patterson, Ed Barge and Kenneth Muse. It is the 71st Tom and Jerry short overall. It is available on the DVD set, The Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 2. 

 An episode of Hanna-Barbera's TV show, The Tom and Jerry Show would be named Cruise Kitty (1975). In that TV cartoon, Spike is hired as head of security on a cruise ship, while Tom and Jerry are stowaways. Spike tries to tell the captain about Tom and Jerry, but the captain never notices the cat and mouse. 

Below is the movie poster for this film. It gives us a nice shot of Tom's butt as well as a very off model Jerry.