cat and mouse

Popular Culture could mean anything. Even a cartoon that has been so well adapted that it fits right into the great canon of works.For me Tom and Jerry fits the bill…so here it is…Ladies and Gentlemen… Tom & Jerry!The oldest running cartoon any one can remember can undoubtedly be Tom and Jerry. This cat and mouse charade and shenanigans had (make it have—I watch all the reruns) us all in splits. The well-written scripts, the jazz undertones, the violent bashings–all of them combined produce a cartoon that can never be duplicated.This cartoon was created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and was produced by the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer from the years 1940 to 1958.The entire show depended on the ruckus created because Tom (the cat) could not catch Jerry (the adorable, cheese-loving mouse).The house was turned upside down, the characters were everywhere- from outer space to underground and poor Tom was knocked around till be turned several shades of purple, blue and green —but our smart mouse Jerry would not be caught (except when he went for the cheese).The best thing in the cartoon is that no one speaks (other than the occasional howls of pain coming mainly from Tom). The jazz music provides the perfect setting and scenario for the rather violent but utterly charming cartoon. William Hanna provided most of the sounds emitted from Tom and Jerry and the most popular screaaaaam from Tom (yes, I know you know which one)Tom cat is quite the lazy bum, always seen sleeping or protecting his precious milk which Jerry is always eyeing. Thus begins the drama or you can say the cat and mouse game (no pun intended!!!)It is rare when Tom triumphs over Jerry and when he does you actually cheer the poor fella on (he really does get quite the thrashing—you know!).The other characters are also as delightful even Butch – the scruffy black alley cat that lives in a dustbin, Spike the dog and his son Tyke. Sometimes we can hear Spike talk and it is said that his voice and demeanor was much like Jimmy Durante for if you remember ‘Dat’s my boy’ yes…it’s taken from him. If you were a regular Tom and Jerry addict then you had to remember Quacker the duck and there is Jerry’s uncle Pecos who made his appearance with his guitar (and when his strings snapped he used Tom’s whiskers.)And oh!!! Let us not forget cute Nibbles -the diaper clad junior mouse that just cannot stop eating. You want to cuddle him he is just so cute.So I guess all you out there are rushing to get the Tom and Jerry DVD’s and watch them with a bucket full of melted butter popcorn and do I dare say cheese sticks.I’ll catch you later. I’m about to do the exact same thing!!!