GAC Exclusive! Contents of "Tom & Jerry: The Spotlight Collection"!

[Thad]

http://funnies.goldenagecartoons.com/tjdvd.gif

From a source well known to Golden Age Cartoons, here is the final list of cartoons to appear on the Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collection (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=B0002MFGCI/theunofficlooneyA/), which will be released on October 19th.

http://funnies.goldenagecartoons.com/quietplease.jpg
QUIET PLEASE (1945)

Disc One: The 1940s

1. The Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943) - Academy Award Winner
2. Sufferin' Cats (1943)
3. Baby Puss (1943)
4. The Zoot Cat (1944)
5. The Million Dollar Cat (1944)
6. The Bodyguard (1944) - w/Spike
7. Mouse Trouble (1944) - Academy Award Winner
8. Tee for Two (1945)
9. Flirty Birdy (1945)
10. Quiet Please (1945) - Academy Award Winner, w/Spike
11. The Milky Waif (1946) - First Animated Appearance of Nibbles
12. Solid Serenade (1946) - w/Spike and 'Toots'
13. Cat Fishin' (1947) - w/Spike
14. The Cat Concerto (1947) - Academy Award Winner
15. Kitty Foiled (1948)
16. The Truce Hurts (1948) - w/Spike
17. Salt Water Tabby (1947) - w/Toots
18. The Invisible Mouse (1947)
19. The Little Orphan (1949) - Academy Award Winner, w/Nibbles
20. Heavenly Puss (1949)


http://funnies.goldenagecartoons.com/saltwatertabby.jpg
SALT WATER TABBY (1947)

Disc Two: The 1950s
1. Texas Tom (1950) - w/Toots
2. Jerry and the Lion (1950)
3. Tom & Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl (1950)
4. Jerry and the Goldfish (1951)
5. Cueball Cat (1950)
6. Slicked-Up Pup (1951) - w/Spike & Tyke
7. Jerry's Cousin (1951) - w/Muscles Mouse
8. Cat Napping (1951)
9. The Flying Cat (1952)
10. The Two Mouseketeers (1952) - Academy Award Winner, w/Nibbles
11. Smitten Kitten (1952)
12. Johann Mouse (1953) - Academy Award Winner
13. Two Little Indians (1953)
14. Baby Butch (1954)
15. Mice Follies (1954) - w/Nibbles
16. Designs on Jerry (1955)
17. Pecos Pest (1955) - w/Uncle Pecos
18. Touche Pussycat! (1954) - w/Nibbles
19. The Flying Sorceress (1956) - Widescreen
20. Blue Cat Blues (1956) - Widescreen, w/Butch and Toots


-Thad

[Dan Porceddu]

I think these contents look better than we were all expecting. The fact that all of the cartoons will be uncut pretty much decides that I'll be picking up this set, and plus, two cartoons in CinemaScope!:tomcat::jerry:


-Dan

[Martin Juneau]

That's promise!! All of seven Academy Award Tom & Jerry shorts are in the 2-disc set but just 2 nominated made in 1950's and forget "Puss Gets the Boot", "Night Before Christmas", "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse" and "Hatch up Your Troubles".

A lot of his 50's Tom & Jerry are airing this spring on RFO and also premiering on DVD

[Martin Juneau]

According to this list:

11/14 are already in Tom & Jerry's "Greatest Chases" DVD/VHS

5/10 in the "Wisker's Away" DVD/VHS

4/7 in the "Hijinks and Shrieks" DVD/VHS

2/7 in the "Paws for a Holiday" DVD/VHS

and 3/5 are extra cartoons in WB's family DVD

Only 17 T&J cartoons are most premiering on DVD

[Javeman]

"Milky Waif" alone makes this set worth buying. Even though LT:GC#2 is my top priority, I'll buy this if I save enough money.

[Vdubdavid]

Shouldn't "Touche, Pussycat!" be in Cinemascope?

[Dan Porceddu]

Shouldn't "Touche, Pussycat!" be in Cinemascope?"Touche, Pussycat!" was one of the few MGM cartoons released in both regular full screen and CinemaScope. Two versions were produced because in 1954 not enough theaters were using CinemaScope for MGM to release their shorts in only that format. The version we see on Cartoon Network is a pan-and-scan of the CinemaScope version. The original full screen version tends to have more picture than the CinemaScope version does, so if you have to choose one, the full screen is better (NOT the pan-and-scan version), though ideally it would be nice to have both the full screen and CinemaScope versions included.


-Dan

[Thad]

FYI - It was requested to the programmers to use the widescreen "Touche Pussycat", but which version they will use is unknown at this time...


-Thad

[Sean Gaffney]

Nice selection of cartoons, including a lot of my favorites. Surprises to me include Smitten Kitten (a previous footage cartoon), though I know there's 3 or 4 of these so I suppose better now than later, and Blue Cat Blues, one of the darkest T&Js ever.

Can't wait; 10/18 is too far away. :tomcat::jerry:

[Martin Juneau]

"Touche, Pussycat!" was one of the few MGM cartoons released in both regular full screen and CinemaScope. Two versions were produced because in 1954 not enough theaters were using CinemaScope for MGM to release their shorts in only that format. The version we see on Cartoon Network is a pan-and-scan of the CinemaScope version. The original full screen version tends to have more picture than the CinemaScope version does, so if you have to choose one, the full screen is better (NOT the pan-and-scan version), though ideally it would be nice to have both the full screen and CinemaScope versions included.


