Tom and Jerry:1947

It's a shame that there is some controversy surrounding "Cat Concerto" (You know, that whole "Rhapsody Rabbit" thing) because it can overshadow what is one of my favorite Tom and Jerry cartoons.


Tom takes to the stage to perform "Hungarian Rhapsody #2". Let me say right now how much this piece of music sticks with me. It has been used in so many cartoons over the years, but never as perfectly as it is used here.


Of course, Jerry is living inside of Tom's piano and his sleep is disturbed. Jerry is not antagonistic at first. He actually tries to enjoy the music until Tom flicks him away.


The battle is now on as Jerry tries to ruin Tom's concert. He slams the keyboard cover down on Tom's hands and uses a cleverly placed mousetrap. The mouse raises Tom's bench to ridiculous heights and interrupts the music by playing some jazz riffs on the piano hammers.


Tom gets his moments as well as he punishes Jerry inside the piano during the song's frantic climax. Finally however, Tom can not keep up with Jerry and wears himself out, allowing the mouse to receive the applause.

Tom and Jerry:1946

"Solid Serenade" is another Tom and Jerry cartoon that always sticks out in my mind, if for no other reason than Tom's rendition of "Is you is or is you aint my baby".


Tom sneaks over the wall with his bass fiddle to serenade his girl, but first he must deal with Killer the bulldog. A bit of taunting and some rope does the trick.


Tom's bass gives off enough vibrations to send Jerry bouncing helplessly around his home and the mouse is quick to break up the concert. What better way than flinging a pie laced with an iron at the cat? I can't think of one.


The chase is on as Tom ends up springboarding into a pile of dishes and Jerry slams a window on Tom's neck.


Jerry unties Killer but Tom subdues the dog with some trickery as well as a brick to the head. Tom pauses during the chase to swoon over the female cat, but at one point, Killer inadvertantly becomes the object of Tom's desires. "You set my soul on fire. It is not just a little spark but a flame."


Tom chases Jerry into the doghouse, where Killer awaits. The dog pummels Tom and ties him to the bass fiddle for a musical number of his own.

Tom and Jerry:1945

Anytime you see a beautifully arranged dinner table in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, you just know that a food fight isn't far away in the future.


Mammy is expecting dinner guests, but Tom has plans of his own. He invites his girl over for dinner and forces Jerry to be thier personal servant.


Tom and Jerry go back and forth trying to humiliate each other. Jerry spits hot soup in Tom's face and the cat retaliates by holding Jerry over a candle on a spoon. When Jerry mocks Tom's failed attempts at kissing his girlfriend, Tom retaliates by using the mouse as a living corkscrew.


Soon a food fight erupts, with many a pie in the face. Tom even gets a salt-shaker-laced cremepuff down his throat. However, what fun is throwing food when all of those sharp knives are just laying around? Well, Tom and Jerry put the knives to good use, making the battle much more dangerous, and funny.


Tom, once again, seems to have no feeling in his tail when Jerry plants it in a sandwich, a dessert and a candle holder, but Tom regains feeling in his tail when he repeatedly bites it and when it is set on fire as he tries to enjoy a smoke.
At last, Tom is completely knocked cold and Jerry sends him sinking in the punchbowl.