While it’s an understandable position not wanting to offend people, it is at odds with WHV’s own warning at the beginning of the discs which states that while WB finds these depictions wrong and don’t represent their views they “are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed.” Some of the censored material was included in the Special Feature “Cat and Mouse: The Tale of Tom and Jerry,” a great documentary that covers many of the people responsible for the cartoon series. But apparently that’s okay because someone tells the viewer what they are seeing is wrong, since the adult collector is unable to figure that out on their own. WHV comes off as inconsistent in the matter, and if there is enough demand, might change their decision.
If you haven’t started buying the series yet, Vol. 3 should be left to complete the set because there is quite a bit of repetition. Disc one has three best-of cartoons: “Jerry’s Diary” (1949) includes clips from 1945's “Tee for Two,” “1944's Mouse Trouble,” 1946's “Solid Serenade,” and 1943's Academy Award-winner “The Yankee Doodle Mouse;” “Life with Tom” (1953) samples 1946's “Cat Fishin’” and 1948's “The Little Orphan” and “Kitty Foiled;” and “Smarty Cat” (1954) also takes gags 1946’s Solid Serenade” and “Cat Fishin’,” as well as 1952’s “Fit to be Tied.” Three of the CinemaScope cartoons are remakes from 1949. “Hatch Up Your Troubles,” nominated for an Academy Award Short Subject/Cartoons, became “The Egg and Jerry” (1956), “Love That Pup” became “Tops with Pops” (1957), and “The Little Orphan” became “Feeding the Kiddie” (1957). While the picture got bigger, that didn’t mean they got better, particularly the animation. All the backgrounds look terrible and hastily drawn. However, there are plenty of laughs, which is the most important factor.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Oh man I haven't watched Tom and Jerry for a very long time. Even as a kid though I kind of got that the mammie character was way racists.
Still, lots of fun stuff.