The Yankee Doodle Mouse
In this Tom and Jerry entry, the familiar chase unfolds under a backdrop of wartime patriotism, with visual gags and cues that echo a soldier’s theme. Notable set pieces include a carton of eggs labeled 'Hen Grenades', Jerry dropping light bulbs from an airplane as improvised bombs, and Jerry sending a telegram that reads 'Sighted Cat - Sank Same.' The score interweaves motifs from well-known patriotic war songs, reinforcing the atmosphere. A cut scene in which Jerry hits Tom with a board four times was removed from the 1950 reissue to accommodate a war-bond joke, and the original footage is currently considered lost due to the negatives being destroyed in the 1978 George Eastman House fire.
Director(s)
William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Details
Reviews
CinemaSerf
I must admit to feeling just a little more sorry for “Tom” than usual here as he is constantly being bested by “Jerry” in this wartime-themed comedy. The mouse lives in his cellar, under siege from “Tom” and his fairly hefty supply of dynamite. As ever, though, no matter how superior the armoury against him is, “Jerry” still manages to make sure it explodes in his nemesis’s lap, or under his tail, or between his ears - or even thrusting the poor moggy up into space. It’s end to end stuff with rapid-fire antics from start to finish as the two engage in a battle of wits with flour, some “hen grenades” and even a banana thrown in too. All the while, we have some jolly tunes to remind the audience of the underpinning patriotism and it’s full steam ahead.
