Tom's Photo Finish (1957)

 

This short film marked the last theatrical short to feature Spike the bulldog in a main role, though he would have a tiny appearance in Tot Watchers (1958) and in some old footage in the cheater cartoon, Matinee Mouse (1966). The Tom and Jerry Wiki states that the dog in Rock 'n' Rodent (1967) is Spike, but the design is so different that I have a hard time believing that this is the same dog. 

In this short film, Tom steals some food from the fridge and frames Spike. Jerry however snaps a photo of Tom framing Spike. Jerry tries to show this photo to Tom's owners as Tom tries to stop him. 

As had become common around this time, this cartoon is more charming than funny. The storyline is clever and a great use of these characters. The story also works as a fun little departure from the usual Tom and Jerry formula, while still staying true to what makes this series so beloved. The background art is more simplistic than in the early shorts, but it has a really charming suburban feel that works quite well.  However, the gags themselves are especially funny here. These are the types of gags that may make you smile but will never make you laugh out loud. This is what keeps this otherwise charming short from reaching the heights of the Tom and Jerry cartoons of the 1940's. 

The credited animators on this short are Kenneth Muse, Lewis Marshall, Bill Schipek, Jack Carr, Ken Southworth and Herman Cohen. The credited background artist is Robert Gentle, and the credited layout artist is Richard Bickenbach.  Richard Bickenbach not only worked on William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Tom and Jerry shorts but also on their later TV work. He would work on such Hanna-Barbera TV series as Quick Draw McGraw, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo Where Are You and many more. He would also work on the Hanna-Barbera feature films, The Man Called Flintstone (1966) and Charolette's Web (1973) as well as the Loopy the Loop theatrical shorts.   The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. Robert Gentle would also work on many of Bill and Joe's later TV shows including The Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw Mc Graw, The Atom Ant Show, Space Ghost, Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo Where Are You, Super Friends, Pac Man and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. He also worked on the Hanna-Barbera feature films Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964), The Man Called Flintstone, Charolette's Web, Hedi's Song (1982) and Rock Odessey (1987) as well as the Loopy De Loop theatrical shorts.

This short film is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 5, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3, Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 5 and Tom and Jerry: In the Dog House as well as the Laserdisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II and the recent Blu-ray set Tom and Jerry: The Complete CinemaScope Collection. 

This film was submitted for an Academy Award but not nominated. Other cartoons submitted but not nominated included The Adventures of * (1957, Storyboard), The Bone Ranger (1957, Terry Toons), The Bongo Punch (1957, Walter Lantz), Boxcar Bandit (1957, Walter Lantz), Flebus (1957, Terry Toons), It's a Living (1957, Terry Toons), The Juggler of Our Lady (1957, Terry Toons), The Juggler of Our Lady (1957, Cavalcade Pictures), Magoo's Private War (1957, UPA), Springtime for Clobber (1958, Terry Toons) and What's Opera Doc (1958). It is rather interesting that What's Opera Doc would be submitted for an Academy Award but not nominated as today it is often hailed as one of the greatest cartoons of all time, even receiving the number one spot in Jerry Beck's book, The 50 Greatest Cartoons. The cartoons that were nominated were One Droopy Knight (1957, MGM), Tabasco Road (1957, Warner Brothers), Trees and Jamacia Daddy (1957, UPA), The Truth About Mother Goose (1957, Disney) and Birds Anonymous (1957). How something as bland as Trees and Jamacia Daddy could have been nominated while some of the other films submitted weren't, makes little sense to say the least. The winner was Birds Anonymous. Birds Anonymous is a masterpiece and I certainly can't argue with that decision. You can watch it receive its Oscar below. 

In 1974 there would be a Little Golden Book entitled Tom and Jerry's Photo Finish but the story in that book would be widely different from the short Tom's Photo Finish. 

