Heavenly Puss

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Heavenly Puss

Tom and Jerry series

The title card of Heavenly Puss
Directed by William Hanna
Joseph Barbera
Produced by Fred Quimby
Story by William Hanna (unc.)
Joseph Barbera (unc.)
Music by Scott Bradley
Animation by Ray Patterson
Irven Spence
Kenneth Muse
Ed Barge
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s) July 9, 1949
Color process Technicolor
Running time 7 min
Preceded by Hatch Up Your Troubles
Followed by The Cat and the Mermouse
IMDb profile

Heavenly Puss is a 1949 Tom and Jerry cartoon, created in 1948, and released on 9th July 1949. It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, and produced by Fred Quimby. The cartoon's music was composed by Scott Bradley and the animation was credited to Ray Patterson, Irven Spence, Kenneth Muse and Ed Barge.

Contents

[edit] Plot Summary

Tom meets his untimely death by piano in "Heavenly Puss"... Or does he?
Tom meets his untimely death by piano in "Heavenly Puss"... Or does he?

Tom is resting peacefully until Jerry comes along. A typically violent chase begins: Tom almost cuts off Jerry's hand and Jerry runs up the stairs. Tom loosens the carpet and pulls it down, but he also pulls down a large upright piano. Jerry manages to dodge the massive instrument, but Tom is crushed to death by the piano and climbs the golden stairway of Heaven to the golden gates of the "Heavenly Express". Unfortunately for Tom, the gatekeeper refuses him entry because he has persecuted Jerry all his life. However, if he can get a signature stating Jerry's forgiveness within an hour, a reprieve will be granted and he will be allowed through; otherwise he will be condemned to Hell, where Spike the Bulldog personified as the devil with a pitchfork awaits. Back on Earth, Tom comes back to life and, unsurprisingly, struggles to plead with Jerry to sign, bribing him with food (for example, Tom offers him cheese in exchange for his forgiveness), attempting to forge Jerry's signature, and pleading on his knees. Although Jerry does give in and sign, it is too late - the hour has expired! Tom tries to climb the stairs but they disappear and a hole opens under him, leading Tom directly to Hell and into Spike's cauldron, where he torments him with his pitchfork. Tom is eternally damned!... Or is he? It turns out in the end that it was all a nightmare, and after being waked by a burning charcoal from the fireplace, he hugs an unsuspecting Jerry.

[edit] Themes

Tom is going to kill Jerry after having the certificate destroyed, but Spike gives him a powerful reminder of the consequence of doing so.
Tom is going to kill Jerry after having the certificate destroyed, but Spike gives him a powerful reminder of the consequence of doing so.

The episode is a representation of the afterlife and how we behave affects our final destination. However a more subtle message comes when Tom is threatened with hell for chasing a mouse, despite being a cat's natural instinct. This perhaps shows just how few people are thought to be worthy of heaven. On the other hand, of course, Tom's persecution of Jerry far exceeds even a cat's natural instinct.

[edit] Quotes

  • Gatekeeper: "Name: Butch. [Butch nods] Cause of disease: lost fight with bulldog." [Butch nods again]
  • Gatekeeper: "Frankie. [Cat nods] Struck with flattener while singing in the back yard fence." [Cat exposes the injury on his head]
  • Gatekeeper: "Aloysius? So you didn't see the steam roller coming, huh? [Cat shakes his head] Go ahead."
  • Gatekeeper: "Fluff, Muff and Puff? Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. What some people won't do."
  • Gatekeeper: "Apparently your whole life was spent persecuting an innocent little mouse. With a record like that I can't let you through. I'm sorry, Tom. The Heavenly Express leaves after an hour. If within that time you get a signature from the little mouse on the certificate of forgiveness, you will be permitted to go past. But if you fail, happens this. [turns on the TV, where Spike as a devil is shown.]"
  • Spike: [laughs] "Let me have him! Send him down! Give it to me now! [laughs]"
  • Gatekeeper: "Remember, you have only an hour."
  • Gatekeeper: "Hurry, Tom. Hurry!"
  • Gatekeeper: [after discovering that Tom was falsifyng Jerry's signature] "Thomas! Ah, ah, ah, ah!"
  • Spike "Atta-a-boy, Tom! Hit him and let's go! Come on!"

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama, mentioned on The Simpsons page on BBC that this was one of the scariest cartoons that he had ever seen.
  • A clip from Heavenly Puss was also watched by Tom in 1967's Shutter Bugged Cat.
  • The three kittens featured in this cartoon later appeared in 1952's Triplet Trouble.
  • St. Peter in the cartoon was personified as a white cat in a conductor's uniform with glasses.
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