Tom and Jerry (MGM)

:For other uses, see Tom and Jerry.

Plot and format

The plots of each short usually center on Tom's frustrated attempts to catch Jerry, and the mayhem and destruction that ensues. Because they seem to get along in some cartoon shorts (at least in the first minute or so), it is unclear why Tom chases Jerry so much, but some reasons given may include:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• normal feline hunger
• duty (often it is Tom's job, as a house cat, to catch mice and failure would equal eviction)
• the simple enjoyment of tormenting him
• revenge
• a misunderstanding (especially in shorts that start with them ambivalent or friendly to each other)
• a conflict when both of them want the same thing (usually food)
• a need to have Jerry out of the way

However, Tom usually never succeeds in defeating Jerry, mainly because of Jerry's own craftiness and cunning, but sometimes because of Tom's own stupidity. The shorts are famous for using some of the most destructive and violent gags ever devised for theatrical animation: Jerry slicing Tom in half, Tom using everything from axes, pistols, rifles, dynamite, and poison to try and murder Jerry, Jerry stuffing Tom's tail in a waffle iron, and so on. The Simpsons's "cartoon-within-a-cartoon", Itchy and Scratchy, mercilessly parodies the violence of Tom and Jerry by featuring even more extreme violence.

Related Topics:
The Simpsons - Itchy and Scratchy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Neither Tom nor Jerry usually speak in the cartoons. There are brief exceptions, but their vocals are generally restricted to screams of pain (almost entirely from Tom), or nervous gulps. Facial expressions and gestures easily convey the characters' feelings and intentions. Tom occasionally displays a surprising singing ability, usually to attract a lady friend. This is excusable as it generally copies a famous crooner, and is perhaps a reference of cats yowling during the night.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Music plays a very important part in the shorts, emphasising the action and lending appropriate emotion to the scenes. Musical director Scott Bradley created complex scores that combined elements of jazz, classical, and pop music; Bradley often reprised actual contemporary pop songs, as well as songs from MGM films such as The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me In St. Louis.

Related Topics:
Music - Scott Bradley - The Wizard of Oz - Meet Me In St. Louis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before 1953, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in the standard Academy ratio and format; from 1953 to 1956 some of the output was dually produced in both Academy format and the widescreen CinemaScope process. From 1956 until the close of the MGM animation studio a year later, all Tom and Jerry cartoons were produced in CinemaScope; some even had their soundtracks recorded in stereo. The 1960s Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones shorts were all produced in Academy format, but with compositions that made them compatible to be matted to Academy widescreen format as well. All of the Hanna and Barbera cartoons were produced in three-strip Technicolor; the 1960s entries were done in Metrocolor.

Related Topics:
1953 - 1956 - Widescreen - CinemaScope - Stereo - Gene Deitch - Chuck Jones - Technicolor - Metrocolor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~