Cat Fishin'

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Cat Fishin'
Tom and Jerry series

The title card of Cat Fishin'
Directed by William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Story by William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Animation by Kenneth Muse
Ed Barge
Michael Lah
Music by Scott Bradley
Produced by Fred Quimby
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date February 22, 1947
Format Technicolor, 7 min 54 secs.
Language English
Preceded by Solid Serenade
Followed by Part Time Pal
IMDb page

Cat Fishin' is an animated cartoon short subject starring Tom & Jerry. It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera in 1946, produced by Fred Quimby and animated by Kenneth Muse, Ed Barge and Michael Law. It released in theatres on February 22, 1947 by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer.

[edit] Plot

Tom narrowly avoids being seen by Spike.
Tom narrowly avoids being seen by Spike.

The cartoon opens with a lake scene. Signs are posted that say, "no fishing, keep out, private property, no trespassing, and beware of dog". Spike is shown guarding the fence asleep. Tom show up with his fishing gear and he passes through the gate. This almost wakes up Spike who ends up holding on to Tom’s leg. Tom tries to get away but Spike won’t let him. He is dreaming that Tom’s leg is a bone. Spike licks it and even takes a bite into it, this being Tom’s leg, causing him to scream. This wakes up Spike. Spike looks around but doesn’t see anyone, as Tom hides behind Spike as the bulldog moves around. When he turns around again, Tom sits on the top of his extended fishing pole, Spike still doesn’t see him and goes back to sleep. Tom then walks towards the lake. As he walks, the hook on his fishing pole hooks Spike’s collar and drags him along. As the line tugs, Tom looks back and sees Spike about to fall of a small cliff of dirt. He catches Spike and props him up with a stick. Tom then goes over to the lake and starts to fish.

Tom uses Jerry as his live bait.
Tom uses Jerry as his live bait.

In his tackle box are plugs, lures, wigglers, flies, and live bait. The live bait is Jerry who is sleeping. Tom wakes up Jerry and he takes off his robe with a look of disgust on his face. Tom then ties Jerry to his line and casts. Jerry is about to hit the water when he suddenly stops and dips his toe in the water. The water is cold and he shivers. Jerry races back to the tackle box with his blanket, shivering. The fish then start making noise and Tom lowers Jerry over the water. The fish leap at him at Jerry fights them off, kicking and punching. Tom casts again and a big fish with pointy teeth emerges. The fish chases Jerry and he quickly swims away. The fish tries to chomp at Jerry and he ends up chomping Tom’s fishing pole. The fish swats Tom with his tail and returns to the water where he spits out Tom’s reel and throws it at Tom.

Jerry dangles Tom from his rod as Spike jumps at him from below.
Jerry dangles Tom from his rod as Spike jumps at him from below.

Tom then cuts a finger off a rubber glove and puts Jerry inside making him look like a worm. Tom casts again and the fish is ready for Jerry. He ties a napkin around his neck and brings out a fork, knife, and dish ready with lemon and butter. Jerry tries to scoot away and he ends up squeezing the lemon into the fish’s face. Jerry then swims away again with the fish giving chase. Tom then grabs an oar and swats at the fish. Jerry emerges from the other side of the pier with a lump on his head. Jerry grabs the oar and swats Tom into the water. Jerry then ties a hook onto Tom’s tail and dangles it over the side of the pier. This causes the fish to bite Tom’s tail. The fish then pulls at Tom’s tail and he hangs onto the pier with his claws. Tom wins the tug-of-war with his tail and the fish ends up flying into Spike’s mouth. The fish comes out and swats Spike, then Spike realizes that he is balancing on a stick, which promptly collapses. Spike looks around and sees Tom and growls at him. Tom then dives into the water. Spike looks into the water and Tom emerges through a loose plank in the pier. Tom swats Spike with the plank into the water. Tom then grabs Jerry and his pole and runs away. Spike emerges from another loose plank and chases Tom back to the end of the pier. Tom sidesteps Spike and Spike almost falls into the water. Tom gives Spike a kick and Spike falls in. Tom runs over to a rock and sees the fish again. So he casts his line again. Jerry then swims underwater and toward Spike who is lying on the pier. Jerry unties the line and ties it to Spike’s foot. Then he tugs on the line and Tom reels in Spike. Spike tries hard not to get reeled, destroying the pier in the process, in but Tom doesn’t give up the fight. Jerry then hands Tom a club and Tom hits Spike in the head multiple times. This give Spike a lump on the head which Tom tries to get rid of but it doesn’t work. Jerry ends up lowering a line to Tom to help him escape but he also teaches Tom a lesson by dangling him over Spike.

[edit] Trivia

  • Excerpts of this cartoon are also seen in 1952's Life With Tom, and 1954's Smarty Cat, both of which are "wrap-around" cartoons, featuring flashbacks from older cartoons as part of the plot.
  • Ray Patterson and Pete Burness contribute animation to this cartoon. However, both are uncredited.