-Dan

Who's the difference between full srceen and pan-and-scan?

[Senbei Norimaki]

No Mammy!:mad: What does Time-Warner have againts Black People!?! Racist crackers!:mad:

[Martin Juneau]

No Mammy!:mad: What does Time-Warner have againts Black People!?! Racist crackers!:mad:

Thad already say that no Mammy cartoons in this 2-disc set:
http://forums.goldenagecartoons.com/showthread.php?t=417

[Billy]

Mammy does appear in The Little Orphan...but I guess that doesn't count, as it's only for a few seconds and she doesn't say anything.

Still, this set looks great! I've been waiting for a uncut 'The Truce Hurts' for ages!

[Sean Gaffney]

Who's the difference between full srceen and pan-and-scan?
When you have a movie or cartoon that was made in widescreen, it doesn't fit when shown on a square TV. So you either make it widescreen using black bars on the top and bottom of the screen to keep the picture ratio, or you selectively 'edit' what you want to see, and make it square.

Pan and scan does that. For instance, if on the screen you see 3 characters, but only 2 are talking, pan and scan might edit the third character off the picture.

I'm guessing the T&J collection will all use widescreen and have no pan and scan.

[Vdubdavid]

Wishful thinking perhaps, but wouldn't it be a great surprise if some of these cartoons had their original titles restored a la "The Golden Collection"? Just imagine "Suffering Cats" with its original "hold the lion" opening!

[Nick]

Wishful thinking perhaps, but wouldn't it be a great surprise if some of these cartoons had their original titles restored a la "The Golden Collection"? Just imagine "Suffering Cats" with its original "hold the lion" opening! What opening was that? :tomcat:

[Leviathan]

Wishful thinking perhaps, but wouldn't it be a great surprise if some of these cartoons had their original titles restored a la "The Golden Collection"? Just imagine "Suffering Cats" with its original "hold the lion" opening!
Most Likely Not, Assuming the Changes made to the Tom and Jerry Titles are embedded in the original negs, and MGM didn't take good care of the orginal titles.

I really don't care for this colleciton, as i'm pretty lukewarm about Tom and Jerry. I'm looking Foward to the Disney Treasures and the Looney Tunes Vol 2. Instead.

[ohmahaaha]

I'm a little disappointed that there are no Mammy Two-Shoes cartoons in the set, especially "Part Time Pal" and "Mouse Cleaning," which I think won the oscar for it's year. Hopefully this set is a warm up pitch, but just the same there are too many out-and-out classics in this set to pass it up. :cool:

[Emmanuel Cruz]

Good news! Man, the wait for all these cartoon DVDs (Ren and Stimpy, LTGC2, T&J) is just horrible!:D


-Emmanuel:bosko:

[MF TOON]

No big surprises here, but this should leave just enough room for 2 more sets as I believe there's something like 75 or so shorts remaining. The only thing that bothers me, is the fact that there doesn't seem to be any acknowledgment of a "Volume 1" on the packaging anywhere. I'll obviously be picking up my copy when it's released..

[Boy Wonder]

The cat-and-mouse champs are here! The contents look, wow! Man, I hope there was going to be some special feature of some sort, but the toons themselves are way worth the price of admission.

[Dan Porceddu]

The cat-and-mouse champs are here! The contents look, wow! Man, I hope there was going to be some special feature of some sort, but the toons themselves are way worth the price of admission.Here's the special features listing:

Jerry Dances with Gene Kelly {excerpt from Anchors Aweigh RT 8:00}
Tom and Jerry Swim with Esther Williams {excerpt from Dangerous When Wet RT 7:44}
Commentary by Jerry Beck on: The Zoot Cat, Kitty Foiled, Heavenly Puss
Behind the Tunes: The MGM Orchestra {new documentary on the music of Tom and Jerry RT 20:00}
How Bill and Joe Me Tom and Jerry {new documentary on the origin of the series RT 27:00}

-Dan

[Bugsmer]

The selection is certainly better than expected, and as these are all uncut, (excepting the original titles, of course), it appears to be a rather good buy.

[Buttmunker]

Most of the 1950's disc is a throwaway - I know they couldn't include, for whatever reason in this day and age, the Mammy shorts - but how about Life With Tom instead of Smitten Kitten as a retrospective? How about Jerry & Jumbo instead of Jerry & The Goldfish or Jerry & The Lion for Jerry-Teaming?

Well, at least they didn't include Posse Cat in the 1950's set, arguably the worst Tom & Jerry cartoon ever from the Golden Age.

From the 1940's set, I'm surprised they didn't include The Night Before Christmas (no Mammy in sight, and its a warm-hearted short besides), Puttin' On The Dog, and the wonderfully colorful Springtime For Thomas. With these three, they could have easily taken away:
1. Tee For Two
2. Salt Water Tabby (both already included on 2000's Greatest Chases)
3. Cat Fishin' (a sub-par short)

I still don't understand why they didn't release a four-disc set for this important release. With four discs, they could have included all of the 1940's shorts, if they were so inclined and brave enough, in one complete set. Then, the next set could have included all the shorts from the 1950's.

