I have to wonder if William Hanna and Joseph Barbera thought their creations would hold up for 70 years. When Tom and Jerry, a very uncommon house cat and mouse, burst onto movie screens in the 1940s and later onto television sets, they left a lasting impression that continues to this very day. Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Volume 2 provides a glimpse into their endearing world and a even a couple of award-winning shorts.

Tom, a house cat, seems to have it in for Jerry, a mouse, trying to live in the same house. Their antics, both inside and outside of various homes, manage to cause both great swaths of destruction and peels of laughter at the same time. It's a gift Hanna and Barbera had for this duo. These cartoons are from the golden age of animated shorts, combining hand-drawn artistry, slapstick, and original music to form an amazing union of creative talents.

Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Volume 2 includes fourteen shorts in all, including a number of my own favorites.

"Baby Puss" (1944) puts poor Tom in the clutches of little girl Nancy who is intent on dressing and treating him like a baby. When Jerry gets involved, he sees an opportunity to cause Tom some additional trouble by letting his cat friends Meathead, Butch, and Topsy know what's going on. They delight in torturing "baby" Tom until Nancy gets home and catches them in the act.

In "The Bodyguard" (1944), Jerry rescues Spike, a big bulldog, from the dog catcher. As a result, Spike offers to help Jerry out whenever he whistles. Of course, Tom gets the rough end of this deal and has a few run-ins with the dog while trying to catch Jerry. Of course, Tom eventually devises a cunning plan to stop Jerry from whistling and the cat and mouse chase continues.

Article Author: Fitz

Brian Fitzpatrick (aka "Fitz") is a software engineer and writer living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats -- trying desperately to survive the chaos!

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