Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Directed by: Joseph Barbera, William Hanna

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: The most famous cat and mouse animated duo in film history, Tom and Jerry, star in this heartwarming Christmas tale in which Tom shows mercy on Jerry after shutting him out of the house in a snowstorm.

Cinema Cat: There’s little doubt the impact that Tom and Jerry had on the world of animation with their introduction and the classic tit-for-tat style chase scenes they embarked upon in their comedy films.  This entry delves a little bit into pathos as well but starts out with the typical cat-and-mouse shenanigans with Tom chasing Jerry around the Christmas tree.

At one point Jerry slaps a “Do Not Open Till X-Mas” sticker over Tom’s mouth!

The sentimentality in this particular short is unusual for these films, although it may have helped lead to the short being nominated for an Academy Award that year.

Who would have thought that Tom would ever kiss Jerry (even though it’s because Jerry is holding mistletoe)?

Eventually Tom succeeds in chasing Jerry out of the house but a snowstorm is raging outside and Tom begins to feel guilty.

Finding Jerry frozen in the snow, Tom quickly tries to defrost him over the fire.

In the end Tom gives Jerry a peppermint stick.  In return Jerry disables the booby trap he has set up for Tom.

Final Mewsings: At Christmastime even old enemies can put their differences aside.

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