The Lonesome Mouse

''The Lonesome Mouse'' is a 1943 American one-reel animated cartoon and is the 10th Tom and Jerry short. This is notable for being the first speaking role of the cat and mouse duo. It was created and released in 1943, and re-released to theatres in 1950. It was directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera and produced by Fred Quimby. The animators of the cartoon were not credited (typically for early MGM shorts), and this was the last instance in a Tom and Jerry cartoon that this happened. All future Tom and Jerry theatrical shorts credited the animators. This cartoon is animated by Kenneth Muse, George Gordon, Jack Zander, Irven Spence, and Pete Burness.

Plot

Tom is taking a nap by the fireplace. Above Jerry drops a vase on his head. The crashing brings out Mammy Two Shoes, who throws Tom out of the house. Jerry teases Tom from inside and is having a lot of fun for some time without Tom, but soon becomes lonely and attempts to get Tom back into the house. Tom is sitting outside the house, feeling sorry for himself. Jerry whistles at him and waves a hanky of truce. Jerry makes a deal with Tom to get him back in the house.

Mammy is doing her dishes in the kitchen and singing. She continues working until Jerry pulls and snaps her sock. Jerry then begins to scare her. Mammy then calls to Tom. Tom grabs a curtain, using it as a cape, and chases Jerry behind another curtain. Fighting sounds are heard, but Tom and Jerry are playing patty-cake and both yelping in "pain" to make it sound convincing.

Jerry emerges from the fake fight and runs back into the kitchen, past the fridge and as Tom runs by, he rips a drumstick off of a chicken. He chases Jerry behind a wall with the drumstick in his hands (making Mammy believe he is trying to smash Jerry with it), and together they take turns eating it.

The fake chase continues with Jerry running into the cupboard and choking the cat. A lot of banging sounds are heard, but Tom and Jerry are using the pots and pans as a drum set. Tom and Jerry quickly close the cupboard again. They come out of the cupboard and stage a sword fight with a knife and a fork. Tom then grabs a meat cleaver and starts to chop at Jerry. Tom ends up cutting an apple on top of Jerry's head in half. Jerry notices that the last cut was pretty close to his head, and ensures the fight is not for real. The chase returns to staged mode.

Tom chases Jerry around Mammy, who is standing on a chair holding a broom and clumsily hitting the cat before an irate Tom takes the broom and snaps it over his knee. Tom then hands the broken broom back to the humiliated housemaid. Jerry then runs under the carpet and Mammy tries to swat the mouse. Jerry escapes and Tom puts a tomato under the carpet, pretending to Mammy that this is Jerry. Mammy hits the tomato and Tom looks under the carpet. He then reacts as if it's the worst thing he's ever seen, laying down flowers and crying. Tom even blows his nose on the hem of Mammy's frilly apron. He then take the flowers oan and holds it down like a hat.

Soon Tom has a napkin around his neck ready to receive his reward for taking care of Jerry: A lemon meringue pie. Jerry shows up with a napkin around his neck as well. Jerry takes a small bite of the pie, but Tom pulls the pie away for himself. He pushes Jerry away and snaps his fingers at him. Before Tom can enjoy the entire pie, Jerry kicks him and Tom's face lands into it. Jerry, angered at his lack of gratitude, walks away while muttering: Why that dirty double-crossin', good-for-nothin', two-timin'...

Voice cast

• Lillian Randolph as Mammy Two Shoes (original) (uncredited)
• Thea Vidale as Mammy Two Shoes (redubbed) (uncredited)
• Frank Graham as a voice heard offscreen (uncredited)
• William Hanna as Tom & Jerry (uncredited)

External links

• The Lonesome Mouse at the Big Cartoon DataBase