[Merrytoon]

Most of the 1950's disc is a throwaway - I know they couldn't include, for whatever reason in this day and age, the Mammy shorts - but how about Life With Tom instead of Smitten Kitten as a retrospective? How about Jerry & Jumbo instead of Jerry & The Goldfish or Jerry & The Lion for Jerry-Teaming?

Well, at least they didn't include Posse Cat in the 1950's set, arguably the worst Tom & Jerry cartoon ever from the Golden Age.

From the 1940's set, I'm surprised they didn't include The Night Before Christmas (no Mammy in sight, and its a warm-hearted short besides), Puttin' On The Dog, and the wonderfully colorful Springtime For Thomas. With these three, they could have easily taken away:
1. Tee For Two
2. Salt Water Tabby (both already included on 2000's Greatest Chases)
3. Cat Fishin' (a sub-par short)

I still don't understand why they didn't release a four-disc set for this important release. With four discs, they could have included all of the 1940's shorts, if they were so inclined and brave enough, in one complete set. Then, the next set could have included all the shorts from the 1950's.
I think they're counting on releasing a second volume, which hopefully will include all of the missing 40's cartoons.

[Buttmunker]

I wonder...are we getting bamboozled, or will they first release the Spotlight Collection, then in six months release a 4-disc Golden Collection that include all the shorts previously released in the Spotlight?

I wonder if they'd do that to us...the Looney Tunes Collection have a Spotlight Collection, and its just an abridged version of their Golden Collection (Volume 2 --Volume 1 was called Premiere Collection)

[MF TOON]

I'm sure Jerry Beck wouldn't let that slide without giving us the heads up. It's safe to say that this is all we will be seeing as far as a first volume is concerned and hopefully everyone picks this up and supports the release so that we get the remainder of T&J's MGM shorts next year.

[JERRY BECK]

All I can say is, a Tom & Jerry Volume 2 is planned for next year.

;)

[Javeman]

All I can say is, a Tom & Jerry Volume 2 is planned for next year.

;)Are the plans to release every T&J theatrical short? Including the Deitch/Jones cartoons as well as "His Mouse Friday"?

[Jeff]

Are the plans to release every T&J theatrical short? Including the Deitch/Jones cartoons as well as "His Mouse Friday"?
Apparently you didn't believe him when he said "All I can say is..." ;)

[Javeman]

Apparently you didn't believe him when he said "All I can say is..." ;)Well, I was just asking. But if that's all he can say, I'll understand, so it's no biggie. ;) :D

Hey! 100th post! :)

[Leviathan]

All I can say is, a Tom & Jerry Volume 2 is planned for next year.

;)
Does that mean we'll get a Tom and Jerry Set annually, like the Looney Tunes Golden Collecitons?

[MF TOON]

According to PaulP from the Home Theatre Forums:



"I emailed Jerry Beck after reading this post over at DVDTalk (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=5069406):"
quote:
What would also be cool, is if WB would release the remaining Tom and Jerry shorts as well. As you can see on the linked site, there were 13 Gene Deitch and 34 Chuck Jones shorts made after the initial 114 "classic" shorts, so that could very well be the 4th 2-disc set. And then there were 48 more shorts made in 1975 by Hanna-Barbera, which could be the 5th set (probably 3 discs this time). "I asked him this question and his reply was:"
quote:
Warner Bros. is aware it owns the rights to all TOM & JERRY cartoons - including the Jones, Deitch and TV cartoons. We do not plan to release any of the later post-MGM cartoons on these collectors sets until after theatrical Hanna-Barbera cartoons were all released.

(However, some Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones Tom & Jerry's have already been released on earlier Warner dvds aimed at kids) "He also said something I'm sure we all know, but that definitely needs to be mentioned:"
quote:
If the first set sells well, they would hope to make Volume 2 for release next year.

[Buttmunker]

Well, I think the first set would have sold better if it had more content that has been taken from the public eye for nearly 20 years. As it is, you can catch these toons on television because there isn't anything there to cut or censor.

They played it safe, and this may - or may not - hurt sales. Myself, I'm getting the set because I'm a Tom & Jerry HOG.

[Leviathan]

According to PaulP from the Home Theatre Forums:





"I emailed Jerry Beck after reading this post over at DVDTalk (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=5069406):"quote:

What would also be cool, is if WB would release the remaining Tom and Jerry shorts as well. As you can see on the linked site, there were 13 Gene Deitch and 34 Chuck Jones shorts made after the initial 114 "classic" shorts, so that could very well be the 4th 2-disc set. And then there were 48 more shorts made in 1975 by Hanna-Barbera, which could be the 5th set (probably 3 discs this time).
"I asked him this question and his reply was:"quote:

Warner Bros. is aware it owns the rights to all TOM & JERRY cartoons - including the Jones, Deitch and TV cartoons. We do not plan to release any of the later post-MGM cartoons on these collectors sets until after theatrical Hanna-Barbera cartoons were all released.

(However, some Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones Tom & Jerry's have already been released on earlier Warner dvds aimed at kids)
"He also said something I'm sure we all know, but that definitely needs to be mentioned:"quote:

If the first set sells well, they would hope to make Volume 2 for release next year.

Why Would Anyone Want the 1975 Tom and Jerry Cartoons On DVD? That's Like Asking for Porky and Daffy meet the Groovy Goolies

[Kyle G.]

