Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection

Before The Simpsons' Itchy and Scratchy there were Jerry the mouse, and Tom, the knife-wielding, axe-swinging, gun-toting cat. The long-running cartoon series, produced for theaters, but never geared toward children, took animated mayhem to diabolical new heights. For those who associate William Hanna and Joseph Barbera with such Baby Boomer-era limited animation series as Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, this two-disc set will be a revelation. Produced for MGM, these 40 cartoons, including three in letterboxed Cinemascope, are as lavish as any of the studio's grand musicals, and the influence of former Warner Bros. animator Tex Avery, who jumped ship to MGM in 1942, is evident in the best of these breakneck-paced gems. This set contains all seven of T&J's Oscar-winning cartoons, "Yankee Doodle Mouse," "Mouse Trouble," "Quiet Please," "The Cat Concerto," "The Little Orphan," "The Two Mouseketeers," "Johann Mouse," and "Touche Pussy Cat." Another Oscar-worthy gem is "Heavenly Puss," in which Tom meets his maker and must earn Jerry's forgiveness to be allowed entrance beyond the Pearly Gates. PC alert: Mammy Two-Shoes, a maid who many consider to be a denigrating African-American stereotype, is seen, but not heard in "The Little Orphan." The special features here are the cat's meow, and include Jerry's appearances opposite Gene Kelly and Esther Williams in Anchors Aweigh and Dangerous When Wet, respectively; two new documentaries ("How Bill and Joe Met Tom and Jerry" and "Behind the Tunes: The MGM Orchestra"); and authoritative commentary on three cartoons by animation historian Jerry Beck. Essential for animation buffs, but younger viewers who may wish to emulate Tom and Jerry's shenanigans should definitely be advised: do not try this at home! Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (D. Liebenson)