1947 Blogathon: Tom and Jerry shorts of 1947

This post is one of my contributions to The 1947 Blogathon hosted by Shadows and Satin and Speakeasy.   Click here for a list of all the participating blogs in the blogathon.

The animated cat and mouse team of Tom and Jerry (T&J) made their big-screen debut in 1940 and for the next 18 years appeared in 114 shorts for Metro Goldwyn Mayer until the studio shut down their animation department. All of these shorts of this era were directed by animation pioneers William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. T&J shorts have become so popular over the years that they are still shown on television today.  I've seen every T&J short ever produced (including the ones directed by Chuck Jones and Gene Deitch in the 1960s) and some of my favorites were released in 1947.

Here's a roundup of all of the 1947 shorts, with my star rating (4 being the best, 1 the worst).

Cat Fishin' (four stars out of four)

Released in February 1947

Many episodes in the T&J series usually took place in a house with Tom chasing Jerry all over the place....with Jerry eventually upstaging Tom, or"winning" (though in some rare cases Tom "wins"). In this 1947 episode, all of the action takes place at a fishing creek, where Tom uses Jerry as "bait" to catch some lunch. Two other antagonists give Tom a hard time: Spike the bulldog (in charge of guarding the creek), and a large, sharp-toothed fish who enjoys slapping Tom and Spike in the face with its tail. There are gags-a-plenty in this episode. The animation and attention to detail is particularly well done, especially Tom's "tackle box". I also love the score composed by Scott Bradley. Just close your eyes and listen to the score and you'll be amazed. Watch this episode here on Y-Tube thanks to Movie Cartoon channel!


Dr Jekyll and Mr Mouse (four stars out of four)
This is one of my all-time favorite episodes, from 1947. Tom wants nothing more but to enjoy his saucer of milk in solitude, but Jerry keeps interrupting.  Tom then mixes the milk with all kinds of poison (acid, bleach, bug powder, moth balls and more!) to fix Jerry once and for all. However, the plan backfires when Jerry takes a sip of the concoction, mutates, and develops super-strength with the ability to twirl Tom around by his whiskers. The potion doesn't last for long though, and Tom eventually gets the idea to taste the potion himself. What happens next is one of the funniest gags of any T&J! Watch this episode here on Y-Tube thanks to Ken1a's channel!  Released in June of 1947

Salt Water Tabby (four stars out of four)

This is another one of my favorites. In this hilarious 1947 episode, the cat & mouse duo engage in more buffoonery, this time at the beach. Tom flirts with a cute female kitten, traps Jerry in a bottle of soda pop, and eats a clam sandwich, shell and all! Eventually a crab makes his way in Tom's swimsuit and claws Tom in the butt. Watch this episode here on Y-Tube thanks to Domit Ahlesa's channel!  Released in July of 1947, just in time for summer.

The Cat Concerto (three stars out of four)
This time, the T&J series attempts to be little more "classy", with Tom playing the role of a concert pianist in a large concert hall. While he's playing, a little mouse (Jerry) runs all over the piano keys while Tom tries to shoo him off.  It's fun to watch the slapstick take place while listening to some classical favorites. Though it was not widely released to theaters until April of 1947, it won the 1946 Oscar for Best Animated Short (at the 1947 ceremony).  Ironically, a virtually identical Bugs Bunny short was released by Warner Bros in 1947 ("Rhapsody Rabbit") featuring Bugs fending off a mouse, resulting in  a bit of controversy. Imagine that - Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes gang having such a rivalry with Tom & Jerry! (Incidentally, Tom and Jerry won more Oscars - 7 in total - for Best Animated short than Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes)

Watch The Cat Concerto here on Y-Tube thanks to MUSICANDO's channel!
Compare it with the nearly identical Bugs Bunny cartoon (thanks to Gene Terel's channel!)


A Mouse in the House (two stars out of four)

Released in August of 1947

T&J shorts of the 1940s featured the recurring character of Tom's caretaker, a black maid who would often scold Tom with a broomstick for not catching Jerry. The character's name is credited as "Mammy"; she was voiced by the great Lilian Randolph, star of radio film and TV (including The Great Gildersleeve and my favorite movie It's a Wonderful Life).

