MGM Cartoons Wiki
Advertisement
MGM Cartoons Wiki


His Mouse Friday is a 1951 American one-reel animated cartoon and is the 59th Tom and Jerry short directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.

Plot[]

The cartoon begins with Tom being stranded at sea. Tom is floating on a wooden raft after presumably being shipwrecked in a way similar to Robinson Crusoe. The poor cat has nothing to eat but shoes. When he spots an island, the waves catapult him there. Upon landing, Tom attempts to eat a coconut but it proves to be difficult to break open.

Moments later, Tom breaks his teeth after trying to eat a turtle. However, Tom spots a mouse that is undeniably more edible - Jerry. Tom then chases Jerry and the pair ends up in an uninhabited village. Jerry spots a large drum and beats a tune on it, which frightens Tom. Jerry also finds a large black pot full of coal and rubs the soot onto his face and body, making himself black. When Tom emerges from his hiding place, Jerry jumps out at him by disguising himself as a tribesman, hollering in a thick dialect. He orders Tom to "hop in the pot" by poking him in the rear, causing Tom to jump into the pot. Jerry brings a knife and some vegetables and he orders Tom to "cut the potato". Tom grabs the knife and potato. Tom chops the potato and cooks himself with the vegetables, while Jerry orders him to chop some more vegetables: more potatoes, carrots, then he says "Hold the onions." Tom tosses the onion away as ordered and continues to chop up the other vegetables while Jerry uses the matches to light up a fire under the pot.

Tom is chopping up scallions but he suddenly starts to feel the heat, so he puts the knife away and takes the spoon. He then tastes the water and then adds salt. He looks out of the cauldron and sees Jerry performing a tribal dance, but the movement of the dance causes Jerry's makeshift dress to fall down, revealing his brown mouse fur. Tom realizes that he has been pranked and makes sure that Jerry is aware of it. Jerry tries to order Tom back into the pot, but the cat simply taunts and chases him, only for Tom to stumble upon some genuine adult cannibal tribes. One licks his lips and declares "Mmmm... barbecued cat!" The natives rush after Tom. Meanwhile, Jerry, who is overlooking the whole fracas, is caught by the young child of the tribes, who also licks his lips in delight, turns his head, and says, "Mmmm... barbecued mouse!". Then, the child goes after Jerry.

Availability[]

Notes[]

  • Due to the short's racial stereotyping of Black people, His Mouse Friday was placed under an unofficial ban from broadcast or video distribution by MGM and other rights-holders.
  • There are two edited versions of this cartoon that have aired on television before being banned and that have been released on video:
    • MGM/UA Home Video versions mute out all stereotypical black savage dialogue.
      • Warner Home Video versions retain the dialogue but edit the scene where Jerry meets a real black savage by using a pan and zoom to crop out the real black savage's appearance. However, the real black savage's appearance is seen during the beginning of the pursuit between him and Jerry.
        • Unlike the child savage that was cropped out, the adult savages remain unedited on the third Spotlight Collection.
        • This scene was restored and left intact on a remastered print, which was intended for release on Tom and Jerry Golden Collection Volume Two in 2013. This restored uncensored version of His Mouse Friday produced for the Golden Collection can now be found on iTunes.
  • This is the last Tom and Jerry short and MGM short in general to be reissued before the studio shut down.

References[]

Tom and Jerry Cartoons
1940 Puss Gets the Boot
1941 The Midnight SnackThe Night Before Christmas
1942 Fraidy CatDog TroublePuss n' TootsThe Bowling Alley-CatFine Feathered Friend
1943 Sufferin' Cats!The Lonesome MouseThe Yankee Doodle MouseBaby Puss
1944 The Zoot CatThe Million Dollar CatThe BodyguardPuttin' on the DogMouse Trouble
1945 The Mouse Comes to DinnerMouse in ManhattanTee for TwoFlirty BirdyQuiet Please!
1946 Springtime for ThomasThe Milky WaifTrap HappySolid Serenade
1947 Cat Fishin'Part Time PalThe Cat ConcertoDr. Jekyll and Mr. MouseSalt Water TabbyA Mouse in the HouseThe Invisible Mouse
1948 Kitty FoiledThe Truce HurtsOld Rockin' Chair TomProfessor TomMouse Cleaning
1949 Polka-Dot PussThe Little OrphanHatch Up Your TroublesHeavenly PussThe Cat and the MermouseLove That PupJerry's DiaryTennis Chumps
1950 Little QuackerSaturday Evening PussTexas TomJerry and the LionSafety SecondTom and Jerry in the Hollywood BowlThe Framed CatCue Ball Cat
1951 Casanova CatJerry and the GoldfishJerry's CousinSleepy-Time TomHis Mouse FridaySlicked-up PupNit-Witty KittyCat Napping
1952 The Flying CatThe Duck DoctorThe Two MouseketeersSmitten KittenTriplet TroubleLittle RunawayFit to Be TiedPush-Button KittyCruise CatThe Dog House
1953 The Missing MouseJerry and JumboJohann MouseThat's My Pup!Just DuckyTwo Little IndiansLife with Tom
1954 Puppy TalePosse CatHic-cup PupLittle School MouseBaby ButchMice FolliesNeapolitan MouseDownhearted DucklingPet PeeveTouché, Pussy Cat!
1955 Southbound DucklingPup on a PicnicMouse for SaleDesigns on JerryTom and ChérieSmarty CatPecos PestThat's My Mommy
1956 The Flying SorceressThe Egg and JerryBusy BuddiesMuscle Beach TomDown Beat BearBlue Cat BluesBarbecue Brawl
1957 Tops with PopsTimid TabbyFeedin' the KiddieMucho MouseTom's Photo Finish
1958 Happy Go DuckyRoyal Cat NapThe Vanishing DuckRobin HoodwinkedTot Watchers
1961 Switchin' KittenDown and OutingIt's Greek to Me-ow!
1962 High SteaksMouse into SpaceLanding StriplingCalypso CatDicky MoeThe Tom and Jerry Cartoon KitTall in the TrapSorry SafariBuddies Thicker Than WaterCarmen Get It!
1963 Pent-House Mouse
1964 The Cat Above and the Mouse BelowIs There a Doctor in the Mouse?Much Ado About MousingSnowbody Loves MeThe Unshrinkable Jerry Mouse
1965 Ah, Sweet Mouse-Story of LifeTom-ic EnergyBad Day at Cat RockThe Brothers Carry-Mouse-OffHaunted MouseI'm Just Wild About JerryOf Feline BondageThe Year of the MouseThe Cat's Me-Ouch
1966 Duel PersonalityJerry, Jerry, Quite ContraryJerry-Go-RoundLove Me, Love My MousePuss 'n' BoatsFilet MeowMatinee MouseThe A-Tom-Inable SnowmanCatty-Cornered
1967 Cat and Dupli-catO-Solar-MeowGuided Mouse-illeRock 'n' RodentCannery RodentThe Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R.Surf-Bored CatShutter Bugged CatAdvance and Be MechanizedPurr-Chance to Dream
Advertisement