Why Would Anyone Want the 1975 Tom and Jerry Cartoons On DVD?

There's a few people who do, I'm sure Aaron Handy (http://1975tomjerry.50megs.com/) would be in heaven if they released a set of 'em. I'd probably buy it but only if they included the show's opening/closings same with the Filmation shorts.

[MF TOON]

Well just to clarify, that wasn't my request. I was quoting a member of another forum, however I have to admit I probably would consider such a set regardless if it were available, because I've spent my money on lesser quality 80's series simply out of nostalgia. It's not something I'd actually go out of my way to have WB produce though...

[Bugsmer]

Is everyone enthused about the first official release of "The Little Orphan", among others? If they can release a few cartoons with blackface scenes in this set, I see no reason why they wouldn't release less offensive Mammy shorts in the next.

[Buttmunker]

Is everyone enthused about the first official release of "The Little Orphan", among others? If they can release a few cartoons with blackface scenes in this set, I see no reason why they wouldn't release less offensive Mammy shorts in the next.
Well, Greatest Chases in 2000 had plenty of black-face gags, even if The Little Orphan as a short was the only one cut on the set - yet Yankee Doodle Mouse and Mouse in Manhattan had offensive black-face.

[ohmahaaha]

Leviathan wrote:



Why Would Anyone Want the 1975 Tom and Jerry Cartoons On DVD? That's Like Asking for Porky and Daffy meet the Groovy Goolies


That was a harsh visual, man. Anyway, I find the 1975 T&J's very disturbing. Reminds me of the Stooges when they were in their late 60's and 70's, Moe just didn't do the eye poking any more.

[Dan Porceddu]

Why Would Anyone Want the 1975 Tom and Jerry Cartoons On DVD? That's Like Asking for Porky and Daffy meet the Groovy GooliesI agree, I actually find "Tom and Jerry Kids" at least more watchable than the 1975 abomination was. I'd support the release of Gene Deitch and Chuck Jones produced Tom and Jerry cartoons on DVD once they're done with the 1940-1958 ones, but when Tom and Jerry left the theater the cartoons made for TV are hardly worth preserving.


-Dan

[Eddie Estes]

I don't blame Jerry Beck for this but I am glad I held onto my The Art of Tom and Jerry laserdisc set. I don't think Warner will ever release the Mammy cartoons uncut.
I don't get their thinking. Most kids won't be buying this set at the store.
If it is released in a low key manner I don't think black groups would get
upset either. Gone with The Wind for example. Adults will be the market for
this. It amazes me that Disney has more spine in this instance!!!(Disney Treasures)!!!
If you have the laserdisc sets you had better hold onto them. I transferred mine to DVD-r so they will stay in good shape.
The problem I have with this set is they are chronological but then you have to wait(and hope) that the missing ones that were released earlier will be on the next set. This puts them out of order. At least Turner and MGM had some backbone on the Laserdisc set.
This is not a slam at Jerry Beck. We all know he is trying his best.
Eddie Estes

[MF TOON]

I see no reason for skepticism...

Waners had announced last year at the HTF chat that we would be seeing the complete MGM Tom & Jerry theatrical film library spanning 1940-1958 released on DVD in chronological fashion in the coming year, and here we have a confirmed uncut and remastered Vol. 1 containing 40 classic shorts with a follow-up already planned for next year. Jerry Beck, despite his position with Warner Bros, has made it quite obvious without blatantly detailing intentions, that the best is yet to come. Can anyone think of the last comprehensive DVD collection of golden age cartoons from Warner Bros. that presented edited content... maybe I'm being negligent? I'm sure we've reached the point in this day and age, when respectable studios like Warner Bros. recognize that it is in their best interest financially, to offer films in their original and uncut context. The public has certainly made this clear and I can't think of a more archetypal company in recent years than WB, who has devoted so much time and effort towards adhering to their consumer base and moreso... classic cartoons. I'm sure by the time we hit Vol. 2 and possibly 3 if need be, the value of these sets will be quite obvious.

[Senbei Norimaki]

I don't blame Jerry Beck for this but I am glad I held onto my The Art of Tom and Jerry laserdisc set. I don't think Warner will ever release the Mammy cartoons uncut.
I don't get their thinking. Most kids won't be buying this set at the store.
If it is released in a low key manner I don't think black groups would get
upset either. Gone with The Wind for example. Adults will be the market for
this. It amazes me that Disney has more spine in this instance!!!(Disney Treasures)!!!
If you have the laserdisc sets you had better hold onto them. I transferred mine to DVD-r so they will stay in good shape.
The problem I have with this set is they are chronological but then you have to wait(and hope) that the missing ones that were released earlier will be on the next set. This puts them out of order. At least Turner and MGM had some backbone on the Laserdisc set.
This is not a slam at Jerry Beck. We all know he is trying his best.
Eddie Estes
Tom & Jerry is different from other classic cartoons because it is still popular with kids. That is probably why they are selling it cheap. I really don't understand Time-Warner's fear of Black people. I think the fact that Inki wasn't in the Ultimate Looney Tunes Visual Guide is a bad sign. I'm sure Mr. Beck is trying his best to get these cartoons released but I'm not very optimistic.

