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The Night Before Christmas

  • 1941
  • Approved
  • 9m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
The Night Before Christmas (1941)
AnimationComedyDramaFamilyFantasyShort

Well, a mouse *is* stirring... And he's having fun playing with the toys, until he mistakes Tom for a stuffed toy and wakes him up.Well, a mouse *is* stirring... And he's having fun playing with the toys, until he mistakes Tom for a stuffed toy and wakes him up.Well, a mouse *is* stirring... And he's having fun playing with the toys, until he mistakes Tom for a stuffed toy and wakes him up.

  • Directors
    • Joseph Barbera
    • William Hanna
    • Rudolf Ising
  • Writers
    • Gus Arriola
    • Joseph Barbera
  • Stars
    • The Boswell Sisters
    • Connee Boswell
    • Martha Boswell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Joseph Barbera
      • William Hanna
      • Rudolf Ising
    • Writers
      • Gus Arriola
      • Joseph Barbera
    • Stars
      • The Boswell Sisters
      • Connee Boswell
      • Martha Boswell
    • 30User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos76

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    Top cast11

    Edit
    The Boswell Sisters
    The Boswell Sisters
    • Vocalists
    • (uncredited)
    Connee Boswell
    Connee Boswell
    • Vocalist
    • (uncredited)
    Martha Boswell
    Martha Boswell
    • Vocalist
    • (uncredited)
    Vet Boswell
    Vet Boswell
    • Vocalist
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Compton
    • Lead Debutante Vocalist
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    The Debutantes
    • Vocalists
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Graham
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Beatrice Hagen
    Beatrice Hagen
    • Vocalist
    • (uncredited)
    William Hanna
    William Hanna
    • Tom
    • (uncredited)
    The King's Men
    • Vocalists
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Lang
    • Tom
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Joseph Barbera
      • William Hanna
      • Rudolf Ising
    • Writers
      • Gus Arriola
      • Joseph Barbera
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    7.92.6K
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    Featured reviews

    8ccthemovieman-1

    Tom & Jerry Show The Christmas Spirit

    This early Tom and Jerry cartoon can be excused if it is overly cute-over-comedy in subject matter. Hey, it's the Christmas season and this cartoon reflects that in an old-fashioned, nice way.

    Apparently, this is Jerry's first Christmas because he's amazed to see Christmas tree ornaments, candy canes and stuff animals and other presents under the tree.

    This does have the usual chase scene, but isn't that long and the film ends on a very touching sentimental note the last few minutes.

    As others have said, this is about as nice as Christmas cartoon as you're ever going to find. At the beginning, I thought this might be nothing but it's such a feel-good Tom & Jerry that it's very, very worthy of being in anyone's collection.
    10TheLittleSongbird

    Heart-warming festive fun

    I am a big fan of Tom and Jerry and I love Christmas-themed cartoons/films, so this a match made in heaven I thought. And I was right, I loved The Night Before Christmas, it has everything a Tom and Jerry cartoon should have. Plus it is heartwarming, funny and charming.

    The animation is beautiful, the backgrounds are fluid, the colours look really nice and the characters are drawn well, even Tom who looks quite cute. The music is also sweet, the sight gags are funny, the story packs an emotional punch for me especially at the end, which is one of my favourite Tom and Jerry endings and both Tom and Jerry are wonderful to watch and very likable.

    Overall, for any Tom and Jerry fan, this is a must watch. 10/10 Bethany Cox
    Kirpianuscus

    useful. in profound sense

    I saw it after decades. And the emotion of childhood was the same, fresh, gentle, rich in joy tones.

    A lovely portrait of Christmas Eve in fair - sweet colors, offering the spirit of a pure unique holliday from perspective of early ages.

    Run, cruel steps of war , a young Tom and the same Jerry and the comfortable, emotional final , offering exactly the state of Christmas with family, friends , in the womb of peace and tender happiness - parts of Christmas as special moment , honorating the birth of son of God.

    This detais are sources of seduction of this episode , not only nice - amusing but profound useful in profound measure.
    Michael_Elliott

    The Night Before Christmas

    The Night Before Christmas (1941)

    *** 1/2 (out of 4)

    One of the best of the early Tom and Jerry cartoon shorts. It's Christmas night and Jerry is under the tree play with the various gifts left by Santa. Soon he starts jumping on Tom thinking he's a gift and soon the two are back to their fighting ways. The third short in the series has all the classic chases that you'd expect from the series but it also has a bit more heart since this was released around the holidays. The animation is really what stands out here and especially how colorful it was. The scene under the tree are especially beautiful looking and we also get some nice laughs once the fighting starts. The ending is quite nice as the two make up and play nice for once.
    cmyklefty

    A cute holiday cartoon.

    The Night Before Christmas is one cutest holiday cartoon past and present. I recently saw this on Cartoon Network late at night. I remember 15 or more years the TV would not play cartoons at a certain time. It is refreshing to see this cartoon late at night on Christmas Eve.

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    Family
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    Fantasy
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    Short

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Released on December 6, 1941. The next day, most of the life depicted here would change dramatically with the advent of war in the US.
    • Connections
      Edited into Tom & Jerry: Cartoon Festival Vol. 3 (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      Deck the Halls
      Traditional tune, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant (uncredited)

      Chorus: The Debutantes and The King's Men (all uncredited)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 6, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Not Even a Mouse
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Cartoon Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 9m
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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