Blue Cat Blues

Blue Cat Blues is a 1956 one-reel animated Tom and Jerry cartoon and was written, directed and produced by co-creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera; the short was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on November 16, 1956, in CinemaScope and is the last one to be produced with the Western Electric Sound System.

Blue Cat Blues
The ending of the short featuring Tom and Jerry committing suicide by getting run over by a train.
Directed byWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Produced byWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Story byWilliam Hanna
Joseph Barbera
StarringWilliam Hanna
Paul Frees
Music byScott Bradley
Animation by
Layouts byRichard Bickenbach
Backgrounds byRobert Gentle
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
MGM cartoon studio
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
November 16, 1956
Running time
7 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Unusually for a Tom and Jerry cartoon, Jerry "speaks" lengthy lines, through an inner monologue.

Plot Synopsis

Tom is seen sitting on the train tracks while Jerry laments at his friends' state; he knows that his girlfriend will ask him upon turning home why he didn't attempt to save Tom, with him believing that "it's better this way".

The cartoon then enters a flashback showing both Tom and Jerry were once best friends, before Tom falls for a beautiful white cat who at first seems to return his feelings, before leaving him for Butch (who, unlike other cartoons, is rich) which reveals herself to be a gold digger.

Despite Jerry's protests, Tom tries continually to buy back his love but is continually outdone by Butch, and eventually nearly goes down the literal gutter. He is saved by Jerry, but gets more depressed when Butch and the white cat drive buy with a "JUST MARRIED" sign on the back.

As the flashback ends, Jerry kisses a picture of his girlfriend before she drives past, having married to another rich mouse; heartbroken, Jerry joins Tom on the tracks and a train whistle becomes audible as the cartoon fades out.

Availability

Additionally, the soundtrack was officially released on Tom and Jerry & Tex Avery Too! album as track 04.

Reception

Critical response

In Cartoon Carnival: A Critical Guide to Best Cartoons, writer Michael Samerdyke said "Blue Cat Blues is deeply indebted to Tex Avery for its gags."[8] Video Movie Guide: 1995 called the short (in a review for the aforementioned Festival of Fun VHS) said "among the worst Tom & Jerry outings".[9]

Legacy

The short is often considered the darkest Tom and Jerry cartoon due to its subject matter and ending.[10][11][12]

Additionally, it is often confused to be the final short of the series;[13][14] this is untrue, however, the final short produced at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer was Tot Watchers and the final short overall was Purr-Chance to Dream (produced by Chuck Jones at Sib Tower 12).[15][16][17]

Notes
  1. Also available on iTunes.

References
  1. "Art of Tom & Jerry, The: Volume II [ML103913]". LaserDisc Database. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. "Tom and Jerry Greatest Chases Volume 3 Clips". Kidzworld. October 1, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  3. Paul, Mavis (October 13, 2009). "Tom and Jerry's Greatest Chases, Vol. 3". DVD Talk. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  4. Miller III, Randy (October 19, 2004). "Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection". DVD Talk. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. "Tom & Jerry and Friends, Vol. 1". iTunes. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. "Tom and Jerry, Vol. 1". iTunes. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. "Tom and Jerry: Wild Cats and Traps". iTunes. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. Samerdyke, Michael (August 28, 2014). Cartoon Carnival: A Critical Guide to the Best Cartoons. ISBN 9781312470071.
  9. Martin, Mick; Bang, Derrick; Porter, Marsha (December 1, 1994). Video Movie Guide: 1995. p. 212. ISBN 9780345390271.
  10. Robberson, Joe. ""Blue Cat Blues" - The Most Violent TV Episodes of All Time". Zimbio. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  11. "Tom y Jerry: el capítulo más trágico del clásico animado". La República. February 11, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  12. "The Creepiest Moments In Kids' TV Show History". MTV UK. November 27, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  13. Gupta, Abir (July 2, 2016). "Do You Know What Happens To Your Favorite Tom and Jerry In The End?". Storypick. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  14. Pall, Vincent; Koski, Dustin; Ciscell, Jim (August 16, 2012). "5 Old Children's Cartoons Way Darker Than Most Horror Movies". Cracked. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  15. Boone, Brian (March 25, 2020). "The untold truth or Tom and Jerry". Looper. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  16. Evon, Dan (December 2, 2016). "Did Tom and Jerry 'Commit Suicide'?". Snopes. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  17. "False: Tom and Jerry did not commit suicide in the final episode of the cartoon series". Pesa Check. November 28, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
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