The Million Dollar Cat
| The Million Dollar Cat | |
|---|---|
| Tom and Jerry series | |
 The Million Dollar Cat film poster | |
| Directed by |
Bill Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Produced by | Fred Quimby (unc. on original issue) |
| Voices by | Harry E. Lang (uncredited) |
| Music by | Scott Bradley |
| Animation by |
Irven Spence Ken Muse (as Kenneth Muse on the reissue) Pete Burness Ray Patterson Assistant animation: Barney Posner (uncredited) |
| Layouts by | Harvey Eisenberg |
| Studio | MGM Cartoons |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Running time | 7:14 |
| Language | English |
| Preceded by | The Zoot Cat |
| Followed by | The Bodyguard |
The Million Dollar Cat is a 1944 one-reel animated cartoon and is the 14th Tom and Jerry short. It was produced in Technicolor and released to theatres on May 6, 1944 by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. It was reissued for re-release on February 24, 1951. This short is the first of a few in which Tom emerges victorious over Jerry.
Plot
While Tom is throwing darts at an Apple on Jerry's head à la William Tell (he even throws one between his legs while blindfolded), a telegram arrives. Though it is meant for Mammy Two Shoes, Tom reads it himself and discovers that he thinks he has been left a million dollars in a will from his owner's eccentric aunt, making him ecstatic. Jerry also reads the letter and gets ecstatic. Jerry points out that the will has a condition which would cause Tom to forfeit his newly acquired wealth if he harms any living animal, even a mouse.
The next day, news of Tom's inheritance quickly spreads and he moves to 1 Park Avenue. He quickly becomes accustomed to his lavish lifestyle, but Jerry keeps showing up and tormenting Tom with the "Even A Mouse" line in the telegram. Jerry tries to push Tom's buttons by smacking him in the face with his own dickey, assaulting him in his limousine, stealing his sundae, and hogging all of the bed sheets with his nightcap while he tries to sleep (Tom tries to hit Jerry, but hits himself).
The next morning, after Jerry steals Tom's bathroom towel, he tries to get Jerry to leave by hanging a fire exit sign on the window and starting a fire in front of the bathroom door. Jerry promptly jumps out of the window. The cat cheers before sitting down to enjoy his breakfast, but when he grabs his napkin, however, he uncovers Jerry, who eats Tom's breakfast. As a final insult, he squirts Tom in the face by squeezing a grapefruit, reminding him that as long as the "Even A Mouse" rule stands, Tom can do whatever he wants to Jerry, then he once again smacks Tom's dickey in his face.
The last straw occurs where Tom draws the line, and loses his temper; the red boils over with his rage. An extremely mad and violent Tom grabs the telegram, tears it into pieces, and even shoves the "Even A Mouse" piece into Jerry's mouth, literally forcing him to eat his words. Jerry swallows it in horror at what is about to happen, as Tom leaps into the air with a loud and insane scream before attacking Jerry by slamming the crockery and breakfast tray on him. After a few seconds, Tom contemplates that he is throwing away his fortune but he is still happy and satisfied, and then goes back to attacking Jerry.
Production
- Directed by: Bill Hanna and Joseph Barbera
- Story: Bill Turner, Jack Ward
- Animation: Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse, Pete Burness, Ray Patterson, Tom Golden, Nick Tafuri
- Assistant Animation: Barney Posner
- Layout: Harvey Eisenberg
- Sequence Director: I. Sparber
- Music: Scott Bradley
- Co-Producer: William Hanna
- Produced by: Fred Quimby
Voice cast
- Harry E. Lang as Tom Cat (uncredited)
- William Hanna as Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse's cheers (uncredited)
Availability
DVD
- Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Vol. 2
- Tom and Jerry Spotlight Collection Vol. 1, Disc One
- Tom and Jerry Golden Collection Volume One, Disc One
External links
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