Resources Used

The 50 Greatest Cartoons edited by Jerry Beck

Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons by Leonard Maltin

https://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1957/

https://tomandjerry.fandom.com/wiki/Tom%27s_Photo_Finish

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

Mucho Mouse (1957)

 

 This short film actually marks the last of the Hanna and Barbera directed cartoons to feature any of Tom's cat friends (and sometime enemies). The cat used here is the orange cat that appeared in a number of these cartoons. The Tom and Jerry Wiki considers this the character as Lighting, the speedy cat that competed against Tom in Old Rockin' Chair Tom (1948). While here the cat has a slightly different personality and lacks the incredible speed, but the designs are extremely simular. The Tom and Jerry Wiki also considers the cat in the Chuck Jones-era cartoon, Catty Cornered (1966) to be the same character, though I personally think that is just another cat that happens to be orange. 

In this short film, which takes place in Madrid, Spain, the orange cat is unable to capture that clever mouse El Magnifico (Jerry). Because of this his owner hires an award-winning American mouse catcher, Tom to catch the mouse. Tom however has no luck whatsoever. 

This is a fun cartoon but hardly one that stands out. Most of the slapstick gags here are fine but they are more the types of gags that will make you smile or chuckle rather than laugh out loud. Many of them, we have seen better variations of in earlier shorts. My favorite gag in this film is actually a dialogue based one. This is when Tom speaks in Spanish and mispronounces the simplest words, then looks very proud of himself afterwards. I am not always a fan of when Tom speaks but this is a good gag, and I have quoted it more than once to my fellow cartoon loving friends. This cartoon also benefits from some background art, which truly uses the Spanish setting to its advantage. This is a very handsome looking film, and I love the subtler uses of abstraction in the background art. The character animation with Jerry is also very charming. Though his dancing would have been more elaborate in an early short, it is still fun here and I love how the facial expressions give an effortless confident look to the character's actions. This may not be anyone's favorite Tom and Jerry short, but it has its charms. 

The credited animators on this film are Kenneth Muse, Lewis Marshall, Bill Schipek, Jack Carr, Ken Southworth, Herman Cohen. The cartoon is a rare Tom and Jerry short to have two credited layout artists, Richard Bickenbach and Ed Benedict. At MGM Benedict mostly worked with the Tex Avery and Michael Lah units instead of with William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on the Tom and Jerry cartoons. However, Benedict would soon play a major role at Hanna-Barbera's soon-to-be TV animation studio. He was the studio's main character designer in their early years where he worked on such characters as Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, The Flintstones, Magalia Gorilla and more. Richard Bickenbach also not only worked on William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Tom and Jerry shorts but also on their later TV work. He would work on such Hanna-Barbera TV series as Quick Draw McGraw, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo Where Are You and many more. He would also work on the Hanna-Barbera feature films, The Man Called Flintstone (1966) and Charolette's Web (1973) as well as the Loopy the Loop theatrical shorts.   The credited background artist is Robert Gentle. Robert Gentle would also work on many of Bill and Joe's later TV shows including The Huckleberry Hound Show, Quick Draw Mc Graw, The Atom Ant Show, Space Ghost, Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo Where Are You, Super Friends, Pac Man and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. He also worked on the Hanna-Barbera feature films Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964), The Man Called Flintstone, Charolette's Web, Hedi's Song (1982) and Rock Odessey (1987) as well as the Loopy De Loop theatrical shorts.

This film is available on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 2, Tom & Jerry's Greatest Chases Vol. 5, Tom and Jerry: 85th Anniversary Kids Collection, Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 5 and Tom and Jerry: Whiskers Away! as well as the Laserdisc set, The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II and the recent Blu-ray set, Tom and Jerry: The Complete CinemaScope Collection. 

Feedin' the Kiddie (1957)

 

This short film is the third Tom and Jerry CinemaScope remake. These films were shot for shot remakes of past Tom and Jerry shorts, now formatted for CinemaScope. Previous CinemaScope remakes were The Egg and Jerry (1956) (a remake of Hatch Up Your Troubles (1949)) and Tops with Pops (1957) (a remake of Love that Pup (1949)).  MGM would release three other CinemaScope remakes at this time. Millionaire Droopy (1956, remake of the Droopy cartoon, Wags to Riches (1949)), Good Will to Men (1955; remake of the Hugh Harmon short, Peace on Earth (1939)) and Cat's Meow (1957; remake of the Tex Avery short Ventriloquist Cat (1950)). All these remakes would be produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who would receive directing credit Good Will to Men as well as the Tom and Jerry shorts. Cat's Meow would be the last MGM directorial credit for Tex Avery. 

