Puss n' Toots

The year 1942, the first full year of these Tom and Jerry cartoons and, as many of them were this year, are nothing special. What makes these two guys click are their famous chases and inventive ways to getting at each other. Those were just starting to surface the first season or two. In this cartoon, that "chase" doesn't begin until less than three minutes remain.

Before that, we just get the normal Tom toying with Jerry and than acting goofy trying to impress a new female cat, which was let in the house by the maid, "Mammy Two Shoes." She, too, was a fixture in 1942 but didn't last too long. Meanwhile, Tom tries to impress the visiting feline with his looks and with presents but she's a hard sell. When he presents Jerry, the mouse has to put up with some humiliations. He finally figures a way to stopped being used, pokes Tom in the butt with a big needle...and the chase is on.

There was one funny bit, with Tom on top of a record player, spinning around to whatever tune Jerry would play. Overall, though, it was so-so material that was done much better in a few years to come.