Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Volume 3
DVD Review by Craig Davison
“Fast, furry and funny. That’s how Tom and Jerry take care of business. And in this family-pleasing collection of 14 classic cartoons business is brisk.” – Liner notes from “Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases Vol. 3”
It looks like we’re now three volumes into Warner Home Video’s “Greatest Chases” series of Tom and Jerry cartoons. As the quote, above, makes clear these DVDs are simple “kiddy cartoon” collections. Do not expect any scholarly commentary tracks, special features or “restored” versions here.
On the positive side, there are three un-cropped CinemaScope titles included that are really fresh-looking.
Also, the DVNR that marred some of the cartoons on the Droopy collection does not seem to be evident, at least to my puffy, cartoon-stained eyeballs. One look at the title cards for “Designs on Jerry” will attest to this lack of noise reduction.
On the minus side, the sequencing of cartoons is rather odd. Cartoons number one through ten run chronologically (1951 – 1956) only to take a neck-snapping rewind back to 1941 with “The Night Before Christmas” slugged in at number eleven. Adding to the disorientation is the fact that this is timeless holiday classic preceded by the suicidal hi-jinks of “Blue Cat Blues!”
I don’t know if there was a theme intended for this set, but it appears to me that these shorts tend to veer away from the claustrophobic, house-bound, floor-level cat-and-mouse antics and instead tries to highlight different locals or formula-tweaking “takes” on the usual Tom and Jerry shenanigan. But maybe I’m reading too much into it.
About all that’s left to do is take a quick run-down of the cartoons on the disc. So, without any further ado…
(1951) Tom and Jerry battle over who will get to use the hammock in the back yard. Good gags and brisk pacing show what can be done with even the most wafer-thin premise.
The Flying Cat (1951) Here we learn the answer to that burning question, “What do you get when you cross a Tweety cartoon with a Tom and Jerry cartoon?”
The Two Mousketeers (1952) This won an Academy Award, but it is basically a standard Tom and Jerry banquet table food-fight cartoon. Is the little French-speaking mouse appealing or annoying? You be the judge!
Smitten Kitten (1952) A decent “cheater” cartoon wherein a green-demon Durante mouse reminds Jerry of all the trouble Tom’s past romances have caused him. Paging Doggie Daddy…
Baby Butch (1953) Butch, the alley cat, pretends to be an abandoned baby in order to invade Tom and Jerry’s house. The object is to steal a ham. Meh.
Designs On Jerry (1953) Stick figures come to life on Tom’s blue print for a “Rube Goldberg” style mouse trap. (Remember the old board game?) Pretty standard stuff, but I’m a sucker for stick-figure cartoons. I wonder what Tex “Porky’s Preview” Avery made of this?
Pecos Pest (1953) Jerry is visited by his “singin’ cowboy” Uncle Pecos who is en route to the big city for his television debut. Pecos offers a chorus or eight of “Froggy Went A-Courtin’” and is interrupted only by broken guitar strings. He spends the whole picture plucking out Tom’s whiskers in order to replace his broken strings. I especially liked the nod to the Les Paul/Mary Ford version of “How High the Moon” that is sandwiched into the mix.
Touché, Pussy Cat! (1954) A CinemaScope sequel (prequel?) to “The Two Mouseketeers.” (ibid)
The Flying Sorceress (1955) Tom leaves his suburban household (and Jerry) to audition as a witch’s cat. If you like “broom flying” gags this is the cartoon for you. Was there a law that June Foray had to voice all cartoon witches? If so, there are no compliance problems here. Another CinemaScope cartoon.
Blue Cat Blues (1956) Jerry narrates a flashback to explain how Tom’s Ill-starred romance has led him to the brink of suicide. When Jerry is likewise jilted he joins in on the fun for the fade-out gag. Another CinemaScope cartoon.
The Night Before Christmas (1941) Our heroes chase each other around the Christmas tree until Tom’s conscience get the best of him. The Harman/Ising “feel” is evident on this early entry.
The Bowling Alley Cat (1942) Cat and Mouse mayhem at a deserted bowling alley.
Fine Feathered Friend (1942) Tom + Jerry + Chickens = This.
Puttin’ on the Dog (1944) Jerry takes refuge in a yard full of mutts at the dog pound. Tom dons a very phony disguise in order to gain entrance. Will he or won’t he fool his canine tormentors? Gosh, what do you think?
As someone who used to collect 16mm prints of cartoons, I am pleased as punch that one can now stroll into any Target, K-Mart or Walgreens and scarf up over a dozen golden-age theatrical cartoons in one (inexpensive) fell swoop. The price of this DVD is no doubt less than the cost of postage for 14 reels of film!
If you’re looking for a definitive, annotated compilation of Tom and Jerry cartoons you’ll most likely feel unsatisfied with the “Greatest Chases” series. (Here, I am employing a literary device called, “understatement.”)
More GAC Reviews of Tom and Jerry/MGM DVDs:
Tom & Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection
Tom & Jerry Tales, Vol. 5
Tom & Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale
Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 3
Tex Avery's Droopy - The Complete Collection
Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 2
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All cartoon characters are (c) and TM their respective owners. Images © Turner Entertainment Company and Warner Home Video. Textual content © 2009 by Craig Davison.
