Tom and Jerry:
The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958)
review by Bobby Blakey
Like most people of my generation, I love all things Tom & Jerry. I can honestly say that I have loved or been entertained by pretty much every iteration that they have taken to this day. Before the iconic Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones got their turn at the famed duo William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the original creators of the series, brought the shorts to the big screen from 1940-1958 and they have been chasing each other into our hearts ever since.
​
Tom and Jerry follow Tom, a cat and a mouse named Jerry who are a frenemy duo whose small conflicts lead to traps, slamming, crashing, and a lot of cartoonish shenanigans. Sometimes, they end up teaming against other enemies or Jerry/Tom teaming up with the enemy.
​
I love these earlier original takes on the characters that included some slightly different designs and of course the iconic Mammy Two Shoes character that was basically the third lead in the series. Such a simple premise shouldn’t be one that could stand the test of time as this does, but the fact that they not only do but hold up is a testament to the brilliance to
each and every one of them. The simple act of cat vs. mouse was always fun to watch whether they were inside, wreaking havoc on the household or outside taking on garden tools, it just works.
​
The addition to other cats and dogs into the mix as the series moved forward allowed them to do more creatively and offers up more ideas and makes it feel more like a complete world. Most know that neither Tom nor Jerry typically speak, but most likely have forgotten that in some of these earliest episodes they had some quick dialogue here and there. Most of the time it was relegated to the rest of the supporting cast of other animals or Mammy Two Shoes and those that replaced that character later.
​
I still love this cat and mouse as much now as an adult as I did as a kid watching it every day. I still laugh out loud at the chaos, silliness and creativity put into bringing these brilliant pieces of animation to life. It still amazes me what they were able to pull off during this time period that not only still holds up to perfection but is as good if not better than anything put out today. This collection is perfect in every way and one that will no doubt be on repeat at my house. I am so happy that the episodes are uncut the way they were meant to be seen. I am fully aware of the sensitivities of the time and what might be looked down on now, but there is more to a lot of it than what you see on the surface.
The Mammy Two Shoes character for instance became an issue during the civil rights era causing them to change it completely, but the history behind her and her impact on the show is part of its success. This didn’t just translate into the series, but also no doubt with the opportunities that began opening for people of color. There is a great bonus feature that focuses on the character and the actress Lilian Randolph that brought her to sassy life.
​
This new anthology not only preserves the legacy of their golden era, but also enhances it, featuring several fully remastered shorts and quality improvements made to many others. These beloved Tom and Jerry shorts look, and sound better than they ever have since their original film presentations. The complete collection of Hanna Barbera’s Tom and Jerry Oscar winning masterpieces, available at last! Including three shorts, Casanova Cat, Mouse Cleaning and His Mouse Friday which are now completely remastered and uncut for the very first time along with numerous featurettes taking a peek at the making of this classic animated series.
​
For the first time ever, all 114 theatrical shorts originally created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera are brought together in one definitive collection, offering the ultimate way to revisit every chase, gag, and laugh that defined generations.
Join the chase and grab your copy of Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958) available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