"There's a mouse in the house!!"

In this 1947 episode's situation, Mammy has two cats (Tom and "Butch" - a black tabby cat who appeared in other roles in other episodes). The two cats do nothing but sit around on the couch all day. Meanwhile Jerry raids the refrigerator and leaves food all over the kitchen. Mammy challenges the cats to find the mouse - the victor  will stay and the loser will be kicked out of the house. Some of the gags are pretty funny: Tom scrambles to look for the mouse while Jerry is standing right in front of him. Later Tom dresses up in drag as Mammy to fool Butch. Another gag in is edited out of US television broadcasts nowadays - it's when both cats stick their heads in a stove and get their heads burned--when they emerge, they both look like blackface minstrels. This type of blackface gag sprang up several times in T&J shorts, as well as in other studio's cartoons at the time. Not one of the best T&J shorts, in my opinion.

Watch the censored version here on Y-Tube (thanks to Kulsum Balu's channel)
Watch the un-censored version here on Y-Tube (thanks to Margret Shauna's channel)

Released in March of 1947

Part Time Pal (two stars out of four)
Here's another 1947 T&J short that I don't consider one of the standouts. However it does has some amusing moments, and its share of "adult" humor. For example, I always get a kick out of seeing an intoxicated Tom for most of the short. Yep, that's right - Tom literally hits the sauce, falling into a hard cider barrel while falling down the stairs. While he's wasted, he becomes Jerry's best chum - they even raid the refrigerator together. You have to see it to believe it; I'm not doing it justice by just describing it. The finale involves an inebriated Tom attempting to splash a pitcher of cold water on a sleeping Mammy ("One for the Money...Two for the show....Three to make ready...and four to go!"); Jerry actually feels bad for Tom rather than relishing in his pain this time!
Watch this episode here on Y-Tube thanks to Margret Shauna's channel!

The Invisible Mouse (three stars out of four)
This was the last T&J short released in 1947 (it was released in September of that year). In this episode Jerry manages to fall into a bottle of invisible ink, and has some fun driving Tom crazy with his newfound invisibility. Watch this episode on Y-Tube here (thanks to Margret Shauna's channel)


The next Tom and Jerry cartoon would not be released for another 8 months (Kitty Foiled in June of 1948)



I hope you enjoyed this post. One day I hope to review - and eventually rank - all of the Tom and Jerry shorts!

Tom & Jerry - "Zoot Cat"

In this hilarious episode from 1944, Tom dresses up in a zoot suit to impress a girl cat, Toots.

One of the few episodes where Tom and Jerry talk!

This cartoon is impossible to resist!

Tom and Jerry episode: Jerry's Cousin (1951)

Today, a cartoon for Saturday morning.

This one is "Jerry's Cousin" from 1951.

In this funny episode, Jerry's cousin Muscles Mouse comes over to teach Tom a lesson.

Tom tries a few tricks to do away with Muscles. Hilarity ensues.

Tom and Jerry: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" (1947)

In this hilarious episode, Tom tries to poison Jerry by mixing bleach, acid, and moth balls in his milk bowl. However, the plan backfires after Jerry drinks it - he actually becomes a mutant mouse with super strength.


Duration: Approximately 7 minutes

Tom and Jerry: "Salt Water Tabby" (1947)

Fun in the sun! In this hilarious episode, the cat & mouse duo engage in more buffoonery at the beach.



Running Time: Approximately 7 minutes

Tom and Jerry: "Baby Puss" (1943)

In this hilarious Tom & Jerry cartoon, Tom is dressed up like a baby and is teased by Jerry and some alley cats-one of them dresses like Carmen Miranda and sings Mamma Yo Queiro. So funny!

Other songs heard in this short: "Rock a bye baby", "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" (background music in the beginning) "How About You?" (Jerry hums in the tub), "The Fountain in the Park", "(Cutest Little) Baby Face" (background music)


Length: 7 Minutes, 51 seconds
Year released: 1943
Cartoon Characters: Tom, Jerry, Little Girl, Meathead, Topsy, Butch.
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Directed by: William Hanna, Joe Barbara
Produced by: Fred Quimby