In this remake of The Little Orphan (1949), Jerry volunteers to take care of little Tuffy over the Thanksgiving holiday. The only problem is that Nibbles is always hungry. When Tom's owner lays out a wonderful spread for Thanksgiving dinner on the table, little Nibbles can't help himself and treats himself to all of the great food. Tom spots Nibbles and Jerry on the Thanksgiving table and a massive slapstick fight takes place. 

Like the other CinemaScope remakes a film like this can seem pointless today, when Tom and Jerry are on TV every day and every cartoon is available on home video. However, one must remember that these shorts were originally made for movie theaters to play along with the feature film. Because of this most of the movie going audience had either never seen the cartoon this is a remake of or had not seen it in years. Because of this, the cartoon felt new and fresh to them in a way it doesn't to us today. As for the film, itself I share the same thoughts I had about The Little Orphan. The gags are still wonderful, the timing is perfect, and the simple story is very charming. Once again, this cartoon has more abstract backgrounds than The Little Orphan. However, in this film, the characters seem to fit in well with these abstract backgrounds. 

Unlike the other CinemaScope remakes, there are a couple more differences here besides the more abstract backgrounds and being adapted for CinemaScope. One is that Tom's owner (who has often been accused of being a black stereotype) is nowhere to be seen, probably due to changing sensibilities. The other is that the words on the letter Jerry receives along with the little gray mouse are different. The letter in this cartoon refers to the little gray mouse as Tuffy, while the letter in the previous cartoon referred to him as Nibbles. The letter in this remake is also written by Cousin George. Tom had a Cousin George in Timid Tabby (1957), the cartoon right before this one. So both Jerry and Tom have cousins named George. 

The credited animators are Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge and Ray Patterson. Once again, these were the same animators who were credit for the cartoon this is a remake of. The cartoon is available on the DVD sets Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 5, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3 and Tom and Jerry: Merry Mice as well as the Laser Disc set, The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II and the recent Blu-ray set, Tom and Jerry: The Complete CinemaScope Collection. This marks the 107th Tom and Jerry short. 

Timid Tabby (1957)

 

By the time of Timid Tabby, the theatrical Tom and Jerry shorts greatly resembled the TV work that William Hanna and Joseph Barbera would soon be churning out. This short film is a great case for this as it could have easily been one of Bill and Joe's later Pixie and Dixie (from The Huckleberry Hound Show) or Pumpkin Puss and Mush Mouse (from The Magilla Gorilla Show) TV shorts. Like those TV cartoons, this short relies more on clever writing than on perfectly timed slapstick. However, while this film resembles their TV work, it resembles the best of their TV work. 

In this short film, Tom's cousin George comes to visit. There is only one problem. George is terrified of mice. Tom tries to trap Jerry in his hole, but Jerry escapes and decides to have lots of fun scaring George. 

This is a great cartoon and one of my favorite shorts of this era. The humor is not laugh out loud funny, but it is often very charming. Because of this whenever I watch this short, I have a smile on my face. Cousin George is a wonderful one-off character that plays perfectly off of Tom and Jerry. I honestly would not have minded seeing more of this character. This character and the basic storyline help make this a unique entry in an already long running series. Yet while this cartoon provides a break from the usual Tom and Jerry formula, it also keeps the charm and feel of a typical Tom and Jerry short. Though the animation was getting more limited by this time, the character animation is still quite strong. This animation again makes Tom and Jerry feel completely real to us without ever having to speak a word. The background art while not as elaborate as in the 1940's is still quite handsome and gives the short a likable suburban feel. The ending gag of this film is also completely satisfying.  

