Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse

'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse' is an Oscar-nominated Tom and Jerry cartoon and I must admit it is pretty good. Not only is it funny but it uses the way animation should be used and especially the ending is quite inventive, although we have a feeling things will happen the way it does.

We see how Tom steals some milk and as he starts drinking Jerry joins him. Of course the cat does not like this very much and he tries to keep the milk away from the mouse. He doesn't succeed. Then he puts some poison and other stuff in the milk, tests it on a fly which gives a very big laugh, and gives it to Jerry. The result is not really what Tom was hoping for. Eventually it leads to the ending that is one of the better ones from the Tom and Jerry cartoons.

I am actually very fond of this cartoon for what it is: an intentional tribute to the Mickey Mouse cartoon "The Worm Turns" of 1937. That this has been left out of every other post on this message board is utterly amazing! It also makes it slightly surprising that the cartoon itself was nominated for an Academy Award, although many other tributes and parodies have had the honors over the years.

The scene with the fly is a direct parody of the Mickey toon, in which a fly is the first to benefit from the newly concocted "Courage Builder" strength elixir. The sound effects, as well as much of the visual popping and sparkling in the mixture, are directly lifted from this cartoon.

The complex, and undeniably great result is a cartoon with a unique twist in the ending, which provides a much greater entertainment value for someone familiar with the earlier toon, who can appreciate the contrast and the blatant inter-textual references.

I know these cartoons are just cartoon but still they need someone to feel and cheer for. When Tom starts the fight, I feel for Jerry and it should apply here as well but it doesn't.

All Tom wants to do is enjoy his milk but Jerry rudely won't leave him alone. Then at insult to injury Jerry become super strong and beats up Tom. The ending is very insulting as well. Jerry, much like in the Wright Bros episode, is just a big bully in this and I won't advocate such a thing.

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" is unusual in that it was nominated for an Oscar. However, when you see it you'll certainly understand. The animation (like all Tom & Jerry cartoons) is top-rate and the story is great fun. As a kid, I loved this cartoon and when I saw it again tonight I found I still do!

Much of this cartoon is the typical sort of Tom & Jerry fare--Tom is trying to kill Jerry but with no success. However, this time Tom decides to use his brain (uh, oh!) and makes a concoction designed to kill the mouse--or at least knock him out cold! Instead, the formula is like the Jekyll and Hyde potion in that Jerry changes--into a HUGE and well-muscled mouse who beats the snot out of Tom. In the end, Tom decides to try the potion himself...with hilarious results.

In this Acadamy Award-nominated cartoon (it lost to Tweety Pie!) Tom is tired of sharing his daily bowl of milk with Jerry and nothing he seems to do stops him from getting at it. So he makes up a poisonous white liquid from household chemicals and serves it to Jerry, hoping to kill him. Unfortunately it merely gives him great strength and he proceeds to open a can of whoop-ass. Trouble is, his powers come and go at sporadic intervals. So Tom decides to drink the potion himself.

It's very funny and you'll certainly be laughing all the way through. The twist ending is the best laugh of all. I won't ruin it, but it was my favorite one yet.