Tom And Jerry – The Chuck Jones Collection – DVD Review

On July 23rd you can own not just another DVD, but a real piece of history. Tom and Jerry The Chuck Jones Collection brings together all 34 cinematic release shorts created when Jones took over the duo. It also includes two 30-minute special features that are a great treat for fans.

The remastered, roughly seven-minute cartoons feature not only some of the greatest moments of Tom and Jerry or animation, but some of the most treasured moments in the history of cinema as well. From classic pop culture parodies, to Mel Blanc voicework, to iconic bits of chase, these are some of the most recognizable moments of film around. An especially brilliant feature of this set is that they are now available in widescreen format so they can be viewed as they were originally seen in theaters.

Serious fans will recognize that this is the post Hanna & Barbera original version, which means Tom is not so fluffy, Jerry is pudgier, and both have miles of added facial expression.

Just a few of the classic episodes are:

The Cat Above, The Mouse Below – Possibly the most well-known, this is the episode with Tom as opera singer, and Jerry just trying to get some sleep beneath the floorboards.

Tom-ic Energy – which introduces the oft-repeated theme of Jerry managing to enlist a dog as protector.

Of Feline Bondage – A popular classic in which Jerry turns invisible with the help of a fairy godmouse.

The Cat’s Me-Ouch – Jerry mail orders his dog protector, but when it arrives it is smaller than Jerry… but still gets the job done.

Jerry-Go-Round – which spins the protector theme when the pair find themselves at the circus and Jerry befriends an elephant.

Matinee Mouse – directed by Hanna & Barbera, Tom and Jerry call a truce and go to the movies where Tom and Jerry cartoons are playing.

As I said, the 2-disc set comes with two really superb features. I’m not often very interested in special features anymore, as they’re so often the same old things by now, but these are worthwhile. The first is Tom and Jerry… and Chuck, which is a retrospective of the entire history of Tom and Jerry, and Jones’ involvement with them. With a good deal of interview footage of the man himself, the feature lays out the entire world of cinema Tom and Jerry was part of, and how they evolved.

The second feature is Chuck Jones: Memories of a Childhood, which is Jones telling a curious tale of his early childhood and how he got involved with animation. You might have to be a fan for this one, but it’s quite interesting.

I had a surprisingly good time rewatching these classics, and recommend the set very highly.

Check out the official site, and a clip below.

Own it on DVD June 23rd!