[corey3rd]

Tom & Jerry is different from other classic cartoons because it is still popular with kids. That is probably why they are selling it cheap. I really don't understand Time-Warner's fear of Black people. I think the fact that Inki wasn't in the Ultimate Looney Tunes Visual Guide is a bad sign. I'm sure Mr. Beck is trying his best to get these cartoons released but I'm not very optimistic.
This first collection is intended to move units - why else would they load it up with all the Oscar related titles? So they hold back on the Mammy titles for this first installment so the focus in on the restored Oscar winners - and thus getting parents interested in paying $20 a set.

At some point Warners will put out the Mammy cartoons - probably the third set so they can get a little buzz from stirring the media and maybe so they can have bonus features that attempt to put the character in context.

This first collection is intended to be a "safe" collection that can be used as a babysitter. Toss it in the mini-van to keep the kiddies entertained.

[Buttmunker]

This first collection is intended to be a "safe" collection that can be used as a babysitter. Toss it in the mini-van to keep the kiddies entertained.
I'll buy that for a dollar (to quote a non-notable). This collection playing in a mini-van is entertainment two-fold: visual entertainment for the kiddies, and musical entertainment for the driver (the music is all classical, with a backbeat, so who can ask for more than that, I ask you).

If Tom and Jerry is popular with the kids, as someone above mentioned, then I wonder why they decided to release only a 2-disc collection. Obviously I can see they wanted to go "the affordable route," and that's fine, but if its true that T&J's popularity is high, wouldn't parents have sprung for a 4-disc set? The Looney Tunes set was 4-disc, and it sold very well, so let's just say for argument's sake that Looney Tunes aren't as popular as T&J ---why didn't they release just a 2-disc set for "affordability sake?" The only reason I can think of is because there are sooooo many more Looney Tunes than there are Tom and Jerry cartoons.

[Vdubdavid]

All I have to say is you have to crawl before you can walk. I mean, no one was expecting controversial cartoons on the first Looney Tunes set, but it was the little things we got like cartoons with long edited scenes restored (such as Ballot Box Bunny), and now even better films are coming up on the second set. I'm willing to settle for just the unedited "The Milky Waif" now if it means we see "Part-Time Pal" later on.

[MF TOON]

Also take into consideration that these films were likely resmaterted first.

[Bugsmer]

Well, Greatest Chases in 2000 had plenty of black-face gags, even if The Little Orphan as a short was the only one cut on the set - yet Yankee Doodle Mouse and Mouse in Manhattan had offensive black-face.
Sure, but on every Tom and Jerry DVD set released so far, at least one offenisve cartoon was cut, if showed at all. There probably exist uncut DVDs, showing the tamer cartoons, but the DVD sets, even the Japanese ones, contain cartoons with racial gags and at least some of them are cut. This could be our chance to see the real thing treated as it should be by a team that understands.

[Larry T]

This could be our chance to see the real thing treated as it should be by a team that understands.I totally agree, but there's only one problem, and that is the fact that even Jerry can't be held responsible for executive/corporate decisions to pull cartoons at the last second. He doesn't control the whole shebang, but he's an excellent person to have at the wheel.... however, Jerry only has so much control- unfortunately- because if it were all up to him none of us would be complaining in the least... he knows what's important :cool: .

That said, I continue my pessimistic outlook on this whole deal. As I said before, even Japan didn't get a whole collection that was uncut... and they usually get everything unedited.... that's a bad sign (any cartoon with Mammy in it was the re-voiced Mammy... yech :mad: ). And so far, on every T&J DVD release so far, as Bugsmer said, something got edited.

Ultimately, the coporate execs have one thing in mind- make money. They don't care about the properties themselves or the preservation of possessions- that's not their prime interest, nor their jobs. All they see is how to bring in a profit to keep the company rolling. If releasing a DVD of cartoons that might cause uproar will hurt their chances of collecting on their investments, you can bet your sweet booties that cartoon DVD will be nixed faster than a censor's scissors. They only look at investing in DVD releases that can potentially bring in a return- and sitting ducks are always the sure choice (why else would there already be so many "Scooby Don't" and "Lezzie McGuire" DVDs all over the store shelves? They're a sure "Pop"-sell.)

Hey, wasn't "Mansion Cat" supposed to be a bonus on this set?

[Duck Dodgers]

there's a long sequence,in the milky waif,with blackface gag:jerry disguises himself as mammy,speacking in a stereotypated language,and nibbles(or tuffy,as you wish to call him)follows him disguised as a black boy.f this sequence is uncut on the dvd(as long as the blackface gag in the truce hurts and the onbe in the little orphan)we'll sure have some mammy cartoons in the future

[corey3rd]

since there will be 75 shorts left in the Tom & Jerry series after this first volume, why don't they release the remaining shorts in a 4 DVD collection. This way they'll be putting it out at a much higher price than the first set thus taking it out of the "impulse" buy zone and include Mammy Two Shoes since it'll be now geared toward the "collector" instead of the family market.

