Tori Schmidt joins J.D. to talk all things Tom and Jerry! We needed an example of a generic Tom and Jerry cartoon, and we decided this one’s ordinary enough. We think you’ll find that this run-of-the-mill MGM cartoon proves their mill was pretty darn good.
We talk about William Hanna and Joe Barbera’s early careers, the remarkable success of their cat and mouse duo, and the remarkable failure of Chuck Jones’ Tom and Jerry era.
Host/Producer: J.D. Hansel
Guests: Tori Schmidt
Content Warning for Cartoon: spanking; cartoon violence.
Content Warning for Podcast Episode: mentions of gun violence and other harm that these characters do to each other (whacking, cutting, etc.).
Availability: Tom & Jerry’s Greatest Chases, Vol. 2; Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection, Vol. 1; Tom and Jerry Golden Collection, Vol. 1; Tom and Jerry: 85th Anniversary Kids Collection.
Notes:
My main sources for the history of Tom and Jerry were the MGM chapter of Of Mice and Magic and the documentary How Bill and Joe Met Tom and Jerry.
My comments on the kind of violence that Hanna and Barbera were willing to do compared to what was happening at Warner were greatly influenced by Michael Barrier’s observations about the use of sharp objects in their cartoons on pages 407-408 of Hollywood Cartoons.
I learned of Joe Barbera’s penchant for plate rail gags from Mark Kausler’s audio commentary track for Puss Gets the Boot.
In the episode I mention the Cartoon Research article “The INVISIBLE Article” by Charles Gardner.