The credited animators on this film are Lewis Marshall, Kenneth Muse, Irven Spence, Ken Southworth and Bill Schipek. The credited layout artist is Richard Bickenbach, and the credited background artist is Roberta Greutert. Roberta Greutert would only receive credit on one more Tom and Jerry short, Happy Go Ducky (1958). However, she would work on such some of Bill and Joe's later work with the credit of Ink and Paint Supervisor. Some of her work for the Hanna-Barbera studio includes such TV series as Jonny Quest, Wacky Races, The New Adventures of Gulliver, Motormouse and Autocat, Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines, The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Where's Huddles, Harlem Globetrotters, Scooby-Doo Where Are You and The Pebbles and Bam-Bam Show. She also worked on the Hanna-Barbera feature films Hey There, It's Yogi Bear (1964) and The Man Called Flintstone (1966). Richard Bickenbach not only worked on William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Tom and Jerry shorts but also on their later TV work. He would work on such Hanna-Barbera TV series as Quick Draw McGraw, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo Where Are You and many more. He would also work on the Hanna-Barbera feature films, The Man Called Flintstone (1966) and Charolette's Web (1973) as well as the Loopy the Loop theatrical shorts. This marks the 106th Tom and Jerry short. 

This short is available on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 5, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3, Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures - Volume 1 and Tom and Jerry: No Mice Allowed! as well as the Laserdisc set The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II and the recent Blu-ray set Tom and Jerry: The Complete CinemaScope Collection. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

 

Tops With Pops (1957)

 

Tops With Pops marked the second of three Tom and Jerry CinemaScope remakes. These films would be shot for shot remakes of earlier Tom and Jerry shorts, only adapted for the CinemaScope format. Because they were so similar to the cartoons they were remaking these cartoons even reused the same audio for the earlier cartoons. The first of these remakes was The Egg and Jerry (1956), a remake of Hatch Up Your Troubles (1949). The third of these remakes would be Feedin' the Kiddie (1957), a remake of The Little Orphan (1949).

In this remake of Love That Pup (1949), Tom is chasing Jerry and while doing so, lifts up Tyke to see if Jerry is hiding underneath him. Spike gets very angry at this and tells Tom that if he catches Tom bugging his son, one more time, he will skin him alive. Naturally Jerry overhears this and decides to use this to his advantage framing Tom to make it look like he is bugging Tyke.

Today when Tom and Jerry play on TV every day and their films are widely available on DVD and Blu-ray, such a film like this can feel completely pointless. However, it is important to remember that these cartoons were originally made for movie theaters to play along with the feature films. Moviegoers at the time for the most part would either have never seen the cartoon this is remaking or would not have seen it in years. Because of this to many of them, this would have felt like a brand new short.

With this cartoon pretty much being a shot for shot remake of Love That Pup, my opinions on the two films are essentially the same. The gags are still clever and a lot of fun, the character animation is still wonderful, and the comic timing is still perfect. The biggest difference between the two cartoons is the background art, which is much more abstract here. I have conflicting opinions on the background art here. It is lovely to look, and the use of backgrounds made of collages of colors gives the film a very likable fun feel. At the same time, I am not sure if these more traditional looking characters look a little out of place among the more stylized backgrounds. 

The credited animators on this film are Ed Barge, Ray Patterson, Irven Spence and Kenneth Muse. These were the same animators who were credited on Love That Pup. The credited background artist was Don Driscoll. Driscoll rarely worked on the Tom and Jerry cartoons but his name can be seen on the credits for the other two Tom and Jerry CinemaScope remakes. His credit also appears on the three non-Tom and Jerry CinemaScope remakes from MGM. These other three CinemaScope were Millionaire Droopy (1956, remake of the Droopy cartoon, Wags to Riches (1949)), Good Will to Men (1955; remake of the Hugh Harmon short, Peace on Earth (1939)) and Cat's Meow (1957; remake of the Tex Avery short Ventriloquist Cat (1950)). The credited layout artist was Richard Bickenbach. Richard Bickenbach not only worked on William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Tom and Jerry shorts but also on their later TV work. He would work on such Hanna-Barbera TV series as Quick Draw McGraw, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Top Cat, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo Where Are You and many more. He would also work on the Hanna-Barbera feature films, The Man Called Flintstone (1966) and Charolette's Web (1973) as well as the Loopy the Loop theatrical shorts. 

This film is available on the DVD sets, Tom and Jerry: Classic Collection Volume 5, Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3 and Tom and Jerry: The Deluxe Anniversary Collection as well as the Laserdisc set, The Art of Tom & Jerry: Volume II and the new Blu-ray set Tom and Jerry: The Complete CinemaScope Collection. This is the 105th Tom and Jerry cartoon overall and the last theatrical cartoon short to feature Tyke. 

-Michael J. Ruhland