[cabe624]

I don't blame Jerry Beck for this but I am glad I held onto my The Art of Tom and Jerry laserdisc set. I don't think Warner will ever release the Mammy cartoons uncut.This is not a slam at Jerry Beck. We all know he is trying his best.No offence, but I for one would not make such an assumption before I see the set for myself. Jerry Beck has said that all of the cartoons on this set will be uncut with new digital transfers; his word is good enough for me and I trust him seeing that he worked on this set directly with WBHV. Again, WBHV has not been in the habit of releasing censored DVD's of any kind, and I don't see why they would start now. Yes, "Greatest Chases" had a censored cartoon on it, but it was apparently a "mistake", given that all the other cartoons on that release were uncut. The only thing that I don't like about this release is that there are fewer cartoons than I would have liked - a 4-Disc set would have been better, but at least were seeing these cartoons released at all.

[Mr. Jinks]

Wishful thinking perhaps, but wouldn't it be a great surprise if some of these cartoons had their original titles restored a la "The Golden Collection"? Just imagine "Suffering Cats" with its original "hold the lion" opening!Can you describe the "hold the lion opening"?
Also were there other Tom and Jerry shorts with these openings?

[Vdubdavid]

Basically, on 1943 MGM cartoons (I don't know if it was used after that year) the opening shot of Leo the lion roaring was looped so that we heard the same growl about four times before the cartoon's title appeared. An example of this opening can be seen on Tex Avery's "The Blitz Wolf", which was never reissued. I hope this answers your question!:)

[Mr. Jinks]

Basically, on 1943 MGM cartoons (I don't know if it was used after that year) the opening shot of Leo the lion roaring was looped so that we heard the same growl about four times before the cartoon's title appeared. An example of this opening can be seen on Tex Avery's "The Blitz Wolf", which was never reissued. I hope this answers your question!:)I know what you're talking about...the letters in the word cartoon are in a thick font.
When did they stop using the same "leo the lion" opening they used for the Technicolor MGM movies? (see below)

[Mr. Jinks]

What years (and what cartoons) did they change the openings and on screen-title cards (see below)

[Thad]

Straight from Jerry Beck...

"TOUCHE PUSSYCAT is a brand new transfer in 16 x 9 High Def widescreen, scope 5.1 Dolby Stereo. Eight MGM cartoons were recorded in stereo (but never released that way). TOUCHE PUSSYCAT sounds amazing!"


:tomcat::jerry:


-Thad

[cabe624]

Straight from Jerry Beck...

"TOUCHE PUSSYCAT is a brand new transfer in 16 x 9 High Def widescreen, scope 5.1 Dolby Stereo. Eight MGM cartoons were recorded in stereo (but never released that way). TOUCHE PUSSYCAT sounds amazing!"
This will be the first time in history that we'll hear this cartoon in stereo. I can't wait to get this set! :)

[Mr. Jinks]

Youre such a tease.....you got me riled up for this dvd...lmao

I might get my DVD a few days after the 19th. I ordered from amazon.

Straight from Jerry Beck...

"TOUCHE PUSSYCAT is a brand new transfer in 16 x 9 High Def widescreen, scope 5.1 Dolby Stereo. Eight MGM cartoons were recorded in stereo (but never released that way). TOUCHE PUSSYCAT sounds amazing!"


:tomcat::jerry:


-Thad

[corey3rd]

Seeing how we're days away from the release, has anyone posted a review of the set?:shame:

[cabe624]

Here's a scan of the back cover:

http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/618348bh.jpg

Notice the spec's on the bottom: Standard version (for cartoons shot in 1:37.1) and Widescreen Version (for the Cinemascope cartoons) "Enhanced for 16x9 Widescreen TV's." :cool:

[Dan Porceddu]

Interesting that the back still says that it contains all of the Academy Award-nominees when the ones with Mammy (such as "Puss Gets the Boot") won't actually appear on the set... :(


-Dan

[Thad]

Here's a scan of the back cover:

http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/618348bh.jpg

How the hell was FRIZ FRELENG involved with Tom & Jerry?!


-Thad

[Martin Juneau]

How the hell was FRIZ FRELENG involved with Tom & Jerry?!


-ThadFriz Freleng worked over one year at MGM studio (1936 i think :rolleyes: )


Here's a scan of the back cover:

http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/618348bh.jpg

Sure are the US front cover DVD because normally, this set include also french and spanish audio tracks

[Mr. Jinks]

Friz Freleng worked over one year at MGM studio (1936 i think :rolleyes: )The cover might as well list Dick Lundy.....lol

[Jaime_Weinman]

Here's what I wrote on my blog (I'm not a big Tom and Jerry fan, BTW -- I'm not sure I can explain why, and I certainly don't think I'm right) about the DVD set. Note: I haven't watched all the cartoons in the set yet, so when I say that all the cartoons are uncut, I'm making an assumption:


Jerry Beck, who does the commentary tracks on this set, has said that "The best is yet to come," so hopefully future collections will let Mammy out of the vaults. Interesting thing: "Kitty Foiled" includes a gag where Jerry poses as an American Indian, and even says "How." This gag is not cut -- all the cartoons on this set are uncut -- but why exactly is stereotyping of Native Americans supposed to be so much less offensive?

Anywho... don't expect the kind of restoration work that WB is doing on Looney Tunes. These prints don't appear to be taken from the original negatives, but then, since these are MGM cartoons that got sold to Ted Turner and then got picked up by WB in the Warner/Turner merger, it's possible that WB doesn't even have the original negatives, or even that they don't exist any more. The cartoons here don't have the same vibrant colors as the WB cartoons, and the prints have the usual assortment of flecks, specks, and that dot in the upper right hand corner at the end (a signal to the projectionist that it's time to change the reel). They look all right, but "all right" in the sense of being better than what you'd see on TV; it's not really up to the standards of the best DVD releases of old movies or cartoons.

