Mouse Wreckers

This is a tour-de-force in animation, as well as story line and character study. Hubie and Bertie make Claude cats' life miserable throughout this toon, eventually driving him crazy with the ceiling-floor switch. If you like to see the little guys prevail, this is a treat you wont soon forget. Never a dull moment in the entire film, and filled with belly-laughs from beginning to end. A million stars!

This cartoon short, an Oscar nominee, features Hubie and Bert ("Yeah, yeah, sure, sure") tormenting poor Claude for the first time. Poor Clude didn't fare terribly well in any of his cartoons, either with Hubie and Bert or in other cartoons, but this is by far the most devastatingly funny appearance by any of them. You really get to feel quite sorry for poor Claude after a while here. He just happens to be in the way here. He doesn't do anything to deserve this nightmare. He's simply there. Recommended.

Mouse Wreckers (1948)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Mice Bertie and Hubie come to their new home when they notice Claude the Cat, the best mouse catcher out there, is staying there. Together the two try to make Claude think he's crazy so that he'll move out. This here is a minor cartoon that makes for one great ending but everything before it is rather dull and bland. All of the "tricks" being done to the cat are rather blandly done and for the life of me I could never believe that the cat would be dumb enough to think everything that was happening was only a dream. A dumb cat would have fallen for this but apparently this one was a great one so I don't buy it. The ending is terrific as the cat thinks he's in an upside-down room. The payoff to this sequence is enough of a reason to watch the film.

The Hubie and Bertie cartoons are not many, but they are all worth a look at least once and are worthy of more attention. Personally am in total agreement that their best is 'Mouse Wreckers', with 'Cheese Chasers' a close second.

Like with what was said in my review of 'Cheese Chasers', the animation in 'Mouse Wreckers' is excellent. Attention to detail is meticulous, the colours are rich and vibrant and the characters are designed in a way that's distinctively Chuck Jones. The animation in the ceiling trick gag is marvellously inventive and is a huge part of that gag's success.

As always, Carl Stalling's music does not disappoint and demonstrates why he has always been my personal favourite of the regular Looney Tunes composers. Orchestration is clever, rich and luscious, the energy, character and appropriately dark atmosphere are evident throughout and it not only fits with what's going on but adds to it.

'Mouse Wreckers' is the most relentlessly cruel of the series, though the cartoon's dark and somewhat sadistic edge is not done too much and not done to stomach churning effect, but also the funniest, the rope and climactic gags being especially hilarious.

Hubie and Bertie are lively and appealing characters, with great comic coming and provide a bold twist to the cat and mouse partnership, while Claude is an antagonistic character that's menacing, at other times amusing and one that one feels somewhat sorry for. Flawless vocals too from Mel Blanc and Stan Freberg, Blanc particularly sounding like he was enjoying himself thoroughly.

In conclusion, wonderful and Hubie and Bertie at their best. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Looking for a new home, Hubie and Bertie spot a beautiful place and look in the window and see a bunch of awards and trophies for "Best Mouser of 1948.." Beneath the pile of trophies lies "Claude The Cat." How to get rid of this cat so "we" can safely enjoy this beautiful new house is the plan now for these two sadistic mice.

The sadistic but admittedly funny and ingenious plans these mice up with a definitely fun to watch. They make the poor cat a nervous wreck in no time. I felt sorry for the poor pussy. (By the way, where were the owners of the house during all this chaos?)

I agree with the other reviewers here: this is easily the best Bert & Hubie cartoon I have seen. This is original, good material and part of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume Two.