Heavenly Puss

Heavenly Puss
Tom and Jerry series
Poster
Directed by William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Story by William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Voices by Daws Butler
Billy Bletcher
Music by Scott Bradley
Animation by Ray Patterson
Irven Spence
Kenneth Muse
Ed Barge
Studio MGM Cartoons
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)
  • July 9, 1949 (1949-07-09)
  • October 26, 1956 (1956-10-26)
(reissue)
Color process Technicolor
Perspecta (reissue)
Running time 7:48
Language English
Preceded by Hatch Up Your Troubles
Followed by The Cat and the Mermouse

Heavenly Puss is a 1949 one-reel animated cartoon and is the 42nd Tom and Jerry short, created in 1948, and released to theaters on July 9, 1949 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, and produced by Fred Quimby. The cartoon's music was composed by Scott Bradley and the animation was credited to Ray Patterson, Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse and Ed Barge.

Plot

Tom is sleeping near the fireplace, but dreams about Jerry sneaking past him. Jerry goes up onto the dinner table and tries to reach for the food, but Tom whacks him with a knife and Jerry gets spooked and retreats, running up the staircase. Tom pulls the carpet off the staircase to catch Jerry but also pulls down a large upright piano. While Jerry dodges, the piano crushes Tom to death. Tom's spirit ascends to the "Heavenly Express", a steam train that sends dead cats to Heaven.

Several cats are waiting to enter and the gatekeeper goes though their lives. The cats include Butch, who has lost a fight with a bulldog; Frankie, who was struck with a flat iron while singing on a backyard fence; Aloysius, who was run over and flattened by a steamroller; and Fluff, Muff and Puff, a trio of kittens who were drowned after being thrown into a river. The gatekeeper allows them all through as their deaths were untimely, but catches Tom trying to sneak past him. He is told to stand in line by the gatekeeper as he looks through Tom's personal records. Having learned that he has persecuted "an innocent little mouse" all of his life, the gatekeeper refuses Tom entry. However, the gatekeeper informs Tom that should Jerry sign a certificate of forgiveness, he will be able to board the Heavenly Express, which leaves in one hour. If he fails, Tom will be banished to hell where the hellhound (Spike) awaits.

At first, Tom thinks it was all a dream until he sees the certificate and a clock appears with the train's gatekeeper warning him to hurry. Tom pleads Jerry to sign, bringing cake, but Jerry eats the cake and squirts the pen's ink into Tom's face. Tom sneaks behind a chair and tries to forge (write) Jerry's signature, but the vigilant gatekeeper catches him in the act and warns him against doing so. Later Tom attempts to bribe Jerry with a piece of cheese, but Jerry thinks it's a trick and he tears up the certificate, causing Tom to fly into a fit of rage, violently grabbing Jerry. Before Tom attempts to hit Jerry, the devil appears and reminds Tom of the consequence of doing so, tempting him to finish the job. In fear, Tom quickly acts compassionately, as the devil disappears.

After quickly taping up the torn certificate, Tom pleads with Jerry to sign it, frantically miming that he is sorry for what he did and having him sign the certificate will finally allow Tom to cross into Heaven. Realizing that Tom needs his help in order to go to heaven, the still somewhat skeptical Jerry nevertheless signs. However, Tom misses the deadline and Tom then falls through a hole that directly leads to Hell into the cauldron where he will be tortured by the devil eternally.

It is then Tom realizes that he was actually dreaming and he finally wakes up (and "pops" the dream) when a piece of hot coal burns his tail, much to his relief. Then, Tom coaxes Jerry out of his hole and suddenly peppers him with kisses and hugs him with joy, much to Jerry's confusion.

Voice cast

Production

  • Directed by: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
  • Story: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
  • Animation: Ray Patterson, Irv Spence, Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge
  • Layout: Richard Bickenbach
  • Photography: Jack Stevens
  • Music: Scott Bradley
  • Co-Producer: William Hanna
  • Produced by: Fred Quimby

Availability

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