The good news is that the special features are very good. The highlights are two new featurettes. One is on Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera and the origins and history of Tom and Jerry, from their debut in 1940 to the closing of the MGM cartoon studio in 1957. This lasts almost a half an hour, includes extensive interviews with Hanna and Barbera (shot on film, not videotape, giving the interviews a nice "vintage" look) as well as comments from animation experts Jerry Beck and Earl Kress. The other featurette, on disc 2, is a 17-minute feature on the music of Scott Bradley, composer for almost all of MGM's cartoons. This is no puff piece; it's mostly an analysis of Bradley's music and how it works within the cartoons, illustrated with many examples from the cartoons themselves. I wish WB would do something like this on the Looney Tunes sets for Carl Stalling.The prints look like the prints that were used for laserdiscs -- I don't know this for sure, because I haven't seen the laserdiscs, but they have a lot of the characteristics of the old Turner prints, including the "colored" windowboxing in the credits.

The second disc also includes advertisements for other upcoming WB cartoon box sets, including Flintstones Season 2, Wacky Races, Top Cat, and the Looney Tunes Vol. 2. (Oddly enough, the ad for the inferior "Spotlight Collection" is probably better than the ad for the Golden Collection: the Spotlight Collection ad is directly pitched to adults, with Jim Cummings' voice telling the viewer to pick it up to see all the artistry and brilliance that went over our heads as children.)

[cbrubaker]

Original nitrate negatives for early Tom and Jerry cartoons were destroyed by fire decades ago. They used the best possible prints around. Yeah, that sucks, but nitrates DO burn easily.

[corey3rd]

Read it again, it just gives the number and doesn't say "all."

Interesting that the back still says that it contains all of the Academy Award-nominees when the ones with Mammy (such as "Puss Gets the Boot") won't actually appear on the set... :(


-Dan
seeing how I'm only paying $18 for this set, I can deal with the described print conditions. And I can wait on the Mammy collection.

[cabe624]

The fact that I'll be able to hear "Touche Pussycat" in 5.1 ALONE makes this set worth picking up... not to mention the extras. I can wait until the next volume for the Mammy cartoons. I'm just glad to have these cartoons on DVD (I don't have any of the other DVD's released; I wouldn't waste my money on panned & scanned prints.)

[Dan Porceddu]

Read it again, it just gives the number and doesn't say "all.""This 2-disc set ... includes nine Academy Award nominees and seven winners."


-Dan

[Jaime_Weinman]

Yes, "Touche Pussycat" is in stereo, and sounds quite good -- the clever use of "directional" sound effects (sound effects coming from the right or left speaker, etc) makes me wish there were more stereo cartoons from this era.

One more thing about this set that will annoy purists: the menus list the cartoons as "Episodes."

[Mr. Jinks]

Note: I haven't watched all the cartoons in the set yet, so when I say that all the cartoons are uncut, I'm making an assumption:

The prints look like the prints that were used for laserdiscs -- I don't know this for sure, because I haven't seen the laserdiscs, but they have a lot of the characteristics of the old Turner prints, including the "colored" windowboxing in the credits.[/size]How did you get ahold of a copy so early????

All of the cartoons you saw so far had the windowboxing? Would you say they are the same quality as what's shown on TV???

[MF TOON]

I hate to be the forum cynic as I was originally really enthusiastic and optimistic about this release, especially with Jerry behind the boards... but has anyone actually verified that the cut segments from "The Little Orphan" have been reinserted yet, because one forum member at the Home Theatre Forums who recieved an early copy claims it's the same edited version that was featured on the "Greatest Chases" DVD.

Can you please look into this for us Jaime and let us know if this set is indeed uncensored and the films restored to their original form?

:befuddled

[Jaime_Weinman]

Sorry about that, I forgot about the non-Mammy part of "Little Orphan" -- and I regret to say that the blackface gag is not there, which means it's the edited version. Sorry to be the bearer, or at least confirmer, of bad news.

[Thad]

YES! IT'S TRUE!!!! :( :( :( :mad: :mad: :mad:


The Tom & Jerry DVD is censored!!! Along with "The Little Orphan", the blackfaces are missing from "The Truce Hurts" and "The Milky Waif"!!!

But, people, PLEASE still buy the DVD collection. WB is going to make good on this. They are going to offer a mail-in first disc exchange for the UNCUT versions of the cartoons, as WB is advertising this set as uncut. Jerry Beck will have details on his site later this week.

But that does not make this right. Vent your anger in this thread! Let them know you want uncut cartoons the first time!


-Thad

[Hippety Hopper]

That's all well and good for you peeps in the US, but will WBUS do this exchange for us in the rest of the world? I don't want edited toons!

[crow_T_robot]

i'm very upset at the news. i'm guessing this was done to prevent news coverage or someone screwed up. if it was done to prevent news coverage, i don't blame them,they just offer the cut cartoons to the public half them won't even know about the exchange, people who do know and want the uncut cartoons then they exchange and no harm done. if someone scrwed up, im not surprised. we will see how this turns out

[Jaime_Weinman]

From what I can see on the DVDs, it looks like most of the cartoons on the set were taken from the previous DVD masters (which in itself is a disappointment, because remastering techniques have improved since then). What I would guess is that they just threw the already-prepared DVD versions of those cartoons onto the discs without realizing that they were cut.

If WB had remembered that those cartoons contained blackface gags, they probably wouldn't have included the cartoons at all, since the point of this set was to be both "uncut" and inoffensive. Ironically, it's only because of this apparent screw-up that we're finally going to get a few of these gags on DVD.

[Mr. Jinks]

From what I can see on the DVDs, it looks like most of the cartoons on the set were taken from the previous DVD masters (which in itself is a disappointment, because remastering techniques have improved since then). What I would guess is that they just threw the already-prepared DVD versions of those cartoons onto the discs without realizing that they were cut.

If WB had remembered that those cartoons contained blackface gags, they probably wouldn't have included the cartoons at all, since the point of this set was to be both "uncut" and inoffensive. Ironically, it's only because of this apparent screw-up that we're finally going to get a few of these gags on DVD.Which cartoons from the set are brand new to DVD??? Are any of them "restored"?

[MF TOON]

I really hope you're right about WB's intentions to make right on the situation Thad, I can't wait to hear what Jerry has to say about this.. Buying a DVD set should NOT have to be so complicated, the studios should be adhering to us and not the other way around! I'll wait to hear what Warner Bros. decides to do in regards to this set and I'm hoping they do correct the problem, otherwise they've definitely lost my sale.

[Martin Juneau]

Which cartoons from the set are brand new to DVD??? Are any of them "restored"?Sufferin Cats! (1943)
Baby Puss (1943)
The Body-Guard (1944)
Mouse Trouble (1944)
Flirty Birdy (1945)
Quiet, Please (1945)
The Milky Waif (1946)
The Truce Hurts (1948)
Heavenly Puss (1949)
Jerry and the Goldfish (1951)
Cue Ball Cat (1950)
Slicked-Up Pup (1951)
Jerry's Cousin (1951)
Cat Napping (1951)
Smitten Kitten (1952)
Baby Butch (1954)
Pecos Pest (1955)
Blue Cat Blues (1956)

It's supposed that all restored

[Mr. Jinks]

Sufferin Cats! (1943)
Baby Puss (1943)
The Body-Guard (1944)
Mouse Trouble (1944)
Flirty Birdy (1945)
Quiet, Please (1945)
The Milky Waif (1946)
The Truce Hurts (1948)
Heavenly Puss (1949)
Jerry and the Goldfish (1951)
Cue Ball Cat (1950)
Slicked-Up Pup (1951)
Jerry's Cousin (1951)
Cat Napping (1951)
Smitten Kitten (1952)
Baby Butch (1954)
Pecos Pest (1955)
Blue Cat Blues (1956)

It's supposed that all restoredBased on the list here, I would purchase the DVD. Remember these cartoons are hilarious. I'm hoping it is safe to say that the quality for these cartoons are better than what's shown on any previous video release or on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Jamie and Thad can you confirm this???

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there are only three cartoons that need to be edited because they have blackface scenes right?
Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943)
The Milky Waif (1946)
The Little Orphan (1948)
I know they show the blackface gag from Yankee on the Cartoon Network.

Flirty Birdy (1945) and Kitty Foiled (1947) already included the native-american gags right???

I think on the next volume, they should have both and censored and non-censored versions of cartoon on the disc.

[Jaime_Weinman]

I'm really not sure how these look compared to the previous T&J DVDs, because I don't have those. But between the way the prints look, and the use of the cut versions, I think it's very likely that these are the same masterings that were done for the previous DVDs, and that they have not been newly remastered.

The three CinemaScope cartoons look better than the others I've watched so far, and that may be because they might have had to be specially remastered for the set (in order to present them in their original aspect ratios and enhance them for 16:9 TVs).

[Mac]

That's all well and good for you peeps in the US, but will WBUS do this exchange for us in the rest of the world? I don't want edited toons!

AARGH! More edited cartoons! I'm with you, Hippety, if I can't have my disk replaced because I'm in the U.K it'll totaly suck! Now I don't know if I should cancel my preorder or not - I definitely do not want the edited version of the DVD.

[Sean Gaffney]

Well, at least they are offering an exchange. I do wonder if this was a rather clever strategy - and in fact one that could be used in the future.

"Please note that Disc Four of Golden Collection 14 contains Baby Looney Tunes 1-15. You may, however, exchange it for the Censored 11." :)

I still plan on enjoying this collection, as I don't have any of the other T&J DVDs. Still excited. :tomcat: :jerry:

[Martin Juneau]

AARGH! More edited cartoons! I'm with you, Hippety, if I can't have my disk replaced because I'm in the U.K it'll totaly suck! Now I don't know if I should cancel my preorder or not - I definitely do not want the edited version of the DVD.
Normally in my channel airing Tom and Jerry the sunday morning, that's normally aired uncut and the print more better than the previous DVD prints.

[Javeman]

So the DVD is edited, huh?

What a disappointment...

[Thad]

Thread closed, discuss the censorship in the new thread on the news board. We don't need this thread going on for another 5 pages. :p



-Thad